How to Reformat a CD-RW

By Wesley DeBoy

Use your computer to reformat a CD-RW.
i CD RW image by amlet from Fotolia.com

Knowing how to reformat a CD-RW (CD rewritable) is necessary when you want to erase the CD-RW disc. Once reformatted, you can burn new data to the CD-RW. A CD-RW can be quickly and easily reformatted on both Mac and PC operating systems.

On a Mac

Insert the CD-RW that you want to reformat into your computer.

Click on the "Finder," which is located in the toolbar.

Select "Applications" from the Finder menu.

Double-click "Disc Utility" within the "Applications" menu to open it.

Click the "Erase" tab and then highlight the CD-RW disc in the Disc Utility menu.

Click the "Erase" button within the "Erase" tab and the CD-RW will be erased and reformatted.

On a PC

Insert the CD-RW that you want to reformat into your computer.

Click on the "Start" button, which is located in the toolbar.

Select "My Computer" from the "Start" menu.

Right-click the CD-RW in the "My Computer" menu and select "Open."

Click the "Erase this CD-RW" option, which is located under the "CD Writing Tasks" section. This will cause the CD Writing Wizard to appear.

Select "Next" from the CD Writing Wizard, and the CD-RW will be erased and reformatted.

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