In Windows XP, how do I write a CD?

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Windows XP does not require any third-party software to create a music or data CD; this capability is built into the operating system. Follow the appropriate steps below to create a data CD, an audio CD from electronic files, or an audio CD from another audio CD.

Note: You must have a CD drive with write capability (i.e., a CD-R or a CD-RW drive, not a CD-ROM drive) to write CDs.

Creating a data CD

1. Insert a blank CD-R or CD-RW into the drive.
   
   
2. Find, highlight, and right-click the file(s) you want to copy, and select Send To, then select CD-RW Drive or CD-R Drive.

   Alternatively, you can drag the file to the CD-R Drive or CD-RW Drive icon in the My Computer window or Windows Explorer.

3. Open My Computer (if it's not open from the step above), and double-click your CD-R or CD-RW drive.
   
   
4. On the left, under "CD Writing Tasks", click Write these files to CD. The CD Writing Wizard will appear.
   
   
5. Name the CD whatever you like, and click Next.
   
   
6. Wait for the CD to finish writing, and then eject it.

Creating an audio CD

Using Windows Media Player, you can copy .mp3 files to CDs. You can also copy tracks from another audio CD.

Creating an audio CD from files on the hard drive

1. Open Windows Media Player, and on the left, click the Copy to CD or Device button.
   
   
2. From the "Music to copy" drop-down box, select the playlist or album with the desired songs. Alternatively, select All audio to bring up a list of all audio files currently on the hard drive.
   
   
3. Select the titles to copy to the CD, and then click the Copy Music button.
   
   
4. Wait for the CD to finish writing, and then eject it.

Creating an audio CD from another CD

1. Put the source CD (the CD that you are copying from) into the CD drive.
   
   
2. Open Windows Media Player, and on the left, click the Copy From CD button.
   
   
3. Check the boxes beside the tracks you are copying.
   
   
4. Select Copy Music. Once the tracks have been converted and copied to your hard drive, insert the blank CD.
   
   
5. Click the Copy to CD or Device button, and under "Music to copy", select the correct album.
   
   
6. Select the titles to copy, and then click the Copy Music button.
   
   
7. Wait for the CD to finish writing, and then eject it.

Also see:

• What are MP3 files, and are they legal?