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General discussion

New PC has DVD drive but backed up files from old are on CDs

Jul 4, 2010 9:05AM PDT

I faithfully backed up all my files from my old PC onto CDs. The software for my old PC is on CDs. The fan stopped working on my old PC and the hard drive is fried.

My new PC has ONLY a DVD read/write drive. (Didn't realize that when I bought it...)

Any suggestions as to how to transfer files and software from the CDs to DVDs so I can use and read and install them? I am not technically sophisticated so I would be grateful for easy-to-follow instructions. Thank you!

Discussion is locked

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It'll read them
Jul 4, 2010 9:49AM PDT

It'll read them just fine. I have never once seen a "pure" DVD drive. Even the drives in DVD players are typically capable of reading CDs.

At any point did you actually put the discs in the drive to see if they would work?

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Er... um... no... I didn't actually TRY them...duh....
Jul 5, 2010 12:46PM PDT

Hi, Jim!

Thanks for your reply. I am VERY grateful for the information and MUCH relieved. I was envisioning having to load them on the CD drive of my daughter's laptop and then email them to myself a few files at a time... and then download them and save them on a DVD... Well, never mind. You can see now why I am greatly relieved!

I always thought CD and DVD drives were different sizes or worked differently. Actually, I WAS going to try one, but on my new PC, the drive is vertical instead of horizontal. Thinking that CDs are physically smaller and/or thinner than DVDs, I was afraid to put one in and have it jam or get stuck or wobble or break or do something else that would be very bad.

(When we used little 3" "floppies" there were at least two occasions on which I put the little un-floppy floppy in upside down or backward, getting it jammed and ending up with an expensive service call.)

Again, many thanks for taking the time to reply. CNET Forum members are the BEST--coming to the rescue of us newbies and being kind and helpful and not laughing (at least, not on screen) at our questions or blunders. And you're one of them, Jim!

Cheers!

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They are
Jul 5, 2010 10:11PM PDT

They are different, but it has more to do with how the data is written to them. But this is all handled internally by the drive, and you don't need to worry about it. A couple years from now you may find that the drive will only read CDs or DVDs but not both, and that will mean it's time for a new drive.

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Ah! I understand now...
Jul 6, 2010 2:22PM PDT

Hi, Jimmy!

Thanks for explaining how they're different. I especially like the part of your explanation where you say, "...but you don't need to worry about it." I feel the same way about my PC and accessories as I do about my microwave. I love it...want to use it...but I don't have a clue as to how any of it works! (Actually, I have more clues about the microwave than about my PC and DVDs and CD drives and all.)

I sincerely appreciate your taking time to reply once more; I always learn something new on CNET Forums, thanks to the kind, patient, caring members who answer my distress cries!

Ellie