My problem is that I cannot directly write to the CD-RW using a batch file for copying my D: drive with all my code on, it fails with 'Access Denied'.

But I do not know if buying something like Easy CD or Nero would solve this?

Also I could see my files on CR-RW created with Easy CD when I had a basic install on XP. Once I patched XP it only shows the install file for a UDF reader.

Your best bet would be to use something like Ghost or Drive Image 2002. Ghost will only run from DOS and you need to run it with a suitably modified 98 boot disk. Drive Image will run from Windows and also DOS. Drive Image gives you the opportunity to make a boot disk also.

you can't copy to a burner using a dos copy command which is what xcopy is. your burner needs specialised software to write to. this is not an xp specific issue.

Well I use to use Easy CD that let me use a batch file that copied all my files that had changed or were new onto the CD-RW.

e.g. xcopy /e /m /v /c d: e:

This copied any files to my e: drive which was my CD-RW drive.

I only want to copy files that are new or changed.

One solution I have thought of is writing directly to the 'CD Burn' directory.

e.g. xcopy d: %SYSTEMROOT%\..\Documents and Setting\%USER%\.......

My only problem then is trying to automate the actual burning to the CD-RW.

Why did MS make such a simple process hard my making it a two step process.