How to create, or burn, a Blu-ray Disc, DVD or CD disc using Windows Explorer

Follow this procedure to burn a Blu-ray Disc™, DVD, or CD disc using Windows® Explorer.

The Windows operating system uses Windows Explorer to burn discs in either the Live File System format (by dragging and dropping files, much as you would with a USB flash drive) or in the Mastered format (for use with an audio CD or DVD player). If needed, follow the procedure to erase a Rewritable disc (CD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD-RW, BD-RE) before starting the procedures below.

1. Place a recordable disc in the optical drive of your computer.
   Note: The following full-sized (12cm) recordable discs can be used:
   • CD-R
   • CD-RW
   • DVD+R
   • DVD+R DL
   • DVD+RW
   • DVD-R
   • DVD-RW
   • BD-R
   • BD-RE
2. In the AutoPlay window, click Burn files to disc using Windows Explorer.
   Note: If the AutoPlay window does not appear, click Start, click Computer, and then double-click the optical disc drive containing the recordable disc.

   At this point you will be presented with two different options for burning a disc: Like a USB flash drive, also known as the Live File System, or With a CD/DVD player, also known as Mastered. Because you chose to burn a disc using Windows Explorer, both methods will allow you to drag and drop the desired files into a folder on the recordable disc. The Live File System method also allows you to keep the disc in an open state, which will allow more files to be added in the future. The Mastered method allows you to select a set of files to burn to the disc and then finalizes (closes) the disc to allow it to be read by most computers and newer CD, DVD, and Blu-ray Disc players.

   Select the method most appropriate for your needs.

   Note: For more information about deciding which method you should choose when burning a disc, visit the Windows Which CD or DVD format should I use? website.
   • Like a USB flash drive (Live File System):
     1. In the Burn a Disc window, in the Disc title field, type a name for this disc.
     2. Once a name has been typed, click to select Like a USB flash drive, and then click Next.
        Note: At this point the disk will begin the formatting process necessary to prepare the disc for burning content in the Live File System method. It might take several minutes for the formatting process to complete. When the formatting is complete, an empty disc folder opens.

     3. Browse to the folder or folders that contain the files you want to burn, and then drag those files into the empty disc folder.
     4. After copying the files and folders, you might need to close the disc session. For more information see visit this website.
   • With a CD/DVD player, (Mastered):
     Note: To burn a disc with the Mastered method because the files you select are first copied to a temporary folder on the hard drive and from there burned to the disc, you may need free space on your hard disk equaling up to twice the capacity of the disc.
     1. In the Burn a Disc window, in the Disc title field, type a name for this disc.
     2. Once a name has been typed, click to select With a CD/DVD player, and then click Next.
        Note: At this point the disk will begin the formatting process necessary to prepare the disc for burning content in the Mastered method. It might take several minutes for the formatting process to complete. When the formatting is complete, an empty disc folder opens.

     3. Browse to the folder or folders that contain the files you want to burn, and then drag those files into the empty disc folder.
     4. On the toolbar, click Burn to disc, and then follow the on-screen instructions.