Mouse Clix

By: Hobie Lunin

CD, CD, Burning Bright.

Q: Why is making a CD referred to as “burning?” A: Because the laser beam which is used to “read” the digital data on the disk can also be used to create a disk by softening the surface enough to create a “step” that can be read digitally.

For some reason I thought I should include “burning a CD” to my list of skills and when I saw one for $50, I thought that the time had come. I decided to install it myself. The first thing is a must; unplug the power to the computer! Remove the shroud (3 Phillips head screws). Now see how to access the open bay. It took some looking around. The front of the computer had a blank piece of plastic, which popped out reasonably easy. Then there was a piece of aluminum that had to be twisted out to make room for the CD-RW. It slid right in, and there were screws provided for holes, which lined up with existing holes inside the computer. Next was figuring out what to plug to where. I had already had some experience installing a CD and so I knew that there would be several of the white power cord sockets and one would be available to plug into the CD-RW. (It can only connect one way.) Then I looked around for connections to the IDE cable (that wide flat gray cable that has additional plugs in the middle of it.) That cable has a marking on one edge in color to help you find pin #1. Then there was a supplied cord for the sound. One end plugged into the back of the CD-RW and the other was to go to the sound card. My unit did not have a sound card as the manufacturer built the sound into the motherboard. I think I have that plugged in right, but not to worry. I may not need it, as I have added this CD-RW to a unit that already has a CD connected to the sound. The instructions indicated that when you are burning an audio CD duplicate, the sound travels on the IDE cable, not to the sound card and they also suggested that when playing a CD, I should play it on the original CD-ROM.

This of course is a case where I am adding a CD, not replacing one. If you have no extra bay for a CD-RW, you will be replacing the existing CD with the new one and so it will be obvious where the cables will be connected, as you will use these same connections. After all three connections were made; I put it all back together and loaded the software that came with the unit. I tried to copy a disk to a blank CD that came with the unit. It did not work!

I had a suspicion that the problem was in the jumpers that were on the back of the unit. I removed the CD-RW and took it to a tech and asked if the jumper was in the right place for an add-on CD. No, he said, looking at me like I was a moron. The first location was for a replacement setup making the CD the “Master”, I was adding one on and I would be better off making the unit the “Slave” and so he move the jumper one set of wires over. This was the part of the written instructions that I had trouble understanding. OK, back home I put it all together again. This time it worked and I made myself a copy of a software disk in just a few minutes. I went to the Mall and bought a pack of CD labels so I could print out a neat looking label for my first CD. I had just received too many from friends that were just scribbled on with magic marker (not my style at all). I bought a few crystal boxes to put my handiwork in and found a program in my computer (MS Publisher) to print up a nice insert for the box. This only took a few minutes and I had a good-looking CD-R in a box with a printed insert that can be read through the clear cover. It looks like it came from a software manufacturer.

Well, what else do I know about doing this. The software allows you to burn the CD from another disk (as I did) or burn text or photo files from your hard drive. The information I received with the unit advised that CD-R disks can be used for audio and text but CD-RW disks should not be used for audio. I also gleaned that all blank disks are not alike and when you get disks that are working well for you, it makes sense not to change brands. Other information indicated that some CD players might not play all disks manufactured so that you have to try them and see. My first Audio CD worked in my car as well as my Sony boom box.

Of course, you need not install the CD-RW yourself. You can buy a computer with one already installed or you can have a tech do it. My own feeling, as a do-it-yourselfer, was that it was worth a try (which it most certainly was). I will probably continue to use only CD-R disks until I have a reason to do otherwise. My main projects will be to copy some more software that is essential to my teaching and then start backing up some of my files to CD, especially all my articles composed for this newspaper.

One last note: CD-R Means CD, Recordable. CD-RW means CD, ReWriteable. In the latter case, the CD drive can be instructed to “erase” the disc.

Hobie Lunin is a Computer Instructor and Consultant. He can be reached at mouseclix2@yahoo.com Previous articles can be seen at http://mouseclix.tripod.com