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Asked: 2024-09-25T12:34:15+05:30 In:

How can I determine the storage capacity of a blank CD on my Ubuntu system?

I’m in a bit of a pickle and could really use some help from anyone who’s dealt with this before. So, I just found an old stack of blank CDs sitting in my drawer, and I’m trying to figure out how much data I can actually put on one of them using my Ubuntu system. I know that standard CDs hold about 700 MB, but I’ve heard that there might be ways to check the actual storage capacity directly from my system.

First off, I’m not even sure if there are any tools already included in Ubuntu that could help me with this. I’ve done some digging around and checked the usual places, but I couldn’t find anything that straightforward. I’m not super tech-savvy, so if there’s a command line option, it would be cool if you could break it down for me.

I also wonder if different brands of CDs might have different capacities or if they’re all pretty standard. For instance, do I need to pay attention to whether they’re labeled as “write once” or “rewritable”? Does that change how I should check their capacity?

I also thought about using some kind of graphical tool, since I find it much easier to navigate that way. Is there an app or utility that you would recommend? And if I go down that route, can I just pop the CD in and then get the info I need, or are there some steps I should be aware of?

It seems like a simple enough task, but I don’t want to waste time figuring it out the hard way if someone out there already has the knowledge. So if you have tips or any specific commands that I could use (and maybe even some screenshots if you’re feeling generous), I would really appreciate it. I just want to make sure I get the most out of these CDs before they gather more dust! Thanks in advance for any help!

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    2 Answers


    1. To check the storage capacity of your blank CDs on an Ubuntu system, you can use the command line tool cdrecord, which is typically included in most Linux distributions. First, open a terminal and install cdrkit if you don’t already have it by running sudo apt install cdrkit. Once it’s installed, you can insert your CD and run the command sudo cdrecord -minfo /dev/cdrw (make sure to replace /dev/cdrw with the appropriate device for your CD writer, which you can check with lsblk). This command will display detailed information about the CD, including its total capacity and available space. Keep in mind that while standard CDs typically hold about 700 MB, factors like the manufacturer or specific CD type can slightly affect this capacity.

      For those who prefer a graphical interface, you might find K3b to be a helpful application. You can install it using sudo apt install k3b. When you launch K3b after inserting the CD, it will automatically recognize the media and display the available space. Regarding your question about “write once” CDs (CD-R) versus “rewritable” CDs (CD-RW), yes, that distinction does affect how you should use and check their capacities. While CD-Rs are typically used for one-time writes, and the data cannot be erased, CD-RWs allow multiple write cycles. Thus, if you insert a CD-RW and already have data on it, K3b will show you the available space remaining on that disk.




    2. Checking CD Capacity on Ubuntu

      How to Check CD Capacity on Ubuntu

      Finding out how much data you can put on those old CDs is pretty straightforward! Here are some steps and tools you can use.

      Using the Terminal

      Even if you’re not super tech-savvy, using the terminal isn’t too scary!

      1. First, pop a CD into your drive.
      2. Open the Terminal. You can find it by searching for “Terminal” in your applications.
      3. Type the following command and hit Enter:
        4. sudo apt-get install cdinfo
      4. Once that’s done, run:
        5. cdinfo /dev/sr0
      5. This should give you information about your CD, including its capacity!

      Graphical Tools

      If the terminal feels like a bit much, no worries! You can use graphical tools instead:

      1. Install K3b as it’s a user-friendly application for managing CDs and DVDs. Type this in Terminal:
        2. sudo apt-get install k3b
      2. After installation, open K3b.
      3. Popping in your CD should automatically prompt you with options where you can check its info.

      Brands and Types of CDs

      Regarding different brands:

      • Most standard CDs hold about 700 MB, but some may have slightly different capacities.
      • Check if they are labeled as “write once” (CD-R) or “rewritable” (CD-RW), but this usually doesn’t affect the capacity much.

      Final Tips

      Always make sure your CD drive is properly recognized by your system. If you run into issues, try restarting your computer with the CD in the drive.

      Good luck with those CDs! Happy burning!


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