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11 June 2010
In this tutorial, we examine how to create a CD/DVD image in ISO format using the free ImgBurn software. This allows you to create a backup of your software CD or DVD that you can store on an internal or external drive.
There are many reasons you would want to create an ISO image of your original software CDs and DVDs. One reason is that actual CDs and DVDs can easily be scratched, damaged, lost or stolen leaving you to have to purchase another copy of software you already bought.
Another reason is portability. Carrying a CD wallet or case is cumbersome. I prefer having all of my software on a USB key or pocket sized external drive.
Finally, there’s the issue of compatibility. Some older machines may have drives that don’t work especially well or that do not support your disc format. For example, Microsoft Office 2007 is distributed on a DVD...what if the machine you want to install it on only has a CD drive? And for all of you out there who have purchased a Netbook thinking you would love it for its light weight, long battery life and go anywhere portability – you may have quickly realized that in most cases, these mini laptops don’t have ANY CD or DVD drive which is rather inconvenient. In the follow up to this tutorial, I will show you how to use Virtual Drive software to load your ISO image on any computer with USB support.
There is a ton of good CD/DVD imaging programs available. In fact, if you have a CD/DVD burning software suite installed on your PC (Nero, Roxio, Sonic, etc...), chances are you already have the ability to create CD and DVD images in various formats (ISO, BIN, IMA, IMG, CIF, NRG, CCD, MDF, MDS, etc...).
For the purposes of this tutorial, I will show you how to download, install and use ImgBurn to create an image of a software CD or DVD. ImgBurn supports CD, DVD, HD DVD and Blu Ray. It is free, fast and awesome! Available in 20+ languages, you can use it to create images, burn from images and edit or compile your own custom images. It is great for creating backups of games, software, movies or anything else you may have. Of course, it is pointless to try and include every feasible use for this lovely little application in this one tutorial when it has been covered so well and completely in the ImgBurn Forum.
You can download ImgBurn using the following link:Download ImgBurn
On the download page, you have the choice of downloading from 6 different sources (Mirrors) – just pick one.
If you are looking for a version in your native language, scroll down on the page and click the appropriate link.
To install, simply follow these steps:
1. Double click the setup file.
2. Click "Next"...
3. Check the license agreement check box and click "Next"...
4. Click "Next"...
5. Click "Next"...
6. Click "Next"...
7. Uncheck the Ask toolbar options, unless you want another darned toolbar in your browser...
8. Click "Finish"... and you're done!
As I mentioned earlier, I won’t be covering all the uses for ImgBurn. We simply want to know how to create an image of our original discs. I will be making an image of an old copy of Wordperfect Suite 2002 I had kicking around.
Insert your CD or DVD in to your drive. Launch ImgBurn, if it isn’t already open, and click “Create image file from disc”.
Select your source (which drive the disc you wish to copy is located in) and your destination (where you want to save the resulting disc image or ISO) and click the “read” button at the bottom of the window.
ImgBurn reads off your original disc and gets to work on creating your disc image.
If there are any issues or problems, they will pop up in the ImgBurn Log window.
Depending on the size and content type of your disc, this process can take anywhere from a few minutes to 20 or 30.
When completed, you get this happy little message stating that the operation was successful. Click “OK” and you can keep creating backup images to your heart’s content.
It’s important to note that your ISO files are exactly the same size as your original disc, so a 4GB+ DVD will take up 4GB+ of space on your hard drive. If you have a large collection of discs you wish to backup, I would suggest you store them on a good sized external drive like one of these: coming soon!
There you have it!
To learn how to burn a copy of your disc from an image file using ImgBurn, read: coming soon!
To learn how to run your image file directly on any USB enabled Windows computer, read: coming soon!
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