How to Use the CD/DVD Burner
Please comply with relevant U.S.
copyright law.
CDs vs. CD-Rs vs. CD-RWs
CDs are
compact discs containing audio or data
files which can be read from but not
written to.
CD-Rs
are CDs that can be written to but whose
files cannot be overwritten. That is,
you can write data or audio to half the
disk one day and then fill up the rest
of the desk the next day, but you cannot
delete what you've already written.
CD-RWs
are CDs that can be written to and
overwritten several dozen times. CD-RWs
are more expensive than CD-Rs and cannot
be read by some CD-ROM drives, whereas
CD-Rs can be read by all but the oldest,
most primitive CD-ROM drives.
Can I burn
DVDs?
Yes, the CD/DVD burner can write to
DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-R and DVD-RW discs.
How do I burn a CD?
When you go to burn a CD, you should
first decide if you want to have it
store data files (such as what you might
find on a floppy disk or hard drive) or
if you want it to behave like an audio
CD. CDs that store data can certainly
store many types of audio files (like
MP3s), but are typically stored all in
one data track. CDs set up to behave
like audio CDs typically have separate
audio tracks which can be sorted, named,
and have gaps inserted in between them
and thus behave more like a store-bought
CD.
The CD/DVD burning software on library
PCs is Nero
Express 6. Those
familiar with this software may know
that it can be used in several ways to
burn CDs. For those who are not, the
following steps cover most CD
burning needs:
- Before you begin, be sure you have
plenty of time at the PC to burn a CD.
A half-hour is sufficient for most
purposes. If you run out of time on
the PC, the PC will reboot even if you
are in the middle of a recording
session. If this happens, you will not
be able to resume the recording
session when the PC restarts, but
instead will have to start the session
all over again.
- Click the Start button, then
Run. Type "nero" (without the quotes)
and click OK. This starts Nero
Express.
- Near the top of the window, under
where it asks "Which recorder would
you like to use?",
- Under where it asks "What would
you like to burn?" you'll see
different options (Data, Music,
etc.). Move your mouse pointer over
an option to read its description.
- After you choose an option, you
will be prompted to add files. Click
the Add button, navigate to where
your files are, then click the
Finished button. Repeat this step as
needed.
- After you have added all your
files, click the Next button. Enter
a Disc name (for data CDs) or
Title/Artist text (for audio CDs).
- For some types of CDs (e.g.,
data), you can check the option to
"Allow files to be added later (multisession
disc)."
- Click the Burn button.
- If you have not already done so,
you will be prompted to insert a CD-R
or CD-RW into the CD drive.
- While waiting for the CD burning
process to complete, be sure to move
the mouse every few minutes. This is
necessary because after five minutes
of inactivity from the keyboard and
mouse, the PC restarts, even if the PC
is in the middle of a recording
session.
- When the burn process is
complete, click OK, then the Exit
button. Remember to take your CD!
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