so i've tried about 6 times now. i just can not get a cd-rw to work in my car. im trying to burn a massive size cd of about 85 songs in mp3 format, it works on a normal cd-r cd, but the cd player in my car wont pick up the cd-rw ones that i burn. so does anyone kno if the car just wont read the cd-rw cd's? or do i have to burn them a different way....

 

i guess it obviously doesnt read those... idk do the base model cobalts play mp3's? that might be it...

 

its prolly the stock HU has issues reading burnt cds....this happened in my Mazda6 that i had (6 disc) and it ate all 6 cds.

 

I didn't think the base 'balts had MP3 capability?

Just the SS/SC... right?

I've had a burnt MP3 disc in mine for a long time now... no problems.

 

you need to make an MP3 cd not just burn mp3's to a disk. I had the same issue until I actually burned as an mp3 cd

 

Just because it plays cd-r there is no guarantee it will play cd-rw's

 

make sure you close the cd-rw when your done. Dont just use the click and drag function. Actually burn it like you would a cd-r and close the session when your done.

 

the 2.4s have mp3 capability as well.

 

your head unit prob isnt an MP3 cd head unit.

just burn it as an audio cd. you will only be able to do the usual 15-20 songs though.

 

just cuz i have a ls doesnt mean i dont have an mp3 unit. it plays all the cd-r mp3 cd's that i have made. it just wont read the one that i am trying to make on a cd-rw. and im using nero as a program to burn. and i do go to the "make an mp3 disc" function. i guess it doesnt read cd-rw's. o well, ill have to find something to do with all the cd's i bought....

 

I have seen some HU's have troubles reading certain brand cdrw's. have you tried another name brand? I know it sounds wierd but sometimes that could be the case.

 

i use roxio to make my cd's and have had no problems. but i have never tried a cd-rw. maybe it just dosent like them..?

 

CD-RW are always a pain in the ass. CD-R are so cheap just use them and throw them away when you are done. Even computers can be flakey when reading CD-RW sometimes. If you REALLY, REALLY have to use CD-RW discs I would try using Nero or something with advanced options to burn and change the book type settings to CD-ROM instead of automatic or CD-RW and see if that helps the CD player to read the disc.

 

kinda like old cd players and their inability to read some types of reflective coating? If that is the case I would suggest going to an electronics store and buy some blacks ... cd's made with black material that resist reflection and scratches. Thats what I use

 

Nope, the whole problem is that you're trying to use a CD-RW. An RW is different technology and isn't as easy to read as an R. Your cars' manual probably warns you that RWs may not work. There is nothing you can do to get them to work in your car.

You have to buy Rs. If you watch the rebates you can often get CD-Rs for free, like $10 with a $10 rebate. There is no reason to use CD-RWs.
Also, the problem isn't just your car player, RWs usually don't work in any CD/MP3 players.

 

My car's playing a CD-RW right now. When I want to update the CD I pop it out, go to my computer, erase it, then reburn it. I don't use any MP3 CD setting either, I just burn it as a data CD. I have like around 150 songs on this disc and the HU has no issues at all with it.

 

Yes, some brands of RWs will work with some head units. That's why the manual says they may not work, it depends what brand you buy.
I only use RWs to back up files on my computer.

Since I always find CD-Rs for free after rebates, I personally don't see any reason to use RWs for music. RWs aren't free so even if you rewrite them many times they cost more. I also like to write the album listing on the CD.

I have a couple of boom boxes with CD-MP3 players that don't read RWs either, so I don't bother with them for music.

 

Yeah see I have a different view on that. I hardly ever buy CD-R blanks anymore. I have a few laying around that I haven't used yet but I usually have no real need for them. I do the majority of my burning with DVDs, for stuff I download. But since you can't burn mp3s to a DVD and have them work in a car's player (that would be sweet if you could though) I use CD-RWs. It's just easier for me and saves me having to buy more blanks when I run out. The price difference between Rs and RWs around here is negligible so it makes no difference to me.

 

Alot of times its how you burn them, leaving the session open, eh usually doent fly with alot of mp3 playing decks. Id finalize the disc, but then after that, its simply a CD-R.

 

I think we're making things more complicated than they need to be.
Most players won't read CD-RWs because they don't react the same when burned. Since you can write them many times, the difference between a 1 and 0 is not as clear, that is why even some computer CD readers have trouble with them.

To answer the OPs' first question, the manuals for most CD-MP3 players warn that they may not read them. It is really simple, most CD-RWs won't work and most CD-Rs will.
If you want to find some RWs that will work, good, go for it! But they probably won't work in any other players you may have.

I use CD-Rs because they are free and work in everything, no problems.

 

CDRWs often dont close the session when burning on them.

because they are a re-writable disk, its assumed your gonna add more data

When burning it, make certain the session is being closed.
If that doesnt work....then our HU obviously reads CD-R but not CD-RW

 

exactly, i bought a pack of ten cd-rw for 9 bucks and the pack of 10 just normal cd-r was only two bucks cheaper. so i figured hey, ill just buy these ten, when i want to make a new cd after i have used the ten up, ill just pick one and erase it and make another new cd and not have to buy more. o well, live and learn i guess.

 

a lot of CD-roms will not read CD-RW discs. its burned a different way than CD=Rs since it needs to be erasable, and many cd players wont pick up the different burning. your just gonna have to stick to burning mp3s on a CD-R

 

Actually, a CD-RW is burned exactly the same way a regular CD-R is burned. The difference is in the writable layer within the disc. CD-Rs are write once-read many, so they're pretty simple and easily readable. Hell, the factory CD player in my old Sunbird that I bought from a junkyard would read CD-Rs no problem. When it comes to CD-RWs, since they need to be erasable, the material the writable layer uses has to be different. This is why RWs look darker than Rs. The material behaves differently based on the intensity of the laser. One intensity will burn just like any other disc, but the burner uses a different intensity when it must erase a disc. I think the intensity is just turned up to the point where the data that was there is just wiped right off.

Anyway, the simple reason why RWs are harder to read is because of the darker nature of the writable layer. Players need a laser than is physically capable of reading the data while having to deal with a darker reflective surface. Weaker lasers won't be able to read them.

Good lord I ramble a lot...sorry.

 

its alright, + rep for taking the time to type that all out though.