How to burn or write a CD/DVD image or ISO

  • November 17, 2005
  • Read 299,723 times
 

Table of Contents

  1. What is a CD/DVD Image
  2. Different types of CD/DVD images
  3. Writing a CD or DVD image with Windows Disk Image Burner
  4. Writing a CD or DVD image with CDBurnerXP

 

What is a CD/DVD Image

A CD/DVD image is a file that contains all the information necessary to make an exact duplicate, or clone, of a CD or DVD. Images are created by software that writes every bit of information contained on a CD or DVD into a file on your computer. This file can then be made available for download so that other people can make an exact duplicate or your original CD or DVD on their own computer.

Now do not think that you can simply go out and buy a CD and then create a image of it for your friends to download and write to a CD. Most commercial CDs these days have a copy protection on them that makes it difficult or next to impossible to duplicate. There are, though, certain CDs that you are allowed to freely distribute to friends. For example, almost all Linux distributions are available by download as a type cd image known as an ISO. These ISOs tend to be bootable CDs that contain an image of the original master CD for the operating system. Once you download the ISO image you can then burn that image onto a blank CD and boot your computer from it. Whether you download a Linux operating system that you can run directly off the CD or use it to install the operating system onto your computer is up to you.


Different types of CD/DVD images

There are many different types of CD/DVD images that can be found available for download. The type of image is usually dependent on the CD Writing software that was used to create the CD/DVD image. A very common image format that is used on the Internet is anISO image. This image format can generally be read by almost any CD / DVD Writing software on the market. The type of a CD image is usually determined by the extension of the filename. For example if a CD image was called linux01.iso, then the image type for this file is most likely an ISO image

The table below contains a list of common image formats and the software generally used to create them.

Extension
Programs used to create Image
   
.BIN CDRWin
.CDI DiscJuggler
.IMG CloneCD
.ISO Almost all commercial CD Writing software
.NRG Nero Burning Rom

The next two sections will explain how how to write a CD/DVD ISO image when using the free Windows Disk Image Burner and Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool.


Writing a CD or DVD image with Windows Disc Image Burner

In modern versions of Windows, including Windows 7 and Windows 10, Microsoft includes a free program called Windows Disc Image Burner that you can use to burn ISO or IMG disc images onto a CD or DVD. To start the Windows Disc Image Burner, you need to right-click on an ISO or IMG file and then select Burn disc image as shown in the image below.

 

Burn Disc

 

Once you click on the Burn disc image option, the Windows Disc Image Burner will open.

 

Windows Disc Image Burner

 

Select the drive that corresponds to your DVD writer and make sure there a blank DVD or CD inserted into the drive. Once you are ready to start burning the selected ISO image, click on the Burn button. Windows Disc Image Burner will now begin to burn the ISO image on to the selected media.

 

Windows Disc Image Burner writing

 

When it has finished burning the disc, Windows Disc Image Burner will automatically eject the disc and then state that it has finished.

 

Windows Disc Image Burner Finished

 

You can then click on the Close button and use the DVD as needed.

 

Writing a CD or DVD image with CDBurnerXP

If you using Windows XP, or would rather have a full featured DVD/CD burning program, then you can CDBurnerXP. This is a free program that works on all versions of Windows and is a full featured DVD & CD writing utility. To install CDBurnerXP, go to their homepage and click on their download link.

http://cdburnerxp.se/en/home

Once you have downloaded the program, double-click on it to start the installation process. While you go through the steps to install it, it may prompt you to install a 3rd party program. At the time of this writing they were prompting you to install RealPlayer. If you do not wish to install this program, uncheck the check boxes that ask if you wish to install it. Then continue with the install process. When it has finished, CDBurnerXP will automatically start.

 

CDBurnerXP Start Screen

 

As we want to burn an ISO image, click on the Burn ISO image option and then click on the OK button. You will now be shown the Burn ISO Image screen.

 

Burn ISO Image

 

Click on the Browse button to open a window where you can navigate to the ISO file you to wish burn. When you have selected the file, click on the Open button. You will now be at the same screen, but now the ISO you wish to burn will be selected.

 

ISO Selected

 

Make sure you have a blank DVD/CD media inserted and that your target device is set to the correct drive. Then click on the Burn disc button. CDBurnerXP will now start to burn the ISO image to the inserted media.

 

CDBurnerXP Burning an Image

 

Please be patient as the image is burned. When it is finished, CDBurnerXP will automatically eject the burned media state that it has finished.

 

CDBurnerXP Finished Burning Image

 

You can now close CDBurnerXP and use the media as necessary.

Users who read this also read:

  • How to download and create a bootable Windows 8 Upgrade DVD Image
    How to download and create a bootable Windows 8 Upgrade DVD

    If you had upgraded Windows 8 using the Windows8-Setup.exe executable, rather than through a DVD, it can be difficult to troubleshoot your computer in the event that it is not starting properly or you cannot access the Advanced Startup Options menu. This tutorial will walk you through creating a Windows 8 DVD on another computer that can be used to troubleshoot problems starting or using Windows ...

  • Resizing and Adding Partitions using GParted Live Image
    Resizing and Adding Partitions using GParted Live

    This tutorial focuses on using GParted, or Gnome Partition Editor, a free and open source partition editor. To use GParted, you must first download the CD Image file (.iso file) of GParted Live for this program. Instructions on where to find and how to burn the GParted ISO file are covered in the Preparation step. In this tutorial we will be using Microsoft Windows XP for certain steps. If you use ...

  • The tilde (~) file in Windows and what it means Image
    The tilde (~) file in Windows and what it means

    A common question that many people ask is what is the ~ file that you occasionally see on your desktop, Documents and Settings folder, or other location on your hard drive. This brief tutorial will explain what this file is and give suggestions on how to use it. When you edit a contact in the Outlook Express Windows Address Book, or WAB, a file named ~ may be created. This file is simply a backup ...

  • Replace the Windows Notepad with a Better Notepad Image
    Replace the Windows Notepad with a Better Notepad

    Damn you Microsoft! I am a notepad addict. If you look at my taskbar at any time and you will see at least 5 notepads, usually a lot more running at one time. Why? Because it is fast and small I use it to keep notes, to do lists, phone numbers, write code, search and replace, etc. The reasons are endless....

  • Computer Image File Formats Image
    Computer Image File Formats

    If you have ever worked with computer graphic images, whether they be from digital cameras, found on the web, or you create them yourself, then you know there are a lot of image file formats that are available. This is because each format stores the image in a certain way that makes it the best choice for a given situation. This tutorial will cover the most common image formats that you will find ...

 

Comments:

blog comments powered by Disqus
search tutorials

Login