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Introduction

Overview • Included with Easy CD Creator • System Requirements • Uninstalling Easy CD Creator • Installing Easy CD Creator • Starting Easy CD Creator • What Types of Blank CDs Should I Use? • How Much Data or Music Can I Fit on a CD?

Overview

Use Easy CD Creator 5 Basic to make your own CDs. In just a couple of mouse clicks, you can make music CDs that can be played on your home or car stereo CD player, or make data CDs for storing computer data such as the files and folders on your hard disk.

Here are some of things you can do with Easy CD Creator 5 Basic:

• Make high-quality music CDs from any source including other music CDs and audio files (WAV, MP3, or WMA).
• Archive and store your computer data on a data CD.
• Make backup copies of your favorite music or data CD.

Included with Easy CD Creator

Easy CD Creator includes all of the following applications:

• Easy CD Creator: Make music CDs from other CDs, MP3, and more. Make data CDs for sharing and archiving data in the most compatible format.
• DirectCD: Make data CDs that allow you to write directly to a CD-Recordable or CD-ReWritable disc just like you would write files to a floppy disk or removable drive.
• CD Copier: Make backup copies of your music and data CDs.

System Requirements

Here are the minimum system requirements for Easy CD Creator:

• IBM PC or compatible 200 MHz or faster
• Windows 95/98/NT4/2000/Me/XP
• 32 MB RAM (64 MB RAM recommended)
• 50 MB free hard disk space
• CD-Recordable or CD-ReWritable drive
• CD-ROM drive that supports digital audio extraction (for making a music CD from other music CDs)
• Blank CD-R or CD-RW discs
• 800 x 600 display, 256 colors minimum, 16-bit color recommended
• Windows-compatible sound card (16-bit or better)
• Internet access to take advantage of Internet features

  NOTE: Your system may require minor adjustments to the configuration of your operating system, additional hard disk space, and updates to hardware component drivers. Results may vary based on your equipment.

Uninstalling Easy CD Creator

Roxio recommends that you uninstall any older versions or evaluation versions of Easy CD Creator prior to installing new versions.

To uninstall Easy CD Creator, use the Add/Remove Programs Properties dialog box in the Windows Control Panel.

To access the Add/Remove Programs Properties dialog box:

• On the Windows taskbar, click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Add/Remove Programs.

Installing Easy CD Creator

To install Easy CD Creator:

1. Insert the Roxio Easy CD Creator 5 Basic CD into your CD-Recorder or CD-ROM drive.

   NOTE: In this guide, the term CD-Recorder refers to both CD-Recordable and CD-ReWritable drives.

   If Autorun is enabled on your system, the Roxio Installation window appears automatically and you can skip Steps 2 and 3.

2. From the Start menu, select Run.
3. Type d:\setup (substitute the appropriate letter of your CD-Recorder or CD-ROM drive for d.)
4. Follow the installation instructions that appear on the screen.

Starting Easy CD Creator

The easiest way to start Easy CD Creator is from Easy CD Creator Project Selector. Project Selector makes it easy to select the right application for the type of CD you want to make. You can access Project Selector by doing any of the following:

• Insert a blank CD into your CD-Recorder.
• On the Windows taskbar, click Start, point to Programs, point to Roxio Easy CD Creator 5, and select Project Selector.
• Double-click the Project Selector icon on the Windows desktop.
• Double-click the Project Selector icon on the Windows taskbar.

Using Project Selector

To use Project Selector:

1. Roll your pointer over the Project Selector buttons on the left of the window. The applications are grouped by project type.

   As your pointer rolls over each button, a submenu appears on the right with a description of the application.

2. To open the application you want to use, click its button in the submenu.

   NOTE: If an option is grayed-out, it is unavailable in the version of Easy CD Creator 5 you currently have installed. Please upgrade to Easy CD Creator 5 Platinum to install the option.

What Types of Blank CDs Should I Use?

There are two types of blank CDs (recordable media) that are used for making your own CDs:

• CD-R discs (CD-Recordable)
• CD-RW discs (CD-ReWritable)

You can obtain blank CD-R or CD-RW discs where you purchased your CD-Recorder or at local computer retailers.

When to Use CD-R Discs

Virtually all CD-ROM and CD-Recorder drives can read CD-R discs. CD-R discs are excellent for permanent data storage and should be used when you do not need to erase the data. They are less expensive per CD than CD-RW discs. Here are some ideas for using CD-R discs:

• When you want to make a music CD that you can play on your home or car stereo CD player.
• When you want to copy a music CD for your own personal use.
• When you want to permanently save large project files.
• When you want to permanently archive or store files, such as your home records, photos, or videos.

When to Use CD-RW Discs

CD-RW discs can only be used in CD-ReWritable drives and MultiRead CD-ROM drives. You cannot play a music CD made on a CD-RW disc in most home or car stereo CD players. Here are some ideas for using CD-RW discs:

• When you need to write, erase, rewrite, and update all your large files on CD.
• When you want to make a practice CD or test the contents of a CD before making a permanent one.

How Much Data or Music Can I Fit on a CD?

The actual capacity of blank CDs can vary slightly; some 74-minute CDs can hold up to two minutes more than their stated capacity. Easy CD Creator lets you record as much data or music as the CD can hold. Here are the typical capacities of the CD-Recordable media available:

• Blank CD-R discs: Available in two capacities: 650 MB (74-minute) and 700 MB (80-minute).
• Blank CD-RW discs: Available in a 650 MB (74-minute) capacity only.
• Blank mini CD-R discs: Available in a 180 MB (21-minute) capacity only.

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