Maybe its different with the file structure on CD-RW and the format function. But, I used software these last two days that was allowed me to recover data from a formatted drive. WinXP was the former OS, and WinXP was reinstalled from scratch, AFTER a full reformat in NTFS (prior was also NTFS formatted), and I was able to recover files from the former format. So, the safe bet, if you REALLY want to delete data is to have an app like Norton write 0/1's to the drive or CD. ---Troth ----- Original Message ----- From: DH (Rick) Holmes To: pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Sunday, September 14, 2003 10:21 PM Subject: -=PCTechTalk=- Re: CD-R versus CD-RW The difference between formatting and erasing is that the former removes all trace (VIRTUALLY) of data on the disc. The latter merely removes the reference pointers which lead to the specific data. I understand that it is difficult to restore data after formatting, though not necessarily impossible. I believe that the only way to ensure ABSOLUTE removal of data is to overwrite everything. Can someone able to confirm this? Rick H Lionel wrote: >That is what I was doing , I was told formatting was erasing. By reading >the other mail here it appears that you don;t format to erase, you just >click on 'Erase'. I > > To unsub or change your email settings: //www.freelists.org/webpage/pctechtalk To access our Archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PCTechTalk/messages/ //www.freelists.org/archives/pctechtalk/ For more info: //www.freelists.org/cgi-bin/list?list_id=pctechtalk To unsub or change your email settings: //www.freelists.org/webpage/pctechtalk To access our Archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PCTechTalk/messages/ //www.freelists.org/archives/pctechtalk/ For more info: //www.freelists.org/cgi-bin/list?list_id=pctechtalk