CDBurnerXP ISO files

gplea · 31st December 2005

I just installed CDBurnerXP that I got off of Kim Komando's website. It appears to have a very nice working util. for burning ISO images to DVD. Only trouble is I've never done one so I'm just a tad confused how to and what I can do. I don't mean the instructions are bad. What I need to do is create a bootable DVD that has a disk image of most of the critical apps on my current C: drive like the Win2k, the SP's, MSOffice, and some of the other apps, etc. so that when my drive runs sluggishly I can reformat then reboot and install with this DVD.

I'm assuming it's this straight fwd, at least in theory. Is is as simple as dragging the folders from the Programs folder, or just clicking checkmarks on the apps that I want reinstalled?

Hope someone can help,
gplea

**bluzkat** · 1st January 2006

gplea,

Let me try to help to sort through your confusion... it sounds as if you are confusing a 'backup' program (a program that allows you to replace a file(s) with a previously known working copy) and an 'imaging' program (that copys your harddrive exactly (sector by sector) and allows you replace a partition or whole hard drive with a working 'image' should these become corrupt).
If you were to create a 'bootable' disk with the programs you mentioned, this would not work properly. You would copy the programs to the disk but they won't work because they need to be installed properly. Where if you use an imaging program (such as TruImage or Ghost) you can than 'burn' the 'image' file to a disk(s) and use it to return your system to a 'working' state. You had the general idea but were just missing some details.
My personal preference is Acronis's TruImage . Some people prefer Symantec's Ghost . Either of these programs will accomplish what you want. More questions? Don't hesitate to post back.

B