How to Burn a Data CD or DVD on a Macintosh Computer

Burning a CD in Windows often requires additional software. The Macintosh computer makes burning a data CD easy with software built into the Mac operating system. Instead of having to purchase additional software, it's possible to back up your files onto a CD or DVD in just a few simple steps.

Difficulty:

Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Writable CD or DVD

1. Insert the CD or DVD into the optical drive on the Macintosh computer. A small window will open that reads "You inserted a blank CD (or DVD if a DVD is inserted). Choose an action from the pop-up menu or click Ignore."

2. Leave the pop-up menu set to the default which reads: "Action: Open Finder" and click "OK." An icon for the blank disk will appear on the desktop with the label "Untitled CD."

3. Double click on the "Untitled CD" icon. A window will open with "Recordable CD" written across the top of the window.

4. Find the files on the Macintosh Computer that are going to be backed-up and drag them into the window for the blank CD or DVD.

5. Click the "Burn" button in the upper right of the window. A new window opens asking "Are you sure you want to burn the contents of "Untitled CD" to a disk?"

6. Name the disk so when it's inserted into a computer later it will display the name of the disk. Leaving it titled "Untitled CD" will cause it to always display that name when it's later inserted into a computer.

7. Select the Burn Speed for the disk and click the "Burn" button. The faster the burn speed the less time it takes, though it is more likely to cause errors in the burn process. A window will open showing the progress of the burn.

Tips & Warnings

• CDs and DVDs can be easily scratched. Make sure to not touch the bottom of the disk with anything. Always handle the edges of the disk.