Don’t let the name fool you–the fact that we live in the era of Windows Vista with an impending Windows 7 likely hitting our doorsteps later this year is no reason to avoid this fantastic CD and DVD Burning application. For those who remember using Ahead Software’s Nero back in the day, before it became…well, enormous, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find that CD Burner XP is all about the data burning operation.

It’s pleasantly small at only 3.03MB, making it both fast to download and fast to install. A word of warning for those who may be averse: this app requires Microsoft’s free .Net Framework in order to operate. My sincere recommendation for those who’re fearful of .Net is simply this: get over it. The framework is very light and very useful, and unlike the early builds it’s pretty darn stable.

I’ve provided the complete feature list for CD Burner XP after the jump, but most users will only care about the obvious: the software will burn data CD’s and DVD’s, both from folders and files and from ISO’s. It will burn audio cd’s, including converting MP3′s into audio format for those who want to take their music to a device that won’t read MP3′s. You can burn DVD movies with it, but do be aware you’ll need a separate ripping or decrypting program if you intend to copy protected dvd’s.

If all you want to do is burn your own stuff, though, this software will take care of you. It’s fast and stable and doesn’t skimp on features, but at the same time it’s not bloated and doesn’t include a lot of bells and whistles that you’ll probably never use. Best of all, it’s free. I’ve been using the software myself for about 4 years and I recommend it constantly over any other, paid or otherwise. If you like the software and feel like you’d be willing to pay for it, I highly recommend dropping a couple bucks donation to the developers.

Final Judgment: Excellent application, highly recommended

Website and Download: CDBurner XP

CD Burner XP’s complete feature list

Create Data-CDs/DVDs

• burn any Data on CD-R/CD-RW/DVD+R/DVD-R/DVD+RW/DVD-RW/DVD-RAM/BD/HD-DVD, including double layer mediums
• burn mp3-CDs to store many audio files on one single disc
• create bootable discs
• verify written Data automatically after burning process
• use either the internal browser to add your files or the intuitive Drop-Box to drag and drop files directly from any Windows Explorer window
• save your compilations for creation of backups
• burn on-the-fly and with buffer-underrun protections
• import previous (ISO 9660) sessions and edit existing file structure on CD/DVD
• quick- and full-erase disc
• copy data discs (possible copy-protection is not bypassed)
• retrieve recorder and disc information

Create Audio-CDs

• create Audio-CDs from mp3, wav, ogg, flac and wma files
• add single or multiple tracks from existing audio-CDs directly to your new compilation without ripping tracks before (add cda-files)
• play audio-files with integrated audio player
• gapless audio-CDs supported (disc-at-once-mode)
• import M3U or WPL playlists
• support for ReplayGain
• import CUE sheets
• create mixed-mode discs

ISO features

• burn ISO files to CD
• create your own ISO files
• convert bin- and nrg-files to ISO
• save CDs/DVDs as ISO file to disc

Other features

• simple cover printing feature for data- and audio-discs
• LightScribe integration
• Command line version
• supports most IDE, USB, Firewire and SCSI drives
• integrated option to enable access to drive for restricted users
• multi-language interface
• online update

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