A. Backing up your data to CDs is a great idea. Most computers with CD burners come bundled with CD-recording software that uses drag-and-drop technology. This means burning your files to CD is a cinch. First, insert a blank CD-RW or CD-R into the CD recording drive. (A CD-RW lets you erase and write over the data multiple times; you can't change or delete data on a CD-R.) Open the software, choose to make a data CD, drag the desired files into the software and record.

If your data takes up only 20MB of your 700MB CD-R, you don't have to waste that extra space. Most burning software lets you keep a session open so you can add more files later. If you close the session on a CD-R, you won't be able to record more data on the disc.