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Copying CDs and DVDs

Dell Precision™ Workstation 390 User's Guide

  How to Copy a CD or DVD

  Using Blank CDs and DVDs

  Helpful Tips

NOTE: Ensure that you observe all copyright laws when creating CDs or DVDs.

This section applies only to computers that have a CD-RW, DVD+/-RW, or CD-RW/DVD (combo) drive.

NOTE: The types of CD or DVD drives offered by Dell may vary by country.

The following instructions explain how to make an exact copy of a CD or DVD using Roxio Creator Plus - Dell Edition. You can also use Roxio Creator Plus for other purposes, such as creating music CDs from audio files stored on your computer or backing up important data. For help, open Roxio Creator Plus, and then click the question mark icon in the upper-right corner of the window.

How to Copy a CD or DVD

NOTE: CD-RW/DVD combo drives cannot write to DVD media. If you have a CD-RW/DVD combo drive and you experience recording problems, check for available software patches on the Sonic support website at www.sonic.com.

The DVD-writable drives installed in Dell computers can write to and read DVD+/-R, DVD+/-RW and DVD+R DL (dual layer) media, but cannot write to and may not read DVD-RAM or DVD-R DL media.

NOTE: Most commercial DVDs have copyright protection and cannot be copied using Roxio Creator Plus.

1. Click Start, point to All Programs® Roxio® Creator Projects, and then click RecordNow Copy.
   
   
2. Under the Copy tab, click Disc Copy.
   
   
3. To copy the CD or DVD:
   
   
   • If you have one CD/DVD drive, ensure that the settings are correct, and then click Disc Copy. The computer reads your source CD or DVD and copies the data to a temporary folder on your computer hard drive.
     
     

When prompted, insert a blank CD or DVD into the drive and click OK.

• If you have two CD/DVD drives, select the drive into which you have inserted your source CD or DVD, and then click Disc Copy. The computer copies the data from the source CD or DVD to the blank CD or DVD.
  
  

Once you have finished copying the source CD or DVD, the CD or DVD that you have created automatically ejects.

Using Blank CDs and DVDs

CD-RW drives can write to CD recording media only (including high-speed CD-RW media) while DVD-writable drives can write to both CD and DVD recording media.

Use blank CD-Rs to record music or permanently store data files. After the maximum storage capacity of a CD-R is reached, you cannot write to that CD-R again (see the Sonic documentation for more information). Use blank CD-RWs if you plan to erase, rewrite, or update information on the CD later.

Blank DVD+/-Rs can be used to permanently store large amounts of data. After you create a DVD+/-R disc, you may not be able to write to that disc again if the disc is finalized or closed during the final stage of the disc creation process. Use blank DVD+/-RWs if you plan to erase, rewrite, or update information on the disc later.

CD-Writable Drives

Media Type	Read	Write	Rewritable
CD-R	Yes	Yes	No
CD-RW	Yes	Yes	Yes

DVD-Writable Drives

Media Type	Read	Write	Rewritable
CD-R	Yes	Yes	No
CD-RW	Yes	Yes	Yes
DVD+R	Yes	Yes	No
DVD-R	Yes	Yes	No
DVD+RW	Yes	Yes	Yes
DVD-RW	Yes	Yes	Yes
DVD+R DL	Yes	Yes	No
DVD-R DL	Maybe	No	No
DVD-RAM	Maybe	No	No

Helpful Tips

• Use Microsoft® Windows® Explorer to drag and drop files to a CD-R or CD-RW only after you start Roxio Creator Plus and open a Creator project.
  
  
• Use CD-Rs to burn music CDs that you want to play in regular stereos. CD-RWs may not play in many home or car stereos.
  
  
• You cannot create audio DVDs with Roxio Creator Plus.
  
  
• Music MP3 files can be played only on MP3 players or on computers that have MP3 software installed.
  
  
• Commercially available DVD players used in home theater systems may not support all available DVD formats. For a list of formats supported by your DVD player, see the documentation provided with your DVD player or contact the manufacturer.
  
  
• Do not burn a blank CD-R or CD-RW to its maximum capacity; for example, do not copy a 650-MB file to a blank 650-MB CD. The CD-RW drive needs 1–2 MB of blank space to finalize the recording.
  
  
• Use a blank CD-RW to practice CD recording until you are familiar with CD recording techniques. If you make a mistake, you can erase the data on the CD-RW and try again. You can also use blank CD-RWs to test music file projects before you record the project permanently to a blank CD-R.
  
  
• See the Sonic website at www.sonic.com for additional information.
  
  

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