ISO image

[Amar65]

How do you create an ISO image of your operating system ?

Thank you

 

[Berton]

Might one inquire as to the purpose? One can use a program to do it such as Roxio Easy CD and DVD Creator [mine was about $30 at Wal*Mart or maybe online download] but the big issue is that a DVD or DVD DualLayer disc cannot hold all the data. Maybe Blu-Ray with it 25GB or 50GB discs would work. Another issue is the Windows Folder is not all of the data you'll need and it won't be an installable .iso.

 

[Amar65]

So what can an ISO file be used for then ?

Thank you

 

[Berton]

An .iso file, or a .gi file, is useful for making an image of a CD or DVD original and posting on a site for downloading or simply saving in a Folder to make more copies later. The .iso file is downloaded and a program used to create a new disc from the image when the original disc is not available for copying. I use it frequently with Linux LiveCD or LiveDVD, download the image and burn the bootable disc. LiveCD/LiveDVD are bootable and can run the Linux OS directly, if satisfactory can even install the OS. There's a number of programs that can be used but I use Roxio Easy CD and DVD Creator or CDburnerXP, the former is about $30 at Wal*Mart and the latter is free.

 

[mjf]

As indicated you can make an ISO file of your installation DVD and create a copy installation DVD if required. This enables you to perform a clean install but you need your product key to activate. This is not an image. A system image takes various file formats depending on the imaging software and is effectively a snapshot of your OS plus installed programs and data normally on the OS partition. If your HDD or SSD fails the system image restore gets you back to your operating state beyond a plain basic clean install. It includes all your installed (and licensed) software etc.