[prathapml]

Now, most of us here use M$'s own cdimage.exe to make our cd images.
And a major plus point to use it for multi-boot CD/DVD is obviously that it can optimize the ISO9660 CD image (it makes multiple entries in the CD's Table of Contents that point to the same file).

Well, let me reveal that you don't necessarily need to use a command-line utility (powerful as it may be) for this. I've been using UltraISO 6.52 SR-2, and it's much more easy-to-use and can do lot's more.

I'm also aware that a program called CDimage GUI exists which uses cdimage under its hood. And, in relation to the Q below, please don't tell me about linux-based apps (like mkisofs, dd if, etc.). I need a windows-based application, but I'm ready to also consider win32 ports of originally-linux-based software.


My question to the people who are reading this topic is, which other application serves this purpose ? Please vote for your favourite program, or if it isn't listed here, mention it in a post.

It would be nice if someone informed me that my favourite cd-burning app - Nero6 - has the capability to make file-system optimized CDs. And considering the numbers of people from large corporations who frequent this site, pretty soon we might know about more programs which can optimize cd images.



The primary purpose of this topic is to uncover more useful programs that can optimize cd images.

[prathapml]

amazingggg !
been 2 weeks since this post was up, and nobody's posted any comments, just voted and left.
Yes, discipline is a good thing, but certainly you've heard that there does exist something called too much of a good thing.
We need some liveliness you know.......

[PhillTheChill]

Hello m8,
How do you configure Ultra ISO for an xp cd. Been used to cdimage.

Thanks

[XtremeMaC]

well after I found about cdimage I don't use any other software to build iso's. cdimage is much faster, less ram eating and seems to be the one that has less or no bug at all.

[prathapml]

Quote

well after I found about cdimage I don't use any other software to build iso's. cdimage is much faster, less ram eating and seems to be the one that has less or no bug at all.

But not so easy to use for newbies to use (i.e., unless they use a batch file, but then, they should modify it as per their setup - which many don't know how). cdimageGUI looks like a better thing for new people.


UltraISO is the best tool to use. UltraISO 6.52 and higher versions have the ability to optimize ISOs, and all settings for the resultant ISO can be one done with a good UI. File/folder addition is drag-n-drop, so you can add for example, 250 files from E: drive, 5000 files from d: and 3 folders from G:\. You also see the size of the final ISO image in the statusbar.
1. Open UltraISO.
2. Drop in all the files/folders you want.
3. Go to the "File" menu and click the "Properties" option which sets all the properties for the ISO you're making.
4. In the "properties" dialog box which comes up now, put a tick-mark next to the "Optimize" option (which can be seen to the right of the "Media" size drop-down list).
5. Set all the other options you want (to set the bootsector, go to "Bootable > Load Boot file" menu option - which will show up the familiar WinXP "Open File" type of dialog box where you can browse to the file you want).
6. File > Save As.
7. That's it, now it will take upto a minute to analyse your files for optimization, and 2 minutes to save the cd ISO image file to the location you had selected.
Enjoy!!! Using UltraISO, making an iso9660 image (even with lots of features) becomes as easy as saving a formatted text file (with word2k3 elements) with Wordpad.


Please note that its not a good idea to modify ISOs in ISO viewers, always create a new ISO.

[candyman]

I use CDIMAGE GUI Beta 3

[prathapml]

yeah, that one's pretty good too.

Hey people, just an announcement about the poll in this topic:
all those who use cdimageGUI should vote for cdimage, because ultimately its just that.

[evilvoice]

Notes on UltraISO - you can edit numerous times in this without it corrupting (at least in my tests) the problem is with WinISO - it would corrupt after 3 edits, because I lost a lot of stuff, I fully tested Ultra and have not found it to corrupt as long as you know how to use it. It doesnt overwrite things on the ISO, you must first delete the file, then copy the new one.

I also ran compression tests Ultra vs. CDImage and CDImage always compressed more, not a lot but it was more...and cdimage is free

mkisofs with dfl may be just as good, or a little better, but again the gain isnt high. dfl stands for duplicate file linker (search google and it should sent you to bootcd.narod.ru (well nevermind, didnt think I could remmeber the website)) so get that and mkisofs and test compression settings - one thing about dfl, you must make the iso and the extract the iso to your harddrive to get files back, because anything that was a duplocate has now been replaced as a file holder text document - forgot what it says, but its only a 2K file now.

[prathapml]

@evilvoice - thanks for taking the time to post your observations. Thanx for the pointer to dfl.

As for

Quote

CDImage always compressed more

that *might* (not sure) be because you could be using Uiso 6.51 or older - 6.52 is as good/bad as cdimage (it has the optimize feature too now). I've tested it (and cdimage on an equal number of occasions) more than 30 times in the last 2 months (of course, maybe you are a veteran with these things, I'm not).


Well-meaning advice to all who are reading this(and want to make optimized/multi-boot CDs).
I think I know how to use ISO making/creating softwares. WinISO 5.3 is out of my world (and it deserves to, its absolutely horrible). Since the bad experiences with it, I fortunately saw Uiso 6 (10 months ago) and have since upgraded to 6.52. And despite me being cautious, uiso 6.5 ruined my symantec suite CD's iso - I fortunately had ISObuster to recover my files. Probably older/later versions (as compared to 6.5) don't have that problem, but I've learnt my lesson, and advise that others do too, before they themselves suffer. After modifications, always save to a new file. The reason for that would be that the iso format was never meant to be fiddled around with.

This post has been edited by prathapml: 02 February 2004 - 10:36 AM

[Alanoll]

i use CDimage/GUI primarily.
Never used UltraISO. I have it, don't use it. Come to think of it, I have alot of software i don't use. Maybe i should stop buying them since i only fiddle around with them for maybe a month. Next project, Paquet Builder. Appears to be good, and would be interesting to try.

As for advice, I would recommend NEVER modify an existing ISO. Extract the files, then modify, thne recreate under new name. Maybe more time/space consuming, but hey....better to be causious and stubborn then hurry and be a fool.

[Sunil]

cdimage all the way, however i have used it in conjunction with ultraiso. I love command line stuff, thats why i prefer the cdimage, ultraiso(although not commandline), cd burn/dvd burn combo, i have created a batch file that after creating the ISO hands it off to cd burn. This combo is suited to the more adept user.

[ColMaki]

UltraISO is my choice. I think it's just very easy to use.

@evilvoice
Good to know that there are compression differences between Uiso and cdimage. thx for the info.

[XtremeMaC]

someone had asked me for cdimage and other apps
they're on my website if anyone's looking for a link to dl....

[infini]

I used UltraIso 6.55 to alter the contents of a bin image, but when i tried to save it again, the only choise i had was to save it with an ISO extension. Anbody knows if this has been corrected with version 6.56?

[pachelbeljoe]

The first i used was WinISO and it corrupted my images so often, that i kicked it into the dustbin. And then i tried UltraISO. That worked mych better for images smaler than 2gigs. But for bigger images i often got errors when installing. So i now only use it for looking into the images and maybe extracting some files. But for creating iso´s i only use cdimage because it works everytime without any fault and it works fast and with my batches i have full controll over it.

pachelbeljoe

[ByteCoder]

I use Duplicate File Linker and then use mkisofs to create my multiboot CD.

Duplicate file linker: http://bootcd.narod.ru/index_e.htm (I use the Win32 version)
Mkisofs: http://www.sbox.tugr.../home/t/tplank/

I have noticed that this is much better when creating Joliet file trees and the compression is a bit better then cdimage and Ultraiso.

Only downside is it modifies your source tree so make a backup before you continue.

cdsh_mkisofs_dfl.cmd

dfl H:\project\cd_shell link -d
mkisofs.exe -iso-level 4 -follow-links -cache-inodes -J -joliet-long -V "PowerXP SLAX" -appid "CD SHELL/MKISOFS" -sysid "Win32" -verbose -N -nobak -eltorito-boot boot/sloader.bin -no-emul-boot -boot-load-size 4 -hide boot/sloader.bin -o C:\temp\cdsh_mkisofs_dfl_full.iso "H:\Project\cd_shell"

[Ausmith1]

I also have tried Duplicate File Linker and mkisofs. It worked as claimed, but I haven't yet implemented support for multiple OS branches in my ISO. I have been thinking of doing this lately though so maybe I'll try it again...

I avoid using the bootleg MS cdimage tool as it's on shaky legal ground as far as I'm concerned, it's far better to use an open source tool and be 100% safe. (I use Bart's BCD & mkisofs)

[galvanocentric]

I happen to use nLite's bootable ISO maker, which uses mkiofs (and I tacked on DFL,) sawy...

I wish you'd get rid of your prejudice against Linux-based applications. Most work quite well when they're ported.

[Incroyable HULK]

I use EasyBoot to build my final ISO. It is the same module as UltraISO and I never had any issues with any of those programs.

[Siginet]

How about MagicISO? Has anyone tried it? It seems to be very simular to UltraISO... If not exactley the same.