A while back I had access to the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN), and along with that came access to every piece of software that Microsoft has put out. Most of the downloads came in the form of ISO files. I downloaded everything I could.

Recently I decided to rebuilt one of my favorite computers in the house, my Windows MCE 2005 box that powers my TV (the hard drive had crashed). I couldn’t find my MCE 2005 dics anywhere, so I decided to burn a new one using the MSDN ISO file for it using Nero.

The ISO burn using Nero completed and I tried to install the OS. It would make it about 30% into the install and fail time after time. I thought the disc was bad, so I burned another using Nero. Same thing, this time about 50% of the install before it flaked out. I burned another disc, and it failed again. I started to Google the errors I was getting and there were no real answers for what I was seeing.

I decided to burn the ISO files using a different application then Nero, but realized that I didn’t have any other burning software installed. I’m a fan of open source software, and a fan of free things, so I did so searching, and came across some burning software called InfraRecorder.

InfraRecorder is an open source disc burning tool. It’s lightweight and was quick to install. I sent the ISO file through it and crossed my fingers. The disc burned fine (then again thats what Nero told me). I went through the install process one more time…. 100% install! My problem wasn’t the ISO file, it was the way the disc had been burned by Nero apparently!

I have burned many discs using Nero over the years, that’s why it was the only burning utility I had installed, and I have never produced coasters like I was with the ISO files from MSDN and Nero. What ever InfraRecorded did, it did it right. I am switching from Nero to InfraRecorder for sure.

Chalk this up to another win for open source software over corporate solutions.

You can check out InfraRecorder here http://infrarecorder.sourceforge.net