This wikiHow teaches you how to use Windows Media Player to rip (rip>) files from an audio CD to your computer, as well as how to burn files to a CD (burn) using the program. Your computer must have the Windows Media Player program and a DVD disc drive in order to copy or burn CDs.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Copying Files from a CD (Ripping)
Step 1. Insert the CD into your computer's DVD drive
Place the CD with the files you want to copy on your computer's DVD drive facing up.
- If your computer's disc drive is not labeled with " DVD ", it is not the correct type of drive and cannot be used to copy or burn CDs.
- If Windows Media Player opens when you insert the CD, move on to the next two steps.
- If an autorun window or other program opens, close the window or program before continuing.
Step 2. Open the Start menu
Click the Windows logo in the lower-left corner of the screen. After that, the Start menu will be displayed.
Step 3. Open Windows Media Player
Type in windows media player and click on the icon “ Windows Media Player ” which is orange, blue, and white at the top of the Start menu.
If you don't see the Windows Media Player icon at the top of the Start menu, the program may not be installed on your computer. Windows Media Player is not included as a default program in some versions of Windows 10. However, a clean install process can usually add the Windows Media Player program to your computer
Step 4. Select the CD
Click the CD name on the left side of the program window.
Step 5. Change the copy location if necessary
If you want to change the folder where you want to copy the CD files, follow these steps;
- Click " Rip settings ” at the top of the window.
- Click " More options… ” in the drop-down menu.
- Click " Changes… ” in the upper right corner of the window.
- Select a new folder, then click " OK ” at the bottom of the pop-up window.
- Click the button " OK ” under the window.
Step 6. Click Rip CD
It's at the top of the window. After that, Windows Media Player will copy the files from the CD to the computer.
- The ripping process can take about a minute (or more) per typical song.
- To stop the ripping process, click the “ Stop rip ” at the top of the window.
Step 7. Click OK when prompted
This button indicates that the files have been copied from the CD to the computer.
You can view the files that have been copied from the CD by opening the folder to which they were copied, double-clicking the artist name (or “ Unknown artist ”), and double-clicking the album folder.
Method 2 of 2: Burn a CD
Step 1. Insert a blank CD into your computer's DVD drive
You must use a new CD-R or CD-RW (or if you want to create a storage CD, a new DVD).
- If your computer's disc drive is not labeled with " DVD ", it is not the correct type of drive and cannot be used to copy or burn CDs.
- If Windows Media Player opens when you insert the CD, move on to the next two steps.
- If an autorun window or other program opens, close the window or program before continuing.
Step 2. Open the Start menu
Click the Windows logo in the lower-left corner of the screen. After that, the Start menu will be displayed.
Step 3. Open Windows Media Player
Type in windows media player and click on the icon “ Windows Media Player ” which is orange, blue, and white at the top of the Start menu.
If you don't see the Windows Media Player icon at the top of the Start menu, the program may not be installed on your computer. Windows Media Player is not included as a default program in some versions of Windows 10. However, a clean install process can usually add the Windows Media Player program to your computer
Step 4. Click the Burn tab
It's a tab in the upper-right corner of the window.
Step 5. Select the CD format
While you usually need to use Windows Media Player to create car-playable audio CDs or CD players, you can also use Windows Media Player to create data storage CDs:
- Click the " Burn options " checkmark icon at the top of the " Burn " section.
- Click " Audio CD ” to create an audio CD that can be played on the device or “ Data CD or DVD ” to create a file storage CD.
Step 6. Add songs to CD
You can add songs with a total length of 80 minutes to create a regular audio CD. Click and drag the desired songs into the program's main window in the " Burn " section.
If you want to create a data CD, you can add video and photo files to the CD
Step 7. Arrange the songs in the desired order
Click and drag songs up or down to specify the order of play.
Skip this step if you want to create a data CD
Step 8. Click Start burn
It's at the top of the " Burn " section. After that, Windows Media Player will burn or copy the selected songs (or files) to a CD. After the process is complete, the CD will be ejected from the computer drive.
