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 to write a CD/DVD image when using the free ImgBurn and one of the most popular CD Writing softwares, Nero.
Writing a CD or DVD image with ImgBurn
ImgBurn is a piece of software designed to write CD or DVD images. It is free, supports most of the popular image formats, and is extremely easy to use. It is for these reasons, that I feel that for those who do not need a commercial CD writing software, ImgBurn is a perfect piece of software for your image burning needs. You can download ImgBurn from here: ImgBurn Download Link
ImgBurn Installation
- Download ImgBurn from the above link and save it to a location on your hard drive you will be able to locate later.
- Once the file is finished downloading, double-click on the downloaded file to start the setup.
- Press Next at each of the prompts. During installation it will ask if you want the program to check for updates whenever it runs. If this is something you want it to do, press Yes.
- When it is done press the Finish button and ImgBurn will now start.
1. Put a blank CD or DVD into the device you wish to write with.You are now done writing the image file with ImgBurn.
2. If ImgBurn is not already started, double-click the ImgBurn icon that looks like the following:
3. When the program opens, select the CD/DVD Recording device that you would like to write to from the Destination drop down box.
4. Click on the File menu and then choose the Browse option.
5. Navigate to the image that you would like to write and click on it once to highlight it. Then press the Open button.
6. When you are satisfied with your settings, click on the image that looks like this:
7. If you get an error stating that ImgBurn is unable to Lock the volume for exclusive access, then click on the Tools menu and select the Settings option. Then click on the Write tab and remove the checkmark next to the checkbox labeled Lock Volume - Exclusive Access. Now proceed to step 6 again.
8. When the program is finished writing the image to your DVD or CD, it will display a message box stating it is finished. Simply click on the OK button .
9. Close the program if you are finished with it.
10. Eject your CD your DVD.
Writing a CD or DVD image with Nero
Nero is considered one of the most popular commercial CD Writing software available. For those who do not have this software and would like to try it for free, they offer a free trial at the following link: Nero Trial Offer
In order to write a CD/DVD image with Nero you should use the following steps:
1. Put a blank CD or DVD into the device you wish to write with.
2. When you install Nero, it will create shortcuts to many different programs. You want to double-click on the icon labeled Nero Burning Rom to start the program.
3. When Nero starts, it may start in the New Compilation screen. If it does, click on the Cancel button.
4. At the top of the Nero window will be a drop down menu containing a list of devices that you can write to. Make sure the CD or DVD Recording device that you wish to write to is selected.
5. Then click on the Recorder menu and choose Burn Image.
6. This will open a windows called Open which will allow you to navigate to the image file you would like to write. Navigate to the image and click once on it to select it. Then press the Open button.
7. A Burn Compilation screen will now open. At this screen put a checkmarks next the checkboxes labeled Write and Finalize CD (or Finalize DVD)
8. When the writing is complete there will be a message box from Nero stating it is finished. Simply click on the OK button.
9. If you are finished, click on the Done button and Nero will eject the newly created CD or DVD.
Now that you are finished, you can close Nero.
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