LaCie 301910 Helpful Technical Information, DVD and CD Software, File System Formats, User Manual

LaCie Slim DVD±RW • Design by Sam Hecht	Helpful Technical Information
User Manual	page 14

4. Helpful Technical Information

4.1. DVD and CD Software

All supported operating systems (see 1.1. Minimum System Require- ments) include basic DVD and CD reading and writing functions. However, if you require more features for your DVD and CD writing, LaCie recommends Nero, Roxio, or Cyberlink.

IMPORTANT INFO: LaCie cannot guarantee that all third-party software will work with the LaCie Slim DVD±RW.

4.2. File System Formats

When writing DVD±R/RW and CD-R/RW discs, you will have the option to assign the disc a particular file format (the way in which a computer names and organizes files for storage and to manage data exchange).

LaCie recommends using one of three primary file system formats when using the Slim DVD±RW:

✦✦ Universal Disk Format (UDF) ✦✦ ISO 9660

✦✦ Mac OS Extended (also known as HFS+) ✦✦ Hybrid discs (Mac & PC)

UDF – This specification, developed by Optical Storage Technolo- gies Association, is the predominant file system that allows compat- ibility across various Bluray, DVD and CD applications, hardware platforms, and computer operating systems.

ISO 9660 – This is the standard file system which allows media to be read on a Mac, PC, or other major computer platform. Published by the International Organization of Standardization, this standard defines a file system for DVD-ROM and CDs. It supports Micro- soft Windows, Mac OS, and operating systems that follow the Unix specification, but doesn’t support custom features of Mac file sys- tems such as long file names or icon options. Microsoft created an extension to the format, called Joliet, which allows for Unicode file character names and file names up to 64 characters in length (twice as many as the ISO 9660 Level 2 and 3 specifications).

Mac OS Extended – Also known as HFS+, this is the file system used by Macintosh. This is the preferred file format If you will be using your disc only with the Mac OS.

Hybrid discs (Mac & PC) – Mac users can also choose to create hybrid discs which contain two partitions: one to be viewed by Mac users, one by Windows users. Certain software, such as Toast Tita- nium, offers this file system for formatting your disc.