Create an ISO file that is an image of any carrier, usually a disk with Windows or other software - a completely simple task. As a rule, it is enough to have the necessary program with the desired functional. Fortunately, free software creation programs provide. Therefore, we restrict ourselves to the transfer of the most convenient of them. And at first, it will be about those programs to create an ISO, which can be downloaded for free, then let's talk about more advanced paid solutions. See also: How to convert ESD to ISO.
Update 2015: Added two excellent and clean programs to create disk images, as well as additional information on ImgBurn, which can be important for the user.
Creating a disk image in Ashampoo Burning Studio Free
A free program for recording disks, as well as to work with their images of Ashampoo Burning Studio FREE - in my opinion, is the best (most suitable) option for most users who need to make an ISO image from a disk or from files and folders. There is a tool in Windows 7, 8 and Windows 10.
The advantages of this program to other similar utilities:
- It is pure from additional unnecessary software and adware. Unfortunately, with almost all the remaining programs listed in this review, it is not quite so. For example, Imgburn is a very good software, but it will not work out a clean installer on the official site.
- Burning Studio has a simple and understandable interface in Russian: to perform almost any tasks you will not need any additional instructions.
In the main window of Ashampoo Burning Studio Free, you will see a list of available tasks. If you select the "Disk Image" item, then there you will see the following options (the same actions are available in the File menu - disk image):
- Write an image (recording of a disc on a blank).
- Create an image (removing the image from the existing CD, DVD or Blu-Ray disk).
- Create an image from files.
After selecting "Create an image from files" (I will consider this option) you will be prompted to select the image type - CUE / BIN, own Ashampoo format or standard ISO image.
And finally, the main stage of creating an image is to add your folders and files. At the same time, you will clearly see what disk and what size created as a result of ISO will be recorded.
As you can see, everything is elementary. And this is not all the functions of the program - you can also record and copy discs, write music and DVD movies, make backup data. You can download Ashampoo Burning Studio FREE from the official site https://www.ashampoo.com/ru/rub/pin/7110/burning-software/ashampoo-burning-studio-free
Cdburnerxp
CDBURNERXP - Another convenient free utility in Russian, allowing you to record discs, and at the same time create their images, including Windows XP (while the program works in Windows 7 and in Windows 8.1). Not without reason, this option is considered one of the best to create ISO images.
Creating an image occurs in a few simple steps:
- In the main program window, select "Disc with data. Creating ISO images, recording discs with data "(If you want to create an ISO from the disk, select" Copy Disk ").
- In the next window, select the files and folders to be placed in the ISO image, drag into an empty area to the right below.
- In the menu, select "File" - "Save Project as an ISO image".
As a result, a disk image containing the data you selected will be prepared and saved.
You can download CDBURNERXP from the official site https://cdburnerxp.se/ru/download, but be careful: To download the clean version without adware, click "More Download options", and then select either portable (portable) version of the program running without Installations, or the second option of the installer without OpenCandy.
ImgBurn - Free program for creating and writing ISO images
ATTENTION (Posted in 2015): Despite the fact that Imgburn and remains an excellent program, on the official site I could not find clean from unwanted installer programs. As a result of checking in Windows 10, I did not find suspicious activity, but I recommend to be careful.
The next program that we will look at - Imgburn. You can download it for free on the developer website www.imgburn.com. The program is very functional, while easy to use and will understand any newcomer. Moreover, Microsoft support recommends using this program to create a Windows 7 boot disk. By default, the program is loaded in English, but in the official site you can download the Russian language file, and then the unpacked archive can be copied to the Language folder in the IMGBURN folder.
What is able to do imgburn:
- Create an ISO image from a disk. Including, with the help, you can not create a bootable ISO Windows from the operating system distribution.
- Simple creation of ISO images from files. Those. You can specify any folder or folder and create an image with them.
- Record ISO images on discs - for example, when you want to make a boot disk to install Windows.
Poweriso - advanced creation of boot ISO and not only
Poweriso program, designed to work with Windows boot images and other OS, as well as any other disk images, can be downloaded from the developer site https://www.poweriso.com/download.php. The program can do anything, though it is paid, and the free version has some limitations. Nevertheless, consider the possibilities of Poweriso:
- Creating and writing ISO images. Creating boot ISO in the absence of a boot disk
- Creating bootable windows Windows
- Record ISO images on disk, mount them in Windows
- Creating images from files and folders, from CD, DVD, Blu-ray disks
- Conversion of images from ISO to BIN and from BIN in ISO
- Removing files and folders from images
- Support DMG Apple OS X
- Complete support for Windows 8
This is not all the features of the program and many of them can be used in the free version. So, if creating boot images, flash drives from ISO and constant work with them is about you, look at this program, it knows a lot.
BURNAWARE FREE - Record and create ISO
Download free BurnaWare Free program You can from the official source http://www.burnaware.com/products.html. What can this program? Little, but, in fact, all the necessary functions are present in it:- Record data, images, disk files
- Creating ISO disk images
Perhaps this is quite enough if you do not pursue some very difficult goals. Boxing ISO also writes perfectly with the presence of a boot disk from which this image is made.
ISO Recorder 3.1 - version for Windows 8 and Windows 7
Another free program that allows you to create ISO from CD or DVDs (ISO creation from files and folders is not supported). You can download the program from the author of the author Alex Feinman http://alexfeinman.com/w7.htm
Program Properties:
- Compatible with Windows 8 and Windows 7, x64 and x86
- Creating and recording images with / on CD / DVD discs, including the creation of bootable ISO
After installing the program, in the context menu, which appears when you click right-click on the CD, item "Create Image From CD" (create an image from disk) appears - simply press it and follow the instructions. Recording the image to the disk occurs in a similar way - right click on the ISO file, select the "Write to Disk" (write to disk).
Free ISODISK program - full-fledged work with ISO images and virtual disks
The next program is IsoDisk, you can download free from http://www.isodisk.com/. This software allows you to perform the following tasks:
- Easy to make ISO from CD or DVD disks, including a Windows boot image or other operating system, disks to restore computer
- Mount the ISO in the system as a virtual disk.
Regarding ISODISK it is worth noting that with the creation of images, the program copes to "Hurray", but it is better not to use it to mount virtual drives - the developers themselves recognize that this feature is fully adequate only in Windows XP.
FREE DVD ISO Maker
FREE DVD ISO Maker program can be downloaded free from the site http://www.minidvdsoft.com/dvdtoiso/download_free_dvd_iso_maker.html. The program is simple, comfortable and without frills. The entire process of creating a disk image takes place in three steps:
- Run the program in the Select CD / DVD Device field, specify the path to the disk from which you want to make an image. Click "Next"
- Specify where to save the ISO file
- Click "Convert" and wait for the program to complete the work.
Ready, you can use the created image for your own purposes.
How to create a bootable ISO Windows 7 using the command line
We will finish with free programs and consider creating a boot image of ISO Windows 7 (can work for Windows 8, not verified) using the command line.- You will need all the files contained on the disk with the Windows 7 distribution, for example, they are located in the C: \ Make-Windows7-ISO folder \
- You will also need the Windows® Automated Installation Kit (AIK) for Windows® 7 - a set of Microsoft utilities, which can be downloaded on the page https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=5753. In this set, we are interested in two tools - oscdimg.exe, by default in the Program Files \ Windows Aik \ Tools \ x86 and EtfSBoot.com folder - the boot sector that allows you to create a bootable ISO Windows 7.
- Run the command prompt on the administrator name and enter the command:
- OSCDIMG -N -M -B »C: \ Make-Windows7-ISO \ Boot \ EtfsBoot.com» C: \ Make-Windows7-ISO C: \ Make-Windows7-ISO \ Win7.iso
Note According to the last command: the absence of a space between the -b parameter and indicating the path to the boot sector is not an error, it is necessary.
After entering the command, you will observe the process of recording the ISO Windows 7 recording. Upon completion, you will report the size of the image file and write that the process is completed. Now you can use the created ISO image in order to create a Windows 7 boot disk.
How to create an ISO image in Ultraiso
Ultraiso software is one of the most popular for all tasks associated with disk images, flash drives, or creating loading media. Make an ISO image from files or disks in Ultraiso does not constitute special problems and we will look at this process.
- Run the Ultraiso program
- At the bottom, select the files you want to add to the image by clicking on it right-click you can select the item "Add".
- After you have finished adding files, select "File" - "Save" and save it as ISO. The image is ready.
Creating ISO in Linux
All that is required to create a disk image is already present in the operating system itself, and therefore the process of creating the ISO image files is completely low:- In Linux, run the terminal
- Enter: dd if = / dev / cdrom of = ~ / cd_image.iso - this will create an image from the disk inserted into the drive. If the disk was bootable, the image will be the same.
- To create an ISO image from files, use the mkisofs -o /tmp/cd_image.iso / papka / files command /
How to create a loading flash drive from an ISO image
A rather frequent question - and how, after I made a bootable image of Windows, write it on the USB flash drive. It can also be done using free programs that allow you to create boot USB media from ISO files. For more information, see here: Creating a bootable flash drive.
If for some reason the methods listed here and the programs turned out to be not enough to do what you wanted and create a disk image, pay attention to this list: programs for creating Wikipedia images - you will certainly find what you need for your operating system.