PC Tools ISO Burner: Quick Guide to Burning ISO FilesBurning ISO files to optical media or creating bootable USB drives remains a useful skill for installing operating systems, creating recovery discs, or distributing software. This guide walks through using PC Tools ISO Burner to burn ISO images correctly, troubleshoot common issues, and follow best practices so your discs or drives work reliably.
What is PC Tools ISO Burner?
PC Tools ISO Burner is a lightweight utility designed to write ISO image files to CDs, DVDs, and USB drives. It simplifies the burning process with a minimal interface: select an ISO, choose your target media, configure basic options (write speed, verification), and start the burn. The tool aims to be accessible for beginners while offering enough options for typical advanced needs like multisession support and drive selection.
Before you start: requirements and preparations
- Supported media: blank CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, and USB flash drives.
- System requirements: Windows (commonly Windows 7, 8, 10, 11). Ensure you have administrative rights to access physical drives.
- ISO file integrity: verify the ISO checksum (MD5/SHA1/SHA256) when possible to avoid burning corrupted images.
- Backup data: burning to a USB drive will typically erase its contents when making a bootable device. Back up important files first.
- Sufficient space: ensure your media capacity matches the ISO size (e.g., a 4.7 GB DVD for ISOs under that limit).
Step-by-step: burning an ISO to a CD/DVD with PC Tools ISO Burner
- Install and run PC Tools ISO Burner with administrative privileges.
- Click “Browse” or “Open” and select the ISO image file you want to burn.
- Insert a blank CD/DVD into the optical drive. The software should detect the disc and show available burnable drives.
- Choose the target drive from the dropdown menu.
- Select write speed. For best reliability, pick a slower speed than the maximum—try 4x–8x for DVDs unless you know your burner/disc handle higher speeds well.
- (Optional) Enable “Verify written data” or similar—this makes the program read back the disc after burning to confirm integrity.
- Click “Burn” or “Start.” Do not use the computer for heavy tasks during burning to prevent buffer underrun or errors.
- Wait for completion and check any burn logs or verification results. Eject the disc and test it in the intended device (another PC, DVD player, etc.).
Creating a bootable USB with PC Tools ISO Burner
- Insert the USB drive and back up its contents.
- In the program, select the USB drive as the target device.
- Choose the ISO file. For OS installers, ensure the ISO is bootable.
- Confirm or select partition scheme and target system type if options are provided (e.g., MBR for BIOS/Legacy, GPT for UEFI).
- Start the process and wait until it’s finished. Some tools offer a “Create bootable USB” checkbox—ensure it’s enabled.
- Safely eject the USB drive and test by booting from it on the target machine (you may need to change BIOS/UEFI boot order).
Common issues and fixes
- Disc not recognized: ensure the disc is blank and compatible; try another brand or lower burn speed.
- Burn fails midway: try a different optical drive or media; update burner firmware; run as administrator.
- Bootable USB won’t boot: check BIOS/UEFI settings (secure boot, boot order); confirm partition scheme matches the target system; recreate USB using correct options.
- Verification errors: re-download ISO and compare checksums; use a higher-quality disc or slower write speed.
Best practices
- Always verify ISO checksums before burning to avoid wasting discs.
- Prefer reputable blank media brands for important tasks.
- Keep burner firmware and PC Tools ISO Burner updated.
- Use a slower write speed for critical discs (installers, recovery media).
- Label discs clearly with permanent markers and store them away from heat/light.
Alternatives to PC Tools ISO Burner
If you need more advanced features (custom boot menus, persistent Linux live USBs, advanced partitioning), consider alternatives like Rufus, Etcher, ImgBurn, or CDBurnerXP. Each tool has strengths: Rufus is excellent for bootable USBs, Etcher is cross-platform and simple, ImgBurn offers granular control for discs.
| Tool | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rufus | Bootable USB creation | Fast, supports many ISOs and partition schemes |
| Etcher | Simplicity, cross-platform | Safe flashing, limited advanced options |
| ImgBurn | Disc burning advanced control | Powerful but older UI |
| CDBurnerXP | General disc burning | Free and user-friendly for CDs/DVDs |
Safety and legal considerations
Only burn ISOs you have the legal right to use. Distributing copyrighted software without permission is illegal. For operating systems, use official downloads from vendors to ensure legitimacy and security.
Quick checklist before burning
- ISO checksum verified?
- Target media blank and large enough?
- Important USB data backed up?
- Write speed set to a safe value?
- Verification enabled (if desired)?
PC Tools ISO Burner handles most standard ISO burning tasks cleanly; follow the steps above and use the troubleshooting tips for a reliable result.
Leave a Reply