How to Reuse a Formatted Dvd-R/Rw

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Image Credit: Disk in the drive image by Sergey Galushko from <a href='http://www.fotolia.com'>Fotolia.com</a>

A DVD-RW (rewritable) disc is a standard-sized DVD that can be used and reused as the need arises. This is contrary to a DVD-R (recordable) disc, which can only be used a single time. When you finalize the format of a DVD-RW disc, you close the disc burning session on your computer. This process makes the disc playable in other computers. You can erase the contents of a DVD-RW disc--whether or not it has been finalized.

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Step 1

Place the DVD-RW disc into the DVD burner of the computer.

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Step 2

Click "Start".

Step 3

Click "Computer".

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Step 4

Click on the DVD-RW icon.

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Step 5

Click "Erase this Disc". Your operating system will delete all of the files on the DVD-RW disc. Once that process is complete, you can reuse the disc.

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