# Copying CD's **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 1, 2003, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-cds/198914 "2003-09-01T03:52:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![feppytweed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/feppytweed/32/4280_2.png) [@feppytweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/feppytweed)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-cds/198914/1 "2003-09-01T03:52:16Z")
Why can’t i copy a burnt cd on my computer? ---
**Author:** ![Berkut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-cds/198914/2 "2003-09-01T03:54:48Z")
I’m guessing it is a problem with your hardware, software, or media. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-cds/198914/3 "2003-09-01T04:19:54Z")
Yep, what **Berkut** said. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-cds/198914/4 "2003-09-01T05:04:28Z")
You’ll have to give more details if you want a useful answer. Are you trying to copy an audio CD or a data CD? Can you read the CD in your computer? What program are you using? What error message do you get, if any? ---
**Author:** ![feppytweed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/feppytweed/32/4280_2.png) [@feppytweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/feppytweed)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-cds/198914/5 "2003-09-01T05:07:58Z")
I am using a cd burner that is integrated into my computer. it tells me to only use the origonal data source.it is an audio cd, and the cd is fine. i dont know what the problem is. ---
**Author:** ![Horseflesh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horseflesh/32/7502_2.png) [@Horseflesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horseflesh)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-cds/198914/6 "2003-09-01T05:13:32Z")
You need to specify the following things: CD burning software When the error message occurs, before or after the burn Brand and model of your computer would be helpful Operating system (if Windows, what version?) You mentioned copying a “burnt cd” in the OP. What do you mean by this? Is the cd you’re trying to copy a copy itself or is it original? ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-cds/198914/7 "2003-09-01T05:15:02Z")
Sounds like your burner incorporates the Serial Copy Management System (SCMS), designed to prevent illegal copying. ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-cds/198914/8 "2003-09-01T10:20:57Z")
Here’s some [more information about SCMS](http://www.mitsuicdrstore.com/SCMS_nh.html). I’ve never seen PC burning software that actually implements SCMS, though. What program are you using? ---
**Author:** ![feppytweed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/feppytweed/32/4280_2.png) [@feppytweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/feppytweed)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-cds/198914/9 "2003-09-01T15:39:30Z")
I am using Easy Cd Creator 5 basic ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-cds/198914/10 "2003-09-01T16:37:29Z")
I’ve had the same problem using the CD Copier on Roxio’s “Easy” CD Creator 5. I write my own songs and burn em to a CD on my home recorder and then make copies. (In other words, there’s no way there should be SCMS problems as I haven’t put that on there). It got to the point where I find some of the CDs work, some don’t. The ones that I don’t, I just rip the songs off of 'em and then burn it from there. Assuming you’re not doing this with copywrite material, this should work just fine. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-cds/198914/11 "2003-09-01T21:39:13Z")
what operating system? ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-cds/198914/12 "2003-09-01T23:10:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by stpauler \* > **I’ve had the same problem using the CD Copier on Roxio’s “Easy” CD Creator 5. I write my own songs and burn em to a CD on my home recorder and then make copies. (In other words, there’s no way there should be SCMS problems as I haven’t put that on there).** By “home recorder”, do you mean a standalone CD recorder? I think they’re supposed to treat any analog input as copyright-protected, so the copies your recorder makes are “final” copies that can’t be duplicated by SCMS devices. If this is only happening with Easy CD Creator, it looks like the solution is to use another program. [Nero](http://www.ahead.de) is a good one. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-cds/198914/13 "2003-09-01T23:20:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr2001 \* > \*\*By “home recorder”, do you mean a standalone CD recorder? I think they’re supposed to treat any analog input as copyright-protected, so the copies your recorder makes are “final” copies that can’t be duplicated by SCMS devices. > > If this is only happening with Easy CD Creator, it looks like the solution is to use another program. [Nero](http://www.ahead.de) is a good one. \*\* It’s a home recording system by Fostex [VF-80](http://www.fostex.com/index2.asp?file=products/digital/vf80) ) I record my own vox, guitar, mandolin, et al on it and then the VF-80 burns it to a CD. Some can get duplicated on Roxio, others get that error message like the OPer seems to be getting. (I’ve tried Nero too but for some reason it likes to hide my CD drive, an entire other problem, but that happened every time I installed it. Oy.)