Windows Vista provie two ways to copy files to a writeable disc. This process is called burning a disc. By default, Windows Vista burns discs in the Live File System format, but you can also choose to burn discs in the Mastered format.

There are several differences between Live File System and Mastered formats:

Burning with Live File System format allows you to add and erase files (only for rewritable disks) on the disk like a USB flash drive. However disks burned with this format might not be readable for operating systems before Windows XP.

Instaed disks burned with Mastered format will be readable for all Windows systems. Data is written once and individual files cannot be erased after burning.

To write data to a disk follow these steps:

1. Insert a writeable CD or DVD into your computer's CD or DVD recorder.

2. In the dialog box that appears, click Burn files to data disc.

3. In the Burn a Disc dialog box, type a name for this disc, and then click Show formatting options.

4. Chose the writing format.

5. If you choose Live File System format It might take several minutes for the disc to be formatted in the default Live File System format. When the formatting is complete, an empty disc folder opens. Open the folder that contains the files you want to burn, and then drag the files into the empty disc folder.

6. If you choose Mastered format an empty disc folder opens. Open the folder that contains the files you want to burn, and then drag the files into the empty disc folder. On the toolbar, click Burn to disc.