How to Format CDs for Storing Music

Store music on CDs using your computer.

Formatting CDs for storing music is useful when you want to burn an audio CD to play on your stereo, in your car or on your DVD player. You can format CDs for storing music using your computer and a CD burner. If you have a PC, you can use Windows Media Player to format your CD. If you have a Mac, you can use iTunes to format your CD.

Things You'll Need

• Computer with CD burner
• Blank CD-R (CD Recordable)

Instructions

With a PC

1. Click the "Start" button located in the task bar of your computer.

2. Select "Programs" and click "Windows Media Player."

3. Select the "Burn" tab within Windows Media Player and drag the music files you want to store on a CD into the "Burn List."

4. Click "Start Burn" and insert a blank CD-R into your computer.

5. Eject the CD-R from your computer when the computer has finished formatting the CD for storing music and burning music files to it.

With a Mac

1. Click the "Finder" button located in the toolbar of your computer.

2. Select "Applications" and double click "iTunes."

3. Click "File," select "Playlist" and drag the music files you want to store on a CD into this playlist.

4. Click the playlist and choose "Burn Disc."

5. Confirm this selection by clicking "Burn" on the menu that appears and insert a blank CD-R into your computer.

6. Eject the CD-R from your computer when the computer has finished formatting the CD for storing music and burning music files to it.

References

• Windows: Burn a CD or DVD in Windows Media Player
• Mac Instruct: How to Burn a Music CD in iTunes