If your computer is equipped with a compact disc (CD) recorder, you can back up files or folders to a compact disc-recordable (CD-R) or a compact disc-rewritable (CD-RW). This article describes how to back up files or folders to a CD-R or a CD-RW.
Copy files and folders to a CDTo copy files and folders to a CD:
- Insert a blank writable CD into the CD recorder.
- Double-click My Computer, and then click the files or folders that you want to copy to the CD. To select more than one file, hold down the CTRL key while you click the files you want.
- Click any of the following options:
- Copy this file
- Copy this folder
- Copy the selected items
- In the Copy Items dialog box, click the CD recording drive, and then click Copy.
- In My Computer, double-click the CD recording drive.
Windows displays a temporary area where the files are held before they are copied to the CD. Check that the files and folders that you intend to copy to the CD are displayed under Files Ready to Be Written to the CD.
- Under CD Writing Tasks, click Write to CD.
- After the CD Writing Wizard starts, follow the instructions in the wizard.
- When the process is finished, the wizard displays a check box for you to choose to create another CD like the one you just made. If you want to create multiple copies of the same CD, click Yes, write these files to another CD and insert another blank, writable CD into the CD recorder. Follow the instructions in the wizard. NOTE: After you copy files or folders to the CD, it is useful to view the CD to confirm that the files are copied.
Delete CD recorder temporary filesTo delete files and folders from the CD recorder temporary storage area:
- Double-click My Computer, and then double-click the CD recording drive.
Windows displays a temporary storage area where files are held before they are copied to the CD. Files or folders located in the temporary storage area are listed under Files Ready to Be Written to the CD.
- Under CD Writing Tasks, click Delete temporary files.
Windows deletes the files and folders from the temporary storage area and moves them to the Recycle Bin. NOTE: When you delete the contents of the temporary storage area, you make this area available for another set of files and folders that you want to copy to the CD. The files are not deleted from their original location on your computer or from the CD.
- Older CD recorders may not create (or "burn") CD-RW discs. To resolve this issue, use the CD recorder to back up information to CD-R discs.
- You can erase and use CD-RW discs again, but the discs may not play in other devices (such as audio CD players). To resolve this issue, use the CD recorder to back up information on CD-R discs. These discs can be written only once, but they play in most CD players and CD-ROM drives.
- CD recording may fail intermittently. To resolve this issue, use any of the following methods:
- Defragment your hard disk regularly. To start Disk Defragmenter, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Disk Defragmenter.
- Check your hard disk for errors regularly. You can use the Error-checking tool to check for file system errors and bad sectors on your hard disk:
- Double-click My Computer, and then click the local disk that you want to check.
- On the File menu, click Properties.
- Click the Tools tab, and then click Check Now in the Error-checking section.
- In the Check disk options section, click to select the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors check box.
- Be sure to free up enough hard disk space for the files you want to burn to CD. You can use Disk Cleanup to free up space on your hard disk. To open Disk Cleanup, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Disk Cleanup.
- Before you start the recording process, close all other programs (such as screen savers and anti-virus software), and avoid starting programs that may interrupt the recording process.
Article ID: 306524 - Last Review: Oct 22, 2008 - Revision: 1