Windows 7 Disc Image Burner [Experimentation]

[David Ben Yosef]

I've recently started messing around with the Windows 7 Disc Image Burner, because I'm going to write a tutorial on slipstreaming SP1 into a bootable installation DVD. So, before I started looking for a third party DVD burner program, I wanted to see what the native burner program could do. I started off by burning the Windows 7 bootable ISO image I downloaded from TechNet. I was thinking there's no way it will remain bootable by burning it with the native program. WROOOOONG!

First off, let's smash the myth that all operating system ISO images will remain bootable no matter how you burn it. That's just not so. I have about a million coasters to proove it too....LOL

However, the bootable ISO I burned with the native Windows 7 burner, needed a little "coaxing" to boot with the BIOS set to "CD" as the first boot device. I had to keep pressing the "enter" button as the BIOS was searching what to boot from. You more advanced users will know exactly what I'm talking about. It also worked with the BIOS set to boot from the HDD as it's first device. It detected bootable media in the DVD drive [again I kept pressing the "enter" button continuously]. It's not uncommon with the old machine I have [my lab machine] to not want to boot from my SATA DVD drive, so I tried an IDE DVD drive, and it booted right up.

So tell me, have any of you guys messed around with the Windows 7 native burner program? If so, what are it's limits? I'm wondering if maybe we can slam it with some steroids or something, because I like what I'm seeing so far from the initial testing. I'm thinking maybe I can create a bootable ISO slipstreamed SP1 installation DVD without having to use a third party program at all, like Nero...ISObuster...or ISOMagic...etc. I was also able to extract the files within the ISO image with the native program as well.

So far it's been able to do pretty much everything I thought it couldn't...LOL
So has anyone here done much experimenting with it? Do you know of any Microsoft Knowledge Base articles on this program? Any feedback would be great. I want to see if maybe we can unlock it's potential?



Peace

 

[DeaconFrost]

I can save you time and let you know there's already a tutorial on slipstreaming on this site. I'd still recommend getting the official integrated discs, but to each his/her own.

I can tell you that you're off on one point. If a disc is bootable, and the .iso is made correctly, it will also be bootable. That's the point of using .iso files as opposed to just zipping the contents and letting people burn their own discs. If a bootable disc has it's contents pulled into a .iso file, and it wasn't made properly, then no, it won't be bootable. Take the TechNet .iso files you mentioned. They are bootable. It is built into the file. If you burn it as an image using whatever burning program you prefer, it will be bootable.

I have only very limited experience with the built-in burner, and it wasnt pleasant. The reason why it wasn't given any real feature set was that the EU and burning app companies like Roxio and Nero, would have sued Microsoft to have it removed. Because of this past behavior, we now have all the N versions of Windows 7. I would still always need a more full-featured app, like ImgBurn or CDBurnXP, so I've never bothered with the built-in burner anymore, as I just use those apps.

 

[David Ben Yosef]

I can save you time and let you know there's already a tutorial on slipstreaming on this site.

Not for the specific method that Shawn asked me to do the tut on. But that has nothing to do with the topic of this thread.

I'd still recommend getting the official integrated discs, but to each his/her own.

I've got all of them that are available at TechNet. But that's not the point. I'm only interested in creating the tut Shawn asked me to.

I can tell you that you're off on one point. If a disc is bootable, and the .iso is made correctly, it will also be bootable. That's the point of using .iso files as opposed to just zipping the contents and letting people burn their own discs. If a bootable disc has it's contents pulled into a .iso file, and it wasn't made properly, then no, it won't be bootable. Take the TechNet .iso files you mentioned. They are bootable. It is built into the file. If you burn it as an image using whatever burning program you prefer, it will be bootable.

I know all about creating bootable ISO images. As I stated [correctly] not all operating system ISO images will remain bootable no matter how you burn it. Some people seem to think they will [at one point I did too]. I'm only interested in the native burner program anyway, which is why I created this thread.

I have only very limited experience with the built-in burner, and it wasnt pleasant......so I've never bothered with the built-in burner anymore, as I just use those apps.

Well, that's the thing, I don't think hardly anyone has investigated the features of the native burner. I created this thread for information from anyone who actually has. It looks like I may just have to do it myself.

 

[DeaconFrost]

I don't think anyone assumed that every file with a .iso extension was bootable. Why would a Office 2010 .iso file be bootable? the .iso file standard has always been a way to distribute a CD image intact ready to burn quickly and easily to disc, cutting out many of the steps it would take to burn it from a .zip file or something similar.

As for the tutorial, sure, it would be great to see if or what the native burner can do, but from everything I've read, it is chopped down and featureless by design, as Microsoft was't really given a choice in the matter, unfortunately. I was thrilled with the fact I didn't need any extra software to burn a .iso file, but I didn't see methods of editing or creating .iso files, so I had to go back to my trusty old UltraISO.

 

[David Ben Yosef]

Can we go back on topic please?

I'm not trying to be rude my friend, but I have no idea why you insist that this thread keeps going off topic? I'm only interested in gathering information about the Windows 7 native CD/DVD burner program. A program that you admittedly know very little about [and me too for that matter]. So, can I please hear from somebody who has experience with this program?

 

[NoN]

Well, once i was testing the Windows 7 RC i had to burn the .iso i downloaded from authorized places. I have always done it with the native windows 7 Cd/dvd burner without any probs. The last thing i did three days ago, was to burn the .Iso Windows 7 SP1 WAVE 1 from MS.

I've another soft from NTI on my machine aswell, but far prefer the convienents of the native burner

 

[David Ben Yosef]

Well, once i was testing the Windows 7 RC i had to burn the .iso i downloaded from authorized places. I have always done it with the native windows 7 Cd/dvd burner without any probs. The last thing i did three days ago, was to burn the .Iso Windows 7 SP1 WAVE 1 from MS.

Hey that's GREAT news! Do you think I could compile a set of files for Windows 7 SP1, and create a bootable installation DVD using the native burner? And if so, what would the procedure be? I'm trying to avoid using a third party burner program for a tut I'm currently working on. If I could do the entire project only using native tools that would be AWESOME!

 

[NoN]

maybe here:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/32055-bootable-iso-create-installation-files.html

 

[David Ben Yosef]

maybe here:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/32055-bootable-iso-create-installation-files.html

That uses vlite to create the disc. The very program my tutorial is geared toward trying to avoid using.

 

[essenbe]

I am not familiar with the technicalities of the native burner, but I have used it quite often. It has never failed me. I used Shawn's tutorial to slipstream SP1 into the installation iso and created an SP1 ISO file. I used the native program to burn that to Disk and it worked perfectly.

 

[Ponmayilal]

If your bootable ISO is not corrupted, and your Windows 7 for native burning is not corrupted, I see no reason why and how the burnt CD/DVD can become non-bootable.

If you do want to check the veracity of the above statement, then do as follows.

1. Create a system image with any imaging program of your choice and keep it aside,so that you can restore it later to the present state. (Whenever I make a crucial image, I always restore from that image immediately and check to make sure it is in no way corrupted and fail on me anytime later when I want to use it.)

2. Make a clean install of your Windows 7. Download any small bootable ISO and burn it using the native burner and report whether it is bootable or not.

While trying to boot from the CD/DVD enter the boot menu (by pressing F11 or F12 or any other key as indicated by your motherboard) and select "boot from CD/DVD."

Assuming that everything you do and have is correct is no way to resolve a problem and one has to do a little bit of research on the lines indicated above on his own before putting out any conclusions or blaming something faulty. In the present instance majority of users have no problems burning a bootable CD with Windows native burner.

My post may sound harsh but really nothing like it. I am only putting out my mind having seen all your posts.

 

[gregrocker]

Unlike previous Windows the native Image Burner in Win7 works fine.

I still tend to veer toward ImgBurn to burn DVD's so I can choose 4x speed, but Windows Image Burner never failed me on bootable CD's and even a few DVD's where I didn't have ImgBurn on the box.

We mostly recommend ImgBurn in the Install forum because of habit, and it never fails.

 

[David Ben Yosef]

It sounds like you guys know what your talking about. Can someone guide me through the process of making these Windows 7 files into a bootable installation ISO using the native burner? It's for the tutorial I'm creating for slipstreaming SP1 for forum members. Thanks in advance.

 

[gregrocker]

This is the easiest method I've come across to compile the installation files into ISO without having to use Vlite:

Use this: View attachment 72576

Assuming you have the 7 installation files on your HD , if not, copy and paste them from the dvd that isn't booting onto your HD.

Rt click and run as admin on bootisomaker.cmd.

Browse to the boot.wim in the 7 installation files "sources" folder. When asked, Select 7 bootsector.

It will do the rest.

 

[Ponmayilal]

^ +1. Go with gregrocker's post above.

Also have a look at the following tuts.

To create a bootable ISO out of the installation files SIW's tutorial http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/32055-bootable-iso-create-installation-files.html

To slipstream SP1 into Windows 7, Brink's tutorial http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...ows-7-sp1-into-installation-dvd-iso-file.html

 

[David Ben Yosef]

This is the easiest method I've come across to compile the installation files into ISO without having to use Vlite:

Use this: View attachment 72576

Assuming you have the 7 installation files on your HD , if not, copy and paste them from the dvd that isn't booting onto your HD.

Rt click and run as admin on bootisomaker.cmd.

Browse to the boot.wim in the 7 installation files "sources" folder. When asked, Select 7 bootsector.

It will do the rest.

Thanks alot, I'll give that a try tomorrow.

*EDIT*
I'm beginning to think nobody has read through this thread. I do NOT want to use 3rd party software to burn the disc [I've had Nero 7 Premium since it first came out]. I need to know how to burn in with the Windows 7 native burner program. <sigh>

 

[David Ben Yosef]

^ +1. Go with gregrocker's post above.

Also have a look at the following tuts.

To create a bootable ISO out of the installation files SIW's tutorial http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/32055-bootable-iso-create-installation-files.html

To slipstream SP1 into Windows 7, Brink's tutorial http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...ows-7-sp1-into-installation-dvd-iso-file.html

I already know how to create a bootable installation DVD with 3rd party software. I've been doing it for years. I just didn't know how with using the native burner.

As for the slipstreaming tut, I'm creating my own tut for this forum's members. The whole point was to NOT use vlite. I stated that a number of times in this thread.

 

[Ponmayilal]

You could have stated your problem more clearly and precisely in the first instance that you want to create a bootable ISO file from the Windows installation files using Windows native Image burner. Then we could have given you a clear-cut and emphatic reply "No, it is not possible"

What me and others understood from your first post is that you tried to burn a bootable ISO image using Windows native burner and noted that it did not boot. And you got replies from many " No, we have been using it and it was never a problem." I am not alone.

OK, now here is the answer to your query. My very limited knowledge and undsrstanding capability says it is not possible either to create a bootable ISO file from the installation files or slipstream SP1 into Windows 7 without using any third-party utility and using only Windows native utilities.

And if you have gone through my posts elsewhere, this is exactly the reason why I refuse to slipstream using a third party utility and insist and question why MS is not making available the integrated Windows 7 SP1 ISO for all genuine Windows 7 Users.

While I appreciate your thinking and effort to create such an Integrated Windows 7 SP1 ISO abinitio, I am afraid there is no way to do it without using any third party utility/utilities - not for ordinary folks like me. ( I do not know what MS does to do it. ) Good luck in your endeavour.

 

[David Ben Yosef]

You could have stated your problem more clearly and precisely in the first instance that you want to a bootable ISO file from the Windows installation files using Windows native Image burner.

I don't know how much clearer I could have been, when I said....

I've recently started messing around with the Windows 7 Disc Image Burner, because I'm going to write a tutorial on slipstreaming SP1 into a bootable installation DVD.

I'm thinking maybe I can create a bootable ISO slipstreamed SP1 installation DVD without having to use a third party program at all, like Nero...ISObuster...or ISOMagic...etc.

 

[David Ben Yosef]

What me and others understood from your first post is that you tried to burn a bootable ISO image using Windows native burner and noted that it did not boot.

That's not what I said at all. I said the exact opposite.....

So, before I started looking for a third party DVD burner program, I wanted to see what the native burner program could do. I started off by burning the Windows 7 bootable ISO image I downloaded from TechNet. I was thinking there's no way it will remain bootable by burning it with the native program. WROOOOONG!

However, the bootable ISO I burned with the native Windows 7 burner, needed a little "coaxing" to boot with the BIOS set to "CD" as the first boot device. I had to keep pressing the "enter" button as the BIOS was searching what to boot from. You more advanced users will know exactly what I'm talking about. It also worked with the BIOS set to boot from the HDD as it's first device. It detected bootable media in the DVD drive [again I kept pressing the "enter" button continuously]. It's not uncommon with the old machine I have [my lab machine] to not want to boot from my SATA DVD drive, so I tried an IDE DVD drive, and it booted right up.

I'm thinking maybe I can create a bootable ISO slipstreamed SP1 installation DVD without having to use a third party program at all, like Nero...ISObuster...or ISOMagic...etc. I was also able to extract the files within the ISO image with the native program as well.

Hopefully, the rest of this thread will not be an argument over what I did, and did not say.