Direct saving of the backup files to CD or DVD disk is supported as long as the disks have been pre formatted to accept direct file writes.  You will need to have some type of CD/DVD software installed on your system that makes your CD/DVD drive act as a standard drive.

On Windows Vista, this capability is built-in to the operating system. No third party program is required.  Prepare the CD as follows:

1. insert a blank CD
2. select the "Burn Files to Disk" option
3. click the "Show formatting options" button
4. make sure that the "Live File System" is selected
5. click Next and wait for the CD to be formatted
6. once the format is done - the CD is ready to accept backup files
7. when done - locate the CD drive in the list of drives (in the My Computer window)
8. right click on the CD drive and choose "Eject".  NOTE: even though Windows Vista indicates that it is 'closing' the session so that the CD may be read on other machines, the CD may NOT be usable on a non VISTA machine.

Other (modern) machines (not running Vista) are usually supplied with software to support this function.  The most popular software packages are:

Roxio "Easy CD Creator" -- Later versions (i.e. version 6 and 7) of the "Easy CD Creator", include a function called "Drag-To-Disc".  The "Drag-To-Disc" allows all other programs on the system to save data directly to a CD-R, CD-RW, DVR-R or DVD-RW disk.  It is used as follows:

 1. -- insert a blank disk
 2. -- if Windows shows a window asking what to do - "cancel" this window.
 3. -- look for the "Drag-To-Disc" window (lower right corner of the screen).
 4. -- right click on this window
 5. -- choose "Format"
 6. -- wait until the format is done. 
 You are now ready to save data files directly to the CD or DVD drive.

Roxio "Easy CD Creator" -- Legacy versions (prior to version 6) are supplied with with a module named "DirectCD" which performs the functions similar to "Drag-To-Disc".  The "DirectCD" module is started from the "Data Project" selection on the Roxio project selector. Note:  DirectCD Version 5 was very problematic on Windows XP.  You MUST have the latest release of version 5 to operate reliably on Windows XP.

Nero Burning Rom -- Most versions of NERO are supplied with a module named "InCD" which provide the direct write support.  "InCD" requires that you use CD-RW, DVD+RW or DVD-RW disks only.

When you start your computer, InCD starts automatically. There is no link to InCD in the Programs folder. The InCD icon appears in the system tray, which is usually in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen. The InCD icon shows information about the CD, which is currently in the drive, or about the drive itself. You must format unformatted discs before you can use them with InCD.

Sonic RecordNow Max -- The  Sonic product includes a module named "DLA" (Drive Letter Access). The DLA module provide the required functionality. You must format the discs before you can use them with DLA.

DLA is supplied with many machines under other brand names.  It may even be supplied under the machine manufacturer\'s name.

Windows XP Users Note:  Windows XP includes built-in functionality to use CD media as a destination to write files to within Windows Explorer.  This functionality is only included for Windows Explorer.  This does not allow other applications to write to the CD/DVD. 

If you do not have the direct write software (as above), you can still save the backup file to the CD/DVD by:

1. Make a backup to some temporary location on your hard drive (say c:\MyBackup ).

2. Copy the completed backup file to the CD using the software supplied with the Windows XP or the CD/DVD drive.