I generally use Nero Express for burning files to disc. It’s quick and easy and the software came free with my burner. However, when I need to burn more than the 4.7 GB a single layer DVD can record or when I’m using another person’s computer I need an alternative. Nero Express may not be installed and even if it is it cannot span a backup job over multiple discs.
(If you have NeroBackItUp installed you can span as many discs as you need, but if you want to read the files with anything other than NeroBackItUp you have to click the More button on the screen where you choose the target drive and de-select the “Compress data before backup” option.)
A nice free solution is CDBurnerXP. CDBurnerXP is available in native 64 bit or 32 bit versions and can burn data or audio CDs or DVDs. It can create an image of a disc or burn a disc from an image. It can create bootable discs and of course it has an option to span large backup jobs over multiple discs. Click on Disc then Disc Spanning and choose the size and type of disc you are using (CD or DVD, single or dual layer) and choose whether you want it to “Use as few discs as possible” or “Do not split folder contents unnecessarily”.
Be advised that the default CDBurnerXP installer offered on their home page uses OpenCandy to suggest additional software (for me it was a driver scanner) during the install. The additional software can be declined but some people have privacy concerns given that OpenCandy says they retrieve a one-time message with “NON-personally identifiable” information. According to their privacy policy, this may include “information regarding your geo-location, operating system, language setting”, whether you already have some of the suggested software installed and whether you decline their offer.
Fortunately CDBurnerXP’s download page provides the optional of an alternative installer without OpenCandy. Just click on “More download options” under “Download latest version”.
