ISO = I so confused :P

[trashsmasher]

Alright, this is a hardcore newbie question for ya.

I hear about ISO files all the time. I understand it's the contents of a disc in 1 file. DvdShrink can make you an ISO. Deepburner can burn a disc from an ISO.
My question is......What is the purpose of these ISO's? Please tell me why and when I'd make them, or how they can be useful. I've read lots of guides about them and it just ain't sinking in.

[geno888]

Hi and welcome the forum

The main purpose for ISO files is that softwares like ImgBurn or DVD Decrypter or cd-dvd speed are able to burn only ISO files. So if you want to use one of these freeware softwares you need to use ISO files.

[Chewy]

as the author of ImgBurn said, paraphrased: burning an iso is easy!

translated into plain english

[drfsupercenter]

LOL which would you rather have, 50 files or 1 file? It's up to you

[geno888]

LOL which would you rather have, 50 files or 1 file? It's up to you

It's related to what you want to do.

If you plan to watch the movie you can't use an ISO with a software like powerdvd.

If you plan to burn, an ISO is the only choice with dvd decrypter/imgburn or cd-dvd speed.

[Chewy]

as I learned last week videolan plays iso's

[geno888]

Good to know. I learn it today

[Chewy]

let's thank anony!

[geno888]

let's thank anony!

[cynthia]

Even Windows Media Player plays ISO files...

[Chewy]

I used shrink 2.3 for almost 2 years

[blutach]

And anything plays an ISO mounted with Daemon Tools. It's just a container for the real files.

Regards

[trashsmasher]

Thanks so much for all the replies folks!

So there is NO other use for ISO's besides meeting the requirements of certain backup programs? Also, if I make an ISO of one of my DVDs I can play the ISO file by itself in some media players? That's kinda neat, you could have a bunch of DVDs watchable on your computer in singular files.

So I hope I'm not beating a dead horse, it just seems like I've read (here and there) that ISO making always comes up. Any and all uses and purposes,let
me know.

[mill]

Nero can also burn a image but i prefer image burn