New Mac

[cbbob]

I just got my new Mac yesterday at the Apple store in Manhattan Beach, CA. After years of windows this is a lot different. I have a question.....I put a cd-rw in the cd drive. Now, in windows all I had to do was format it. I want to format this but
1. it doesn't show up on the screen
2. I can't find the format button

When I used windows it was easy not its not so far. The reason I want to format it is because I'm using it to put some files on it, and may rewrite the files

 

[KompleX]

to get blank cds to show up on the desktop by default go to

system preferences/ cds and dvds

and where it says "when you insert a blank cd" choose "open in finder".

 

[miles01110]

When I used windows it was easy not its not so far. The reason I want to format it is because I'm using it to put some files on it, and may rewrite the files

Generally I've found that CDs and DVDs don't need to be formatted to be written to. What program are you using to burn data?

 

[cbbob]

I'm using a free burn program that someone told me about on the web. It's called Burn

 

[alec]

If you have a few $ to spare or tend to burn a lot of cds, I find Toast to be worth the money.

 

[alphaod]

Just right-click on the desktop and create a burn folder.

 

[RandomKamikaze]

If you want to format the CD then simply go to Disk Utility, select the CD and then select ERASE

I find BURN sufficent for my purposes

 

[Matek]

Generally I've found that CDs and DVDs don't need to be formatted to be written to. What program are you using to burn data?

He's talking about a rewritable disc. Those need to be formatted when you want to rewrite them.

Anyway, Chris L. already told you you can do it with the Disk Utility, but if you're already using Burn, there's an even easier solution - simply open Burn and click "Recorder -> Erase" in the menu bar (the bar on top of your screen).

 

[hawkeye9935]

If you have a few $ to spare or tend to burn a lot of cds, I find Toast to be worth the money.

I will second the Toast option. Toast 8 Titanium is marvelous and especially good with burning data spanning several discs!