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There are many free and paid programs available for copying CDs onto your computer as MP3s. I recommend looking at what programs are already on your computer, chances are the included software is more then sufficient for your copying needs.

Based on using pre-installed software, Apple users can expect to use the free and included iTunes software to do this; Window's users can expect to use Windows Media Player.

In iTunes:

-Simply insert the CD you wish to copy and iTunes should launch automatically. After a few moments the CD will appear in the left hand side menu as a CD (if the CD is titled the title will be shown) If set for autoplay, the iTunes library will change and show each of the tracks of the inserted cd.

-iTunes will give you the option to 'import' the CD tracks to the iTunes library, you want to do this.

- Create a new playlist by going to File and selecting New Playlist; name it if you'd like. Locate the files in your iTunes library that were just copied. (If the files were named and IDed you can use the search box in iTunes to quickly find the files) Eject the original CD and insert a blank CD. Move the files you'd like to copy by dragging them to your New Playlist under the Playlist heading in the left hand side list.

-Once in your new playlist with the files you'd like; select 'Burn' in the lower right corner of the iTunes window and the files will be copied as MP3s to the CD. You can delete the new playlist when the burning is completed and those files will remain in your iTunes library and also on your new CD.

In Windows Media Player:

-Insert the CD you'd like to copy. After a few moments, Media Player will recognize the CD and depending on the version you have may ask you if you'd like to copy the files to the Media Player Library. Select yes if the option is offered. If not you can go to File and select the CD as what you'd like to play.

-Once playing you'll see a tab for 'Rip'; select this and you will check off the tracks you'd like to copy. Newer versions will allow you to rip the files from the CD, prompt you to insert a blank CD, then burn the files to that CD without having to separately import the CD tracks to your hard drive.

These two options are free and included on your computer.

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