How to copy, files, photos to cd-rw discs, on my old dell Vostro 3558 laptop

Copying files and photos to a CD-RW disc on your Dell Vostro 3558 laptop involves several steps. Here’s how you can do it: ### Prerequisites 1. **CD-RW Drive**: Ensure your laptop has a functioning CD/DVD drive. 2. **Blank CD-RW Disc**: Insert a blank CD-RW disc into the drive. 3. **Burning Software**: Depending on your operating system, you might need burning software. Windows includes built-in support for burning discs, but you can also use third-party software like ImgBurn, CDBurnerXP, or Nero if you prefer. ### Steps for Windows 10/11 #### Using Built-in Windows Functionality: 1. **Insert the CD-RW**: Place the blank CD-RW disc into your laptop’s CD/DVD drive. 2. **File Explorer**: - Open **File Explorer** (you can do this by clicking on the folder icon in your taskbar or pressing `Windows + E`). - Navigate to the files or folders you want to burn to the CD-RW. 3. **Select Files/Folders**: - Select the files or folders you want to copy by clicking on them while holding the `Ctrl` key for multiple selections. - Right-click on the selected files and choose **Copy** or press `Ctrl + C`. 4. **Burn to Disc**: - In the file explorer panel on the left side, click on your CD/DVD drive (it should show the label as “DVD RW Drive” or similar). - Right-click inside the drive window and choose **Paste** or press `Ctrl + V` to paste the files. 5. **Burning Process**: - After pasting files, you should see a notification that says "Files ready to be written to the disc." Click on it. - Select **Burn to disc** from the options that appear. - Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the burning process, such as naming the disc and choosing the disc format. - Click **Next** to start the burning process. #### Using Third-Party Software: 1. **Download and Install Software**: If you prefer using third-party software, download a burning program like ImgBurn or CDBurnerXP. 2. **Open the Software**: Launch the installed software. 3. **Create a New Project**: Select the option to create a new data disc project. 4. **Add Files**: Drag and drop the files you want to burn into the software window or use the file selection option to browse and add files. 5. **Burn the Disc**: Follow the instructions in the software to burn the files to the CD-RW. This typically involves clicking a button that says "Burn" or "Write". ### Ejecting the Disc - Once the burning process is complete, you can safely eject the CD-RW by right-clicking on the CD/DVD drive in File Explorer and selecting **Eject**. You can also press the eject button on the drive. ### Additional Notes - **Erase Previous Data**: If your CD-RW has previous data on it, you will need to erase that data before you can write new files. Most burning software has an option to erase (or format) a CD-RW. - **Compatibility**: Ensure that the device you plan to use the CD-RW in is compatible with CD-RW discs. - **Read Speed**: Writing to a CD-RW can take a little time; be patient while the files are being burned. By following these steps, you should be able to successfully copy your files and photos to a CD-RW disc on your Dell Vostro 3558 laptop.