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How to burn a disc with an external USB drive
Most laptops dropped the disc drive — a cheap external USB writer brings it back. Plug it in and cdBurner detects it like any built-in drive.
Knowing this helps you pick the right disc and settings the first time, so your burns read everywhere and last. When you're ready, cdBurner applies sensible defaults automatically.
Good to know
- Once the concept is clear, the burner handles the rest — open cdBurner and it picks sensible defaults for you.
- Not sure which disc to buy? Compare capacities in CD vs DVD vs Blu-ray.
Why cdBurner is different
Unlike Nero, ImgBurn or the others, cdBurner needs no heavy software — just a 2-second helper, and your files never leave your PC.
- 100% free — no trial, no watermark, no nag screens.
- Private — files are written locally and never uploaded to a server.
- No bloatware — one small signed helper, not a heavy install.
- Built on Windows' native IMAPI2 engine, so your discs read everywhere.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to install software to burn discs?
Not a heavy program. cdBurner runs in your browser and only adds a tiny one-time burn agent so the page can reach your drive.
Which disc should I use?
It depends on size: a CD for audio and small jobs, a DVD for video and backups, a Blu-ray for large archives. See CD vs DVD vs Blu-ray.
Is cdBurner really free?
Yes — completely free and ad-supported. No trial, no watermark and no paid tier.