I tried using the XP backup with a CD-RW, but it won't except it as a valid media. Does anyone know how to use it with a CD-RW or another backup utility (preferably free) for doing this?

Hi, http://www.softwareoutlets.com/122/back_up_my_pc.htm Back Up My PC is typical. It has very good lineage. There are few, if any, free. Search here - http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/ Good Luck

What I do to backup files: While in Windows Explorer, insert the RW-CD into its drive, When the Autoplay popup comes on click CANCEL, click the drive in the left hand pane, right click in the right hand pane, go to New and select folder, then name your folder, and hit ENTER, it now says above that "Files to be Written to CD", Copy any and all files to that folder, or any other folder that you may create. Then right click the drive in the left hand pane, then click "Write these files to CD". For Example when naming a folder, I put: Chuck's Documents 4-18-03 Then copy all of My Documents to that folder.

Or to easist is to just RIGHT CLICK any/all files/data and send them to the proper drive letter with a blank CD in there and it will write the data.