On Windows XP -- Is there a way (and how do you do it) to use a shell
script to burn a cd? I have a list of file paths, and I want to tell
Windows, take these files and make a cd for me with them.

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Request for Question Clarification by seizer-ga on 06 Dec 2002 04:38 PST

Hi there gcanyon!

Could you please let us know what type of CD-RW drive you have? (e.g.
Sony, Matsui, Philips, etc)

Thanks,

--seizer-ga

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Clarification of Question by gcanyon-ga on 06 Dec 2002 04:54 PST

Unfortunately, it has to work with any drive since it will be
implemented on multiple computers. If that means writing a huge nasty
script, I'd gladly tip to compensate.

Hello again, gcanyon.

I believe I've found a couple of possible solutions for you to try.
I'm very close to certain that Windows XP won't let you burn CDs
without some interaction with the point and click interface, so you'll
have to obtain third party software.

For what it's worth, you can minimize the clicking required by copying
files to the following directory:

C:\Documents and Settings\<logon username>\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\CD Burning

It will still pop up the CD burning wizard, however, so I understand
that it's not quite what you're looking for.

On to the better solutions:

#1

Purchase Gear PRO Professional. This software claims to do all you
want, including unattended backup and command line versions of all the
graphical tools. It even includes a scripting language. It does set
you back $149, though, so I'd certainly take a look at solution number
2 before parting with your money.

http://www.gearsoftware.com/products/prof/index.cfm

#2

Use the free and quirky CDRtools package. Originally developed for
Unix variants, such as Linux, it has now made an appearance in
Windows. Essentially, you must run two tools from the command line
(you could of course put these in a batch file):

mkisofs <LIST OF FILES>: which creates an ISO file to burn to CD.
cdrecord ISOFILE: which burns the ISO image to CD.

Since you say that you're working with multiple computers, this would
be an excellent solution. The CDRtools do not need to be installed
either, so you could carry them around on a floppy disk to the
computers you need to work on.

Please bear in mind that these tools are marked as Alpha, which means
they're not really bug free!

To get started, read the file located at the link below. Pay special
attention to the section marked "Important" in the penultimate
paragraph of the file:

ftp://ftp.fokus.gmd.de/pub/unix/cdrecord/alpha/win32/README.win32

Then get a copy of the actual tools:

ftp://ftp.fokus.gmd.de/pub/unix/cdrecord/alpha/win32/cdrtools-1.11a12-win32-bin.zip

Lastly, work your way through some of the help files located at:

http://www.fokus.gmd.de/research/cc/glone/employees/joerg.schilling/private/man/cdr_readme.html

There's a good thread explaining how to get mkisofs working on
Windows, here (apologies for the long link):

http://groups.google.co.uk/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&threadm=a1mchl%2425qb%241%40FreeBSD.csie.NCTU.edu.tw&rnum=1&prev=/groups%3Fhl%3Den%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DUTF-8%26q%3Dmkisofs%2B%2522files%2Bto%2Binclude%2522%26meta%3D%26sa%3DN%26tab%3Dwg

You may need to install Adaptec's ASPI package as well, though I
cannot verify whether this is the case for all drives, or just some:

http://www.adaptec.com/worldwide/support/driverdetail.html?sess=no&cat=/Product/ASPI-4.70&filekey=aspi_471a2.exe

Finally, I've also heard that Sony has a utility which only works on
their drives, which allows command line based backup. You can view
this product here:

http://sony.storagesupport.com/cdrw/cdextreme.htm

I hope this answers your question. I realize that the solution is a
little complex, so if anything's unclear or requires further
explanation, or if any of the links do not work, then please do not
hesitate to request clarification before rating this answer.

Good luck, and thanks.

--seizer-ga

Search strategy on Google and Google Groups:

xp command line cd burning
xp shell cd burning
xp automated cd burning
xp unattended cd burning

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Request for Answer Clarification by gcanyon-ga on 07 Dec 2002 13:57 PST

This is not actually a request for clarification, just a status. (I
didn't see a way to post a status other than this)

I posted this question for a friend, who it turns out was actually
working on behalf of a third person.  The answer looks good to me, and
to the person I asked it for. He's waiting for confirmation or
clarification requests from the person _he's_ working with.

Just wanted to provide some feedback -- thanks for the excellent and
rapid response! We should be able to conclude this question soon.

Thanks again,

Geoff

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Clarification of Answer by seizer-ga on 07 Dec 2002 14:12 PST

Thanks for the praise. I do hope one of the given solutions will suit
your friend's friend.

For your reference, there are three ways of adding information to your
question, once answered:

1) Requesting clarification: This is when you have a specific request
for further information from the researcher. Be aware that Google's
email system chases the researcher ruthlessly until they post an
answer clarification - compare this with #2:

2) Posting a comment: This can be done when you have information
pertinent to the question, but which may not require the researcher's
immediate attention. Google does not email the researcher in this
case.

3) Rating the question: When you feel that your answer is sufficient,
and any outstanding issues have been cleared up via clarification
requests, this is where you may optionally leave feedback for the
researcher. Again, Google does not notify the researcher via email.

Hope this helps. I'll await the results from your friend's friend!

Thanks,

--seizer-ga

This met the end user's needs perfectly. Thanks!