How to Burn a CD with Windows XP's Integrated Software

Burning a CD in Windows XP is a lot easier than most people think. In fact, it has become a lot like copying files to a floppy disk. In this tutorial we will show you how to copy files from your computer's hard drive to a blank CD-R disk.

Before we begin, lets get come terminology out of the way. To write information to CDs, your computer must be equipped with a drive that is capable of doing this. These drives are called CD-RW drives. Most new computers are equipped with them, or with drives that burn DVDs as well as CDs.

Once you know you have a CD-RW drive in your computer, next you will need a blank CD to record to. Blank CDs can be purchased in spindles of anywhere from 25 to 100 discs from your local computer store or Wal-Mart. There are two different basic types of discs. CD-Recordable (CD-R) discs are one-time use CDs. You can not erase them or reuse them once they have been written to. CD-Rewritable (CD-RW) discs can be erased and reused.

But before you decide to buy a fist full of CD-RW discs, there are some tradeoffs. CD-RW discs are about four times more expensive than CD-R discs. Also, keep in mind that if the CD becomes scratched it is unusable no matter what type it is. CD-RW discs can *technically* be used hundreds of times. However, we have yet to see someone use a CD-RW disc 100 times and not scratch it. Also, CD-RW discs will work fine in your CD-RW drive on your computer, but they will not work in audio CD players (like in your car) or in some older computers.

With that out of the way, lets burn some files! Insert your blank CD-R or CD-RW disc into your CD-RW drive. You might see a window similar to the one on the right.

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