PCA Forums

I know this should probably go into the Software forum but this one probably has more traffic. Anyways I just bought a new CD-RW (Iomega 12/4/32 IDE) and it includes Adaptec Easy CD Creator and Direct CD. My question is do I need Direct CD? It leaves a system tray icon and I don't really like it there. I was thinking of getting a copy of Nero 5 to use for software, is Nero better?

I personally wouldn't install Direct CD. I never really did the drag and drop option for CDRW anyway. Lots of software doesn't like it either.

I have used both and I no longer even have Easy CD Creator installed. The one they ship with drives really isn't the complete version anyway. I know that it is pretty user friendly and has all those attractive music options (full version), but I find that it had an unacceptable coaster rate (lotta buffer underruns in my opinion).

What CDR software I have installed :

CDRWIN 3.8 (www.goldenhawk.com)
Nero 5.0.3.8 (www.ahead.de)
CloneCD 2.8.3.1 (www.elby.de)

Nero is a very good all purpose sofware for CDR/W. I have two young daughters who are very rough on my CD's so I find that CloneCD is the best for making back - ups of said CD's.
CDRWIN is pretty solid too, but I find that I mostly use Nero and CloneCD.


Hope that helps some.

DirectCD allows you to use your cd-rw as a huge floppy, by dragging files to it like a floppy. I use it and like it. It allows me to quickly transfer files from work to home in a snap; however, it does have a disadvantage:
1. It does not work with Nero. You can do some tweaks to make them work together, but out of the box they don't like each other and will cause problems. Nero even has a special file you can download that will shuffle your files around when you want to use DirectCD and Nero. Kinda like a boot manager.
2. Using directCD, you will lose ~125megs of space from a cd-rw or cd-r. So after you format the disk, you space remaining is ~510 megs free.

My personal burning software packages of choice are Clone CD and Nero. Clone CD for backing up CDs and Nero for everything else. Probably the thing I use Nero the most for is making audio CDs. I can just drag and drop MP3 files to create an audio CD for the car.

These are the ones I use in my Win2K PC:

CloneCD 2.8.3.1 - for basic CD copy
Nero 5.0.3.8 - copy off HD
WinOnCD 3.8 - everything else (video, Direct CD) but I don't let the Direct Cd auto start in the task bar. (Startup Cop)

Dam, I have heard good things about CloneCD but it won't work on my system.

Kenwood 72X
Plextor 12X/10X/32X Eide.

When I try to make a CD copy with it, it goes into the checking and stops at 8%. Then it won't let me close the program. Have to ctrl-alt-delete to close it and then my system hangs and I have to reboot.

This problem happens with both my other CD software programs installed and un-installed.

So now I am just using the included software that came with the Plextor which is:

Adaptec Easy CD Creator 4
Adaptec DirectCD
Plextor Manager 2000

They all seem to work very well so far but I wish I knew why the CloneCD program won't work. I even emailed the CloneCD site telling them about my problem but have not gotten a response.

clone CD is <i>very</i> picky about the readers it uses, it works with the plextor (i got one ), try uses the plex for reading and writing

Yup. I have a Kenwood TRUE-X 72X drive as well. MOST CDR software doesn't like it at all.

I use Nero and Easy CD 4.
Nero for most data cd's and Easy cd for most audio.
I used to hate easy cd but I like some of the features now for audio , like cd text and the jewel case themes for mixed cd's.
I also use the boot menu from Nero even though I took direct cd off. I didn't like it much.
WW

I use:

<li>Nero - Audio, Data
<li>CDR-Win - bin/cues
<li>Fireburner - .iso's (linux distro is the only time I used it)
<li>CloneCD - most copies

I don't use directCD cause it screws with my precious Nero. Otherwise, I'm sure I'd find it useful.

Busby got himself a new CD-RW , and a killer deal if it's one of those $99.00 deals... Well, Nero hasn't let me down yet, but it's not quite as easy to use as those other programs, but it still worth a look...

As I like to say, "Nero is my Hero!"

I think Nero for all round also. I use disk juggler for cd copies, works better the clodeCD but it's not set up as easy.

I use nero for everything, how are clone cd and others better for making copies, maybe I need to start using them.