Disk images are a convenient way to duplicate any physical storage volume. Disc images come in several formats that use specific file extensions such as ISO, IMG, and DMG. You can build and mount some of them without downloading additional apps.
Let’s take a look at the most popular disc image formats and how to create images of your CD/DVDs and burn them back to optical media.
What is Disk Image? How do you use it?
A disc image encodes the contents and physical structure of a CD, DVD, Blu-ray, HDD, SSD, USB drive, etc. Retaining both the data and the underlying file system makes disc images the perfect choice for online software distribution.
Double-click the downloaded ISO file on macOS, Windows, or Linux to mount the volume.
DMGs work flawlessly in macOS, but other disc image file types may require third-party software. Generally, you can create ISO files from CD/DVD without paying for an app like Daemon Tools or one of the many free alternatives to Daemon Tools.
Most common types of disk images
Media Descriptor File is another proprietary disc imager for making bit-for-bit copies of optical media with Alcohol 120% (another disc image burning tool). It supports audio tracks, multi-layer media, and CDs that combine audio and data tracks. An optional Media Descriptor Sidecar file (.MDS) stores information about layer breaks and other metadata.
How to create a disc image from legacy media
You can clone and restore a Linux disk image with the dd command. On macOS, you can create Windows-compatible ISO disc images with Disk Utility.
To burn a disc image back to physical media on macOS, insert a blank disc into the drive and drag files and folders to it using the Finder, then choose File > Burn [Disc]. On Windows, right-click the ISO file in File Explorer and click Burn disc image.
Add Disk Images to Your Backup Routine
ISO, IMG, and DMG files are indispensable for backing up, sharing, and protecting copies of your favorite music CDs and DVD/Blu-ray movies on a hard drive, SSD, or in the cloud.
As such, disk imaging is a great technique for preserving legacy media that deteriorates over time without losing detailed insight into file system metadata.
Need a quick and easy way to back up and restore Windows without having to rely on backup tools or the cloud for your data?
There are many third-party Windows backup and restore tools available, but they can be complicated and time-consuming to use. So, why not learn how to create an ISO image of your Windows PC instead?
Why choose Windows Image Backup?
We all know that backing up your data is essential, especially when upgrading to a new version of Windows. But instead of partitioning for specific data or syncing to the cloud, why not back up your entire Windows installation?
You can add individual folders to Image Backup but leave out apps and games. Alternatively, you can choose to create an image of your entire system drive. Naturally, you’ll need an appropriate amount of storage for such backups.
Thanks to the ISO image format, it is possible to back up your entire PC. This essentially creates an exact copy of your entire drive or selected directories. Plus, you’ll be able to restore the image backup should disaster strike. You can also use ISO files to back up existing CDs and DVDs.
Creating a Windows 10 ISO System Image with DataNumen
A widespread use for disk images is cloning your hard storage (hard disk drive or solid-state drive), which may be in its final stages.
DataNumen Disk Image (a.k.a. “DDKI”) is one such solution, which runs on all versions of Windows and is available as freeware. After downloading and installing the utility, use the Clone tab to select the drive you want to image; To clone multiple drives, use the Batch Clone tab.