Creating a Data CD using Roxio Easy CD Creator 5

 Dell OptiPlex GX200 and higher model computers are equipped with a rewritable compact disk drive (CD-RW drive). The CD-RW drive is an effective tool for creating quick backup copies of selected computer data.

 To create a CD, you will use a blank compact disk called a CD-R (recordable compact disk), or CD-RW (rewritable compact disk). The CD-R can only be recorded-to one time, which means you will use it to store data that does not require modification. The CD-RW can be erased and rerecorded.

 The software program native to the Town's XP computers is called Roxio Easy CD Creator 5. Roxio allows you to create the following types of CD’s:

1. Compilation disk – A permanent copy of selected data on your computer.
2. Backup copy of a CD – An exact duplicate of an existing data CD.
3. DirectCD – A CD that can be used in the same way as a floppy. DirectCD's must be "closed out" for use on other computers.

 A.      Steps for Creating a Compilation disk using Roxio Easy CD Creator 5

1. Obtain one blank recordable compact disk (a blank CD-R).
2. Shut down all other programs running on your computer.
3. Create a folder called “My CD” on your desktop. Here’s how:
1. Right-click on the Windows Start menu.
2. Select Explore from the pop-up menu.
3. Click “Desktop” on the left-pane of the Explore window.
4. Click on the File Menu of the Explore window.
5. Select New.
6. Select Folder.
7. Name the folder “My CD”.
8. Leave the Explore window open.
4. Copy the information you would like to save to the CD into the “My CD” folder. Here’s how:
1. From the left-pane of the Explore window, browse to the folder containing the data you want put on the CD. In this example, I clicked “Desktop” because that’s where I saved my data:

2. Select the data file or folder that you want to put on the CD.
3. Click on the Edit Menu of the Explore window.
4. Click Copy.
5. Click the “My CD” folder.
6. Click on the Edit Menu of the Explore window.
7. Click Paste.
8. Continue Steps 3a-g until you have copied all the data into the “My CD” folder.
4. Insert a blank CD-R into your CD drive.
5. Open Roxio software by clicking the Start Menu, Programs, Roxio Easy CD Creator 5, Applications, Easy CD Creator.
6. Wait for the program to initialize; you should have an Untitled Data CD Project.
7. Browse to the Desktop from the “Select source files” drop-down menu as shown below.

 

9. In the top-pane of the data CD project window under “Name,” double-click the “My CD” folder.

 

10. In the top-pane of the data CD project window under “Name,” select the data file or folder and click the “Add” arrow. This will place the data file or folder into the bottom-pane of the project window as shown in the following picture.

  

11. Continue Step 8 until all the data files are added to the CD layout. But be sure not to exceed the amount available on your CD-R. The blue bar at the bottom of the CD layout says how much available space you have left on your CD-R disk. (See picture from Step 8)
12. Click the “Record” button from inside the CD layout. (See picture from Step 8)
13. The Record CD Setup dialog box will appear. This will give you options on how to record the disk. It’s recommended to use the Disk-at-Once option for audio, and Track-at-Once for data.
14. Click “Start Recording” from the Record CD Setup dialog box. The recording process will start.

B.      Steps for Creating a Back-Up Copy of a CD using Roxio Easy CD Creator 5

1. Obtain one blank recordable compact disk (a blank CD-R).
2. Shut down all other programs running on your computer.
3. Open Roxio software by clicking the Start Menu, Programs, Roxio Easy CD Creator 5, Applications, Disk Copier.
4. Wait for the program to initialize.
5. Insert the CD you want to copy from into the CD drive. If the CD is recognized, the “Copy” button will be highlighted.
6. Click the “Copy” button.
7. The program will prompt you when it’s time to enter the blank CD-R.

C.      Steps for Creating a Direct formatted CD using Roxio Easy CD Creator 5

1. Obtain one blank recordable compact disk (a blank CD-RW).
2. Shut down all other programs running on your computer.
3. Open Roxio software by clicking the Start Menu, Programs, Roxio Easy CD Creator 5, Applications, DirectCD Format Utility.
4. Wait for the program to initialize.
5. Insert the CD you want to format into the CD drive.
6. Click the “Format CD” button from inside the DirectCD program. (See below.)

7. The disk will take 15 minutes or so to format.
8. Once formatted, the CD can be used in the same fashion as a floppy to drag-and-drop files.