How to make a disk image on Windows. Create an iso from your installed system. Creating ISO images

Read how and why an ISO image is used. How to create an ISO image from an optical disc, mount it to your PC's virtual optical disc, or extract data from it, if necessary. Personal desktop and mobile computing devices are extremely popular and have received widest application in all areas of our lives. Every sector of the economy, education, healthcare, social culture, etc., one way or another, uses computer technology for its needs. All accounting, control, processing and storage of various information is carried out using such devices.

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Naturally, computer devices are used quite widely by users for personal use. Performing various tasks, communicating using electronic applications, creating any information files, editing and exchanging audio, video files and images, sending and receiving emails, organizing leisure and entertainment and much more.

It is not surprising that for the correct operation of computer devices, it is necessary to have modern, high-performance software that will make full use of their capabilities.

Most modern computer programs, which have a wide range of capabilities, are delivered to the user on optical media or otherwise in a specific digital format. And quite often a situation arises when it is necessary to save a copy of a particular disk. In this case it may help "ISO image". "ISO file"(often called image "ISO") is an archive file that contains an identical copy (or image) of data found on an optical disk, such as a CD or "DVD". This type of file format is often used for backing up optical discs or for distributing large sets of files to be written to an optical disc.

What's happened "ISO image"

Name "ISO" taken from the name of the file system used by optical media, usually "ISO 9660". Can you imagine the image "ISO" as a complete copy of everything stored on a physical optical disk such as "CD", "DVD" or "Blu-ray" disk, including your own file system. It is a sectoral copy of the disk, and no additional compression is used. Idea of ​​images "ISO" is that you can archive an exact digital copy of a disc, and then use that image to burn a new disc, which in turn is an exact copy of the original. Majority operating systems(and many "utilities"– auxiliary computer programs, carrying out specialized typical tasks for the correct operation of the equipment or operating system) also allow you to mount an image "ISO" like a virtual disk. In this case, all your applications treat it in the same way as if it were an actual optical disc inserted into your personal computer's drive.

While many users use "ISO" to create backup copies of your optical drive, "ISO image", these days, is mainly used for distributing large programs and operating systems because it allows you to store all the files in one easily downloadable file. People can then decide whether they want to mount the image for later use or use it to burn an optical disc.

Most bootable operating systems, including "Windows" and various distributions "Linux", spread like images "ISO". This will come in handy when downloading the current version "Ubuntu" for subsequent installation on your computer or installation of any old game disc on a laptop in the absence of a real physical disc.

How to connect "ISO image"

Concept "install ISO image" means that you will mount your disk image to a virtual optical disk. All your applications will treat the mounted image as if it were a physical disk in your personal computer's drive.

Operating system versions "Windows 8, 8.1 and 10" allow you to mount a disk image "ISO" without the use of additional third-party software. To do this, just open the file explorer "Windows" folder where the image of the required one is stored "ISO disk", and click on it right click mouse to call the pop-up context menu. In the list of available actions that opens, you need to select a section "Connect".

Or in file explorer "Windows" Left-click on the required image "ISO", and then on the Explorer main menu ribbon in the tab in the section "Control" click the button "Connect".

If you are using on your personal computer operating system "Windows 7"(or a previous, earlier version of the system), then you will need to install an additional third-party application, such as the free and easy-to-use application "WinCDEmu".

How to record "ISO image" to disk

Operating systems "Windows 7, 8 and 10" have an image recording function "ISO" to disk, directly built into the pre-installed services of the system itself. Everything you need to record "ISO image", is to insert an optical disc into the computer drive, prepared for recording, and then use one of two methods to choose from. By analogy with the previously described connection methods "ISO image" you will need to open in file explorer "Windows" folder containing your "ISO image". Now right-click on it and select the command from the pop-up context menu that opens.

Or mark the file with the left mouse button "ISO image" and in the tab in the section "Control" press the button.

Note: If your personal computer does not have a device that allows you to write to an optical disc, you will not see this button. Also, if you have a file compression application installed (such as "7-Zip"), and it is associated with the file extension "ISO", this button will also be unavailable to you. We'll cover this in more detail in the next section.

In the operating system "MacOS" recording function "ISO image" to disk works on the same principle as in the system "Windows", so there is no need to describe it in detail.

How to extract data from an ISO image

If you don't want to mount "ISO image" or burn it to a disk, but still need to access the files stored inside, then you can extract its contents to your computer. To do this you will need a third party app like "WinRAR" or "7-Zip". We will show a way to get data from "ISO image" using an example application "WinRAR", but you can use the application you are used to working with.

If when installing the application "WinRAR" you associated it with a file extension ".iso", then to open and view its contents, you only need to double-click the required "ISO image". Depending on the size of the original "ISO file", the opening process may take some time, so be patient.

You can copy any files from "ISO image" into a regular folder by simply dragging and dropping them.

If you want, you can also extract the full contents "ISO image" to a regular folder. In File Explorer, simply right-click on "ISO image" and open the pop-up context menu. Among the available actions, you can use one of three sections to choose from, each containing a specific file extraction command. Team "Extract files" allows you to independently select the location for subsequent extraction of files, the command "Extract to current folder" extracts files to the same location where the file is located "ISO image", and the team "Extract to "folder name"» creates a new folder at the location "ISO image" and gives it a name "ISO file".

Other file compression applications such as "7-Zip", work on the same principle and offer similar features as the application described above.

However, one important detail should be noted. If you install a file compression application such as "7-Zip" or "WinRar", and you allow this application to associate with files "ISO", then you will no longer see the built-in control commands "ISO images" in file explorer "Windows" to fully work with them. So it's better to have a control "ISO images" in the file explorer, because you can still right-click on them and access compression application commands to extract data from "ISO image" whenever you want.

If you have already installed one of these applications and it is associated with image files, then you can easily reassign the file extension "ISO" for file explorer "Windows". To do this you will have to use the application "Options". This application contains all the basic settings of the operating system. And the developers "Windows 10" intend to replace the application with it "Control Panel" to improve the user experience. Therefore, we will dwell in more detail on possible ways opening an application "Options". We will show you five ways to access the application, and you can choose any method you like for further use.

1 way: Open file explorer "Windows" "This computer". On the Explorer main menu ribbon, select the tab "Computer". On the tab panel that opens, in the section "System" click blue button with white gear "Open settings".

Method 2: Click the button in the lower left corner of the desktop "Start", located on "Taskbars", and open the main user menu "Windows". Select the button with the gear shown on it in the left menu panel and open the application. Or on the list installed applications lower the scroll bar slider down, and, in the corresponding menu item, select the section "Options".

3 way: Search on "Taskbars" button "Search", presented in the form of a magnifying glass and located next to the button "Start", and open the search bar. Enter your search phrase in the query field "parameters". The system will analyze in the graph "Best Match" Click on the link of the application you are looking for.

4 way: Click icon "Windows Action Center", which is located in the lower right corner of the desktop on "Taskbars". In the pop-up sidebar menu, find the shortcut buttons at the bottom. To open the desired application, press the button "All parameters".

5 way: The simplest and most quick way to call the application "Options"– press the keyboard shortcut together "Windows + I" and open the app directly directly.

On home page go to section "Applications". Next in the left panel new page select section "Default Applications". In the right pane, move the scroll bar to the bottom of the page and click the text link.

The next window displays a very long list of file extensions. Use the scroll bar to find the extension in the list provided. ".iso". Next to the indicated icon in the right half of the window, click any application that is currently associated with the file extension ".iso". From the pop-up menu, select the file explorer option "Windows".

How to create your own file "ISO" from optical disc

Creation process "ISO file" from Discs allows you to get a digital backup of your physical discs. Then you can use the created "ISO files" to install them on computers that do not have an optical drive. In the future, you can create additional copies of the disk image from your existing "ISO file" without using the original physical disk. And of course you can share it "ISO way" with other people.

While operating systems "MacOS" And "Linux" come pre-installed software which allows you to create "ISO image" from a physical disk, in the operating system "Windows" there is no such possibility. Instead, you'll have to use a third party app to create "ISO file"

A disk image is a file containing full copy structure and content of data located on the disk. It stores all the information that duplicates the location and contents of a specific data storage device. The order of data sectors is repeated on the image, but the structure built on it is ignored.

The original purpose of creation was backup disk data, where the exact original structure was preserved. Nowadays, due to the spread of optical media, images in as ISO files, which can be used instead of CDs. ISO has less data - no service information.

Using archive programs that support opening this type of data, you can extract and view the contents of this file. How and with what tools you can reproduce a disk image will be discussed further.

Creating an image using ultraISO

One of the most available methods ISO creation is to use the UltraISO utility. The program is paid, but you can use the trial version, which you download from the official website.

The essence of use is as follows: yes two main fields– the directory tree of the mounted image on the left and the data stored in them on the right. Below are the directories and files stored on the computer.

Set the name future copy, for which we left-click on it, property – Rename. Introducing a new name.

Then we drag folders and files from the storage area on the computer to the image file area. To find the ones you need, use the directory explorer presented below.

Please note that at the top it is displayed overall size documents.

Actually, to complete the operation, all that remains is to save: File – Save as.

From the proposed formats we take ISO and save.

The saving process will appear, after which you will find a copy in the location you specified.

Burning an image using Daemon tools

An equally popular image recording program is Daemon Tools.

There are several variations of this software, including the free DAEMON Tools Lite. After installing the free license, you will have a virtual DVD drive.

After launch, click on the button below to create a copy of the disk.

IN settings we refer to drive, where the disk and folder where the image will be saved is located.

Specify copy type MDS or ISO.

Further Start and the creation process will begin, upon completion of which the copy will be ready.

Mount You can check it in a virtual drive.

Using Ashampoo Burning Studio Free

The free version of this program is free and will allow you to burn a disk image. Download from off. site, simple and straightforward installation.

After installation, the application will launch on its own. Choose Disk image – Create.

If we create it based on a real disk, first insert it into the drive.

Specify the storage location and click Next to start the process.

Once the procedure is complete, you can open the folder containing the file.

How to create a copy of a disk using CDBurnerXP

To create an ISO in the CDBurnerXP utility, select from the menu File – save project like ISO.

Specify the directory, where to save the file and click Create ISO.

Can be customized parameters, such as: name, description, date, identifier, copyright and other settings. Once you open Boot Options, you will see a dialog box with additional options.

ISO using ImgBurn

ImgBurn handy tool for recording ISO images. Everything is done very quickly and quite simply.

After downloading and installing the program, you will see the following window.

As you can see, here you can: write down image to disk, so make it from existing files.

In this case, we are interested in the latter.

There is no need to specify any additional settings (the only thing is that, if desired, you can change the recording speed and number of copies), specify the drive from which you want to read data and click Reading

The copying process will begin, after which a message will signal to us that it has been successfully completed.

Free DVD ISO Maker

The program is free, easy to use and simple.

After launch you will need to select Select CD/ DVDdevice, that is, the drive for reading (specify the path). Next is the place where we will save the resulting file. Then click Covert and wait for the final completion of the copying procedure.

We use ISODisk

It is also free, download it from the official website.

The interface, although in English, is quite intuitive. Some users do not recommend using it for mounting virtual drives, but it copes with the task of creating ISOs with a bang.

A virtual disk image is sometimes extremely necessary for storing very important information. By creating ISO images, you can play any game without having the actual disc. It is enough to create an emulated disk, and then mount it into the drive and you can enjoy the information recorded on it. Today there are dozens of programs from developers from all over the world. Some of them can be purchased, others are distributed completely free of charge. Among such a variety, it is difficult for an inexperienced user to really find useful product. Let's take a look best options, which offer a software manufacturer for producing a disk image.

Option 1: CDBurnerXP

CDBurnerXP is a powerful utility that works with any disks and images. Capable of writing, overwriting, erasing data on a disk. Is free product, which has proven itself well among users. Allows you to create any boot disks and save multimedia files to your hard drive. CDBurnerXP easily creates a convenient virtual disk with a *.iso extension. Works with multisession disks in all windows operating systems (7,8,10). To create a virtual ISO image, the user needs to follow 3 simple steps:

Option 2: ImgBurn

Due to its ease of use and clear interface, this free program can be called one of the most convenient. However, even on the official website you will not find a pure executable file. The standard installer package also contains unwanted software.

If this fact doesn’t bother you or you need a powerful antivirus, feel free to take this application and use it. By the way, no suspicious activity was detected in Windows 10, but you should still be careful. Developer website: www.imgburn.com.
ImgBurn is a functional program with a simple interface. With its help you can create boot disk to install the Windows 7 operating shell. When downloading by default, the program is downloaded to English, but, if desired, you can always download the crack file from the official source, and then paste the file with the Russian language into the Language folder.

The application can create virtual images from disks and files. Creating an image from a file is very simple: just click on the appropriate icon and add files and directories to create the image.

Option 3: ISO Workshop

ISO Workshop is another application option for creating an ISO image. Simple interface, works with *. cue. Working with files of this format allows you to record album images in uncompressed form.

The main function of ISO Workshop can be considered the ability to record an image, as well as extract from it. The program allows you to check disks for errors and also erase them. Link to the official resource: http://www.glorylogic.com/iso-workshop.html.

Just select “Convert” and the required window will open in front of you

Option 4: Ashampoo Burning Studio

A convenient program with an attractive interface is absolutely free. Supports a number of formats in addition to the well-known ISO. Works with any disks. Creating emulated drives is just one of the functions of Ashampoo Burning Studio. Using this software, you can easily rewrite discs several times and copy any discs. For those who need to create a virtual disk with files, you should follow the following recommendations:

Option 5: UltraISO

It is difficult to analyze utilities without such a giant as UltraISO. The program belongs to the paid representatives of the family of disk drive emulators. Works with a large number files, creates virtual disks and writes images to a real optical disk.

Transferring many small files over the Internet is not very convenient. It is for this reason that various assemblies of operating systems can be downloaded from the Internet in the form of an image saved in ISO format. The downloaded image can be stored on a computer or written to any device, so you can make a bootable Windows flash drive or disk.

If you have a disc, for example, with a game or various programs, you can create an image from an ISO disk in which the files and its structure are completely preserved. Then using special programs, for example Alcohol 120% or Daemon Tools, you can run the created image through . If over time you need to burn a disc from the image you created, read the article on this topic by following the link.

In this article we will look at how you can make an ISO image from files and folders. In this form, it is more convenient to transfer them over the network, and the image transfer speed will be higher than each file separately.

First, let's look at creating an ISO image using the Alcohol 120% program. You can read the description on our website by following the link.

In the menu on the left, click on the button "Image Mastering".

To create an image from files, click on the “Add files” button. If you need to create an ISO image from a folder, click "Add folder".

Select necessary files or folders on your computer and click Open.

You can create folders in the program itself, and then add files to them. To do this, right-click in the program window and select “New Folder” from the menu. You can also use the corresponding button located on the right side.

Once you have added all the files, click Next.

Next, specify the location on your hard drive where you want to save the created ISO image. In the "Image format" field, select "ISO image" from the drop-down list. You can change the "Image name". Click Start. I'll name the image "MyPhoto" and save it to my desktop.

Wait for the process to complete. In the same window you can see how much space the created ISO image takes up on your computer. Click Done.

Now I have the created image in ISO format on my desktop.

By double-clicking on it, you can mount the image into a virtual drive and view the files stored in it. Please note that the amount of memory in the virtual drive corresponds to the size of the created image.

Now let's take a look, how to make an ISO image using UltraISO program . It is the most popular program that is used to create images, edit them and burn them to disk.

Launch UltraISO. At the bottom of the program window, find the files and folders you need on your computer and drag them to the top area. You can also select them and click on the “Add” button.

The image will be saved in the specified location. It can also be mounted into a virtual drive.

I think now you understand how, using the programs described, you can create an ISO image from files and folders that are stored on your computer.

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