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Windows XP

Saving Files to a Compact Disc

The Compact Disc (CD) drives found on many computers on campus can be used to write files to CDs as a way of archiving and sharing information with others. Computers equipped with a CD writer have a type of drive called a CD-RW (Compact Disc, Rewritable) drive. To determine which General Access labs have CD writers, please see Lab Management's Lab Location Map & Detailed Lab Descriptions page.

A blank CD can hold about 750 MB of information. This makes CDs an ideal medium to use for backing up important documents or even an entire H: drive.

WARNING: The use of CD writers to make copies of music or software 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

All campus computers equipped with CD writers have a type of drive called CD-RW, for Compact Disc, Rewritable. These drives can write data to both CD-R and CD-RW discs. Both discs will function the same way and can hold about the same amount of information. While CD-RW discs are more expensive, they do have a significant advantage in that they allow you to delete, rename, and rearrange files like any other drive or disk. CD-R discs cannot be erased or manipulated.

NOTES:
The number of people logged on to a shared drive at any given time impacts the speed of data transmission. When writing a CD, data must write at a constant rate or the write may fail. For that reason, you will achieve more reliable results if the file you are writing is located on your C: drive. We recommend that before you begin writing a CD, you copy the file you want to write from its current location (e.g., H: drive) to your C: drive. For more information on copying files, see File Management within Office XP Programs.

The CD writers have the ability to write to a CD in increments, which means you can start writing a CD in one sitting and add more data to it later.

For more information, see CD Creation FAQs.

return to topOpening the CD Drive Folder

Writing CDs in Windows XP uses the same process as moving files in Windows Explorer.

  1. Log on to a computer

  2. Insert your CD-R or CD-RW disc into the CD drive
    A dialog box appears.
    NOTES:
    On computers with two CD drives, the CD writer bears this logo:
    CDRW logo
    The logo on some computers may read Compact Disc Recordable/Rewriteable.

  3. If the CD is blank, continue with step 4
    If the CD contains files, continue with Adding Files and Folders to the CD

  4. Select Open writeable CD folder using Windows Explorer

  5. Click OK
    The CD Drive dialog box opens.

return to topAdding Files and Folders to the CD

Adding files and folders to the CD follows the same process as adding files to any other drive (e.g., a floppy disk).

NOTE: The number of people logged on to a shared drive at any given time impacts the speed of data transmission. When writing a CD, data must write at a constant rate or the write may fail. For that reason, you will achieve more reliable results if the file you are writing is located on your C: drive. We recommend that before you begin writing a CD, you copy the file you want to write from its current location (e.g., H: drive) to your C: drive.

  1. Open the CD Drive folder
    The CD Drive dialog box opens and all files currently on the CD are displayed.

  2. Using Windows Explorer, locate the files you wish to write to the CD

  3. Select the files
    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

  4. Right click the selected files » select Copy
    The files are copied.

  5. In the CD Drive folder, right click » select Paste
    The files are pasted into the folder.
    CD Drive folder

return to topRemoving Files and Folders from the CD

These instructions assume you have already added files and/or folders to the CD. For information on how to do this, see Adding Files and Folders to the CD. If you determine you do not want to write a particular file to the CD, you may easily remove the file. You can remove files from the CD as long as you have not started the writing process.

  1. From the CD Drive folder, select the files or folders you do not wish to write to the CD
    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] while using the up or down arrow key to select the files

  2. From the File and Folder Tasks section, click DELETE THIS FILE or DELETE THE SELECTED ITEMS

  3. In the Confirmation File Delete dialog box, click YES
    The file(s) is removed.

return to topWriting the CD

These instructions assume you have already added files and/or folders to the CD. For information on how to do this, see Adding Files and Folders to the CD. 

  1. In the CD Writing Task section, click WRITE THESE FILES TO CD
    The CD Writing Wizard appears.
    CD Writing Wizard

  2. In the CD name text box, type a name for the CD and click NEXT
    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.

  3. When the writing process is completed, click FINISH

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

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