A few years ago we bought a computer with Win 98 that had Easy CD Creator v 4 and Direct CD v3.01 on it. Since Microsoft was stopping it's support of 98 we figured it was time to upgrade to XP. We did a diagnostic and it told us that we'd have to reinstall Easy CD Creator. After we upgraded to XP we tried reinstalling Easy CD Creator 4 but we got an error message saying that the software didn't run on XP at all! Well the problem is that I have CDs that I've created with Direct CD v3.01 that haven't been 'locked' yet so they'll be readable on other computers. So my question is, are the newer version of Easy Media Creator (v 8 and 9) backwards compatible with the earlier versions of the software? If I'd known that v4 wouldn't work with XP I would have locked them before hand.
Any help would be appreciated!

I'm not a DirectCD user for quite a while so others may know more than I do but as far as I know, the answer is NO. Besides, packet written discs are not reliable but that's not your problem.
I remember reading recently that CDroller may do what you want.
Wait a bit for others with more experience to post with some possibly better suggestions.

Your DCD discs should be readable on any XP system but not writable.

XP has a packet reader built into the OS. Do not allow the Reader, on every disc, to install on XP as it will be incompatible. If you have installed it, go to Add/Remove Programs and remove it!

One other obstacle to Reading these discs is Compression. If you allowed Compression of files when writing, they will not be readable with XP or 3rd party recovery software.

There are limits to backward compatibility in the newer versions. FYI, starting in V6 the name was changed to Drag to Disc.

V9: Writing - Not compatible with any prior version! Reading – It will allow reading and V9 D2D formatted discs are writable back to V6.

V8 & V7: May be read/write compatible with your earlier discs.

V6: Should be read/write compatible with your earlier discs.

Of course, as Beerman pointed out, CD Roller may be what you need…

Hope this helps!

Thanks so much you guys! I only need them to be read, not so much written. And I will check out CD Roller. I really appreciate it.

Lenita

There's also isobuster if cdroller won;t do what is needed