I have an acer aspire 5100 i want to use the backup system on my newly restored system, as i was having to many beginner problems, and now it's new again & running swimmingly, however this is my ?? When I erase the 4.7gb dvd do i have to reformat every single time,I want to do a backup. It asks for a date but if it's not formatted it says the disc hasn't been formatted. Do i have to format while backup, can i format ahead of time or once erased do i have to reformat at all???? I'm using the windows already installed backup system or is the "empowering techology"erecovery, or emamagement program should be used. So that is what i need to know how and where??

Yes it is a dvd-rw, and yes i can format live or mastered i hear live file is best for files and mastered best for music, but i don't know that is another story.

Well thats interesting, is there really such a difference i mean the RW just means you can write over and over where the R you can only do it once...RIGHT!, well my question still remains can i backup either through windows or erecovery but once the dvd is erased do i have to reformat the DVD....????