Setting Up and Using Your Computer 31
Using Easy CD Creator Basic
See the Easy CD Creator Basic documentation for instructions on how to 
use the program, information about different recording techniques, and CD 
media limitations. The Easy CD Creator Basic documentation is located in 
the Microsoft
®
 Windows
®
 XP Help and Support Center (see page 17). The 
documentation is also provided on the Dell Dimension ResourceCD, which 
is included with your computer. Each Easy CD Creator Basic project 
program also has thorough online help files. 
Using Blank CD-R Discs or Blank CD-RW Discs
Your CD-RW drive writes to two different types of recording media—CD-R 
and CD-RW discs. Use blank CD-R (CD-Recordable) disks to record music 
or permanently store data files. After creating a CD-R disc, you cannot write 
to that disc again without changing your method of recording (see the 
Roxio documentation for more information). Use blank CD-RW 
(CD-ReWritable) discs when you want to write, erase, rewrite, and update 
your files onto CDs.
Helpful Tips
• You must use the Easy CD Creator Basic project programs to copy and 
record all music and data CDs. You can use Windows Explorer to drag 
and drop files to a CD-R or CD-RW disc only after you first use 
DirectCD to format the disc.
• You must use CD-R discs to burn music CDs that you want to play in 
regular stereos. CD-RW discs do not play in most home or car stereos. 
• If you want to copy files from the Internet or files from a floppy or Zip 
drive, copy those files to your hard drive first, and then burn your CD. 
Your CD-RW drive requires a steady stream of data to properly record. 
Direct Internet downloads, floppy drives, and Zip drives may not be 
able to provide a steady data stream to your CD-RW drive. 
• Music MP3 files can be played only on MP3 players or on computers 
that have MP3 software installed. 
• Ensure that you set the sampling rate to at least 128 Kbps when you 
burn MP3 files to a CD. Otherwise, recording errors may occur.