How to Create a Boot Image From a CD

Creating a disc image from a boot CD is a good way to back up your operating system recovery data in case of computer failure. This image can be stored on another computer, another flash drive, or burned onto a blank CD. It will contain all the data on the original CD so that you can boot from it in case of operating system problems. Two of the best choices for doing this are the popular Nero software and the free ISO Recorder, but most CD burning programs will allow you to create an image.

Instructions

Creating a Boot Image with Nero

Step 1

Insert the original boot CD into your disc drive.

Step 2

Download and install Nero if you have not done so already. The full version costs $59.99. For a free alternative, see the section labeled "Creating a Boot Image with ISO Recorder."

Step 3

Open Nero's SmartStart Wizard and select "Nero Express."

Step 4

Click the tab marked "Copy Entire Disc."

Step 5

Select the drive containing the CD in the next window under "Read From." This will likely be selected automatically, but you should double-check just to be safe.

Step 6

Select "Image Recorder" where it says "Write To." This tells Nero you are not copying the CD to another disc, but instead copying the data to an image file.

Step 7

Click "Copy" and select the location to which you wish to save your image. Be sure to add the image extension ".iso" to ensure later compatibility.

Creating a Boot Image with ISO Recorder

Step 1

Insert your original boot CD into your disc drive.

Step 2

Download and install ISO Recorder. This installs the application, but also inputs several new menu items into Windows Explorer to make simple basic commands like burning discs and creating disc images.

Step 3

Open "My Computer" from your desktop and right-click the CD drive containing the original boot disc. Select "Copy CD to Image File."

Step 4

Choose where you would like to save the image file. Be sure to add the image ".iso" extension to ensure compatibility.

Step 5

Close the progress window when the process completes.

Tips & Warnings

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  A PC cannot boot from a disc image itself since to access the image file Windows needs to already be running. So while an image file is an ideal way to store the booting data, if Windows is not starting you will have to burn the image to a CD and boot from there.