Writing to a CD, DVD.

I have the toughest time writing to the computers CD/DVD Drive or an USB connected CD/DVD Drive.  This has been
causing me frustration since the invent of the CD.  Currently I am running Windows 7 32bit on a Sony Vaio Computer.  4G Ram.  Should I
always have to pre format all Media prior to writing? 

Should I always have to pre format all Media prior to writing?

Why should you have to pre format a CD?!  No, you don't have to.

Try downloading PowerISO.
http://www.poweriso.com/

[Moderator]

What happens when you try to write do a disc?

This has been causing me frustration since the invent of the CD.

Since 1984? You are still using the same hardware? Wow.

You need to preformat CD-RW disks but not CD-R ones.

Gives me a message that their is DATA on the DisK

[Moderator]

What is the exact message?

What program(s) do you use to burn CDs/DVDs?
Did you try different program?

Gives me a message that their is DATA on the DisK

What kind of disc are you using?

You need to preformat CD-RW disks but not CD-R ones.

I was not aware of this an apparently neither are the cd-rw disk that I have used in the past with out preformating.

the cd-rw disk that I have used in the past with out preformating.

Maybe I'm getting confused with something else then. The first time I use a brand new CD-RW or DVD-RW straight out of the pack, Nero shows a message "formatting disk" before burning. It does not show this with a CD-R or DVD-R or +R and does not show it on subsequent burns.

Just for @@@@ and giggles I decided to try it, I really couldn't remember.  A brand new RW disk needed to be formatted before I could write to it.

I was not aware of this an apparently neither are the cd-rw disk that I have used in the past with out preformating.

Perhaps you have your software set up to perform a silent quick format?