ISO Files - What are they?

rayh2 · Joined: Jun 14, 2006 Posts: 1

Two part question, layman terms requested.

What is an ISO file and how is it used?

Is there a way to burn the contents of a drive to a CD/DVD, delete those files from the drive and then run programs from the CD/DVD normally?

usasma · Joined: May 06, 2003 Posts: 5007

In short, an ISO file is a file that's made so that you can burn it to a CD/DVD exactly the way that it should be laid out on the media that you're using. Even shorter, it let's you make bootable CD/DVD's from a ISO file.

You'll need a burner that supports this format. Alex Feinman's ISORecorder Power Toy is an easy one to get (but doesn't work for me). I use the Silent Night freeware on my other system.

For your second question - generally the answer is NO. But it's a lot more complicated than this - and it relates to how the software designer wrote the program.

38Special

38Special

usasma · Joined: May 06, 2003 Posts: 5007

Drat! System crash while replying!

I've been busy with Vista and with other projects on the web. I'm struggling to get back into my old routine - but not being really successful at it!

If you burn the ISO directly to the CD - what you'll get is a copy of the ISO on the CD (not good if you plan to use it!)

There's an option in Nero somewhere for burning ISO files to a data disk - that's the one that you want!

HorusH · Joined: Mar 06, 2006 Posts: 11

For ISO burning I use CDBurnerXP Pro3 Freeware. I also use Ashampoo Burning Studio 5 for other data. Google ISO for this and many other problem helps

Nothing can be fixed with high explosives - only destroyed. M/Sgt. Ret.

usasma · Joined: May 06, 2003 Posts: 5007

There's a freeware ISO burner power toy for XP here: http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/isorecorder.htm

I prefer this freeware tool (doesn't even require installation): http://www.silentnight2004.com/microburner.html Hasn't made a coaster yet!

jimmcdonald · Joined: Nov 02, 2003 Posts: 4

Hi John! Why do you call it freeware when they want you to pay $29.95 for it? Seems like that's about $30.00 short of being free! Sad

zlim · Joined: Mar 11, 2005 Posts: 2422

A Paypal donation is mentioned not required so I'm not sure where you are getting the $29.95 from.

mmoore · Joined: Sep 22, 2005 Posts: 22

Nothing can be fixed with high explosives - only destroyed. M/Sgt. Ret.[/quote] a ice jam on the rivers here in iowa are fixed with explosives before they flood our homes

User: inactive Posts:

MMoore,
Did you notice the date on the last post just before yours?

This is a very old thread, and some of those posting aren't even here anymore. Crying or Very sad

But no-one said exactly what an iso file is. Confused

It's an IMAGE file of a CD (for instance). So if I want you to have a copy of a certain CD of mine, I'll use some freeware like ISOBuster to create this ISO file off of the CD. Then I can send you the ISO and with the proper software, like Nero, for instance, you can tell it to restore the ISO to a real CD.
It must go through a 'restoration' process, not just burning the iso file itself to a CD.

I use this technique all the time to share CD's with readers and friends all over the world. I have several ISO files on my website for download.

You can put the ISO's of several CD's on a single DVD, for instance.
ISO's can also be compressed by a program like WinZip or 7Zip for even easier storage, and quicker downloads.

It's just a very easy way to have an image of a CD without having to have the actual CD.

I hopes that makes some sense....... Shocked

Y'all have a great day now, Y'hear?

The Shadow Cool