Why limited to 4.0 GB

[gstraub]

Why am I limited to putting just 4.0 GB or less on a 4.7 disc. I am using either Sonic RecordNow or dragging/dropping. I'm using Windows XP

[manono]

Hello, and welcome to the forum,

Why am I limited to putting just 4.0 GB or less on a 4.7 disc.

You're not. First, let's clear up the 4.7GB confusion:
How come my 4.7 GB disc isn’t really 4.7 GB?
Like hard drives, 1 GB on a DVD recordable disc equals 1 000 000 000 (109) bytes. In contrast, a computer considers 1 GB to be 1 073 741 824 (230) bytes. Thus, a 4.7 GB disc is seen by a computer as having approximately 4.37 GB.
http://www.anandtech.com/guides/viewfaq.html?i=118

So, a DVDR holds roughly 4.37GB of data, a DVD-R a bit more than a DVD+R (4487MB .vs 4483MB). I fill all my DVD+Rs to between 4475-4480MB every time. There's nothing to prevent you from completely filling the disc. I don't use that Sonic program, and have no idea if or how it restricts you.

[jggimi]

If you are creating a data DVD, the filesystem used on data CDs/DVDs is CD9660, which has a 4GB limit.

Video DVDs use a "bridge" structure which is partially UDF and partially CD9660 to avoid that limitation.

[setarip_old]

@gstraub

Hi!

Another distinct possibility is that in your process you are trying to create and write to your hard drive a SINGLE file (perhaps an .ISO image file) that would be greater than 4Gb in size.

If your hard drive is formatted as "NTFS", this will not present a problem. However, if your hard drive is formatted as "FAT32", the maximum individual filesize is limited to 4Gb...

[FishTank]

I don't use that Sonic program, and have no idea if or how it restricts you.

theres no restriction what so ever.. (just FYI)

[manono]

Oh, thanks, FishTank. Then if I had to guess for the reason, I'd say it's the FAT32/NTFS thing, and setarip_old has the answer. Maybe we'll see.

[FishTank]

@manono, i think your first assumption was correct. nobody can
write 4.7gb on a 4.7gb DVD+R, only ~4.4gb. i think thats the
confusion he has, though i dont see why he only can burn 4gb or less.
sonic has the ability to "format" a disc. after that you can just
drag n' drop files onto it like a hdd. roxio easy cd something had
this also IIRC. that way, you probably lose space aswell and not
all dvdroms can probably read it.
however, as data-cd/dvd, theres no restriction as i mentioned. :)

I am using either Sonic RecordNow or dragging/dropping. I'm using Windows XP

if thats what he refers to as dragging/dropping, then thats the reason for the lost space.
i know you lose like 10-15mb on a cd, when you format it. no idea bout dvds though.