Can you Burn multiple CDs on a Single DVD??

[Lopyswine]

okay so recently purchased some new burning software, Nero and Power ISO.

My question is, is it possible to burn multiple CD programs onto a single DVD.

Like I have TONS of games that are 3-4 discs each, what I would like to do is condense them down to a single DVD backup of each game.

Now I know i can just drag the fies, but I want the DVDs to be functional. So is it possible to create mutiple CD Images on a DVD?

So when i put the DVD into the drive I start the setup from the first image, then when it says insert disc 2 I point to the second image....

Anyone have any ideas how i can do this?

 

[NuAlphaMan]

I'd be interested in the responses as well. I've been able to add multiple discs to the DVD, but I have not been able to get it to function like a normal disc. I have to utilize explorer to get it to work.

 

[Lopyswine]

hmm

so i have done some more research and it looks like I should make images of each of the discs and put them onto the DVD.

then can use Deamon tools to mount the images should I need to use them...

sound reasonable to you guys?

does anyone know of another way?

 

[Kaido]

Nero has a great program called ImageDrive, which lets you have a Virtual CD/DVD-ROM drive (not burner). Nero also has a program called Burning ROM. First, select the Image Recorder as the default Recorder in Burning ROM, then insert your CD, select copy, and it will spit out a .NRG image file (you can convert this to ISO with another app called NRG2ISO, just do a google for it). Next, load up ImageDrive and mount the .nrg (or .iso) image with it. Much faster than a regular CD drive.

What you can do with this is take your image files and load them up onto a DVD. Then you can insert the DVD disc and use ImageDrive to mount the images. Personally, I make images of all my discs so that I have a backup and fast access to them.

Edit: Yeah, your post above has the right idea.

 

[MrPickins]

It's not exactly what you're looking for, but Ido something similar with Daemon Tools. I mount all the iso's as virtual cd's, then start the install. I use it to spped up reinstals, so I have the iso's on my HD. I would think that you could mount an iso from a data dvd, though.

Edit: I type teh slow!

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

Sure, it can be done, but I'm not sure if you have the right software. The first step is to create disc images of program CDs. This is not always as easy as it sounds, though, because a great many CD-ROMs use copy protection technology designed to prevent you from installing from anything other than the physical disc. The copy protection must be beaten by reading and recreating what a lot of software would interpret as read errors.

There are several programs that can beat copy protection. The one I use is called Alcohol 120%, and costs $52 (maybe a little more after tax & shipping) from the product website. Of course, like most popular titles it can also be illegally downloaded from various torrent sites, if you have few enough scruples.

Once you have an image you can burn it along with as many others as fit onto a DVD+/-R/W. To install from a copy-protected disc image you must first "mount" it, tricking Windows into thinking it is a physical disc with its own drive letter. This can also be done with Alcohol 120%.

Copying ordinary, non-copy-protected discs is of considerably easier. Just use Nero to rip an image. You may have to mount to install, but I'm sure you can find some kind of freeware to do that for you.

 

[Lopyswine]

so the nero i just shelled out money for wont rip images of my game discs?

 

[ForumMaster]

nero will make images, but it doesn't support copy-protected CD's. you need alcohol 120% to create the image. then you can use Alcohol to mount them. you'll need nero to burn the images to the DVD. in cases like that, i personally don't have a problem downloading the DVD edition since i have a legal copy of the game. for example, when i baught UT2k4 , i didn't have a DVD drive so i baught the CD version which is 6 CD's. i just downloaded the DVD edition and use my original key. nothing illegal about that is there?

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Lopyswine
so the nero i just shelled out money for wont rip images of my game discs?

Nero 6 notes that it is copy protected, then rips it anyway :thumbsup:

 

[Arcanedeath]

Most likey not as the vast majority of games today are copy protected.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Arcanedeath
Most likey not as the vast majority of games today are copy protected.

Not sure about Nero 7, but Nero 6 has imaged every disc I own to date...

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

Hmm. Are you sure these discs you've ripped have copy protection (such as Safedisk 2)? And, if so, do they work properly when mounted, installed from and otherwise used? I was to understand only specialty software such as Alcohol 120% and CloneCD could get around copy protection.

 

[Auric]

Alcohol 120% includes the necessary image creation component for copy protected discs. Last I was aware, the trial continues to be functional with nags so there is no reason to buy it since the image mounting component is the same as in the free version of Daemon Tools so the nags can thereby be avoided for daily use.

 

[Lopyswine]

ok, when i get home from work tonight i will find one of my cds i know has protection and see if nero 6 can image it.


so are we all on a consensus that the best way to compile multi cd games is through images and alcohol/damen tools?

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

I wasn't saying Alcohol 120% was the best tool for the job, but only that it's extremely easy, works perfectly (for me so far) and therefore *may* be the best choice. If you already have Nero, and Nero can get around copy protection, then that may be your own best bet.

I doubt Nero can do it, though.

By the way, when you finally get around to archiving everything, keep this in mind: If you mount a CD image located on a DVD, then eject the DVD before unmounting the CD image, things can get a bit haywire. So always make sure to unmount the CD first, then eject the host DVD.

 

[corkyg]

I don't do games, but I do archive music on DVDs. I can put a pot load of CDs on a DVD, and if I convert to MP3 format, it can be a mega potload.

I collect jazz cuts with a friend in CT - and we can send each other many albums on one disk - saves a ton of postage. Then we can play them directly or extract and burn to CDRs for the car, etc.

In MP3 format, it is easy to get 8 albums on a single CDR. That is good for a whole day on the road.

 

[Lopyswine]

so you are putting like 8 images on the dvd then re burning them later? btw, i bet if you double zipped those you could get like 15 albums on a disc

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: Lopyswine
so you are putting like 8 images on the dvd then re burning them later? btw, i bet if you double zipped those you could get like 15 albums on a disc

No - you misread. I get 8 albums on a CDR. Many more on a DVD. Zipping them does nothing to MP3 files - except to make them unplayable as is.

No images involved - simply rip music CDs to MP3, then burn the data files onto new media. CDRs are then directly playable in most newer cars.

 

[Lopyswine]

oh, i get ya. i didn't know that cars can do that now. yeah my friends used to do that all the time. compress albums onto mp3 then mail em.

back in the day before high speed internet.

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: Lopyswine
oh, i get ya. i didn't know that cars can do that now. yeah my friends used to do that all the time. compress albums onto mp3 then mail em. back in the day before high speed internet.

Yeah - my 2005 Buick CD player handles MP3s directly, so I would assume all 2006's and 2007's will do likewise. For multiple albums, High Speed Internet ain't necessarily all that great. Some ISPs have file size limits.

Besides - I would rather be doing something else and let the snail mail folks earn their pensions.