Are blank cd's really blank?

[cracked]

i was wondering if blank cds were truly all the way blank. if so, then how do burners+software detect how much they hold (650mb or 700mb) and what type they are(cd-r or cd-rw)? i dont see how they can do this w/out having some info already on them. just curious

drew

[PresterJohn]

yes, blank cd's are truly blank. or rather, the recordable area is blank.

there is some coded info in a private area on the cd that identifies the manufacturer and cd type.

[Brainchild]

How Stuff Works has good article on CD Burners and how they work.

another good article

BC

[Mike]

I always wondered that, I will have to check out How Stuff Works.

[PresterJohn]

>I always wondered that, I will have to check out How Stuff Works.

just be careful...they have an article titled "How ESP Works"...no kidding.

LOL

[Peter M]

They ain't blank. There is an ATIP data block on them, describing the media properties, and the data area is pregrooved so that the writing laser has a track to follow.

[Detritus]

Thanks brainchild... a load of good info there I have always wondered about.

[OuTpaTienT]

So the data area is blank except for the pregroove. I guess lined writing paper isn't blank either because it's got those lines. Seems such a "technicality" but after all I guess this is a tech site.