Creating a DirectCD in the GATCF for Windows Machines

An InfoHelp How To...? Guide

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Please Note:
We have found that High Speed Recordable CD's and some Multi-Speed Recordable CD's are not compatible with the CD burners that are in the GATCF Labs. We would suggest that you purchase 2x-4x Speed CD's.

A DirectCD is a type of data disc. It allows you to use your CD-R or CD-RW disc just like a hard drive or extra large floppy disk and is accessible to Windows applications like Microsoft Word, Access etc.

How to prepare a DirectCD disk

How to Save and Retrieve files on CD

Finishing Up

When you eject a CD-R/CD-RW disc

To set the CD-R/CD-RW to be writable again

Preparing a DirectCD

The first time you use a blank compact disc, you need to prepare it.

Insert your CD-R or CD-RW into the CD-RW drive.

When you insert a blank CD into the computer, the Easy CD Creator 5 should automatically open up. If not please click on the "Create CD" Icon.

• Roll over the make a data CD button:

• From the next screen choose DirectCD:

The DirectCD wizard will appear - be patient: it may take several seconds.

• Click on the format CD button

• The Name your disk window appears - give your disk a unique name (like your computer account code) so it can be identified if you leave it in the GATCF labs. The name can be up to 11 characters in length.
• Click Start Format button.

Formatting will begin.

• For a Recordable Compact Disc (CD/R) it takes only a few seconds.
• For a Re-writable Compact Disc (CD-Re-Writable:CD/RW) it can take up to 25- 45 minutes.

When formatting is complete this window will appear saying.

• Click OK

Now you can create files and save them to CD just like another data disk. You can download web files or applications or audio files (like MP3's) to your CD. You can't save CD tracks - you need to prepare your CD for audio if you were going to do this.

How to Save and Retrieve files on CD

When you save to CD-R or CD-RW disc

• select Save from the File menu.
• choose drive letter F:\

When you want to open a file on CD:

• if you are within an application use Open from the File menu then select F:\
• from ExploreLab in the GATCF, double-click on drive F:\
• Select a folder and double click to open a folder
• Select a file and select Open from the File menu.

Finishing Up

Before ejecting a CD make sure all your files are saved and closed.

Ejecting a CD-R/CD-RW disc

Once you have finished copying files to the CD then you can eject the disk and you need to pick the second option Close to UDF v.1.5.This will install the UDF Reader so you can read the CD in most CD-ROM drives.

NOTE: If you do not have a CD burner at home you cannot place files on the CD you can only read files or copy from the CD to another storing device

If you will only access this CD in the GATCF or in a CD-RW drive at home (with DirectCD v5 installed):

• select the first option ("Leave the disk as it is so that it can be read and written......").
• if you select this option you won't be able to read the CD with a CD-ROM drive.
• click on OK and the disk will be prepared and ejected

If you want to use the CD in a CD-ROM drive (as per most home computers):

• choose the second option ("Close to UDF v.1.5.").

To write to the CD-R/CD-RW again in another session at the computer:

• Insert your CD-R/CD-RW (be patient as it can take a while to load).

• Click OK.
• You can now go ahead and save to more to your CD-R/CD-RW (presuming sufficient space remains).

Once you physically eject the disk this window will appear stating that your CD can be read in CD-RW and CD-ROM Drives.

If you have picked the first option in the Eject CD window then this window will appear when you eject the CD

This indicates that the CD that you have ejected is still prepared for writing to it. It is NOT readable in most CD-ROM drives.