How to Enable or Disable CD Burning

Windows XP has a default CD burning program.  However, some users prefer to use a different program for burning their CDs.  Some of these programs have no issues with Windows XP’s default burning program and are able to function while the program is present.  However, there are other burning programs that interfere with Windows XP’s default burning program and refuse to work until the default program is disabled.

Since trial and error can be, well, trying, many users opt to disable Windows XP’s default burning program to ensure that their alternate burning programs will work flawlessly. 

To disable Windows XP’s default burning program, you need to modify the registry.  There are always risks when registry modification is involved.  The risks can be lessened if a back-up is created before any changes are made.  This way, the user can reinstall the registry to the previous error free state.

There are two methods that can be used when enabling or disabling the default burning program for Windows XP.  The choice of which method to use should be made with the user’s level of computer knowledge in mind.  This tweak can also be done to apply the affects to all the users on a particular machine.

The instructions for the current user are as follows.

  1. Click Start.  Go to Run.  Enter Regedit.
  2. You will find HKEY_CURRENT_USER on the left side of the registry editor.  Click the little cross on the left to expand the folder.
  3. Go to the Software folder.  Expand this folder and look for Microsoft.
  4. When you have found Microsoft, expand the folder and then look for the Windows folder.
  5. The Windows folder should also be expanded.  Look for CurrentVersion.
  6. Expanding CurrentVersion will lead you to the Policies folder.
  7. Expand Policies to bring you to Explorer.
  8. At this point, look at the right hand pane of the registry editor.  Look for NoCDBurning.  This is a DWORD value.  If the value is present, move on to step nine.  If the value is absent, proceed with the steps below:
    – Right click on the right hand side of the registry editor.
    – Select New and then select DWORD.
    – Rename the new value to NoCDBurning.  Alternately, you can modify the new DWORD value name by right clicking on it and selecting Rename.

  9. Double click NoCDBurning.  A little box should pop up.
  10. Enter 0 if you would like to enable burning.  Enter 1 if you would like to disable burning.
  11. Exit the registry and reboot.

Again, the instructions above are for the current user.  If you would like other users to be affected as well, the instructions for enabling or disabling CD burning for the local machine are below.

  1. Click Start and go to Run. Enter regedit.
  2. Find HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE on the left side of the registry.  Expand the folder.
  3. Now go to the Software folder.  Expand the Software folder to go to Windows.
  4. Once you’ve found Windows, expand the folder and look for CurrentVersion.
  5. From CurrentVersion, go to Policies.
  6. Expand Policies to take you to Explorer.
  7. Look at the right hand pane of your registry editor.  Check if NoCDBurning is a present value.  If the value is present, proceed to step eight.  If the value is not present, follow the steps below to create the value.
    – Right click on the right hand side of your registry editor.
    – Select New and then select DWORD.
    – Rename the DWORD value to NoCDBurning.  You can also choose to right click on the new DWORD value and select Rename to modify the new value.

  8. Double click on NoCDBurning.  A box will pop up.
  9. Enter 0 if you want to enable burning.  Enter 1 if you want to disable burning.  Again, bear in mind that this is for the local machine.  It will affect all users.
  10. Exit registry and reboot.