What is the difference between a CD-R and CD-RW?  

CD-R is writable CD. Once you have writen on this type of CD you can not erase it.
CD-RW is re-writable CD. You can write on this CD as well you can also erase containts written on it.

Answered by SmallGuru at 5:45 PM on January 17, 2008

Though the ‘R’ in CD-R represents ‘recordable’ while this technology can not be over written because it does not have this ability and so it can be written only once. So, the recording on these CDs should be done with full concentration because if you once write or record a song on it in a particular order then you will not be able to alter if mistakenly you have recorded in wrong order. As far as the CD-RW is concerned, the design if this disk shows that it is a rewritable disk and can be written again and again according to the needs of the user. This is totally and absolutely has different features from the features and qualities of the recordable accessories or CDs.

Answered by Kajal at 9:38 AM on January 14, 2008

cd-r for reading and cd-rw for reading and writing

Answered by raj20061 at 11:21 PM on January 13, 2008

In a CD -R you may burnt data once while in CD-RW it can be atleast 1000 times.

Answered by Anonymous at 10:35 PM on January 13, 2008

Only the difference of W.Read and Write.CD is compact disk.In RW you can read and write.

Answered by bobby at 11:28 AM on January 13, 2008

CD-R stands for CD-Recordable and refers to a CD that can be burned. A CD-R can store data as well as digital audio files. But information can only be recorded once; the disc cannot be reused. CD-RW means CD-ReWritable disc, which can be written to and re-written a large number of times. This type of media works well for backups and storing large files, but doesn’t make good music CD’s.

Answered by @ . at 12:39 AM on January 13, 2008

CD-R means CD writable. You can burn something once and then you are done. Nothing else can be written to or removed from that CD. This is good for data you don't want to lose like pictures or music data.

CD-RW is CD re-writable. You can write, erase, and write again from the CD just like you computer harddrive or a floppy drive. The disk is re-usable. There are some precautions of using a RW disk as some CD drives may not be able to read the RW format your drive uses. These disks are good for data you want to store for a short period of time and when that time is up you don't need that data anymore.

Answered by Bishan Preet at 12:27 AM on January 13, 2008

CD-R is for writing once and reading many times, whereas CD-RW is for writing up to 1000 times and reading many times CD-R's are compatible with many devices including cd players and dvd players if properly burned. CD-RW's will usually only work with computers regardless of the format of the final CD (SVCD, VCD, Data or Audio CD) although some cd and dvd players do support them it is rare.

Answered by Nz at 11:41 PM on January 12, 2008

CD-Recordable (CD-R) is an optical disc drive that enables the user to create customized CD-ROM discs. Data that has been written to a CD-R disc cannot be changed (overwritten). CD-R discs can be read by any CD-ROM drive. CD-R drives are commonly used to create backup copies of program or data files, or to create duplicates of existing compact discs.
CD-Rewritable (CD-RW) is an optical disc drive that enables the user to create customized CD-ROM discs. Unlike a CD-R disc, a CD-RW disc's data can be overwritten, meaning data can be updated after it has been placed on the disc.

Answered by Nisha at 10:05 PM on January 12, 2008

CD-R blanks have a completely different coating than CD-RWs. On a CD-R, bumps are burnt into the coating. That can be interpreted as a '0'. CD-RWs have a crystalline coating that changes its appearance when it is hit by the laser. The strength of the data (and also of the protection) is weaker on a CD-RW. This leads to the phenomenon when the copy on a CD-RW can be used, while the same copy on a CD-R does not work.

Answered by ayisha at 9:45 PM on January 12, 2008