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ISO CD Image File


Question:

Has anyone written anything with Winbatch to process an ISO file? An ISO file, by the way, is a file that contains the image of a CD -- sort of like a zip file. To extract the files you need CD burning software that supports ISO files -- and you need to burn a CD. The ISO file will then "magically" expand on the CD so you can see and use all the programs, etc. hidden inside the ISO file.

"ISO is not an acronym - The name derives from the Greek word iso, which means equal. An ISO File is a CD-ROM Disk Image File ready to be written to CD. Quoting Microsoft, "An ISO image file is a snapshot of the data and layout of a CD-ROM, saved in ISO-9660 Format." When the .ISO Image File is burned to CD, it becomes a duplicate of the original CD and the contents can then be read on a PC. Whereas if the .ISO Image File is Burned to CD as a File, that .ISO Image File remains a File. Why an ISO Image File? Best way to transport contents of a CD from a HD. Ever Download a CD? Per say, No. Ever Download an ISO Image File? Certainly! Get it?"

(Source: http://www.buildorbuy.org/isoimage.html)

There are some utilities you can buy to deal with ISO files. HOwever, I thought it would be great if Winbatch had some extender that could do it (like it has for zip files). Maybe some one has written something or could write it to deal with ISO files.

http://www.undisker.com/iso-extractor.html

http://www.magiciso.com/

http://www.downloadatoz.com/winiso/

Answer:

It can be automated using some external tools. There's a free tool called mkisofs in the CDRTools from this site.

http://www.fokus.gmd.de/research/cc/glone/employees/joerg.schilling/private/cdrecord.html There's a utility included with WinPE called OSCDIMG that can create .ISO files as well. I'm sure with a little work, Nero (or some other CDR software) could be automated as well.

One thing to note.... an ISO is a copy of the filesystem on a CD. It can also contain the boot sector. When creating an ISO of a CD, it isn't necessarily a copy of the CD but a copy of the files on the CD. Other formats like .bin file represent a better duplicate of a CD. It's similar to the difference between copying files from HD to HD and ghosting a HD.


Article ID:   W16473
File Created: 2005:02:18:12:20:52
Last Updated: 2005:02:18:12:20:52