How to Erase a CD or CD-RW in Windows [2025 Tutorial]

Updated by

Tracy King 

Written by

Oliver 

Updated on Jan 23, 2025

The early models of computers used to have CD-ROM, which many people used to store and transfer data from one computer to another. But today, these CD-ROMs are replaced by USB ports, which are more efficient and faster. However, some computers still have CD-ROM at the current time. Due to this reason, some people are still using the CD-RW disc to transfer data.

A lot of different reusable CDs can still be found in some shops. These CD data can be erased to use them once again. Therefore, we will guide you on how to erase a CD or CD-RW disc and use it for a long time in this article from EaseUS.

Before we move toward erasing a CD, it is essential to remember that its data cannot be recovered once a CD is erased. Therefore, you should create a backup of your CD before erasing it to ensure your data is safe and secure.

Method 1. Wipe a CD and Make Data Unrecoverable with EaseUS Partition Master

The first method you can follow to wipe your CD disc is using a third-party tool that provides storage management features. Here, we recommend using the EaseUS Partition Master as a free and one of the most reliable software for disk management. With the help of this tool, you can wipe your CD and ensure it is unrecoverable.

Many businesses and individuals are using this tool according to their needs. It also enables its users to partition and format drives. Furthermore, they can also use it to create a WinPE bootable disk as required. Now, let's check out the steps below to see how you can erase a CD with the help of this software.

Step 1. Connect the external devices to the PC. Then, right-click the external device, and choose "Wipe Disk".

Step 2. Set the number of times to wipe data. (You can set to 10 at most.) Then click "OK".

Step 3. Click "Execute 1 Task(s)" and then click "Apply".

To help your friends who also need to erase their CD or CD-RW, share this data destruction software with them!

Method 2. Erase a CD in Windows File Explorer

The second method you can follow to erase a CD-RW disc is done with the help of Windows File Explorer. Now, to understand how this process works, take a look at the steps below:

Step 1. To erase a CD, you will first need to insert it into your computer. Then, click the "This PC" icon on the home screen of your PC to access Windows Explorer.

Step 2. Then, from Windows Explorer, right-click on the "DVD" icon to access the extended menu. Select the "Erase this disc" option and follow the on-screen instructions to clear or erase a CD-RW there.

If you cannot find the CD on your computer, don't panic. Read the following article, and it might have your answers.

7 Best Ways to Fix CD/DVD Missing or Not Showing Up in Windows 10/8/7

To help users troubleshoot their CD/DVD disc drive not showing up, here we will show you 7 ways that fix the CD/DVD disc drive missing in Windows 10. Try each of the solutions until the drive icon is back on your PC. Read more >>

Tips to Keep CD Performs Well After Erasing

If you have successfully erased your CD, it is time to follow some tips that can help you enhance your disk performance. In addition, you can also use EaseUS Partition Master to run a disk performance test.

For tips to keep CD performing well after erasing, take a look down below:

If this article has helped you erase a CD or CD-RW, don't forget to share it on your social media!

Conclusion

Summarizing this, it is essential to erase your CD or CD-RW before reusing them. This will help you erase the previous unwanted data to have more space for new data. In addition, you can also use the EaseUS Partition Master to format CDs/DVDs without facing issues.

This fantastic CD data eraser software has many exciting features, like cloning a hard drive, partition recovery, and more. These features can be beneficial for businesses and individuals who want to manage their storage devices more efficiently.

FAQs About CD Erase

If you still have some questions about how to erase a CD-RW, then there is no need to stress out. Here, you can read the following FAQs to clear your queries.

1. How to erase a CD when it's write-protected?

Some CDs are write-protected so that the data stored in them cannot be erased. This helps to keep data secure for a long time. But in case you need to erase one of these kinds of discs, then you can follow these simple steps:

• Insert the write-protected CD into your computer CD-ROM and open the "Start" menu. There, type "run" in the search box and then open the "Run" command as it appears. Following this, type cmd into the "Run" box.
• After this, type $ rmformat -w disable device-name (without quotes). Then press "Enter," and CMD will erase the write-protected CD in a few minutes.

2. Can I erase a CD-RW?

Yes, you can easily erase a CD-RW disc by following two different methods. These methods include erasing CDs with EaseUS Partition Master or with Windows File Explorer.

3. How to erase a CD-RW using Windows Media Player?

To reuse a CD-RW whose files are already "burned," you will first need to erase the content of your CD. For this, you can use the Windows Media Player by following the process given below:

• Insert the CD-RW that you want to reuse in your computer. After this, search for Windows Media Player and open it on your system.
• Then click on the "Library" tab and right-click on your CD-RW from the left panel of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear, from which you have to choose the "Erase Disc" feature to successfully erase the CD-RW.

4. How to Format a CD-R?

Formatting a CD-R is a straightforward process. You can understand the complete process from the steps given below:

• Open your computer's disc drive and insert the CD-RW in it. Wait for Windows to recognize it and display its icon in the Windows File Explorer. Once the disc icon is displayed, right-click on it to select the "Format" option.
• Choose UDF 2.01, 2.50, or 2.60 as the file system and press "OK" to confirm. This will initiate the formatting process of your CD-R.