CDBurnerXP was the go-to free CD and DVD burning software for Windows in the early 2000s, right when everyone was ripping mixtapes, backing up MP3 collections, and burning data discs like it was a sport. First released in 2003, it quickly became a fan favorite because it did everything Nero did—burn audio CDs, ISO images, and even bootable discs—without the bloat or the price tag. The updates kept it current for years, with big jumps like version 4 in 2007 bringing a cleaner interface and better DVD and Blu‑ray support. If you were the friend who always had stacks of blank Verbatim or Memorex discs on your desk, CDBurnerXP was probably the silent MVP behind all your mixes and backups.