I can't link you to the site as it is blocked here at work, but give filehippo.com a peek. On the right column there is a DVD/CD/Audio. There might be an application that can assist you. Be sure to read the information as some are lite (not fully featured as the commercial version), trial version, or of course just plain old free. If one or more strike your fancy please share it with us for perhaps some input. Generally, more than one application will not conflict.

DA

You can use the Media player to rip them to your computer Just put a CD in and choose Make a Playlist. Choose Copy as if you were going to burn but do not burn a copy. Then they will be on your computer

I've never even burned a cd. I'm so clueless.

Can't you just put in the CD, click open on the drive it is in. It should open with the titles to the songs, highlight, choose copy go to your folder and choose paste. That's what I do or that's what I remember doing. I just reformatted and I copied and pasted my music back on my computer and into ITunes. You can't edit it that way, but you can move them to your PC.

buyorsell-
Let's make it simple. Download and install the free iTunes software. Then all you have to do is put a CD in your drive. If iTunes is not already open, give it a few seconds to startup. It will either start copying the music to your computer automatically, or you may have to click on a button in the bottom right corner of the iTunes main window that says "Import CD." When the copying is done (a few minutes), you can eject the CD and repeat the process with another CD, etc. The iTunes software will organize all your albums for you and you can just click on any album cover to play it. If you want to get fancy, you can even make specific playlists of songs easily.

Here is a link that might be useful: iTunes

I personally would not suggest using Itunes unless you are using related products it can cause problems if not.

I would do the simple method
Copy music files from an audio CD

1. Insert the Audio CD and start Windows Media Player.
2. If WMP is in Skin mode, press CTRL+1 to view WMP in Full mode.
3. Click Copy from CD. Or, on the File menu, you can click Copy, click Copy from Audio CD, and then choose the drive from which you want to copy.
4. Click to select each audio file that you want to copy. By default, all files that you have not already copied are selected.
5. Click Copy Music. This copies the file into the My Documents\My Music folder by default.

another very simple method where you do not even have to use windows media player is, you pop in your CD into your computer's CD drive, it should pop-up a window asking what you want to do with it. Open the contents of the CD and you'll see all the songs on the CD. If a window does not pop up and the CD starts playing, stop it and go to> Start -> My Computer -> the CD drive with your music CD to see the contents of the CD (you might have to right click on that drive and select explore to view contents). All you have to do from here is highlight all the songs and drag and drop it into a folder that's on your computer or on your external drive, or even easier once they are highlighted right click on that area and choose copy to and find the folder you want to copy them to, usually the My music folder.

ravencajun-
I'd be interested to hear what specific problems you're aware of that iTunes causes. I've never had any issues with it on three different computers. I have had some minor glitches with other ripping/burning software, but not iTunes. I'm not saying it's not possible -- any software install can affect a computer -- but I'm just not aware of this as a general issue with iTunes.

I prefer ITunes over WMP any day. I put up with WMP for years and never worked for me. I caught on to ITunes right away.

I personally use VLC media player which is available for windows and linux and covers pretty much all formats.
The fact that buyorsell888 stated they had xp, I knew they already had WMP on board, so to not further complicate things with a download, use it. But personally I just copy and paste when I do it and use VLC for all my player needs, it is open source.

I was referring to itunes being so tied to apple products and formats, in that respect, not that it causes problems with the computer, it is very proprietary. I am not a big fan of proprietary.

ravencajun-
Thanks for the clarification about iTunes. I am philosopically in agreement with you about proprietary products. In fact I avoided using iTunes until my daughter gave me an iPod and I tried it. I'm still not keen on the Apple business model of tight product control, but I have warmed up to iTunes and just thought it might be the simplest solution for someone with such basic skills as the original poster.

Looking over the iTunes website it looks easier to use than WMP which I've always hated.

Thanks :)

the point is that you do not have to use any if you just use the copy feature to copy them directly from the cd to the folder on your pc, super easy. Know that if you do use itunes the format it is saved in may not be one that can be used by all applications you may want to use.

I would be lost without copy and paste, that is how I put music on my PC before I started converting to MP3 formats. Now I just use Roxio to convert then save to my computer. I have ITunes and an IPod. I bought the IPod and a speaker to use on my stays in hotels and on the ship. I don't travel now so bought a Memorex radio with a dock and listen to my music via the IPod. I love being able to shuffle through 1,000 songs. The sound on the Memorex radio is as good if not better than my Bose.

I was just looking at a new little music player that Kim Komando mentioned, looks light and easy to use and one thing I like is that it says in the info that it will not mess with the format of your music files unless you tell it to, that is refreshing LOL
"Respect For You and Your Music

* Never changes your music files unless you specifically tell it to: you worked too hard to get them the way you wanted to have your music player alter them.
* Doesn't change your Windows file associations unless you tell it to.
* No spyware. No hidden add-ons. No bundled utilities. Never had 'em; never will."

FREE QuuxPlayer

Have not tried it but looks like it may be a nice little program.