Let me explain the functions that I really need it to support. The software should be able to burn CDs and DVDs both in image formats like ISO or IMG but also folders and files for archiving purposes. It should be able to burn music CDs although I rarely use that feature nowadays. It would be nice if it would have one or two context menu entries that would allow me to burn images right from the context menu.

That’s really all I need. Everything else would be a bonus unless it would slow down the application. A perfect application would load as fast as possible, show no splash screen and let me pick what I want to do right away. Now it’s your turn, what is the best free burning software in your opinion ?

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If you do not have a software that supports plugins you could use the excellent freeware Burrn which supports many formats which are: wav, mp3, mpc, ogg, aac, mp4, ape, flac, ofr, wv, tta, m3u, pls and fpl playlists and cue sheets as well as embedded cuesheets for ape, wv and flac files. It reads the tags automatically and adds them to the burning process. Burrrn is really easy to use, it supports drag and drop and direct editing of song title and artist.

You will have to choose a burner the first time it starts. Once this is done the main window opens and you may add new songs to the CD by dragging songs or cue sheets to the main window.  If you want a certain order for your files you have to drag them one at a time. Last but not least it offers a way to adjust the replaygain for all songs before the songs are burned to the audio cd.

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It seems that we have reached a new level in the fight between the record companies and its consumers. If you put a music cd in question into your drive a installer will popup. If you agree to install the software you won´t find a uninstall feature anywhere on your pc.

Apparently all Music Cds labeled “Content enhanced & protected” have the installer on the CD, make sure you check this before you buy a cd you would want to hear using your pc.

According to Krebs “The CDs in question make use of a technique employed by software programs known in security circles as “rootkits,” a set of tools attackers can use to maintain control over a computer system once they have broken in.”

It takes pc expertise to be able to remove this software ones it is installed on your pc. FSecure analysed the product and have a own virus definition for it. Lets take a look at their summary:

Extended Copy Protection (XCP) is a CD/DVD copy protection technology created by First 4 Internet Ltd. XCP has been used to protect some audio CDs released by Sony BMG Music Entertainment. The XCP protected disks contain digital rights management (DRM) software that allow the user to make a limited number of copies of the disk and also rip the music into a digital format to be used on a computer or portable music player.

Once installed, the DRM software will hide:

Files
Processes
Registry keys and values

No means of uninstalling the DRM software is given. The software supports Windows 98SE, Windows ME, Windows 2000 SP4 and Windows XP.

This analysis was conducted on Windows XP. The music CD that contained the DRM software was Van Zant: Get Right with the Man (Sony BMG Music Entertainment).

F-secure also posted a guide on how to remove the software once installed on your system.

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