I hate all software.

[theweaselking]

I need a program to make ISOs out of data CDs. Not ISOs that contain the same data as the CD, I want an actual bit-by-bit exact copy.

And I want this program to be free.

I've got programs that will do this for DVDs, and programs that will do it for audio discs, but my preferred program for making CD ISOs doesn't actually work with my laptop.

So what do you use?

EDIT: Mike suggests ISORecorder Powertool. It appears to work just fine. Anyone else got something different?

Comments

[mhoye.livejournal.com]

On linux machines, dd if=/dev/cdrom of=filename.iso

On Windows machines, Alex Feinman's ISO recorder powertool.

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

Perfect, thanks.

(And yes, I did mean for Windows. I should have specified)

[kafziel.livejournal.com]

I don't know about the .iso format specifically - I think that's a file image, not a bit-by-bit one - but CloneCD should make exact bit copies. It's a pay program, but free for 21 days, according to the site. A completely freeware thing, I don't know.

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

I don't *actually* need bit-by-bit. I just want a program such that I can say "take disk, make ISO. Take ISO, make disk" and not worry about manually editing the volume name to match, or the disks being different sizes now, etc.

[mhoye.livejournal.com]

See also, the WinXP Virtual CD Control Panel, for mounting ISOs as lettered drives.

[kafziel.livejournal.com]

Symantec Ghost would probably do that. Though again, not free. Or at least not supposed to be free, this is the internet after all.

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

I own a copy of Ghost, actually, but it doesn't make ISOs.

[mhoye.livejournal.com]

Sorry, not so. Ghost makes ghost images, and nothing else.

[netdef.livejournal.com]

http://www.cdburnerxp.se/

Interface is a bit clunky, but works well.

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

I use that program already - how can I make an ISO of a disk with it, without manually taking all the files from the disk, adding them to a new "project", changing the project name to match the disk I'm copying, and then using Make ISO From Project?

There doesn't appear to be an easy way to just click "copy, save as image" the way Nero (which I refuse to pay for) does.

[xrmndml.livejournal.com]

Do you need disk Topography or just the data? I used a combination of Blindwrite, Alcohol 120% and Twinpeak to make a cd capable of fooling its own write protection. But if you don't need topography data, then its an unnessecarily complicated process.

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

I'm not looking to fool copy protection. Frankly, if I want that then I'll modify the EXE to stop looking for the CD rather than try to fake a CD. I just want a reliable fewest-clicks-necessary CD-to-ISO copier, for things like Windows install disks that are all identical but useless without the key.

[xrmndml.livejournal.com]

I think Alcohol 120% requires you to register eventually, so is disqualified