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Is there a simple way to check if re-writable media has been finalized? So far the only recommendations I can find suggest that I attempt to start another write session using the disc and if it fails assume it is finalized.

Joel B
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  • A disc-burning application, such as the free (and portable) InfraRecorder, will tell you the disc status, if Windows doesn't tell you. You don't need to attempt to burn anything. – AFH Oct 17 '14 at 11:40
  • @AFH - I'd like to do this through the OS if possible without having to install 3rd party SW. – Joel B Oct 17 '14 at 11:45
  • I presumed you had already tried DVD->Properties from explorer. The reason third-party applications exist is because there are lots of things that Windows doesn't do. If you use the portable version, you won't have to install anything. – AFH Oct 17 '14 at 11:53
  • Third-party apps really are necessary here. Windows does a poor job of burning disks; for instance, adding "desktop.ini", and not finalizing disks after burning, even if you select the "With a CD/DVD player (Mastered) option. – JonathanDavidArndt Dec 20 '20 at 01:09

2 Answers2

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Check the drive properties in File Explorer. If the Free Space shows as 0, then the disc is finalized. If the Free Space > 0, then the disc is not finalized.

wisbucky
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  • People at our company have brought up an edge case where this may not work: where it rounds down to 0 Bytes available. Do you know a way that doesn't have this issue? (I'm trying to find the pedantic solution to tell them "this is what your policy should be") – iAdjunct May 12 '16 at 01:12
  • @iAdjunct InfraRecorder can provide disc information on whether disc is incomplete/closed: https://superuser.com/a/1611322/243707 – JonathanDavidArndt Dec 20 '20 at 01:53
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InfraRecorder will show you information about the media in a drive.

Actions > Disc Information > (choose a removable drive)

Here is what you can expect to see:

Blank

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Burned in Windows Explorer (Windows 7, not finalized)

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Burned in InfraRecorder (Session-At-Once, Closed)

enter image description here

JonathanDavidArndt
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