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Use Disk Utility to Copy CDs / DVDs

Posted 2006-11-07 11:59 in How-to by Ed Shepard

Note: This tip originally ran in our Kibbles & Bytes newsletter as Kibbles & Bytes Mac Treat #5. Subscribe here:

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OS 10.4’s Disk Utility makes it easy to make an exact copy of a CD or DVD that can be stored on a hard drive as a disk image, or burned to a CD or DVD for future use. First, insert the CD or DVD you want to backup into your Mac. Next, drag the icon of the CD or DVD to the Disc Utility application (which is usually stored in the Applications Folder > Utilities Folder.) In other words, drag and drop the CD or DVD icon on top of the Disk Utility icon.

Disk Utility will launch, and then it will immediately open a window asking you to name the new disk image, and where to save it. Go ahead and save the image to your desktop.

In the Image Format drop-down menu, choose DVD/CD master. This is especially important if you want to burn a copy of the disk, and have it function as an exact clone of original CD or DVD you hope to backup.

Now click “Save.”
A new disk image will be created on your Desktop, with the extension “.cdr,” It may take a few minutes to create this file.

If you click on the disk image, you’ll see it works just like a CD or DVD. You can store this new disk image on a hard drive. If you want to burn it to CD or DVD, you should again use Disk Utility. Otherwise, you’ll only be burning a copy of the disk image, and not an actual CD or DVD master.

To burn a CD or DVD master, open Disk Utility and look for the disk image of your CD or DVD, on the left side of the window. Usually it’s at the bottom of the list of drives. Now, simply select the image, and then click “Burn.” Follow the directions to burn the disk.

This is a great way to back up expensive software titles and game titles. Many games that require a disk to run will run off of the disk image – great for traveling.

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  1. You need to know this.


    — Kevin McKenna    2006-11-07 20:29    #

  2. I get an error message saying “Could not create disc1.cdr. Not recognized. What does this mean?


    — Bogo    2007-08-29 16:22    #

  3. That specific error could be the result of many things, a scratched disk, a failing drive, insufficient space on your Hard Drive to which the Machine is trying to save the Disk Image.


    — Farmer Jon    2007-08-30 15:38    #

  4. I get the same message as Bogo, with every CD I try to copy (and wich is not protected by any copyright). I am running OSX 10.4.10 on an Intel MacBook. Does anybody know a solution to that problem?


    — Felix    2007-09-07 06:05    #

  5. I get this too with every damn disc, be it a music CD or a disc with my own photos on it. HELP!!!


    — Ash Parmenter    2007-09-15 15:21    #

  6. I had the same problem as the others with the first blank disk I tried, then the next one worked. ??!


    — Catherine Todd    2007-10-14 21:52    #

  7. hey. for the people having the errors, try changing the encryption from none to the one that sais (reccomended) by it. that used to work for me but i no longer have that problem.


    — mike    2007-11-14 12:16    #

  8. Used this process today to copy a DVD….

    ....but the drive will not verify. Gets through the whole process then quits only a minute or two into verifying contents.

    Any thoughts?


    — jason    2007-12-19 12:51    #

  9. I used these exact instructions to make a backup copy of Leopard onto a DL DVD. It worked perfectly!


    — Justin    2008-02-16 15:43    #

  10. I used these exact instructions but it keeps on coming up that cannot find drive! I just can’t burn anyhting!!! HELP PLEASE!


    — Shahn    2008-04-03 08:02    #

  11. This worked perfectly on my Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)!

    Good stuff.


    — Keisha    2008-04-06 21:56    #

  12. I’m trying to make a copy (both a dvd and onto my desktop) of a game, but it keeps telling me that I need to insert the game cd. How do I get the game to play without having the cd in my drive?


    — Grant    2008-05-22 16:44    #

  13. Great Tutorial! Perfect disc copies. Cheers.


    — Christopher Walker    2008-06-02 13:05    #

  14. Me as well, I can’t burn my game on my desktop either.

    ,it’s ea battlefield 2142.
    — charlie    2008-06-15 06:11    #

  15. The process for creating an image of a cd works up to a point and then hangs. Disk Utility shows that it is Creating Image “xyz.cdr” and says that it is Copying…, but the copying process never ends.


    — Jack    2008-06-18 10:44    #

  16. There is a easy way to copy cds & dvds. Easy DVD Copy is a great tool which allows you to make a backup copy of a DVD movies that you own.


    — Smith    2008-07-31 02:17    #

  17. When I click the image on my desktop it opens the folders, it doesn’t act like the DVD.


    — Eric    2008-10-23 17:27    #

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  19. The similar guide about :How to copy DVD Movies on Mac with DIXK Utility
    http://www.dvdcopymacosx.com/tutorial/how-to-copy-dvd-with-disk-utility-on-mac.html#129


    — Lynn LU    2009-04-27 21:45    #

  20. I’m not posting to share more advise, but rather to thank you, Small Dog, from the bottom of my technically flustered, digitally incompetent heart! After hours of online searching I was about to throw in the towel when I found this fabulous user-friendly guide. Thanks again!


    — Charlotte H    2009-07-09 15:38    #

  21. Sorry, no, I could not make the .cdr file. My Images drop-down does not include the CD/DVD option. Best copy I can get omits the menus, stories and template of the original DVD.
    I want a byte-by-byte copy and that seems impossible.


    — Ben Gardiner    2009-08-20 13:36    #

  22. For Mac users:
    There is another guide about How to Copy DVD Movies with Disk Utility on Mac ?


    — Moon River    2009-09-11 22:30    #

  23. i’m able to save the dvd as a new image .cdr file. but when i try to burn it to a dvd, the “burn” button is grayed out & the blank dvd ejects seconds after i put it in. i have the combo drive (does it matter? b’cuz i’ve heard of the superdrive)


    — tina    2009-10-17 21:26    #

  24. Combo drive can read DVD’s and burn cd media but cannot be used for DVD-R media. You need a different optical drive


    — Parker Lewis    2009-10-20 00:18    #

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