1. Insert a blank CD or DVD.

  2. If a new window opens:

    • Make sure that the Action: pop-up menu says Open Finder.

    • In the field next to Name: type in the name you want to give the CD.

    • Click OK.

  3. If a new window does not open:

    • Locate the blank CD icon on your desktop. The blank CD will probably be called Untitled CD.

    • You can name the CD just as you would name any new folder appearing on your desktop. Click on the name of the CD and wait a second or two and the name should become highlighted and you can type in what you want to name your CD.

  4. Double-click the CD or DVD icon to open it.

  5. Drag files and folders to the open folder and arrange the files exactly as you want them before burning the disc. The names of files, folders, and the disc can't be changed after the CD is burned.

  6. Go to the File menu and select Burn Disc. The burn speed by default is "maximum" and you can leave it at that setting or reduce it if you wish.

  7. Click Burn.

  8. Don't forget to take your new CD with you!

    Note: By default, CDs discs are burned in a "hybrid" format, and can be used on non-Macintosh (Windows) computers.

    Note for Trumper iMacs only: The iMacs in Trumper have CD-RW/DVD-R drives, so you can burn data onto CDs and DVDs.

    Additional information about CDs and DVDs:

    • CD-RW (CD-Rewritable) discs come in normal and high-speed formats. You can write once to CD-R (CD-Recordable) discs or write, erase and rewrite data to CD-RW discs.
    • If a CD-RW disc already contains files, you must first erase the information on the disc before burning data on it again.
    • If a CD-R disc already contains files, you can't erase or burn more data on the disc.
    • There are two types of CD-R discs. One holds 74 minutes of audio or about 650 MB of information. The other holds 80 minutes of audio or about 700 MB of information. For recording audio CDs, it is best to use CD-R discs because most standard audio CD players cannot read CD-RW discs. For longer-term storage and reliability, use CD-R discs.
    • If a DVD-R disc already contains files, you can't erase or burn more data on the disc.
    • DVD-R discs hold about 4.7 GB of information.
    • You can't write (save) anything on a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM disc.

Last Modified September 8, 2005