Build Bootable DVD ISO From Multiple CD's ???

[We The People]

I am trying this product due to a bad habit other ISO tools I already have are exibiting.

 

I have CD's with identical directory structure on them that have enough files on each to fill them. The second through end disc have no identical files, only identical folder/sub-folder structures. The first disc is also bootable, but thats not the problem.

 

In other applications if you make an ISO from the first disc, you can skip exporting the boot sectors to a file, then introducing them later because the ISO is already bootable. No big deal, I'm willing to do that part either way.

 

The problem comes in when you try to add the additional folders from CD #2 and beyond. Most products I have say "Folder Exists, Will Be Ignored" or similar. Again, there are no identical files...only folder names. Going into each sub-folder and copying the files in them would take a few hundred forevers so thats not an option!

 

I can make the first initial bootable ISO from the first CD with IMG-Burn, but cannot find a way to add the additional files into the existing ISO as full folder sets from the CD's root's.

 

Notes:

The file sets are already on CD's Typically five through seven a set.

Only the first one is bootable, but the end DVD ISO needs to be.

I have room to dump the CD's to HD if thats the only way to go...

 

I'm sure I'm overlooking something simple as I'm new to this proggy...

(I've spent the obligatory couple-o-three hours using search with a dozen or so search terms...)

Any ideas guys?

Edited August 14, 2008 by We The People

[mmalves]

ImgBurn can't add files to an ISO image, so that part won't work. You can extract the boot info from your bootable CD by going, while in Build mode, to Advanced tab -> Bootable Disc tab -> Extract Boot Image option. All the info you'll need to re-enter to create the bootable DVD will be displayed in ImgBurn's Log. Use Windows Explorer to copy all the CDs' contents to one folder in your hard disk, then add that folder to ImgBurn and click the Calculate button: when ImgBurn asks if that folder is the root of your disc, answer Yes.

 

You can either burn that to DVD-RW/DVD+RW/DVD-RAM media to test it out, or create an ISO image and check its usability with Virtual PC or similar program

[We The People]

Yeah...now see. I figured I'd have to do that.

I can already do that with what I own.

 

Again, the problem was the existing folders

and my search for a program that can add

more with identically named folders

already in the current layout.

 

These won't:

Win-ISO

Magic-ISO

IMG-Burn

Win-Image

Ultra-ISO

 

I will keep trying IMG-Burn and probably donate because it's awsome anyway.

Might replace Nero V5.5.10.56 after all (All with grey hair knew that one).

 

If anyone knows one that will allow folders to be dropped into an existing layout, post a name I can tinker with and report back.

 

And while waiting I tried the export boot sector / make boot ISO and it failed.

SoftThinks V5.0.42 bootable was my simple test disc (Mini-NT restore disc)

4 sectors @ 512 each.

It starts to boot and hangs... Tried a few offsets...