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    Can data become fragmented in an optical disc?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by hendra, Jul 21, 2009.

  1. hendra

    hendra Notebook Virtuoso

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    When burning data in an optical disc, can data or video become fragmented like the way it is with a mechanical hard disk?

    If the answer is yes, do I have to let the computer to be completely idle when burning to prevent fragmentation?
     
    hendra, Jul 21, 2009
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  2. newsposter

    newsposter Notebook Virtuoso

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    no

    Hesitant as I am to recommend anything 'wiki', the Wikipedia (gasp) can usually be counted on to offer relatively accurate information on purely technical matters.

    Don't worry about 'optical disk fragmentation' (who put that idea in your head?).

    On the other paw, it is possible to busy-out a system to the point where it's unable to maintain a constant uninterrupted stream of data to an optical burner. This is called 'f-ing up' and is well known in burner circles.
     
    newsposter, Jul 21, 2009
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  3. flipfire

    flipfire Moderately Boss

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    No fragmentation occurs when an OS cannot write a file as a whole or when it cannot write on parts of a disk.

    So instead it will write it on another part of the disk. Thus it fragments/splits up. This doesnt happen to optical discs since the files you burn are all in one piece.
     
    flipfire, Jul 21, 2009
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  4. Angelic

    Angelic Kickin' back :3

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    Since data can't be moved around on a disc, it has no possible way to become *fragmented*.
     
    Angelic, Jul 21, 2009
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  5. sirmetman

    sirmetman Notebook Virtuoso

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    Well, I wouldn't go far as to say no possible way... but you'd have to be using burning software written by a significantly boneheaded programmer. :)
     
    sirmetman, Jul 21, 2009
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  6. davepermen

    davepermen Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    actually, if you use that live-disk filesystem that vista supports, where you can use a cd like a floppy, then yes, as it will write the whole "history" of the happenings on disk till it's filled.

    not that i like that file system at all :)


    oh, and gamedevs actively fragment and dublicate data on disks so they can have the fastest access times, depending on where you are in the game.


    but by normally burning a typical data or music disk, no, it can't.
     
    davepermen, Jul 21, 2009
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