Copy a CD or DVD: On-the-Fly vs Disc Image

InfraRecorder 0.53 can copy a disc in two ways: on the fly, reading the source and writing the copy at the same time, or via a temporary disc image, reading the source to a file on your hard drive first and then burning that file. Both produce the same finished disc when everything goes well — but they differ in speed, reliability and hardware requirements, and choosing the right one avoids most failed copies. This guide explains both methods, when to use each, and then walks through the copy itself.

You need InfraRecorder 0.53 from the download page, a source disc, and a blank disc of at least the same capacity. InfraRecorder is free under GPL v3 and was written for Windows 2000 to Windows 7; it is not officially supported on Windows 10 or 11, though many users run it there — the honest notes in InfraRecorder on Windows 11 apply to copying just as much as to burning. For the image method you also need free hard-drive space equal to the size of the source disc.

The Two Methods Compared

On-the-fly copying needs two optical drives: a reader for the source and a burner for the blank. Data flows directly from one to the other, so it is the fastest route and uses no hard-drive space. Its weakness is that the burner depends on a perfectly steady stream of data. If the source disc is scratched, the reader slows down, or the computer stutters, the write can underrun or fail — and you have lost a blank disc. On-the-fly works best with clean, healthy source discs and a capable computer.

Copying via an image works in two separate stages, so each stage can retry and recover without endangering the other. It works with a single drive: InfraRecorder reads the source to an image file, asks you to swap in the blank disc, and burns the image. It is slower overall and needs temporary disk space, but it is far more forgiving of marginal source discs and older hardware. It also leaves you with an image file you can burn again later — effectively a backup as a by-product. If in doubt, use the image method. If you want to keep the image permanently rather than as a temporary step, follow the dedicated guide to creating an ISO image from a disc instead.

Step by Step: Copying a Disc

1. Prepare the discs. Check the source disc for scratches and clean it gently from centre to edge. Choose a blank disc of the same type and at least the same capacity — a dual-layer source needs dual-layer media, which InfraRecorder supports burning.
2. Insert the discs. For on-the-fly copying, put the source in the reading drive and the blank in the burner. For the single-drive image method, insert only the source disc for now.
3. Open InfraRecorder and choose Copy Disc. Pick the copy action on the welcome screen, or use Actions > Copy Disc from the menu.
4. Set the source drive. Confirm the drive shown as the source is the one holding the original disc. On multi-drive systems this is the setting most often left wrong.
5. Choose the copy method. Select on-the-fly copying if you have two drives and a clean source, and set the burner as the destination. Or select the disc-image route, choose where the temporary image will be stored, and let the single drive handle both stages.
6. Set the write speed. For on-the-fly copies, avoid the maximum speed — the reader must stay ahead of the burner for the whole disc, and a moderate speed gives it margin. The same advice applies to the burning stage of an image copy.
7. Enable verification. Tick the option to verify after writing if offered. A copy that has not been verified is an assumption, not a backup; verification reads the finished disc back and compares it with the source data.
8. Start the copy. Confirm and let the process run without launching other demanding programs. For the image method, swap the source disc for the blank disc when InfraRecorder prompts you, using the same drive.
9. Wait for completion and test. When the copy and any verification finish, test the copy the way you would use it: install from it, play it, or open its files. Keep the original until the copy has proven itself.

Single-Drive vs Dual-Drive: Practical Advice

Most laptops and many desktops now have one optical drive or none, which settles the question: the image method is the only option, and it is a good one. Owners of two drives should still prefer the image method for any disc that matters — archival copies, one-of-a-kind home recordings, discs showing early signs of damage. Reserve on-the-fly copying for quick duplicates of healthy discs where speed matters more than resilience. Whichever method you choose, do not copy a disc while the computer is busy with other heavy work; both methods reward an idle machine.

When Copies Fail

Failures during the reading stage almost always mean the source disc is damaged or dirty — clean it, try the other drive as the reader, and use the image method so retries are safe. Failures during writing point to media quality, write speed or an interrupted data flow: use fresh branded media, lower the speed, and close other applications. A copy that burns but fails verification should be discarded and remade; do not trust it because it “mostly works”. Discs that cannot be read at all need the gentler approach described in the imaging guide, and patience — error correction on a weak disc can be slow without being stuck.

Related Guides

For a permanent archive rather than a quick duplicate, create an ISO image from the disc and store the file safely. To burn an image you already have, see burning an ISO file to CD or DVD. And before reusing the blank media in a failed attempt, remember that rewritable discs can be wiped clean — the guide to erasing a CD-RW or DVD-RW explains all four erase methods.