sharing a CD RW between Windows XP and Windows 8.1

I have a rewritable CD that I would really like to use to share files between a computer running XP, and my computer running 8.1. This is because the XP machine is in teenage hands and it tends to have viruses, and I think that viruses don't spread as often by CD as they do by flash drive (because the malware is usually not looking to write itself onto the CD drive). Thus, it seems that CD is safer in this case. Right?

the problem is how to format the CD. when I format it on my 8.1 machine, using either the default UDF 2.01 format, or the lowest available format (UDF 1.50), then it doesn't work on the XP machine: I can't write files to it.

and when I erase the disk and getting it working on the XP machine, then my 8.1 computer cannot see the files. It says it is a blank disk.

what to do?

addition: I found out that on the XP machine, I can burn a file onto the CD, and the windows 8.1 machine will open it.
but still two problems: I can't drag and drop, and I can't delete the file once it is burned.

Hi there,

first of all let me point out that the support on Windows XP is ending any day now. So it's not recommended to use Windows XP anymore. Especially on the internet!

More ontopic. The method of drag and drop you are describing isn't working between XP and 8.1. These two OS'es are just to different (e.a. there is more then 10 years between them which is very much in software land). As far as I can see you have two options left.

1. Burn the files on a RW and copy them to the new PC. Then eddit the files you need and create a new burn with the eddited files. Use NERO Burning ROM or any other burning software to burn.
2. Use a USB Flash drive and scan it everytime directly after inserting it to the pc.

Personally I would go for option 2. It's much easier and about as secure as using the RW.

I would also recommend you to upgrade the XP machine to another OS/ machine. Or to unplugg it from the internet. It's end of life and is becoming very dangerous very soon.


Greetz,

Rover

thanks snoober, the XP machine is in fact not hooked up to internet at all. that's part of its problem, because it doesn't get updates for antivirus very often, until I get around to doing it manually, and it never gets the windows updates at all.

it picks up viruses from infected flash drives, and I want to keep those dodgy flash drives away from my new PC if possible. they messed up my wife's windows 7 laptop a couple times.

Der Snoober said:

2. Use a USB Flash drive and scan it everytime directly after inserting it to the pc.

Click to expand...

In addition to helpful advice above, if you are concerned about the condition of a USB drive with respect to malware, you should disable Autoplay for USB devices or entirely.

This way, you can scan the USB drive with Malwarebytes without risk of spreading infection from it to computer (if you don't run anything from it manually before scanning, too.)

masterchief, that is much appreciated advice. I just turned it off. better safe than auto-sorry.

Good addition there, MasterChief!

Greetz,

Rover