Burning Data CD-Rs and CD-RWs

The majority of the Windows computers and all of the Macintosh systems in the clusters now have CD-R or CD-RW drives. These can be used to save large files to portable storage. Basic instructions are below for each OS.

Mac OS X

Insert a blank CD-R or CD-RW.
If you are using a CD-RW, you have to format the disk first. To do so, open Disk Utility from the Utilities folder. Select the disc and use the Erase tab to format a new disk or to erase the entire contents of a previously used CD-RW.
When prompted with what action to take, select Open Finder. You can also optionally name the CD in the same dialog.
When the CD's icon appear on the Desktop, open it and drag files or folders to it as you would with any other disk.
To burn the files to the CD, select Burn Disc from the Finder's File menu or eject the CD to be prompted as to whether or not to burn the CD.

Windows XP

Insert a blank CD-R or CD-RW.
If you are using a CD-RW, you have to format the disk first. To do so, open Easy CD Creator and choose Erase Disc from the Disc menu to format a new disk or to erase the entire contents of a previously used CD-RW.
No prompts will appear. Open My Computer to see the icon for the CD drive, usually drive F: in the clusters.
Open the CD drive's icon and drag files or folders to it as you would with any other disk.
To burn the files to the CD, select the Write these files to CD item from the choices on the left of the CD's window. If you eject the CD before burning it, you will be prompted for what actions to take.

The CD-R and CD-RW drives can burn music CD's as well as other formats using such programs as iTunes or Easy CD Creator.