Accurate CD copying apps

[Asrale]

I bought a copy of CloneCD back in December '02 and was using it until it got shut down, and even afterwards for a while (migrated to the SlySoft version). Anyway to make a long story short, my license key for the new SlySoft version expired some time ago, and now I'm finding myself needing to copy some new music CDs I've gotten (some protected, some not) so I can archive them and use the copies.

The only thing is, while I really like CloneCD, I'd rather not pay the $39 right now to buy it again (damn license keys expiring!) cuz I'm saving up for Black Friday right now.

So what other software is out there that does as good a job as CloneCD? And is free. I know about Alcohol 120% and CDRWin, is there anything else out there that has a free "unlimited" version though? I could use the Alcohol demo until it expires but would prefer a long-term solution that's also free, if possible...

Nero 5.5 came with my CD-RW drive but I don't know about its CD copying abilities, do they compare to CloneCD?

[hoxlund]

i would recommend alcohol 120% - http://shop.alcohol-soft.com/en/alcohol_info.php

[Spazmogen]

For unprotected CD's I use Exact Audio Copy or CloneCD 4.2.0.2.

For nearly every other CD I use Alcohol 120%.

I also bought CloneCD back with version 3, and still use Version 4.2.0.2 (The last ELBY release) on a Win98 system. I use it on my son's Win98 system to read images and transfer it via LAN to my system.

My key works fine with Version 4. And it's never expired either. Just make sure to uncheck the auto-update feature.

You can still find the profiles online for Clone 4 for protected CD's.

[pranav81]

CloneCD is the best CD copying software I have used.I still use CloneCD 4.2.0.2.The key has not yet expired.


::Pranav::

[Asrale]

Thanks for the info, ended up using Alcohol for my copying task.

Gotta add though, Alcohol is USELESS as a general CD burning app! OMG it doesn't let you make custom drag-and-drop CD-Rs, or audio CDs, or any of that stuff! I used to think Alcohol was like the equivalent of Nero and Roxio...I have been proven wrong.

[Spazmogen]

Alcohol is a straight up copying Application.

That's why I use Nero & HotBurn Pro on my system as well.

Alcohol makes wonderful .iso & .mds/.mdf files though. You can edit them with Ultra ISO and add/remove items. CD Keys, update patches etc. You never have to worry about misplacing/deleting an e-mail with your product key(s) ever again.

I just made a DVD of my MS Flight Simulator discs (4 cd-r's) that I ripped into .mds/mdf files. I then added the the new 9.1 update patch into one of the discs. I also added lots of scenery & other aircraft. It allows me to reinstall it all from 1 DVD, rather that swapping cd-r's.