The above-mentioned programs are written so that they run in front of their check for a drive optical disc corresponding structure with a set of "official" and "service" files. Replace the drive can only maximize replica. In addition, these copies are not necessarily written on the net "Blanks" optical disks. With some programs you can also save to your hard drive, which is much easier in the future will help to avoid problems of "cluttering" of the workplace. Recorded on the hard disk virtual media (disk images) can be used as full-fledged optical discs.
These programs usually also allow you to create additional virtual machine on an optical drive (or a few if necessary), in which you can "embed" recorded on the hard disk virtual optical drives (CD images). In this case the computer will take a virtual drive and drive it as real. Disk images can be used in many other cases. For example, you took someone a few discs with toys, movies, programs, etc. There is a desire to make a copy, but as an evil, empty "discs" no vnalichii. You can create these disk images on your hard drive and burn them to "blanks" later.
In general, virtual disk – it is very convenient and practical. I am sure that you understand how they work with, you yourself come up with many ways to their application. Additionally, you can create images of not only the CD or DVD discs, but also disks and other media. Images of optical discs are stored on the hard disk as files in various formats: ISO, NRG, MDS, CCD, BIN / CUE, CDI, BWT, B5T, etc. Each of them has pros and cons. The most popular and distribute are ISO, NRG, and others. There is a lot like "specialized" programs to work with disk images (Alcohol 120%, Ultra Iso, etc.) and software systems (eg, Nero), incorporating the appropriate tools. So each little poborozdiv bezkraynie spaces of the Internet will be able to choose a most suitable. A large number of users burn CDs, video processing, audio rightly prefer Nero, and if your car does not already have a very old version of the program to work with virtual disks that is enough. No need to install the "specialized" program is not worth more because the extra software affects the stability and performance of your computer. Create a disk image with Nero is very simple. How to do it – read here.