Classrooms PCs: Writing CDs/DVDs
Some classroom PCs have DVD-writers, and you may find it convenient to use CDs or DVDs for creating oneoff backups of large quantities of work. Other media, such as USB sticks and the H drive (your personal file
space on the University server), should be used for day to day storage of files.
Which format should I use?
CD-R and DVD-R
CD-R and DVD-R are read only. You can burn files to a CD-R more than once (each time is referred to as a
session), but you can't delete files from the disc. Each burn is permanent. Once full, discs can only be read.
CD-RW and DVD-RW
CD-RW and DVD-RW are re-writable. You can burn files to a CD-RW more than once. You can also delete
unwanted files from the disc to reclaim space and add additional files. A CD-RW can be burned and erased
many times. i.e. they can be reformatted and re-used.
To burn files onto a new disc
1. Insert a blank disc into the DVD drive.
2. After several seconds, an AutoPlay prompt opens.
3. Click on the Burn files to disc using Windows Explorer option.
4. The Burn a Disc prompt pops-up with two options of burning:
− Select With a CD/DVD player. This allows you to burn
files that will be ‘read only’ – i.e. you will not be able to
edit or remove them after burning.
Note: The default option is Like a USB flash drive.
Although this allows you to save files just as you would on
a USB drive – i.e. you can save, edit and delete files on
the disc anytime – this method may not be compatible
with players outside Windows 7.
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5. By default, Windows will name your disc by date.
− If you wish, you can enter a different title for your disk in the Disc title text box.
6. Click Next.
7. The Computer > DVD RW Drive (R:) window will open with a desktop.ini file in the right hand pane.
− You may see the instruction Drag files to this folder to add them to the disc at the top of this pane.
8. Open a second window by double-clicking on Computer (located on the Desktop).
− From here, browse to locate the files/folders you wish to copy onto disc, then select and drag them
from this window onto the right pane of the Computer > DVD RW Drive (R:) window.
9. If you see the Windows security alert These files may be harmful to your computer, click OK.
10. If you are copying many files, or large files, a progress screen may be displayed while your files/folders
are copied onto disc.
11. When copying is complete, click on the Burn to disc button
on the menu bar of the Computer > DVD RW Drive (R:)
window.
12. The Burn to disc prompt opens.
− Here you can edit the title of your disc (if you wish) and adjust the recording speed (the
recommended setting is usually stamped on the disc or disc packaging).
13. Click on Next to begin the burn process.
14. A progress bar will indicate how long the process is likely to take.
15. Once complete, the disc will be ejected from the DVD drive.
16. Click on Finish to exit the wizard.
Burn more files onto your disc
The next time you want to copy files onto this disc, you won’t need to
follow steps 3-6 on page 1.
Simply insert your disc into a classroom PC DVD drive, and at the
AutoPlay prompt, click on the Open folder to view files using
Windows Explorer option. Then follow steps 7-16.
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Reformat (erase data from) a rewritable disc
If you are using a CD-RW or DVD-RW you have the option to reformat the disc and hence have maximum
writable space again.
1. Insert the disc into a classroom PC.
2. At the AutoPlay prompt, select Open folder to view files.
3. On the left of the window, right-click on DVD RW Drive (R:) disc name
(where disc name is the name of your disc) and select Format... from the
pop-up menu.
4. The Format dialog opens.
5. Accept the default settings; you can rename your disc in the Volume
label text box, if you wish.
6. Click Start.
7. You will see a warning prompt – click OK if you are sure you want to erase all data on your disc.
8. You will be prompted once formatting is complete – click on OK, then Close the Format dialog.
9. Your disc is now empty and ready to be used again.
Burn files onto a reformatted disc
1. Insert the reformatted disc into a classroom PC.
2. At the AutoPlay prompt, select Open folder to view files.
3. Open a second window by double-clicking on Computer (located on the Desktop).
4. From here, browse to locate the files/folders you wish to copy onto disc, then select and drag them
from this window onto the right pane of the Computer > DVD RW Drive (R:) window.
5. Once complete (there is no prompt, but you should be able to hear when the DVD drive has finished
burning files), click Eject on the toolbar.
6. The disc will be ejected.
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