Format a CD
To format a CD before he writes to it?

You can write to a CD two different ways.


ISO 9660 format
Use a program to combine a bunch of stuff and record all at once. This is what the tool built into Windows XP does, formatting the disc as part of the burning process.


Universal Disk Format (UDF)
UDF is a form of packet writing. It writes files one at a time. You need to format the disc using something like Roxio's Drag-to-Disc (formerly DirectCD).