Create an ISO Image from a CD/DVD

 This trick provides information how to create an ISO image file from a CD/DVD.

Why?

One big advantage of using ISO image file for CD/DVD is, the image file contains all files/folders and the structure of the CD/DVD, including the hidden sectors, for example, the boot sectors. Some CD/DVD are "bootable", which means you can use the CD/DVD to startup your pc and run some installations or utility. With this kind of CD/DVD, when you view the contents in Windows, you won't see the bootable portion. And when you make a copy of the CD/DVD using the normal method for files, the bootable sectors will NOT be included. However, the Image method will take care of that.

With that said, when you're making a copy of your CD/DVD and you are not sure if the CD/DVD has some hidden contents or bootable sectors, then you better use the ISO image method to make sure everything gets copied.

The general way to make copy of a CD/DVD with hidden contents (i.e. boot sectors) is: (1) Create an ISO image of the CD and store it in local hard drive, then (2) Burn the image back to a blank CD/DVD.

This page shows you how to create an ISO image file from a CD/DVD.
For instructions how to burn the ISO image back to CD/DVD, click Here.

The steps of burning an ISO image to CD/DVD are different depending on which tool you use. However, the following key points should be the same:

1. Insert the CD/DVD which you want to create the image from.
2. Open the burning tool.
3. Select the save ISO/image option.
4. Browse to the destination location to save the ISO/image file.
5. Execute the image capture.

Detailed Steps

The following sample instructions use Free Easy CD/DVD Burner v1.2. This is a free burning tool with advertising supported, but no spyware or adware. You can download this program from Softpedia, or v4.2 here

1. If you have not installed a burning program, download the tool above and install it. Make sure you reboot after the installation.
2. Insert the CD/DVD with contents, which you want to create the image from.
3. Open the Free Easy CD DVD Burner program.
4. Click on the "Copy CD/DVD" button on the top.
   
   
5. Under the "Action" menu on the left, click the "Copy on your hard disc" link. (Note that if this link is not selectable, then you might have no (or invalid/blank) CD/DVD in your drive.)
   
6. The window "Save your disc as..." opens, browse to the location where you want to save the ISO file. Enter the name of ISO file as you wish to save in the box "File name:" then click "Save".
   
   
7. The main screen of Free Easy CD/DVD Burner program comes back with the burning process started.
8. When the process completed, the message "Image Writing Completed!" displayed.
   
   
9. Note that this ISO file can be burned back to the CD/DVD only with the ISO option. Burning this ISO file to CD/DVD using the data file method will not extract the files and folders to CD/DVD.