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Windows Vista

Storing Files on a CD

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., photo albums) 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.

It is recommended that you review the LTS document Storing Files on a CD: Overview before attempting to burn your files to a CD.

WARNING: Burning copies of music or software CDs without permission from the copyright owner is illegal. Persons engaged in such activity could be prosecuted. For more information refer to the UW-Eau Claire Copyright website.

This document contains information on the following:

return to topCopying Files from a CD

Copying files from a CD to your computer can be useful when making copies of a CD. By copying the files to your system first, you only need one CD drive to make the copy. You can choose to use all the files on a CD or copy select files from it. This section provides directions on how to create a copy of a CD you have, by copying the files first to your hard drive and then to a blank disc.

  1. Insert the original CD into the CD drive
    As the computer is reading the CD, the Autoplay dialog box appears.
    NOTE: The Autoplay dialog box options change depending on what type of data the CD contains. The following image is an example of the dialog box as it appears for an audio CD.
    AutoPlay dialog box: Audio CD

  2. From the General options section, select Open folder to view files: using Windows Explorer
    Windows Explorer appears with the CD drive open in the Files list.

  3. From the File list, 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.

  4. Press [Ctrl] + [C]
    The selected files are copied to the Clipboard.

  5. Navigate to the location where you want to store the files

  6. Press [Ctrl] + [V]
    The files are pasted to the selected location.

  7. After copying is complete, remove the CD

  8. Continue with Writing Files to a CD

return to topWriting Files to a CD

Windows Vista makes it very simple to burn files onto a disc. You can copy and paste the files into the File list, or use Vista's Burn function.

Writing Files to a CD: Burn Option

Windows Vista Explorer has a built in Burn action that can be used to easily burn files or the contents of entire folders onto a CD or DVD.

HINT: If you have files from multiple folders to burn, it is recommended that you create a new folder on your C: drive or Desktop and copy all of the desired files into that folder for burning purposes. This centralizes your files and makes it easier to make sure you copy all the desired files.

  1. Insert a blank CD-R or CD-RW into the CD drive
    The AutoPlay dialog box appears.

  2. Click CLOSEClose button
    The AutoPlay dialog box closes.

  3. On the Taskbar, right click STARTStart button» select Explore
    Windows Explorer opens.

  4. Navigate to the folder or files you want to burn

  5. OPTIONAL: If you want only a few files from the folder, select those files individually
    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. On the Toolbar, click BURNBurn button
    The Copying dialog box appears.
    The file(s) are copied to the CD.
    NOTE: When the CD is done being burned, you can remove the disc.
    Copying dialog box

Writing Files to a CD: Copy & Paste Option

In Vista, you can also burn a CD by simply copying the files and then pasting them into the blank CD. The following directions assume you already have the desired files on your hard drive. For information on how to do this, refer to Copying Files from a CD.

HINT: If you have files from multiple folders to burn, it is recommended that you create a new folder on your C: drive or Desktop and copy all of the desired files into that folder for burning purposes. This centralizes your files and makes it easier to make sure you copy all the desired files.

  1. Insert a blank CD-R or CD-RW into the CD drive
    The AutoPlay dialog box appears.

  2. Click CLOSEClose button
    The AutoPlay dialog box closes.

  3. On the Taskbar, right click STARTStart button» select Explore
    Windows Explorer opens.

  4. Navigate to the folder or files you want to burn

  5. OPTIONAL: If you want only a few files from the folder, select those files individually
    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. Press [Ctrl] + [C]
    The selected files are copied to the Clipboard.

  7. In the Folders/Drives list, navigate to the CD drive

  8. Press [Ctrl] + [V]
    The Copying dialog box appears.
    The file(s) are copied to the CD.
    NOTE: When the CD is done being burned, you can remove the disc.
    Copying dialog box

Writing Files to a CD: Drag & Drop Option

Another way to copy files onto a CD, once they have been copied to the hard drive, is to simply drag and drop the desired files into the File list for the blank CD.

HINT: If you have files from multiple folders to burn, it is recommended that you create a new folder on your C: drive or Desktop and copy all of the desired files into that folder for burning purposes. This centralizes your files and makes it easier to make sure you copy all the desired files.

  1. Insert a blank CD-R or CD-RW into the CD drive

  2. If the AutoPlay window appears, select Open folder to view files: using Windows Explorer
    If the Explorer window appears, continue with step 3
    If neither the AutoPlay window or Windows Explorer appears, on the Taskbar, right click STARTStart button» select Explore
    Windows Explorer opens.

  3. Navigate to the folder or files you want to burn

  4. OPTIONAL: If you want only a few select from the folder, select those files individually
    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.

  5. Click and hold the mouse on the highlighted files

  6. Drag the files to the open CD drive Files list

  7. Release the mouse button
    The Copying dialog box appears.
    The file(s) are copied to the CD.
    NOTE: When the CD is done being burned, you can remove the disc.
    Copying dialog box

return to topDeleting Files from a CD

These instructions assume you have already added files and/or folders to the CD. If you are using a CD-R disc, you can delete files but the space taken up by those files will not be returned to the disc. In other words, on CD-R discs there is a limited amount of space, and once it is used up it cannot be made available again. If you are using a CD-RW disc the storage space will be freed up when files are deleted. For information about the difference between the two disc types, refer to Storing Files on a CD: Overview.

  1. Insert the original CD into the CD drive
    As the computer is reading the CD, the Autoplay dialog box appears.
    NOTE: The Autoplay dialog box options change depending on what type of data the CD contains. The following image is an example of the dialog box as it appears for an audio CD.
    AutoPlay dialog box: Audio CD

  2. From the General options section, select Open folder to view files: using Windows Explorer
    Windows Explorer appears with the CD drive open in the Files list.

  3. Select the files or folders you want to delete
    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. Press [Delete]
    A confirmation dialog box will appear.

  5. Click YES
    The file(s) is removed.

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