ISO Image + CD-rw

[comp615]

JUst wondering, I am wondering if its possible to burn a bootable iso image to cd-rw in nero. I am trying to burn BartPE and would like to be able to re-record on the same cd each time I update it. The format of the iso is ISO-9660:1999 (version 2), and if needed I have the original files that were used to create the iso.

EDIT: I guess what im asking is, is the finilazation options built into the iso? And can you boot from CD-rw's?

[kilgoretrout]

You can make bootable cds on cd-rw.
A few cautions however. In order for your bios to boot a cd, certain boot information must be on very specific sectors of the cd or cd-rw or it won't boot. You have an iso image of a bootable cd. If you burn the iso as an image in nero, you will get a sector by sector exact copy of the original cd and the boot info will be in the proper place on the cd and it will boot fine, just like the original.

However, if you decompress the iso with some utility like winrar and then copy all the data files onto the cd, it won't boot because the boot info will not be on the proper sectors.

Accordingly, it is imperative that you burn the iso as an image if you want it to boot. If your not sure how to do this, post back and I'll go into more detail.

[comp615]

I can get that, but i want to make sure I can record a new iso image over it on the rw.

[doctorgonzo]

You can always overwrite something on a CD-RW. It is never made read-only by anything. Whether you burn an ISO or just a file, it makes your difference.

A CD-RW should be bootable if the CD drive can read it. Not all CD-ROM drives can do so.

[comp615]

k, cause nero just has this option that says finalize cd (no further writing possible), i had to make sure.

[kilgoretrout]

I like trying a lot of different linux distros and use cd-rw almost exclusively. Just give it a good erase before burning a new iso and you should be fine.

By the way, if you want to try a great bootable rescue cd, you might want to check out knoppix, a bootable linux cd that runs entirely in ram and boots to a full linux desktop. It really rocks:

http://www.knoppix.net/

[doctorgonzo]

Originally posted by comp615
k, cause nero just has this option that says finalize cd (no further writing possible), i had to make sure.

Don't worry. Just reformat the CD-RW and you are back to a blank disc.

[glc]

No, not reformat - erase. Use the erase utility in your burning software.