I have three PCs and wish to use RW dics which I move between them.
I find I can generally read RWs fomatted/written on another PC but not then add data files to them.
(In one case I can't read it either; it wrongly reports an unused RW with the consequent risk that I may overwrite it.)

My PCs are
1.   A 3-year old IBM laptop with Windows XP(SP2) auto-updated and with 'Record Now'  pre-loaded.
2.   A new tower with Windows XP(SP2) auto-updated and with Nero Essentials.
3.   An old desk machine with Windows 98SE and VOB.

Main problem is that a DVD-RW formatted and written on (1) appears to be a blank disc on (2) - very dangerous.
Secondary problem is that I can't add files to a data DVD-RW written on any other machine, even if I can read it.

Is there a way to make all the RWs (a) readable (b) alterable on all three machines wherever they have been formatted/written?
I could upgrade the 98 machine to XP if that is relevent.
I am happy to put, say, Nero on all machines but I thought it was Windows that was doing the formatting?

You're going to need the same packet writing software on all 3, i.e. record now, or nero's InCD.

However, I don't suggest packet writing (this is what you're using) as it is "extremely" unreliable.

I would go with DVD RAM it's reliable and works the same as you are doing now.

(in reply to jrk)

Sounds to me like you are using Packet Writing... Nero's InCD to drag/drop data to your RW disc.  You need to insure that InCD is installed or the InCD reader... That said, I feel like I should tell you that Packet Writing is unreliable and I do not use it.  If you need to recover data on a RW disc done with Packet Writing software, consider investing $30 or so on IsoBuster.

Also, not sure if your optical drives are capable of reading/writing DVD-RAM disc, but if you want to drag/drop files, that is the only way to go IMO.

(in reply to jrk)