Hi Dave,
Great idea! I even managed to sail through this successfully - until the burning stage, where I ran into problems.
ImgBurn's first message was "You should have selected the MDS file and not this one." which it then did automatically.
Then, when proceeding with the burn, it advised that:
"There doesn't appear to be enough space on the disc to burn this image.
Image size: 3,013,098 Sectors (5,884 MB)
Disc size: 2,297,888 Sectors (4,488 MB)"
I then tried DVD Shrink, which couldn't do anything with the file because:
"DVD Shrink encountered an error and cannot continue. Invalid DVD navigation structure."
My question is - as I don't have a dual-layer burner - is there any point in trying to shrink the ISO file?
Am I right in assuming that a compressed file would be useless as a boot-up disc?
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Regards,
Peter.
Peter,
First... Welcome to the forum. We hope to see you around often!
You can't shrink the ISO. The ISO is an exact image of what needs to be on the final DVD. If you alter it the final product won't work. Also, the ISO will fit on a DVD5 (4.7GB) with room to spare, so that shouldn't be an issue.
You want to choose Write Image to Disk on the ImgBurn menu. In the windows that opens use the small folder icon at the top right to choose the ISO file. There is a drop down menu about half way down the window to choose your DVD burner if you have more than one. Then use the Icon at the very bottom to start the process. It should be very simple and straight forward. ImgBurn will handle the rest.
If that still doesn't work...
What OS are you running?
If it's Windows 7 ISO burning is built in. Just right click the file and choose Open with>Windows Disk Image Burner.
If it's Windows Vista you can Try ISO recorder - http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.....com/W7.htm - it might be easier.
Hey Guys.
Peter - I am running Vista Home Premium. Just for the heck of it I created an ISO, using ImgBurn, from an official DVD containing Windows 7 Home Premium. The resulting ISO file was just 2.33GB in size so would easily fit on to a standard single layer blank DVD.
Dave - ImgBurn created a second file associated with this process. The second file is just 4.21KB and shares the same name except the file format at the end is .MDS. I understand that has something to do with the burning process? What should I do with that file, if anything?? (be polite now!! )
Cheers.....JIM
Hello Dave and Jim,
Three continents on a collision course - Europe stretches Across the Pond and scratches Down Under!
Seriously though, Ive tried again exactly as you indicate and come up with the same response:
"There doesn't appear to be enough space on the disc to burn this image.
Image size: 3,013,098 Sectors (5,884 MB)
Disc size: 2,297,888 Sectors (4,488 MB)
Would you like to continue anyway?" .........Naturally, I decline the offer.
Now for some details:
I'm using WindowsXP pro and my disc is a Dell reinstallation DVD - Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, weighing in at 5.74 GB.
Iv'e double-checked, and there's no spurious Dell junk on board. I do notice, however, that the disc does have a massive
1.36 GB "langpacks" folder. Would it be safe to remove this folder using WinRar? That should certainly bring it down to size.
Your help is much appreciated.
Regards.
Peter
[quote="petomane":r0ob1vzd]and my disc is a Dell reinstallation DVD - Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, weighing in at 5.74 GB.[/quote:r0ob1vzd]
OK, I'm a little confused (like that should surprise anyone).
Are you trying to combine your DEll disk AND Win7?
Are you trying to burn Win7 onto your Dell restore disk?
If either of these are the case then you are definitely over the 4.7GB DVD5 limit and dare I say that unless you create a custom boot menu that neither will work. Win7 should be about 3.3GB on disk.
Hi Peter - I am assuming you are creating the ISO from a Dell Windows 7 re-installation disc and trying to burn that ISO to blank DVD once the restrictions have been removed?
WOW....5.74GB. I can only assume that perhaps the disc contains installation files for both 32-bit and 64-bit versions. That would make sense as Dell would then need supply just the one disc to cover both versions.....just a guess though.
The "langpacks" folder contains all the different languages available for Windows 7. It could cause problems if you delete that.
Cheers....JIM
Peter,
If you are using the Win7 disk that came with your PC it is probably not a "clean" disk. It probably won't work either, but I haven't had the opportunity to look at any of Dell's OEM disks so I can't tell exactly what is on the disk. With 99% certainty it contains all the extra (unneeded) programs that Dell adds to the PC, which would explain the additional 2GB size over a normal Win7 DVD.
Your best bet is to download the ISO from the [url=http://www.davescomputertips.com/newsletters/2010/100201.php:gluj6j0t]USB Bootable Windows 7[/url:gluj6j0t] article.
[quote="ozbloke":21faxi4n]
Dave - ImgBurn created a second file associated with this process. The second file is just 4.21KB and shares the same name except the file format at the end is .MDS. I understand that has something to do with the burning process? What should I do with that file, if anything?? (be polite now!! )[/quote:21faxi4n]
Jim, an MDS file is a Media Descriptor file. It generally contains information about layer breaks and such for burning dual layer DVDs. You can delete the file and not worry about it.
Hello Dave and Jim,
My Dell Win7 Reinstallation disc DOES contain 2 VERY large folders:
'sources' - 4.26GB and 'langpacks' - 1.36GB (all languages excluding en-us), along with a few smaller ones.
Strewth, there must be TONS of unnecessary rubbish in that 'sources' folder! So, rather than faff around with it, I'll just download the ISO file as suggested and look forward to a nice LEAN installation. And, to reduce my carbon footprint, all that rubbish can go in my Recycle Bin......
Thanks for all your trouble, gents, and for your excellent newsletter and forum, Dave.
Regards
Peter
Hello Dave,
Before we tuck this up and put it to bed: one more query.....
Having unlocked the Win7 ISO, one has access to all versions of the OS. Great.
I assume, however, that I can ONLY active the version of the OS that my activation code relates to. In my case, my H P 64-bit code wil only activate its 32 & 64-bit versions, and not the Pro version? I thought it worth checking as it WOULD be nice to have that 'Windows XP Mode'....
Regards,
Peter
Peter,
You are correct. The version you install and activate must be the version that you presently have, though you can use 32bit or 64bit. If the laptop can with Windows 7 pre-installed you can use the directions and program here - https://davescomputertips.com/articl ... vation.php to activate it once you reinstall. If that fails you can always use the key on the bottom of the laptop.
Make sure you have a good backup and and download the latest drivers from that manufacturers site before you start!
1 Guest(s)
