good CD/DVD burning software for winxp?

[sneakyimp]

I set up a new computer earlier this year and have neglected to purchase burning software for my optical drive. I installed Nero and was shocked to find that it had all manner of indexing process and obtrusive bullsh!t.

I just want some decent burning software that does a few things:
* burn audio cds
* burn disc from ISO image
* burn dvds (data and video)
* has a GUI so I don't have to add all the darn files using the command line or something
* lets me save disk images as ISO (and possibly additional proprietary format)

Can anyone recommend something?

[bpat1434]

Not sure about DVD video, but PowerISO is a pretty good program. And Nero is a great program, if you know how to wield it. If you get version 7.0 or so, it should run perfectly fine. The current 8.0 program is a bit much.

With nero you really don't need everything that they give you. You can remove most of their "editors" and use a better-quality video editor. I typically just install the Nero Burning Rom and that's it. Nothing else that isn't required for that to run. My system stays quick and Nero runs like a champ.

[sneakyimp]

Last time I installed Nero 8, it wanted to install daemons that watched certain folders and indexed my hard drive and stuff. It was running like 3 processes at any given time. I don't want that. I want it to run when I call it up and I want it to *die* when I close the application.

I'm guessing there must be install options.

Thanks for the input.

[bpat1434]

Yeah... you gotta click that "Advanced" button :p

[Horizon88]

k3b, cdrecord, and your standard GNU utilities are all you really need. >_>

[bpat1434]

If you're running Linux.... not Windows.

[bradgrafelman]

Alcohol 120%, good for burning/virtually mounting... erm, backup copies... of all types of discs. :)

[Elizabeth]

Hey, roxio came with one of our xp machines... it's not free, but it does work well.

http://www.roxio.com/enu/store/cddvdburning.html

[sneakyimp]

I found this page really helpful:
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/the-best-free-alternatives-to-nero-cddvd-burner/

I tried a few of those until I realized my memorix 510L is a turd. I installed a samsung optical drive, I'm currently using imgBurn and it's doing quite well.

Thanks for your recommendations!

[Weedpacket]

My last (and current) XP box came with Asus Recordnow DX. Haven't stress-tested it or anything but it hasn't given me any grief when I have used it (how's that for a stirring endorsement?).