Method and apparatus for formatting and initialization of re-writable optical media using multiple tracks

A software driven method for initializing a re-writable optical media (RW media), the method comprising:

• code for formatting the RW media;
• code for writing initialization packets to the RW media;
• code for verifying the initialization packets, wherein the writing and verifying of initialization packets is processed as a background operation while allowing a user to interact with the RW media;
• and
• code for interrupting the writing and verifying and for closing a session on the media, the closed session enabling the RW media to be compatible for use in an optical media device requiring the closed session to interact with the RW media, the method further including,
• code for opening the closed session;
• code for calculating a length for an alignment track;
• code for writing the alignment track;
• code for opening a new fixed packet track on the RW media;
• and
• code for resuming the writing and verifying of initialization packets in the new fixed packet track on the RW media.

A method for initialization of a multi-track re-writable optical media (RW media), comprising:

• formatting the RW media;
• initializing the RW media, the initializing including writing and verifying a packet for user data to the RW media;
• closing a session on the RW media;
• opening the session on the RW media;
• calculating a length of an alignment track;
• writing the alignment track;
• opening a new fixed packet track on the RW media;
• and
• resuming the initializing of the RW media in the new fixed packet track.