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Windows XP

Making a CD Copy

Windows allows you to make duplicate copies of a CD. This is useful when you need to share a large amount of files (e.g., entire websites) with members of a group. If these files are stored on a CD, it could be duplicated so each group member has a copy of the necessary files.

WARNING: The use of computer lab CD burners to make copies of music or software CDs is illegal without permission from the copyright owner. Persons engaged in such activity could be prosecuted if caught. For more information, see the UW-Eau Claire Copyright Office's web site.

This document contains information on the following:

return to topConsiderations

Many computers on campus have only one CD drive, the CD burner itself. When burning a CD on computers with only one drive, you must first copy the files or folders from the original CD onto the computer's hard-drive--or another location of your choice. You can then move the copied files to the CD drive's temporary storage space. The computer uses this space to store the files that are waiting to be written to the CD. After the CD has been copied, the temporary files will be deleted from the computer's hard-drive.

When creating a CD, data must write at a constant rate or the write may fail. Therefore, it is not recommended to copy the files to a shared drive since the number of people logged on to a shared drive at any given time impacts the speed of data transmission.

It may take up to one half-hour to transfer the files from the original disc to the computer's hard-drive, and up to another half-hour to burn the CD, so plan your time accordingly. If you abort the CD recording process while the CD is recording, the blank disc will be ruined.

The CD burner drives on campus are able to write to a CD in increments, which means you can start creating a CD at one time and add more data to it later.

return to topCopying Files from an Original CD

When making copies of CD's, you can choose to either use all of the files on a CD to make a copy of the CD in its entirety, or copy select files from the original CD.

  1. Insert original CD into the CD drive
    The Autoplay dialog box appears while the computer is reading the CD.
    When the computer is finished reading the CD, the CD Drive dialog box appears.

  2. In the CD Drive dialog box, click CANCEL

  3. On the Desktop, double click MY COMPUTER

  4. From the Devices with Removable Storage section, right click the CD drive » select Open
    HINT: The CD drive can be recognized by the name of the original disc followed by the letter of the drive in parentheses (e.g., English 409 (D:)).
    The files contained on the CD will appear in the CD Drive dialog box.
    Location of CD Drive

  5. From the CD Drive dialog box, select the file(s) and folder(s) you want to copy
    HINTS:
    To select multiple non-contiguous files, press and hold [Ctrl] as you select the files
    To select multiple contiguous files, press and hold [Shift] as you  select the files

  6. From the Edit menu, select Copy
    OR
    Press [Ctrl] + [C]
    The Copy Items dialog box appears.

  7. From the Copy Items dialog box, select the location where you would like to temporarily store the files

  8. Click COPY
    The files copy to the selected location.
    If you are copying larger files, the Copying... dialog box will appear. It will disappear after the files have been copied.

  9. After copying is complete, eject the CD

  10. Replace the original CD with the blank CD-R or CD-RW
    The Autoplay dialog box appears while the computer is reading the CD.
    When the computer is finished reading the CD, the CD Drive dialog box appears.

  11. Click CANCEL

  12. Continue with instructions for Moving Files to Temporary Storage

return to topMoving the Files to Temporary Storage

After all files have been copied and you have inserted the blank CD, you need to move the files to the CD drive's temporary storage space.

  1. Using the Address pull-down list, navigate to the location of the copied files
    OR
    From the Hard Disk Drives list, navigate to the location of the copied files
    The copied files appear.

  2. Select the files you just copied
    File and Folder Tasks Menu

  3. From File and Folder Tasks, click MOVE THE SELECTED ITEMS
    The Move Items dialog box appears.
    Move Items dialog box

  4. Select the CD Drive

  5. Click MOVE
    NOTES:
    The files move automatically.
    If you are moving larger files, the Moving dialog box will appear. It will disappear when all of the files have been moved.
    It may take up to 30 minutes to move large files.

  6. After all of the files have been moved, from the Address pull-down list, select CD Drive (E:)
    The files that have been successfully moved appear in the CD Drive dialog box.

  7. From CD Writing Tasks, click WRITE THESE FILES TO CD
    CD Writing Tasks
    The CD Writing Wizard appears.  

  8. Continue with instructions for Writing Files to the CD

return to topWriting Files to the CD

The CD Writing Wizard is the program tool that actually writes the CD. It is a quick and easy way to create a CD with the files you've selected.

  1. In the CD Name text box, type the name you would like to give the new CD and click NEXTCD Writing Wizard
    The files are now being written to the CD.
    NOTE: CD write time varies depending on the write speed and size of the files you are writing to the CD.

  2. Click FINISH

  3. Eject the CD
    NOTE: Depending on your setup, the CD may eject automatically when the writing process is finished.

  4. Remove the CD from the CD drive

  5. Close the CD drive
    The temporary files will automatically be deleted.

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