Ubuntu: How To Create an ISO Image from a CD or DVD
Contributed by Rob Rogers 
Tagged: Linux I do a great deal of experimenting with virtual computer environments and utilize ISO images quite often instead of constantly going back to the same CD repeatedly. Ubuntu makes it easy to create an ISO image from your CD or DVD.
1. Insert the CD or DVD that you want to make an ISO image of.
2. Open a terminal window.
3. Execute the following command:cat /dev/scd0 > /home/shamanstears/test.iso
where /dev/scd0 is the device name for your drive (to find this, go to the Main Menu, click on System, mouseover Administration and select System Monitor. Click the File Systems tab. The device name will be listed in the Device column). Also make sure to change the path and iso filename to the desired path and filename.
The disc will begin to spin and the ISO image will start being constructed. Once it has completed, you have an ISO image of your CD. To verify that the image was properly created, mount the ISO file and check the contents.
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Aman said on October 20, 2008
use sudo with the command for permission, if the account you are using is a sudoer.
eg: $ sudo cat /dev/scd0 > *.iso
Daniel said on November 23, 2008
Works great thanks :)
Chris Lane said on January 19, 2009
Creating the ISO right now as we speak! Thanks, this was a pretty simple command that works.
Mihailo Joksimovic said on January 31, 2009
Thanks alot, I didn’t know that it’s so easy to create .iso on Ubuntu :-)
Thanks again !
Aaron Toponce said on February 13, 2009
Gah! That’s horrid, for a number of reasons.
First, you’re using the wrong tool for the job. This would be the equivalent of using a wrench to hammer a nail in the wall. They both get the job done, but gah!
Second, this command doesn’t have any checking. What happens if you have some wild hard drive activity, and you don’t get all the bits copied? You have a bad ISO, and you won’t know it.
Instead, you should be using the right tool for the right job. In this case, you need to check out the ‘readom’ command (read optical media). It does exactly what you’re looking for, and has built in error checking.
readom dev=/dev/scd0 f=/home/shamanstears/test.iso
If you want to record the ISO, then you should be using ‘wodim’, not ‘dd’, or any other horrible “solution”.
wodim -v -eject /home/shamanstears/test.iso
This will burn your ‘test.iso’ to your blank CD, assuming it’s already inserted, and eject when it’s finished. It’ll even be verbose about it’s output along the way. These sort of shoddy tips and tricks are what get a lot of users in trouble. Remember- use the right tools for the right job, and everyone will be happy.
John said on March 5, 2009
Ubuntu Intrepid, simply right hand click CD or DVD desktop icons for context menu to copy, or write. Simple, no fuss and a result..
Olivier said on April 6, 2009
Ubuntu use readom when you right click on the icon.
So the method of Aaron Toponse is the good one if you want to do it in command line.
Briga said on May 8, 2009
I have installed 9.04 Jaunty and now right click and copy brings up Brasero that I believe does create an image (.toc) but not an ISO file. So if you want to stay on the safe side go with Aaron (just make sure the cd is not mounted! Gnome automount and that prevents the command from working)
Briga
Jii said on June 25, 2009
Since Ubuntu is supposed to be “Linux for human beings”, here’s a method for human beings. Just right click on the disk icon, then click “Copy disk…”. I’m using Jaunty, and the default destination file is a .toc type. To change it, click Properties, and then at the bottom of the window change the file type to .iso, or .cue, or .raw, or whatever you want. Then run it, and there ya go.
Anonymous said on August 18, 2009
way to go!
T_man said on November 12, 2009
cat /dev/scd0 > /home/myusername/Desktop/nameyourcdhere.iso
Worked like a charm! Thanks for the article.
Jii said on November 12, 2009
Why do articles like this pop up, where they tell you to use the terminal when you don’t need to?
You can create an ISO image with a couple clicks.
No terminal window required!
Ubuntu is Linux for Human Beings, so why write misleading articles making it seem so much harder to use than it is? You should explain “this is for people that prefer the shell prompt, normal users should simply right click the disk icon.” Otherwise people get the wrong idea about Ubuntu.
R said on December 1, 2009
there is no need to be so offensive, we’re not all born programmers. You could have just pointed out the difference without attacking the person. Ok you method rocks and everything, but please try to have more self control.
g said on December 9, 2009
So Jii can you please share your knowledge on how to do this ?
Jii said on December 9, 2009
Sure, I already did. Just scroll up a little and you’ll see it. It’s a reply underneath Aaron’s comment.
Will said on December 18, 2009
To find the device name you can just type in the terminal: mount . I know that’s not a big revelation for some, but it should list the mounted devices with there /dev/ names.
jason said on January 24, 2010
Woow. Some serious panty twisters here. Don’t assume that using the mouse + windows environment is somehow more “human” than typing. You only think its better because thats what Windows and Apple have taught you. John and Briga’s comments shows that things do change in Ubuntu from version to version. Using the command line might actually be a more consistent format. Besides, each person does things differently; providing the same cookie cutter solution for everyone is rather un-human.
Luke Faraone said on February 25, 2010
Uh, nowhere in his message did Aaron attack the author, rather, he said (rather forcefully, admittedly) that the instructions given may cause problems.
Anonymous said on March 26, 2010
would you be kind enough to explain also how to write back teh iso image from DVD to a blank DVD as a back up copy. thanks…..
97oldParisianTagger said on March 27, 2010
Hey guys this forum is awesome !!!!!
EuGenE said on April 23, 2010
a better way would be :
( for example for dvd )
dd if=/dev/dvd of=disk.iso
feckoff said on August 24, 2010
You never forget the way people make you feel. No Excuses.
Hadi Donk said on November 1, 2010
A simple to use CD/DVD burning application for GNOME use Brasero :
1. Insert Your disk to CD/DVD
2. Select Disc Copy Menu
3. Change select a disc to write to -> Image File
4. Properties buton : Save Location for image file and
5. Change : Disc Image Type select ISO9660 image
6. The last Create Image
Jorgon Gorgon said on December 12, 2010
Um, what is so inhuman about CLI?
Jii said on December 12, 2010
Ask 10 random humans what CLI is. Then ask 10 random humans what “point and click” is. You’ll see which one is more human real quick.
Buy Blank CD said on January 5, 2011
Great tip!
Indie said on January 9, 2011
I tried using dd to create an ISO of a SLES11 DVD but instead of creating a 3GB image it created a 4.4GB iso – a full DVD’s worth with all unneeded rubbish. I found a way around this by using isoinfo to get the actual DVD iso size and only copy the required data.
isoinfo -d -i /dev/dvd
from the output you want the ‘Volume size’ and ‘Logical block size’ which is generally 2048. Then use dd to copy it, i.e.
dd if=/dev/dvd of=/local/dvd.iso bs=${logical_block_size} count=${volume_size} &
note the ‘&’ at the end to background the process. You can then use
pkill -USR1 dd
to see how much has been copied.
Vanguy1977 said on January 13, 2011
Jli, if you did that, you’d be determining which option is more popular, not necessarily which is more “human”.
A lot of websites for Windows provide command-line solutions for things that could also be accomplished via a GUI. Sometimes it’s quicker and sometimes it’s a matter of how much things change from one OS version to another.
Jgps32327 said on January 24, 2011
i’ve tried these commands but it’ll only copy 1/4 of the software.. how do i get the full software to copy?
FORMERxZOMBIE said on February 18, 2011
If I only type: cat /dev/scd0
Where will the file reside?
Thanx in advance!
-Michel Merx.
Stefan Ghelbere said on March 7, 2011
Will just “fly over” your screen (stdout). No file will be created on HDD.
Bkmfs said on March 8, 2011
Vanguy, you are not human.
tiny122 said on April 3, 2011
Thats the Ubuntu way !!! I like..
Worked a treat.
Antonis Koursoumis said on April 5, 2011
Awesome, Fast! Creating it now! Thanks mate!
MBD said on February 3, 2012
You may also use K3b, which is the easiest option in Kubuntu 11.10