Files and Settings Transfer Wizard won't recognize my CD

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@Diane J wrote:
I bought a new hard drive to replace the dying one in my Inspiron 1000 laptop. I tried using the FSTW to copy to a CD, but it keeps saying there is either no CD in the drive or the CD is corrupted. This happened with two different CD's, one a re-writable and one just a regular blank one. Anything I can do to fix it? (I know the CD drive works because my daughter has burned music CDs with it.)

If I can't fix it, what about transferring the files and settings that FSTW has collected to a folder on the desktop, and then burn that folder onto a CD? Could I then use the CD to transfer the folder to the desktop on the new HD and then use FSTW on the new HD to install them?

Or, if I have saved the folder made by FSTW on the desktop, can I transfer it to the new HD using a USB shell holding the old HD? And how does the USB shell work (I just read about it in the forum and have never seen one).

I plan to install the OS and applications onto the new HD from the CDs that came with the laptop--will there be any problem with that? The new HD is a Samsung Spinpoint M MP0402H, 40GB, 5400 rpm, 8 mb cache, ATA-6. Everything I've read about replacing hard drives sounds easy, so I hope it works as I know nothing about it.

I need simple, detailed explanations. Thanks.

I would save it on the desktop as you suggest and then burn to CD.  Good plan.