Why don't CD-RW discs have write protect option?

JohnCTX 636 Reputation points
2020-08-25T05:29:01.767+00:00

Why don't CD-RW discs have the write-protect option? Is it hidden in some operating systems?
I need to know this. I have Windows 10 home edition, and it won't have the write protect option when I put a CD-RW disc in.

Regards,

JohnCTX

Windows 10 Compatibility
Windows 10 Compatibility
Windows 10: A Microsoft operating system that runs on personal computers and tablets.Compatibility: The extent to which hardware or software adheres to an accepted standard.
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  1. Molly Lu 676 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor
    2020-08-25T09:58:18.323+00:00

    Hi John,

    Welcome to Microsoft Q&A.

    A CD-RW (Compact Disc-ReWritable) is designed to be able to write, read, erase, and re-write.
    The write protect option has few relationship with the system version, only related to the type of CD itself.
    The CD/DVD driver that comes with the system can only read the discs, if you want to write data, you need to use third-party software.

    As far as I know, there is a registry value related to the write-protected issue, you can check the path: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies.
    Double click WriteProtect and check if the value data is 1.
    If there is no “StorageDevicePolicies” under Control, you can right click "Control" and go to “New”->”Key”. Then name it with “StorageDevicePolicies”.
    Then, at the right-hand pane, right click white space and go to “New”->”DWORD (32-bit) value” (If your computer is 64-bit version, choose QWORD (64-bit) Value). Name it with “Write Protect”.
    Finally, double-click the newly created DWORD and check if its value is 1.

    Please remember to mark the reply as answer if it helps.

    Best regards,
    Molly

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  2. JohnCTX 636 Reputation points
    2020-08-27T08:01:27.773+00:00

    Thank you for your answer.
    What if, users want to create a DWORD value of 1, which it is only referred to optical disc drives, whereas other devices, namely, hard drive and USB drives read and write?
    Because, if the Storage Device Policies path with a DWORD or QWORD assigned to a value of 1, then all other internal and external storage devices will write protect when users restart their computers.

    If that is their issue with their storage device policies, write protect CD-RW will miswrite protect other storage devices as well, namely others as USB.

    Therefore it may not be possible to write-protect CD-RW optical media exclusively without miswrite-protecting other devices and drives.

    Does that make any senese?

    Regards,
    JohnCTX