Al Roman Posted January 5, 2007 Report Share Posted January 5, 2007 I currently run Windows ME with Adaptec DirectCD Wizard 3.01e S6 and Easy CD Creator 4 which came pre-installed on my Gateway. I am planning to upgrade to XP Home Edition. I teach, and all of my testing and review materials are on CDs that I burned on my computer. All totaled, I have about 1,500 files. Yesterday, I phoned Roxio support and was told that my CDs will not work on XP. Also, the support person with whom I spoke told me that when I upgrade, even Easy Media Creator 9 will not read my CDs burned with Easy CD Creator 4. His suggestion is to transfer all of my files to a flash drive and then burn them again when I install XP. Is this correct? I thought that since new verisons of word processing programs also read old versions, the same would apply to the Roxio product. Is there any way to ensure that I can read all of my CDs on XP without all of the hassle of re-burning? Thanks!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynn98109 Posted January 5, 2007 Report Share Posted January 5, 2007 HOW did you burn the CDs? If you used DataProject and closed the CD, they should be readable in any computer. If you used DirectCD - then what you have been told is correct. In fact, since Packet-Writing has a tendancy to fail, some of them may not be readable anyway. This applies to ALL Packet-Writing, including but not limited to, DirectCD, Drag2Disc, Nero's InCD, Sonic's DLA, etc. Lynn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ml Posted January 5, 2007 Report Share Posted January 5, 2007 It depends on how you've burned those CDs. If you've used the Drag to Disk option, it probably won't read the CDs. Actually, a flash drive is a good idea for transferring those files quickly rather then reburning those CDs. Also, depending on the speed of your internet connection and the total size of the files you have, you might want to consider getting a free online account with a service like Yahoo and uploading your files to a 'briefcase'. There are other companies that give free online storage and a Google search will locate several. Another option is an External Drive. You could reburn all those CDs not using Drag to Disk, but flash drives are under $50 and on sale you can get some for $20. Or for no charge you can store them online - even if you have to sign up for more than one account. Now upgrading to WinXP is a different issue....... It's going to use a lot more computer resources and your computer is going to need to exceed the minimum requirements. Upgrading to WindowsXP can be an extremely frustrating experience. Windows Vista is coming out later this year and you might want to wait and consider buying an entirely new computer with the new operating system. However, whatever you decide..... I'd suggest backing up to BOTH a flash/external drive and an online service. I know teachers who have inadvertently lost their files and almost had a nervous breakdown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Roman Posted January 5, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2007 I use WordPerfect for my files. I simply save to the E drive, my CD burner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynn98109 Posted January 5, 2007 Report Share Posted January 5, 2007 Did you format the disc? If so, you are using Packet-Writing. (In ECDC 4 & 5, called DirectCD; in higher Versions called Drag to Disc) And if you used Packet-Writing, it's a wonder if you can still read them all. For future reference, if you want to KEEP the data, NEVER format the disc. Using RW media instead if R media will greatly speed up the process, and reduce the liklihood of recovery. Most of the posts we get along those lines are from people who already can't read the stuff they "saved" via Packet-Writing. (I lost the 80% of the data on the Packet-Written CD-RW that wasn't also on the Hard Drive.) So, as has been mentioned, use a Flash Drive, or an External Hard Drive, or online storage (good one, ml). As for upgrading: if you put a WinXP upgrade OVER WinME, you will have a lot of headaches. (Not for nothing is WinME called Multiple Errors). Be sure your computer has sufficient power/resources, and totally erase the Hard Drive, and start from scratch. I'd suggest getting a WinXP computer now, to avoid the inevitable problems WinVista will cause - plus, the reason resource requirements are so high for WinVista is that DVD burning is included in the Operating System. If you don't need DVD burning, leave WinVista for someone else. Once you get your WinXP - use the built-in WinXP burning (either drag the file to the burner drive, or right-click>send to (burner drive) and follow the prompts - don't close the disc if you want to add to it - this is actually Sessions-based, even tho it works like Packet-Writing. As my software guru said, Microsoft didn't want to deal with the problems that are inevitible with Packet-Writing. After reading your post again - Hold down Control and hit A - this should highlight all files on the disc - put the mouse on any of them, right click > send to (your Flash Drive or External Hard Drive). That should speed it up. Lynn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynn98109 Posted January 7, 2007 Report Share Posted January 7, 2007 I recieved a message from Al Ronan at 10:50am today PST, Hi Lynn, Thanks for the info. Just a question... I use WordPerfect; I prefer it to Word. I followed your suggestion to highlight all the items on each disk by using Control A. All the items did highlight: however, when I right-click and hit Send To, my flash drive (F) does not appear, only the A and E drives. I do have the flash drive inserted into the USB port, and I have been saving files on it, but it doesn't appear on Send To. Any suggestions? Thanks! Al Since the Flash drive is thru a USB port, especially if it is an added USB card, it's necessary to go to MyComputer and open a second window to either copy&paste or drag&drop for copying - or at least, that's how I've been doing it Lynn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gi7omy Posted January 7, 2007 Report Share Posted January 7, 2007 Actually - some of the MS 'toys' like TweakUI do have the facility to add 'send to' on a right click menu but it's not standard on any Windows installation - you need to download and install thems eparately http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloa...ppowertoys.mspx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdanteek Posted January 8, 2007 Report Share Posted January 8, 2007 Actually - some of the MS 'toys' like TweakUI do have the facility to add 'send to' on a right click menu but it's not standard on any Windows installation - you need to download and install thems eparately http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloa...ppowertoys.mspx a manual way, Add an item to the Send To menu cd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynn98109 Posted January 8, 2007 Report Share Posted January 8, 2007 Hope I remember to check this the next time I have the Beast booted, to see if I can add the new USB card - it was (unlike what I wanted) set to displace the built-in USB ports, rather than supplement them. Lynn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ml Posted January 8, 2007 Report Share Posted January 8, 2007 a manual way, Add an item to the Send To menu cd Isn't your solution using WinXP? He doesn't have XP yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdanteek Posted January 8, 2007 Report Share Posted January 8, 2007 Sorry ml, the link above pointed to xp and I had a senior moment! "Microsoft PowerToys for Windows XP" Add and Remove items from the "Send To" menu Intended For Windows XP Windows 2000 Windows Me Windows 98 Windows 95 The Send To menu is simply a directory on your hard disk (\Windows\SendTo in Windows 95, 98, & Me - \Documents and Settings\{username}\SendTo in Windows 2000 and XP). Just drag-drop any folders, programs, or drive icons into this folder to add their shortcuts to the Send To menu. Hint: if you create a shortcut to the Send To folder in the Send To folder itself, it makes it easy to add new objects later on! Better? cd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ml Posted January 8, 2007 Report Share Posted January 8, 2007 Back to your original problem...... Assume that the Roxio person you talked to knew what they were talking about. Use a flash drive to back up those files. ALSO, consider backing them up to a free online account that will let you store files. ( If you need to know how, you can send me a private message (upper right hand corner) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d_deweywright Posted January 8, 2007 Report Share Posted January 8, 2007 Back to your original problem...... Assume that the Roxio person you talked to knew what they were talking about. Use a flash drive to back up those files. ALSO, consider backing them up to a free online account that will let you store files. ( If you need to know how, you can send me a private message (upper right hand corner) You can also use a CD-R disc to back up your files. As long as you write the disc using the core program and select Data CD, it will write a standard disc readable in any version of Windows. My suggestion would be to copy all the files from your Direct CD written disc to your HD, then add all those files to the layout in ECDC 4, and burn the CD. As long as you write your disc that way, it will be quite readable when you upgrade. Hope that helps! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ml Posted January 8, 2007 Report Share Posted January 8, 2007 You can also use a CD-R disc to back up your files. As long as you write the disc using the core program and select Data CD, it will write a standard disc readable in any version of Windows. My suggestion would be to copy all the files from your Direct CD written disc to your HD, then add all those files to the layout in ECDC 4, and burn the CD. As long as you write your disc that way, it will be quite readable when you upgrade. Hope that helps! You missed this part.... "Is there any way to ensure that I can read all of my CDs on XP without all of the hassle of re-burning" The answer.... unfortunately.....NO. With 1,500 files that this person uses for teaching, a flash drive, online backup or an external drive would be the fastest way to resave those files without reburning CDs. Using 2 different methods would build in some measure of safety in case one of the methods fails for some reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d_deweywright Posted January 8, 2007 Report Share Posted January 8, 2007 You missed this part.... "Is there any way to ensure that I can read all of my CDs on XP without all of the hassle of re-burning" The answer.... unfortunately.....NO. With 1,500 files that this person uses for teaching, a flash drive, online backup or an external drive would be the fastest way to resave those files without reburning CDs. Using 2 different methods would build in some measure of safety in case one of the methods fails for some reason. Or just copying to another HD (essentially the same solution as the flash drive), but not everyone has multiple HD's in their system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ml Posted January 8, 2007 Report Share Posted January 8, 2007 Or just copying to another HD (essentially the same solution as the flash drive), . Good point. Actually, that's what I do with some of my files. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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