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Best Free CD-DVD Burning Software
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Introduction
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When looking for the best free software program for either CD (Compact Disc) or DVD (Digitally Versatile Disc) I think it is worth the effort to consider your exact requirements. Keep in mind that CD & DVD burning programs are designed for you to author CDs and DVDs for: music, photos, movies, games, data, or other digital files that will hopefully stimulate your creativity. As well as CD and DVD burning software, this category also includes Lightscribe software which enables you to produce laser-etched labels with text or graphics, as opposed to stick-on labels and printable discs. With new software (particularly new free software) don't be afraid to experiment and try a few different options before you decide on the right one for you. |
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Discussion
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ImgBurn includes support for:
ImgBurn has several 'Modes', each one for performing a different task: Read - Read a disc to an image file. ImgBurn's advanced features may confuse you if you just want to do a basic burn. The welcome menu provides quick access to some common tasks, but other basic features such as erasing a re-writable disc are not immediately visible. Try playing around with ImgBurn for a while. Exploring the menus will certainly reveal most of what you need. However, if you simply aren’t interested in advanced functionality you may wish to check out my other recommendations. Although ImgBurn is primarily aimed at advanced users, I still feel that it deserves top spot in this category.
A launch window lets you choose the type of project you want and leads you through the process to completion. Navigating your directories is easy with BurnAware's file management system and adding files is as simple as highlighting them and hitting a button. BurnAware offers enough features for most burning projects including burn data, bootable and multi-session discs, burn audio, video and MP3 discs, create and burn ISO/CUE/BIN images, copy discs to ISO images and erase rewritable discs. Sometimes you just need a simple program for your burning needs and don't need all the extra features of a paid application. Supports:
Big picture - CDBurnerXP is a quick and easy solution for creating audio CDs, video discs (DVD and Blu-Ray) and has extra features for ripping your audio CDs and finding track info on the Web. It adds sessions to multi-session discs; burns on-the-fly and verifies burns; erases rewritable media; creates audio discs and video DVDs; command line version; LightScribe cover printing support with very basic designer supporting custom background images; enables access to drives for restricted users; multilingual; some advanced features and options. I like CDBurnerXP's clean user interface. The four-paned interface makes it easy to find what you are looking for. You can then drop-and-drag files to your chosen media. Also, the audio player, which is included, helps you ensure you have captured the tracks you want. You may find the dropbox window handy as it allows you to browse your files using Windows Explorer and then quickly drop-and-drag files to your burn list as you go. Judging from other user reviews, some people had trouble with CDBurnerXP when burning data DVDs although I did find I was able to use this function without too many hassles. Once again, CDBurnerXP supports common types of optical discs like CD, DVD, and Blue-Ray including double layer mediums. You will find creating Audio CDs, Video Discs, DVD or Blue-Ray, very easy. I found dealing with re-writable media is also very comfortable with this program. ISO files can be created and burned as well with support of converting BIN/NRG file formats into ISO. CDBurnerXP is multilingual and natively supports 32 and 64 bits version of Windows 7. Editor's Advisory Note: CDBurnerXP is now bundled with OpenCandy. See this article for more information.
InfraRecorder is a respectable burning program, but it has a few disadvantages as well. It does not support Blu-Ray discs or HD-DVDs. It also does not include many advanced options for tweaking the burn process to perfection like ImgBurn. Its interface isn’t as nice as that of BurnAware Free, and it doesn’t have any extra features like CDBurnerXP. Aside from these possible downsides, it feels like a solid program that definitely deserves a chance at becoming a part of your favored software collection.
Anybody who is struggling with the ever increasing complexity of CD and DVD burning applications then Ashampoo 9.24 may be the answer you are looking for. If you want a program that focuses on burning discs quickly and easily with quality and a minimum fuss then this could be the program may well suit your needs. This version retains all the advantages of previous versions as well as adding multi-disc file backups and restores on CD, DVD and Blu-Ray. The program creates compressed backup archives with powerful password protection as well as splitting archives automatically across multiple CDs, DVDs or Blu-ray discs. I loved the fact it restored the archive contents to their original locations Ashampoo Burning Studio 9.24 FREE also features, an integrated audio CD ripper which stores your audio tracks as WMA or WAV files with an option across all formats to set the number of copies you want to burn. All discs can now be verified without ejecting first. What's new:
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Related Products and Links
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Although no official portable version exists, Googling "ImgBurn portable" returns several results showing how to run it from a flash drive.
Caution: Now bundled with OpenCandy - see note above. An OpenCandy free version is available by clicking the "More download options" link on the downloads page.
Microsoft .NET Framework and Microsoft Windows Media Format 9.0 Update are required
Requires registration within 10 days
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Editor
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This software category is maintained by volunteer editor Remah. Registered members can contact the editor with any comments or questions they might have by clicking here. |
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Tags
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burn cd, burn dvd, best free burning tool, top free burning tool, free burning software for cd, dvd, blu-ray |
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Comments
Just wanted to say that I really like BurnAware Free for what I mostly use this type of software for which is data backup to CD's and DVD's. Very easy to use and understand graphical user interface. Simple self explanatory options. No need to guess where the right button is for going to look for files and folders, etc. Impressed so much so that I wrote the company and thanked them. Had been using mostly imgburn and occasionaly Nero Express and cdburnerxp. I'm now a convert to BurnAware Free.
Thanks Gizmo for keeping us informed.
Joe Hill - AngelGeeks.com
A new burner :
3nity CD/DVD Burner : http://3nity.org/products.html
I totally agree as well. I got Imgbrn to create an audio CD. Instead of a simple drag-n-drop and click "burn" process, I had to read a long and complicated guide, create a .cue file from the mp3s, then burn that to cd. Needless to say, I didn't get that far. It was confusing the whole way. I don't want to have to get a PHD in computer science in order to burn a simple music cd! (not only that, but when I tried to create my .cue file, it rearranged all the tracks randomly, despite the obvious track numbers.) Maybe Imgbrn is good for power users, but for simple tasks, fuggetaboutit...
Just downloaded BurnAware, and creating a music CD was as simple as, "drag-n-drop, then click "burn"...
ImgBurn is a very very good burner. Unfortunately i couldn't or unable to locate multisession burning mode. I am not sure they support it or not. My needs demand burning multisession discs frequently. So ImgBurn is not usable for me. I found another alternative with multisession capability. Check the link if you like. Thank You!
http://www.amok.am/en/freeware/amok_cd-dvd_burning/
http://www.amok.am/en/freeware/amok_cd-dvd_burning/screenshots/images/sc...
Does anyone know if there is a free dvd burning program out there that is similar to Cyberlinks power producer? Is used to have a version of it but then upgraded to windows Vista and now can't use it.
What was so different in it, that you can't find in the free programs? Any particular feature(s) that stand out?
Interesting site you have here Gizmo. it's a bit different and I really like the 'how to' articles. Very appreciated.
After reading 'glowing reports' here about CD burner xp, and after trying thiss bit of freeware [scareware?], my inbuilt warning signs are now all flashing on RED about any other free software recommended here. "WARNING WILL ROBINSON,DANGER,DANGER"!
After recently installing CD Burner XP, it has successfully wiped out SP3 from 1 disk while trying to add to it [the disk was open]. Now the disk has the 1 added software exe. on it and my SP3 backup is completely gone! How did CD burner manage that wipe from a non-rewritable disk? Oh, but the program wasn't finished with me yet, not by a long shot!
I had just brought a fresh batch of 50 TDK CD/R disks. CD burner managed to wipe out [make unusable] about 15 of them. Initially I thought I had a bad batch of TDK's. Ok, these things happen sometimes. After starting off on a burn process a 'poor quality CD -unwritable' pop-up would appear and I thought , "what the hell, may as well go through these disks and try to find a few good ones and yes, about 1 in 6 burnt OK. I was convinced it was the disks ...until the SP3 wipeout! "Hello, what in the hell is going on here"! A bad install of the burner maybe?
I had the TDK's replaced with 50 Verbartm disks and before I used any of them I did a freh and clean install if CD burner xp. First fresh disk in the slot and ...what, another bad batch of disks? I don't think so!
Out cane CD Burner xp and in went 'Burn Aware Free'. Result? BLISS !!!
Me again [Stutts is the name by the way]. Just had a read of my previous post about CD Burner xp. Oh boy, my eyesight is not what it used to be! Sorry about all the typo mistakes. I seem to be hitting wronk keys more and more nowadays!
No, not the grog, just galloping old age. Lol, Lol.
Oh, I had forgotten to mention that CD burner also wiped-out a downloaded game from one of my wife's disks when she tried to add a patch download to it. She only just found out about it because she only checked the disk after I dumped the CD burn program as garbage. The patch is on her disk alright, but the game is completely gone! That CD burner is scareware for sure, at least for this boy.
I have used CDBurnerXP in the past, and I never had any problem with it. I have not used the newer versions though. I now keep using different programs like BurnAware, or ImgBurn, or InfraRecorder. All are good.
I don't know what might have caused the program to show "poor quality CD" error. But, you should have not have kept on burning the discs even after the error was shown. I can't believe you kept on burning the discs even when they were getting wiped out after burning. 15 discs is too much.
About the old material like SP3 being wiped out, after you burnt another exe on to it... this can happen if the CD had been finalized the first time, or, it was not meant to be a multi-session CD when you first burned it. The old session will still be there. If you use Isobuster, it will show you data of both sessions, and you can recover the old data if you want.
To avoid such situation, you should not finalize the CD when you write it, or should choose the option for the CD to be multi-session.
Thanks for the reply Anupam.
I kept going through those disks looking for good ones because I needed to send 3 away to someone urgently. We live a long way from town in a remote country area and it was going to be 2 weeks before we went into town again. I needed the 3 disk burns then and there, not in another 2 weeks, so what the heck, it took 15 disks to do it but I got my burns and they were posted the next day.
No, the disk with XP 3 and the downloaded game my wife had were left open for sure. We both always make sure disks are left open. I initially thought the problem with that burner xp might have been an OS related problem, but the program displayed the same nastiness on my wife's PC too after she also installed it. It's the latest version, so maybe there is a problem with it.
Yeah maybe it is a problem with the newer version, I haven't tried it in a long time. I have been using BurnAware Free, I like its interface and options more.
I use deepburner and its free
New version of ImgBurn has been released. Has whole lot of updates. But, the software is now adware. Details here :
http://www.ghacks.net/2010/03/17/dvd-burning-software-imgburn-updated-tu...
BurnAware Free broke my disc right after I press the Burn button. It then reported that the device is busy, thus cannot be used. What an interesting story, since it actually accessed the disc and broke it (I can see clearly the stuff it left on the disc's surface!)
shame, cause imgburn is good. the toolbar etc can be deselected though when installing. imgburn is now 'sponsorware'!
The toolbar can be deselected, but the damn installer placed three icons to some 3rd party website on my desktop without my permission. In addition, three items are added to the Tools menu which also sends you to that website.
I'd say that you can no longer rcmd ImgBurn to the average user who might not be aware of or no how to get rid of all the adware that is now being installed by default.
Ok, I just checked the ImgBurn forum, and the author has re-released the latest version with the adware icons and menu items unchecked in the installer by default.
Sponsorware you may call it, but its referred to as adware nowadays :D. Yes, the option can be deselected. Still, you will notice 3 options in the Tools menu, even after you deselect the toolbar earlier :
Improve System Performance
Scan for Outdated Drivers
Scan for System Errors
These will lead to Uniblue products I think. I haven't tried clicking them, but they are certainly not part of the burning process :D.
Still, ImgBurn remains a good product, and I have it installed on my PC. I hope it does not get shades of gray though, that would be a real shame for such a software. Anyways, I don't think its that bad, because the money has to come from somewhere. It just should not be without the knowledge of the user. As long as there is an option to deselect these things, its fine.
You must have missed the checkbox for the Uniblue products while installation. That's how the icons got to your desktop. The option is available, if you look carefully. I installed the latest version, and I had unchecked the Uniblue box. No icons were installed on my desktop.
But yes, there are items to the tool menu, which install without your permission. You have to be careful not to click them I suppose :D.
ImgBurn still remains a capable program, and I would continue to use it.
What looks to happen is the Ask Toolbar is installed but if you choose to opt out the toolbar is uninstalled later in the Imgburn installation process. There are normally registry entries and the AskInstallChecker.exe left behind.
I can no longer recommend this product. The portable version is about all I would use or recommend at this point.
As long a the options are there to not install any of the "toolbars" or place any shortcuts on the desktop, I don't have a problem continuing to use Imgburn.
Because it is mentioned in the changelog:
Version 4.2.7.1893 - 2010-02-03 06:01:24
*
Updated to StarBurn SDK V12
Source: http://www.cdburnerxp.se/en/development?full
Aha!! Nice find... that's something new. Thanks.
I tried all the ones listed, but they didn't meet my needs. I switched recently from Win XP to Windows 7 64bit and my old free (came with a DVD drive) Ahead Nero no longer worked. So I needed a replacement.
The best freeware burner is Ashampoo Burning Suite - this is a free download from Ashampoo, it is easy to use and does practically everything you need - write CD/DVD/Blue-Ray - copy disk, data disks, music disks, RIP disks, create ISO, burn ISO, backup and restore files. It also supports blue-ray.
I needed track at once multi-session that could be read by my TV connected DVD player - and Ashampoo does this and a lot more.
Hello Guys,
Please I need a burner that will show the title of the tracks on the burned cd instead of just the track numbers?
Thanks
This is not a comment on your posting but rather a request for your advice. I used 1Click Copy that I bought 2 years ago. I don't use it much. Only occasionally I back up a movie that I bought. It worked wonderfully. After the first year I got a message asking me to renew the licence. But it was not mandatory. Now it becomes mandatory. So I downloaded ImgBurn. While I was trying to make a copy an message popped up saying that my dvd medium did not have enough space. I don't want to have a truncated copy so I aborted it.
1click Copy was always able to copy the full length of the original. Is there a solution to this problem (DVD disc space not sufficient) with ImgBurn? Does it happen often? Hope you can give me some help.
Dee
Is deepburner a good program? I am trying to find a dvd copying software that is easy to use, reliable, and free. I have 1click Copy that is great but cost $59 to buy and now they demand renewal fee of $20 each year. I only make a copy once in months. Buying the software is ok but paying a fee every year is not worth it. A friend said there must be free programs out there so I began to explore. Please share your experience with me and others.
Dee
ImgBurn is probably the most powerful and feature rich free burning app around, but it's not for the average user. I found it's interface and mirage of configuration options to be quite disconcerting. It is obvioulsey a tool for those with extensive burning experience and know how.
BurnAware Free's interface is a hell of a lot better, in fact it's almost the polar opposite of ImgBurn in terms of features and complexity. However, it feels like cripple-ware - no disc cloning, no image making, no boot disc creation?
CDBurnerXP provides a much better balance of features and usablity. It took me a little while to get to grips with it's slightly unusual interface, but after I did it's been great, covers everything I would possibly want and has not let me down yet.
CDBurnerXP seems to be another victim of editor's .NET phobia here at techsupportalert.com - I wish people would stop making such a big deal over something that 99% of users could not care less about. .NET is installed in a default Vista/7 installation anyway!
You aren't the only one - I've wrecked about a dozen discs with this problem and no amount of tweaking fixes it.
I'm in process of retesting this on a Windows 7 base with WMP 12 disabled as they don't seem to get along too well, especially if you don't turn off the WMP media player update, which for some reason always seemed to be running despite the media being as up to date as I could make it.
If I get anywhere I'll post back on this