Disk Imaging is when you make an exact copy of information on a hard drive or similiar device. The copy will have all the information just like th originial. PC based disk images have file extensions such as .bin, .cue, .img, .iso. Mac files end in .dng. Copy of the originial can be used for backups, restorations if the computer needs repairs, or if you need to move the information to a new computer.
Disk imaging software generally requires a lot of memory and and disk space in order to perform. Disk imaging files are stored on a CD or DVD as raw binary data and if need so, can be compressed. This means you would need a mounting software to restore the data on the disk.
On some Windows based computers, a program called Sonic DigitalMedia is pre-installed. There are several other programs that you can use. Some of the programs are Drive Image, Partimage, and CopyCatX. Mac Users should use Disk Utility.
Here is an easy was to do disk imaging. Insert a blank CD or DVD. You need to make sure that the format that the disc is in, is the same as the one that the image is in. Open the Sonic DigitalMedia program. Click Copy and then select Burn Image from the drop-down menu. Click the Browse button and select where the ISO image is located on your computer. Select the copy options by choosing the Options section in the Tools menu. When the settings are ready, click at the bottom right corner to create the disc.
Disk Imaging is a very important procedure to learn. It can help save a lot of time and heart ache is something is to happen to your computer. This is definitely true if you keep your files directly on to your computer. It would also be a good practice to schedule a time where you backup your information.
One common way that many people use disk imaging is when they partition their hard drives. You can simply copy the entire image of your hard drive to one of the partitions. That way you always have two copies of your items. This is definitely a helpful procedure to know how to do.
I am a big believer in Disk Imaging. I have had many of times where my work has been lost due to not taking an active role and making sure that I have backuped my work. It is a horrible feeling to know that you have to redo all the work that you have done. I now have disk imaging regularly scheduled for my computer. On Sunday evenings, my computer has a certain time where it alerts me that it is time to do a disk image. I then insert my disk, and the image is burned on to a rewritable DVD that I save just for this.