Copying a CD to a USB stick – here’s how

Even though it is now common practice to copy data using USB sticks, CDs are still used from time to time. Both files and music can be copied from a CD to a USB stick.

Copying a CD to a USB stick – files

Files such as images can be copied from a CD to a USB stick.

• To copy image files from a CD to a USB stick, for example, first open the CD on your PC.

• Select the desired content on the CD and use the key combination [Ctrl] + [C] to copy the content.

• Now open your USB stick on your PC and paste the copied content at the desired location using the key combination [Ctrl] + [V].

• Instead of using the keyboard shortcuts, you can also right-click and select the “Copy” and “Paste” functions.

Copying a CD to a USB stick – Music

It does not make sense to copy audio files from CDs directly to a USB stick, as they cannot be played without first being ripped. “Ripping” converts the music files into common formats such as MP3 or WMA. If you want to copy music from your CD to a USB stick, you will also need your PC and, in most cases, additional software.

• Insert the CD into your drive and start Windows Media Player. Open the “Copy from media” tab and confirm the process with “Start copying.”

• Insert the USB stick into the slot on your PC. Once it is recognized, it will also be displayed in Media Player. Select the appropriate songs and drag them to the synchronization list.

• Start the copying process by clicking “Start synchronization.” Alternatively, you can send individual tracks directly from Explorer by right-clicking on them and selecting “Send to” and then “USB drive.”

• As an alternative to Windows Media Player, you can use software such as VLC Player, Audiograbber, or Easy CD Extractor.

• Note on Windows Media Player: Windows Media Player does not always start automatically when a CD is inserted. If this does not happen, you must manually select the “Copy from media” (or “Rip”) tab to start the copying process. You can also use the settings to specify whether the copying process should start automatically or not.

• Legal notice: Copying copy-protected CDs is not permitted by law. Please check whether your CD is copy-protected before starting. In Germany, private copies may only be made from unprotected CDs and for personal use.

• ISO files from data CDs: If you want to back up programs, video files, or other data from a CD, you can create an ISO file. This ISO file can later be transferred to a USB stick or used for archiving purposes. Suitable tools for this are, for example, IMGBurn or ISO to USB. With these programs, you can create an exact copy of the CD as an ISO image and then write this file to a USB stick.