How to Format a CD

On Windows

1. 
   Insert the CD-RW or DVD-RW into your computer. The CD goes into your computer's CD tray with the label facing up.

   1. If your computer doesn't have a CD drive, you'll have to buy an external one.
2. 
   Open Start

   

   . Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
3. 
   Open File Explorer

   

   . Click the folder-shaped icon in the lower-left side of the Start window.
4. 
   Click This PC. It's a computer-shaped tab on the left side of the File Explorer window.
5. 
   Click your disk drive's icon. You'll find this grey drive icon below the "Devices and drives" heading that's in the middle of the page.
6. 
   Click Manage. It's a tab in the upper-left side of the File Explorer window. Clicking it prompts a toolbar to appear below the Manage tab.
7. 
   Click Format. This icon is on the far-left side of the toolbar. It resembles a grey drive with a red, circling arrow on top of it. The Format window will open.
8. 
   Select a file system. Click the "File system" drop-down box, then click one of the following file systems. UDF stands for "Universal Disk Format", which means any of the following file systems can be used for media (such as music or movies) or for files:

   1. UDF 1.50 - For use on XP and older.
   2. UDF 2.00 - For use on XP and older.
   3. UDF 2.01 (default) - Usable with most current operating systems.
   4. UDF 2.50 - Usable with most current operating systems. Supports Blu-ray.
   5. UDF 2.60 (Recommended) - Usable with most current operating systems. Supports Blu-ray.
9. 
   Click Start, then click OK. Doing so will begin formatting your CD for your selected file system.
10. 
    Click OK when prompted. This will complete the formatting process.