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DirectCD | Tech Info Home Page |

General Information - 

DirectCD is a software program made by Adaptec. It is used to copy files on to CD recordable and re-writable drives using a file manager program like "explorer".

You can get DirectCD updates from the Roxio web site.

Unlike other recording software which force you to create a copy of all data to be recorded at once, DirectCD allows you to incrementally add files on to the CD disk. Both CD-R and CD-RW disks can be used (as long as your drive can record to either of the two.)

Once the DirectCD software has been installed, the CD-R / CD-RW drive can be used just like any other drive to perform file operations. Files can be added to it, deleted and renamed as with all other drives.

Unlike a standard CD-ROM disk which uses the ISO 9660 format to record data, DirectCD uses the UDF file system format. Formatting blank media with DirectCD will enable your system to perform packet writing, which uses the ISO 13346 format. 

• Adaptec's Easy CD Creator uses the industry standard format (ISO 9660) and you don't have to format your media to use this application.
• Just Audio and CDBackup use the industry standard format (ISO 9660) and you don't have to format your media to use this application.

Most likely, you will not be able to read these disks under DOS or Windows 3.1. If you want the recorded disks to be read back on NT or other windows 95/98 computers with minimal problems, you need to "Close" the writing process using the DirectCD "close disk" option presented to you when the disk is ejected. 

According to Adaptec, "DirectCD 2.0 or later for Windows allows you to close CD-RW media to UDF format. Adaptec has released the UDF Reader for Windows 95/98/NT, which enables MultiRead CD-ROM drives to read UDF formatted CD-R and CD-RW discs (such as those written with DirectCD) under Windows 95 and Mac OS."

Not as much information can be stored when using DirectCD as compared to making a recording using other software such as EZ CD creator. A 74 minute DirectCD formatted CD-R disc holds 621 MB. An 80 minute CD-R disc holds 665 MB. DirectCD formatted CD-RW media holds 531 MB.

PacketCD is a comparable technology made by CeQuadrat.

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