To avert these problems, I wrote a quick and dirty AppleScript to allow regular users to erase CDRWs. The script is simple and straightforward (mainly due to my lack of AppleScript experience), but it does provide a relatively simple, safe way to erase rewritable discs.
Read the rest of the article for the script.
(*[Editor's note: I have not tried this script myself.]
Erase ReWritable Media
2002 Nathan Teske
Calls'hdiutil burn -erase' to erase rewritable media¬
without the terminal or Disk Utility
*)
beep
display dialog "Erase a rewritable disc?" buttons {"Cancel", "Yes"}¬
default button "Cancel" with icon note
set the user_choice to the button returned of the result
if the user_choice is "Yes" then
display dialog "Are you sure you want to erase a disc?" & return & return & ¬
"You cannot undo this action." buttons {"Cancel", "OK"} default button "Cancel" with icon alert
set the user_choice to the button returned of the result
if the user_choice is "OK" then
display dialog "Press OK and insert your disc. It may take several minutes to erase your disc."
do shell script "hdiutil burn -erase"
display dialog "Your disc has been erased." buttons {"•"} default button 1 giving up after 10
end if
end if

