Win7 ISO software

[Konrad]

I tend to run Win7 Ultimate (32-bit) when dealing with ISO stuff.
I prefer to be a cheap bastard and use freeware whenever possible, at least to evaluate or try out for comparison. But I will pay for software if it's really worth it, you usually get what you pay for (though I refuse to buy into cloudsoft subscriptions, ever).

For CD/DVD burning, I use the integrated Windows Disc Image Burner or Nero Essentials 7 (yeah, I know, not as good as Nero Burning ROM, but it's what I got and it works well enough for my needs).

I use WinRAR to view/extract ISO files, again works perfectly for me, if perhaps a little slow on ridiculously huge ISO files.

What I serious lack is any way to create UDF/ISOs. Preferably a stupidly easy way, like an Explorer-integrated "Make ISO from selected files/folders" right-click context or something.

Thus far, I have found the following software: ISO Recorder V3 (Power Toy for Vista) (http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/isorecorder.htm) (freeware, clunky, maybe buggy)
MiniDVDSoft Free ISO Creator (http://www.minidvdsoft.com/isocreator/) (limited freeware, unlimited commercial, buggy)
SourceForge IsoCreator (http://sourceforge.net/projects/iso-creator-cs/) (freeware, awfully buggy)
ISO Creator (http://www.isocreator.org/) and Create ISO Image (http://www.isocreator.org/create-iso-image.html) (commercial, very expensive)
LC ISO Creator 1.1 (http://www.lucersoft.com/freeware.php) (freeware, clunky)
Folder2Iso 1.5 (http://www.trustfm.net/divx/SoftwareFolder2Iso.php?b2=1) (freeware, clunky, beware possible malware on site)
UltraISO (http://www.ezbsystems.com/ultraiso/) (commercial)
MagicISO (http://www.magiciso.com/) (commercial)
I've also found these: SlySoft Virtual CloneDrive (http://www.slysoft.com/en/virtual-clonedrive.html) (freeware, I've used it before in 9x/XP and was impressed)
Virtual CD v10 (http://www.virtualcd-online.com/) (freeware)
Alcohol 52% and 120% (http://www.alcohol-soft.com/) (freeware and commercial)I'm *absolutely not* interested in DAEMON Tools (http://www.daemon-tools.cc/eng/home) nor any other product which attempts to install adware, malware, or other **** payloads. Again, I don't mind paying for a quality product (I'd prefer not to buy software which simply duplicates what I can already do), but I will not tolerate software extortion, inability to clean uninstall, or troublesome tradeoffs which somehow reduce my existing capabilities.

What I haven't found are any reliable reviews, especially running Win7 (not quite the same beast as Vista, thankfully). Can anyone offer comments or recommendations about any of these or similar software?

[blaze15301]

why don't you just use magic iso its like the best there is .

[Konrad]

I might, but I'd just like to get feedback on potentially free alternatives.

[farlo]

for disc burning i always use imgburn (http://www.imgburn.com) made by the same guy that made dvddecrypter.

for file archives i typically use 7zip (http://www.7-zip.org)

[Diamon]

I'd second ImgBurn (http://www.imgburn.com/). It's free and probably the best program out there for your needs. It can burn iso's/files as well as create image files from files/folders, yes, even bootable ones.

[diluzio91]

Daemon tools (http://www.daemon-tools.cc/eng/downloads) works well too.

[Konrad]

Hmmm, I'm pretty happy with ImgBurn ... only saw one minor bug, but found the fix on their forum.

Daemon tools installs spyware which cannot be disabled, not for me thanx.

[mtekk]

For general disk burning, I use InfraRecorder. It's GNU GPL v3 software, free and opensource, plus it works pretty well.

[x88x]

Daemon tools installs spyware which cannot be disabled, not for me thanx.

Where did you hear this? If you're referring to the WhenU crap, there's a checkbox to say whether you want it or not during install, and iirc after the first wave of complaints they even made it so that box is unchecked by default. It's no worse than all those companies that bundle optional toolbars with their stuff, and better actually, because the default option is to not install the extra stuff.

[blaze15301]

Where did you hear this? If you're referring to the WhenU crap, there's a checkbox to say whether you want it or not during install, and iirc after the first wave of complaints they even made it so that box is unchecked by default. It's no worse than all those companies that bundle optional toolbars with their stuff, and better actually, because the default option is to not install the extra stuff.

actually i can second that daemon tolls is messed up. my friend just recently installed it and made sure the box was uchecked and his computer start slowing down drastically and i has malware/ spyware on it.

[Konrad]

As I understand it, Daemon Tools carries SaveNow and WhenU adware/spyware payloads. The normal version presents the user with the option to disable these components during install, but once the trial period expires the user must choose to uninstall Daemon Tools, pay for the software, or accept the adware (along with some arbitrary limitations built into Daemon Tools). An alternative is to use Daemon Tools Lite, a less capable version which automatically installs SaveNow and WhenU (no option to disable) and will intermittently attempt to force install the Daemon Toolbar (which carries its own malware problems), but is available as unlimited-duration freeware.

Using malware-killers is largely ineffective; Daemon simply will not operate when the adware is circumvented or prevented from successfully running. Worse, the adware itself will intermittently attempt to (siliently) install more affiliated malware after a while, some of which can be quite aggressive and undesirable.

Older (clean) versions of Daemon Tools, which can be found here (http://www.oldversion.com/), could be used but aren't as compatible and well-supported as recent versions.

As fine a product as Daemon Tools might be, and as much as I support software authors being able to make a living from their craft, I'm still personally inclined to take a dim view of any software author/company that attempts to extort or make a few bucks from the end-user using malware methods. Malware is as vile as herpes, I don't want any part of it and will simply steer clear of any software which appears unhygienic or infected. Sorry, but if the developers want my respect then they'd better clean up their act. There's plenty of free alternatives, and there's plenty of commercial alternatives which appear to offer similar or superior capabilities for much the same price.

[Diamon]

If you're feeling like coughing up some cash I can recommend PowerISO (http://www.poweriso.com/) warmly. Never had a problem with it and it does everything you'd ever want to do with an ISO and more.

I just looked up their website and it's $29.95

[Konrad]

PowerISO looks promising.

So far ImgBurn (along with Nero and WinRAR) fits my needs well. One day I'll experiment with MagicISO, UltraISO, and PowerISO to see if I'm currently missing out on capabilities worth spending money on.

[AmEv]

It's for Linux, but Brasero is VERY nice.