Are there any methods to erase a single-write disc in an optical disc drive?

[Badstormer]

Writing over a single-use disc that's already been written to strikes me as a relatively simple way to destroy the data on it for most practical purposes, but I can't seem to find any method - at all - to write twice to a single-use disc even if data destruction is the goal.

Is my logic correct that simply burning the entire data side of a single-use disc would render most forms of data unusable, and, if so, are there any methods to do this in a conventional disc drive? I'm actually impressed how difficult it is to accomplish this compared to how easy it is to, even accidentally, destroy other mediums for data storage.

edit: specifically asking for methods to convince a disk drive to write over a finalized, non-rewritable disc, not for the purpose of reuse but rather data removal that doesn't involve physically damaging the disc

[_I_]

not really, each bit on the cdr disc can only be written once
if you want to destroy it, throw it in the microwave for a few seconds

when files are written to a cdr it adds it to the index and data portions of the disc
the index can be appended to, files added or flagged as deleted, but their data is still on the disc
but once until the disc is closed/finalized, once that is done it can no longer be written to, no ore files can be added or flagged as deleted

[Badstormer]

Originally posted by _I_:

not really, each bit on the cdr disc can only be written once
if you want to destroy it, throw it in the microwave for a few seconds

when files are written to a cdr it adds it to the index and data portions of the disc
the index can be appended to, files added or flagged as deleted, but their data is still on the disc
but once until the disc is closed/finalized, once that is done it can no longer be written to, no ore files can be added or flagged as deleted

I understand that single-use discs can't be rewritten; I'm more asking if there's a way to write twice with the intent of making the disc unusable to simplify the disposal process instead of having to physically damage the disc. At least to me, having the disc drive write twice to the same sector seems like a much simpler - and safer - method for destroying the data than tossing the disc in a microwave.

[_I_]

microwave is safe and easy way to do it
metal in a microwave will only damage the microwave if it touches the shielding, the glass turntable insulates it from the shielded floor

[Badstormer]

I will admit that you're correct that a microwave will quickly render a disc unusable, but I'm still curious whether there's a way to to it in a conventional disc drive. So far, I haven't been able to find any methods, including straight-up lying to the drive about what's in it.

[Raoul]

What about the ol wrap it in a towel and hammer method, plus it's fun?

[mtono]

simply break it into pieces? or do scratches on its surface, then the cd is unreadable...whatever...

[Bing Chilling]

as others have mentioned microwave it for like 15 or so seconds

then smash it into pieces.

[emoticorpse]

No, because I'm assuming you know a "quick format" does nothing to the actual data, and if you could overwrite the entire thing, it wouldn't be "write once".

EDIT: Damn, this brings back some memories. I'm actually impressed at the DVD-Wrewritables. I used a couple that I must have rewritten to like 50 times or so before they crapped out on me or just stopped working right.

[Badstormer]

Originally posted by emoticorpse:

No, because I'm assuming you know a "quick format" does nothing to the actual data, and if you could overwrite the entire thing, it wouldn't be "write once".

EDIT: Damn, this brings back some memories. I'm actually impressed at the DVD-Wrewritables. I used a couple that I must have rewritten to like 50 times or so before they crapped out on me or just stopped working right.

This is why I wrote it as 'format', as the idea is to just click a button in a GUI and have the drive re-burn the whole disc to wreck the data on it - the only difference being, unlike a rewritable disc, it would be useless afterward.

I realize there are other options - like holding a lighter to the disc - to erase the data, I'm just surprised there quite literally is no standardized way to erase a single-use disc.

[emoticorpse]

Originally posted by Badstormer:

Originally posted by emoticorpse:

No, because I'm assuming you know a "quick format" does nothing to the actual data, and if you could overwrite the entire thing, it wouldn't be "write once".

EDIT: Damn, this brings back some memories. I'm actually impressed at the DVD-Wrewritables. I used a couple that I must have rewritten to like 50 times or so before they crapped out on me or just stopped working right.

This is why I wrote it as 'format', as the idea is to just click a button in a GUI and have the drive re-burn the whole disc to wreck the data on it - the only difference being, unlike a rewritable disc, it would be useless afterward.

I realize there are other options - like holding a lighter to the disc - to erase the data, I'm just surprised there quite literally is no standardized way to erase a single-use disc.

I get that you weren't talking about re-writables, but as I typed that out it really did bring back memories of when I used to use those things.

I think I get what you're saying though. I guess it would be cool to just add in the ability to like "burn over" the un-burnt spots and turn it all to the same empty pits or whatever making the entire thing 000000's meaning there's no data (I think that's how it works). But, I mean who in the right mind would even waste time re-burning to format when they could just take literally five seconds and scrape it up with a key or something really quick and chuck it? It's cheaper? it's quicker? and in the end it still ends up in the trash to disappear and get beat up even more?.

[Badstormer]

Originally posted by emoticorpse:

But, I mean who in the right mind would even waste time re-burning to format when they could just take literally five seconds and scrape it up with a key or something really quick and chuck it? It's cheaper? it's quicker? and in the end it still ends up in the trash to disappear and get beat up even more?.

people who have bad experiences inhaling plastic fumes from botched disc executions

[Bad 💀 Motha]

CDR and DVDR types are write once and that's it. There is not formatting of these discs. Usually you add the files in the burning software until you have it all how you want such as folder structure and such and then make sure not to exceed the disc capacity when doing so. Then when ready start the burn and the software queues up the files and writes a copy of them to the blank disc. Or if using a image backup such as an ISO. The ISO contains the files and also format method used. For example if it's an ISO for OS install media, the ISO would contain the data that tells the burning software what method to use in order to make the finalized disc bootable.

[Daggoth]

You can't destroy the data on a pre-pressed/write once disc using the drives laser.
To do so would mean putting enough power into the disc to physically melt/ablate the signal substrate and cause it to become unreadable. Putting that much power is likely to be physically damaging to the layers of plastic between the laser and the signal substrate, possibly deforming the disc and thus being dangerous to the drive (malformed disc spinning at high speeds sounds pretty bad), and also has a chance at being a fire hazard.
Re-writable discs are designed to do it and the chemicals involved change state at much lower temperatures than the fixed layers in a pre-pressed disk, and write-once disks have the layer 'set' permanently and aren't flexible enough to change again.

[Badstormer]

Originally posted by Daggoth:

and write-once disks have the layer 'set' permanently and aren't flexible enough to change again.

I suppose what I'm asking is, in theory, if you simply wrote random data over the already-written sectors, would that be enough to render the data on it unusable?

I'm not looking to re-use single-write discs as much as I'm looking for a convenient way to wipe data that doesn't involve inhaling plastic fumes.

Also, I acknowledge that erasing the contents of a pre-pressed disc would require much more power than a disc drive's laser can produce, but these discs usually don't have data worth destroying to begin with.

[emoticorpse]

Originally posted by Badstormer:

Originally posted by Daggoth:

and write-once disks have the layer 'set' permanently and aren't flexible enough to change again.

I suppose what I'm asking is, in theory, if you simply wrote random data over the already-written sectors, would that be enough to render the data on it unusable?

I'm not looking to re-use single-write discs as much as I'm looking for a convenient way to wipe data that doesn't involve inhaling plastic fumes.

Also, I acknowledge that erasing the contents of a pre-pressed disc would require much more power than a disc drive's laser can produce, but these discs usually don't have data worth destroying to begin with.

Maybe use a drill with one of those abrasive sander attachments and run it over a disc for a couple seconds.