Iso Files Explained

ISO Files Explained

Managing ISO Files

An ISO file is really COOL because it's essentially a digital "photograph" of another disk (usually the retail copy); these files encode the complete geometry of the original, parent disk. Using the right software you can create ISO versions of your favorite apps and games to have excellent backup copies in the event a disk is lost or damaged. On the other hand, you may have downloaded an ISO file from the internet and don't know what the heck to do with the thing. Typically, that's the reason people end up reading this page.

Comments, Questions? Leave a note at the bottom of this page...
If you've just started fooling around with computers, the internet, file trading, etc. ISO files appear rather alien and useless. Computer newbies often download a game, office suite - whatever - and are confounded by the ISO "image file format"; in a stock Windows installation you can't double-click on an ISO file and have anything happen, at all. In fact, without some special software installed, Windows will not associate ISO files with any particular icon. They aren't like a "Setup.exe" file (which, when double-clicked, Windows will execute to perform an installation). Double-click these babys, without some special software installed, and your Windows computer will reply (basically) with, "Huh - what in the heck am I supposed to with this thing?" So, you need some software and a little bit of knowledege, but it's all pretty simple stuff.....
ISO files are, in fact, easily converted to standard files and folders by following a few simple steps. By the way, an ISO file is just one form of disk image file. There are others as well; for a more comprehensive look at various image files formats and the software required for handling them see the following page: creating and managing disk image files.

A Few General Tips:

You cannot simply burn an ISO (or any image file) as DATA and end up with anything other than an equally useless copy of the non-functional image file!
Though it's explained in a bit more detail, further down this page, you need to open your CD/DVD burning program and look for an option to BURN AN ISO/IMAGE FILE (you should see an option that is, generally, described in this manner). You DO NOT WANT TO CHOOSE "BURN DATA" as this will simply burn, or store the information to your new CD/DVD, in precisely the same manner that it now exists on your computer. Choosing the ISO/IMAGE option CONVERTS the raw data encoded on an ISO file to standard files and folders. By the way, almost all burning software (as of 2007) includes an option to burn image files - especially the ISO format, as this is the most common form of image file.

**ISO files are not a form of compressed archive, like a .zip or .rar archive.
ISO files have the unique property of being editable; in other words, unlike other image file formats they can be opened up (using programs like WinISO or UltraISO) and files can be added or removed. Why would you want to "edit an iso file"....? That's very helpful, in certain situations, and it's explained down the page just a bit.
ISO files - like all other image file formats - no longer always create functional copies.** While image files are the closest thing to a "perfect" disk copy, you should read this.

Turning ISO Files Into Standard Files and Folders:

ISO files are a form of "image file", or RAW DATA. Often times software traded on the internet is in the form of an ISO file. To convert this data to standard files and folders you can do one of two things:

Mount the image with Daemontools (or a similar CD/DVD emulation program)
Burn the ISO with CD burning software which is designed to convert raw data to usable information.
On this page I am going to talk, exclusively, about converting ISO files by burning them to disk. Depending upon what you are doing, however, it is sometimes more convenient or preferable to simply "mount" the image file with a program such as Daemontools. I've written two other pages which detail how to mount images files. You might want to take a quick look at these.......

Daemontools
Image Files Overview

This portion of this page was RECENTLY UPDATED (August, 2007). This paragraph used to contain very specific information on how to use Nero (or AheadNero) to burn an ISO file. The information was specific to an older version of Nero and was extremely out of date. In short, this process is so simple that the information I was providing was far too specific and fairly pointless.
Almost any burning software, nowadays, will burn an image file and convert raw data from an ISO file to standard files and folders.
As mentioned earlier, you simply need to open your CD/DVD burning software and look for an option that says something like "BURN AN IMAGE FILE". With a blank CD or DVD inserted in your burner, just browse your computer for the ISO file you wish to burn/convert (often you can just drag the file to the software's interface to begin the process). By choosing the "BURN AN IMAGE FILE" option you are telling your computer that you wish to convert this image file to regular old files and folders
Some excellent programs for burning ISO files (and other image file formats), are the following:

Nero - Also called AheadNero. This comes bundled with many CD and DVD burners - burns data, image files, audio discs, etc.
Alcohol 120% - Designed expressly for the purpose of burning various type of image files (won't make audio or data CDs/DVDs).
Ashampoo - Burns both data, audio, image files, etc. - a bit simpler than Nero, but similar in function.
There are even some programs designed to manage and create image files which, now, include burning engines that work with most burners. Two excellent programs of this type are:

MagicISO
UltraISO

Making an ISO Image of a A Favorite CD or DVD:

You can easily make an ISO backup of an entire disk with programs like UltraISO, MagicISO, and WinISO.
In the same way that I used to provide specific instructions for using Nero to burn an ISO, this page used to provide specific instructions for making an ISO image using WinISO. Again, the information was out of date and dealt too heavily in the specifics of using a really old version of WinISO.
The programs which create ISO files are very intuitive and all function similarly - they're very intuitive and easy to use.
All of the programs mentioned near the top of this section (UltraISO, MagicISO, and WinISO) will make ISO images, and the process GENERALLY goes like this (with one of these software programs installed):

Insert the CD/DVD from which you wish to create the ISO into your drive.
Open one of these programs
Go to Tools, or Actions in older versions of WinISO.
Choose the option to "Create an ISO Image", or "Create an Image File" (something like this)
You might be given the option to save the file as another FORM of image file - for instance, "bin & cue". If you want to save it an ISO file - obviously - choose "ISO".
If you've got multiple CD/DVD drives, you may have to select the correct drive from a drop-down menu for the program to see the disk.
The program will ask you where you want it saved. Hit "Go", and that's the whole deal!

Adding Files or Folders to an ISO File:

As mentioned at the top of this page you can actually edit the contents of an ISO file using a program like WinISO or UltraISO. Why would this be a nifty feature? Let's say you just shelled out big bucks for that nice office suite but you have a habit of losing and/or destroying things, generally. An ISO file backup would be super but what if you lose the CD case as well - with the all important CD key???!!
Unlike any other image file format with which I'm familiar (eg. .nrg, bin & cue, .img, etc.) you can use WinISO or UltraISO (or a bunch of other ISO manipulation programs) to "open" the file and add files or folders. After you've made an ISO backup it's always a good idea to create a text file with CD key and simply add it to the ISO image file. This is done by using one of the programs I've described and simply choosing "Open", then "Add Files", then "Save" - it ain't exactly rocket science. This will not effect the quality of your ISO image file.

One Caution...

Whereas a few years ago an image file backup of an application or game would always allow for the creation of a completely functional copy, this is no longer the case. As the internet (and file trading) has grown software manufacturers have developed methods of encryption which make these sorts of copies imperfect. Very generally speaking office suites, operating systems, and various other desktop applications can still be backed up perfectly in this way. On the other hand, almost all newer games (and some desktop applications) require that functional copies be made using image file technology in conjunction with a crack program/file.
If you've downloaded a game or application as an ISO (or in any other image file format, for that matter) and it doesn't want to function properly (after having been burned or mounted following the proper steps) check the disk; very likely there is a folder on the disk labeled "Crack". Often times a folder like this will contain a file which must be copied over a program file after the install. Also, quite frankly, crack programs for all of the popular games are small and readily available on all of the major peer-to-peer file sharing networks.

Finally...

Here's a more technical description of what constitutes an image file (which I stole from some smarter guy's webpage):
"A disk image is an exact binary copy of an entire disk. Disk image files contain all data stored on the source drive, including not only files and folders but, also, boot sectors, file allocation tables (FAT), volume attributes, and any other system-specific data. Actually, a disk image contains not files or folders, but raw data of the original disk, sector by sector."