With free burning software all over the Net, there’s no need to shell out money to buy one. But you can’t just download any application that claims it is the best and the fastest. Picking the wrong one may actually crash your operating system.

What Kind of Burner Do You Need?

The most basic burner will burn songs on a CD. More advanced software will let you design CD / DVD covers. Some have the capability to stream video files. Other applications have video editing capabilities. Other advanced features let you recode DVDs, or even edit photos.

The more features bundled in, the longer it will take to download. If you need all these features in the free burning software, get it. If you just need a basic program, look for something simpler. There’s no need to download a program whose features you aren’t going to use.

What are the System Requirements?

This information will be available on the manufacturer’s website. Most computers today can handle these programs’ memory and space requirements. More important is to check what additional programs or components are needed by the software to run.

For example, the software may need Windows Media Player 10 to run successfully. Others may require Windows XP Service Pack 2 or Windows Vista. If you don’t have these components, the free burning software may install but not run. Even if it works, it may be too slow or crash the system.

Read Online Reviews

There are many software / tech review sites on the Web. Check if the software is there and what people are saying about it. Pay close attention to comments from people running the same operating system as you are. Any problems they experience may happen to you too.

If the feedback is negative (runs slowly, many bugs, etc.) maybe you should look for another program.

Is it Really Free?

Some programs are advertised as free, but with some features disabled. Other so-called free burning software will be free only for a certain number of days. These types of programs are actually shareware but some companies advertise them as freeware.

Warnings

Do not download from suspicious looking sites. Those suspicious sites are the ones that let you download commercially available software for free. Those are pirated software. They are not only illegal but also contain viruses that can damage your computer.

Tips

Once you’ve downloaded the software, read the instructions and readme.txt file. A lot of these programs have an intuitive interface, but it’s best to be sure. You should also check the website for any program updates or patches.

Dealing with Software Problems

If the program won’t run, go to its website. There should be a troubleshooting / support link there. The website may also have a forum where you can post questions / problems. If there isn’t one, you can always go to one of the many software forums / sites in the Web.

Before you download free burning software, be sure you account for the system specs and what reviewers says about it. By recognizing the types of burning software out there, you’ll be able to pick the one that suits your needs.