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ISO Images: How to Mount or Burn to CD/DVD

 

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Q: How do I burn an ISO image to CD or DVD? Can I burn a CD image to a DVD? Can I mount it directly without burning a CD or DVD?

 

DISCUSSION

A: In Amiga Forever and C64 Forever Plus Edition, the Build Image feature (Tools menu) makes it possible to create a personalized ISO image file. This can then be mounted, or used to burn a CD or DVD. An ISO image may also be included as part of the software downloads.

The ISO image also contains executable software, including an installer. In order to run this software, the actual CD or DVD medium or the ISO image file need to be mounted or extracted. Some archiving utilities are able to open and show the content of ISO files, but they do not provide the file system functionality required for the software to run.

The following instructions explain how to:

  1. Burn the ISO image to a CD-R or DVD-R disc

  2. Alternatively, mount the ISO image without burning it

An ISO "image" describes a complete CD/DVD (with multiple files in it), i.e. it is not a single file that is copied over to a CD/DVD (or else you would end up with a disc with only one file on it). Rather, the ISO image file must be written to disc using a special command used to write ISO images.

Writing the ISO image is a simple process whereby the file is selected for burning in the disc recording software, and then the disc is written.

On Windows 7 or higher:

  • Double-click or right-click the .iso file to open the Burn Disc Image dialog

  • If the above is not available because other disc burning software is installed (and associated to .iso files), hold down Shift, right-click the file and select Open with... to choose the desired program

For previous versions of Windows, or if you prefer to use a different tool, the following examples illustrate how slightly different steps apply to different recording programs:

  • In Nero Burning ROM 6, 7 and 8, from the Recorder menu, choose Burn Image (click Cancel if the New Compilation dialog opens when starting Nero)
  • In older versions of Nero Burning ROM, from the File menu, choose Burn Image
  • In Nero Express 6, under What would you like to burn?, select Disc Image or Saved Project
  • In Nero Express 7 or 8, under Image, Project, Copy, select Disc Image or Saved Project
  • In Nero StartSmart 6, under Copy and Backup, select Burn Image to Disc
  • In Nero StartSmart 7, under Backup, select Burn Image to Disc, then proceed as in Nero Express 7
  • In Nero StartSmart 8, under Rip and Burn, select Copy Disc, then proceed as in Nero Express 8
  • In Roxio Easy CD Creator 5, from the File menu, choose Record CD from CD Image, making sure that "Files of type" drop-down is set to "ISO Image Files (*.iso)"
  • In Sonic RecordNow 6 or 7, select Burn Image from the Backup Projects tab
  • In Asimware (now Iomega) HotBurn Pro 2, select Advanced Data CD, then, from the Tools menu, select Write a CD from an ISO Image File
  • With Alex Feinman's ISO Recorder 2 installed, right-click an ISO file and select Copy Image to CD

As you can see the exact location and name of the burning option may vary slightly across applications and versions, but it is generally present in all software.

Although ".iso" is the most popular file name suffix used for ISO images, other suffixes are sometimes used too. These include ".img", ".bin", ".cif" and ".nrg". If the CD-recording software does not appear to accept or list .iso files in its file dialog, try and select "All Documents (*.*)".

A CD ISO image can be burned to either a CD-R or a DVD-R. As long as the drive can read DVDs (and not only CDs), the same content will appear, as the reading software side is generally shielded from the actual disc mechanics.

ISO images can also be mounted directly, without burning them to disc.

On Windows 8 or higher:

  • Right-click the .iso file and select Mount (or Open with/Windows Explorer)

 Third-party tools that allow mounting on Windows include:

The C64 Forever ISO image is not bootable. The Amiga Forever Plus Edition ISO image is bootable and the ISO file can also be used to boot directly from the image, using software like:

 

Article Information
Article ID: 15-118
Platform: All
Products: Amiga Forever, C64 Forever
Additional Keywords: 7-Zip
Last Update: 2021-07-12
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