Go back to main page

cdw - features

current cdw features (version 0.8.0 & 0.8.1):

  • creating ISO9660 image from selected data files
  • creating UDF image from selected data files
  • writing data files from hdd to CD/DVD
  • writing ISO image to CD/DVD
  • support for cdrecord/wodim, mkisofs/genisoimage, growisofs (dvd+rw-tools); partial support for xorriso
  • support for mkudffs
  • verification of checksums (md5sum, sha1sum, sha224sum, sha256sum, sha384sum, sha512sum) of ISO image written to supported types of CD and DVD discs
  • erasing CD-RW, DVD-RW (with reformatting: Restricted <--> Sequential) and DVD+RW discs
  • ripping audio CDs to raw audio track files (user has to use external tools, e.g. sox, to convert them to other formats)
  • copying single-session (or first session of multi-session) data CD and DVD discs with ISO9660 file system to ISO image on hdd
  • wizard dialogs for writing data to disc, blanking disc, creating ISO9660 and UDF image file
  • basic management of external tools (cdrecord, mkisofs) in configuration module
  • simple hardware auto detection and configuration
  • context help tooltips

list of supported media:

  • CD-AUDIO: ripping audio tracks to raw audio files
  • CD-R: writing files and ISO images (single- and multi-session) with cdrecord/wodim and with xorriso;
  • CD-RW: writing files and ISO images (single- and multi-session), erasing (erasing only TOC or blanking whole disc) with cdrecord/wodim and with xorriso;
  • DVD-R, DVD+R: writing files and ISO images (multi-session, but without closing disc, or single-session) with cdrecord/wodim, dvd+rw-tools and with xorriso
  • DVD-RW: writing files and ISO images (multi-session or single-session); erasing, formatting - quick or slow (full) method; dvd+rw-tools only.
  • DVD+RW: writing files and ISO images (both writing to disc from scratch and appending data), without closing disc; blanking disc, but takes lots of time, and you don't need to do it anyway - you can always start writing to the same disc like you would write to blank disc. DVD+RW can be handled by both cdrecord/wodim and dvd+rw-tools. Note: sometimes cdw can't recognize if DVD+RW disc is empty - you will see '?' mark next to 'Empty' label in lower left corner of cdw window. You have to check it yourself in order to write data in 'append' mode without errors.
  • DVD+R DL: there is now partial support for DVD+R DL discs: cdw can burn ISO image and files in single session. User has to explicitly enable it by passing "--enable-dvd-rp-dl" command line argument to cdw; cdw can handle DVD+R DL discs only using dvd+rw-tools; this feature is very incomplete and possibly buggy.

For all data disc types, with exception of DVD+R DL, cdw can read first session from a disc with ISO9660 file system and store it to ISO image file on hard disc. cdw can also verify writing ISO9660 image file to these discs (again, with exception of DVD+R DL).

Dual-layer media other than DVD+R DL are not yet supported. DVD-RAM, Blu-ray, HD-DVD discs are not supported.


cdw features (version 0.7.1):

  • creating ISO9660 image from selected files
  • writing data files from hdd to CD/DVD
  • writing ISO image to CD/DVD
  • support for cdrecord/wodim, mkisofs/genisoimage, growisofs (dvd+rw-tools); partial support for xorriso
  • verification of checksums (md5sum, sha1sum, sha224sum, sha256sum, sha384sum, sha512sum) of ISO image written to supported types of CD and DVD discs
  • erasing CD-RW, DVD-RW (with reformatting: Restricted <--> Sequential) and DVD+RW discs
  • ripping audio CDs to raw audio track files (user has to use external tools, e.g. sox, to convert them to other formats)
  • copying single-session (or first session of multi-session) data CD and DVD discs with ISO9660 file system to ISO image on hdd
  • wizard dialogs for writing data to disc, blanking disc, creating ISO9660 image file
  • basic management of external tools (cdrecord, mkisofs) in configuration module
  • simple hardware auto detection and configuration
  • context help tooltips

list of supported media:

  • CD-AUDIO: ripping audio tracks to raw audio files
  • CD-R: writing files and ISO images (single- and multi-session) with cdrecord/wodim and with xorriso;
  • CD-RW: writing files and ISO images (single- and multi-session), erasing (erasing only TOC or blanking whole disc) with cdrecord/wodim and with xorriso;
  • DVD-R, DVD+R: writing files and ISO images (multi-session, but without closing disc, or single-session) with cdrecord/wodim, dvd+rw-tools and with xorriso
  • DVD-RW: writing files and ISO images (multi-session or single-session); erasing, formatting - quick or slow (full) method; dvd+rw-tools only.
  • DVD+RW: writing files and ISO images (both writing to disc from scratch and appending data), without closing disc; blanking disc, but takes lots of time, and you don't need to do it anyway - you can always start writing to the same disc like you would write to blank disc. DVD+RW can be handled by both cdrecord/wodim and dvd+rw-tools. Note: sometimes cdw can't recognize if DVD+RW disc is empty - you will see '?' mark next to 'Empty' label in lower left corner of cdw window. You have to check it yourself in order to write data in 'append' mode without errors.
  • DVD+R DL: there is now partial support for DVD+R DL discs: cdw can burn ISO image and files in single session. User has to explicitly enable it by passing "--enable-dvd-rp-dl" command line argument to cdw; cdw can handle DVD+R DL discs only using dvd+rw-tools; this feature is very incomplete and possibly buggy.

For all data disc types, with exception of DVD+R DL, cdw can read first session from a disc with ISO9660 file system and store it to ISO image file on hard disc. cdw can also verify writing ISO9660 image file to these discs (again, with exception of DVD+R DL).

Dual-layer media other than DVD+R DL are not yet supported. DVD-RAM, Blu-ray, HD-DVD discs are not supported.


cdw features (version 0.7.0):

  • creating ISO9660 image from selected files
  • writing data files from hdd to CD/DVD
  • writing ISO image to CD/DVD
  • support for cdrecord/wodim, mkisofs/genisoimage, growisofs (dvd+rw-tools); partial support for xorriso
  • verification of checksums (md5sum, sha1sum, sha224sum, sha256sum, sha384sum, sha512sum) of ISO image written to supported types of CD and DVD discs
  • erasing CD-RW, DVD-RW (with reformatting: Restricted <--> Sequential) and DVD+RW discs
  • ripping audio CDs to raw audio track files (user has to use external tools, e.g. sox, to convert them to other formats)
  • copying single-session (or first session of multi-session) data CD and DVD discs with ISO9660 file system to ISO image on hdd
  • wizard dialogs for writing data to disc, blanking disc, creating ISO9660 image file
  • basic management of external tools (cdrecord, mkisofs) in configuration module
  • simple hardware auto detection and configuration
  • context help tooltips

list of supported media:

  • CD-AUDIO: ripping audio tracks to raw audio files
  • CD-R: writing files and ISO images (single- and multi-session) with cdrecord/wodim and with xorriso;
  • CD-RW: writing files and ISO images (single- and multi-session), erasing (erasing only TOC or blanking whole disc) with cdrecord/wodim and with xorriso;
  • DVD-R, DVD+R: writing files and ISO images (multi-session, but without closing disc, or single-session) with cdrecord/wodim, dvd+rw-tools and with xorriso
  • DVD-RW: writing files and ISO images (multi-session or single-session); erasing, formatting - quick or slow (full) method; dvd+rw-tools only.
  • DVD+RW: writing files and ISO images (both writing to disc from scratch and appending data), without closing disc; blanking disc, but takes lots of time, and you don't need to do it anyway - you can always start writing to the same disc like you would write to blank disc. DVD+RW can be handled by both cdrecord/wodim and dvd+rw-tools. Note: sometimes cdw can't recognize if DVD+RW disc is empty - you will see '?' mark next to 'Empty' label in lower left corner of cdw window. You have to check it yourself in order to write data in 'append' mode without errors.
  • DVD+R DL: there is now partial support for DVD+R DL discs: cdw can burn ISO image and files in single session. User has to explicitly enable it by passing "--enable-dvd-rp-dl" command line argument to cdw; cdw can handle DVD+R DL discs only using dvd+rw-tools; this feature is very incomplete and possibly buggy.

For all data disc types, with exception of DVD+R DL, cdw can read first session from a disc with ISO9660 file system and store it to ISO image file on hard disc. cdw can also verify writing ISO9660 image file to these discs (again, with exception of DVD+R DL).

Dual-layer media other than DVD+R DL are not yet supported. DVD-RAM, Blu-ray, HD-DVD discs are not supported.


Note: GTK version of cdw was no longer actively maintained and was removed from release 0.3.3. There are a few other front-ends working in X-Window environment, cdw won't compete with them.

cdw features (version 0.6.0):

  • creating ISO9660 image from selected files
  • writing data files from hdd to CD/DVD
  • writing ISO image to CD/DVD
  • verification of md5sum of ISO image written to supported types of CD and DVD discs
  • erasing CD-RW, DVD-RW (with reformatting: Restricted <--> Sequential) and DVD+RW discs
  • ripping audio CDs to raw audio track files (user has to use external tools, e.g. sox, to convert them to other formats)
  • copying single-session (or first session of multi-session) data CD and DVD discs with ISO9660 file system to ISO image on hdd
  • updated man page
  • wizard dialogs for writing data to disc and blanking disc
  • basic management of external tools (cdrecord, mkisofs) in configuration module
  • simple hardware auto detection and configuration
  • context help tooltips

list of supported media:

  • CD-AUDIO: ripping audio tracks to raw audio files
  • CD-R: writing files and ISO images (single- and multi-session) with cdrecord/wodim;
  • CD-RW: writing files and ISO images (single- and multi-session), erasing (erasing only TOC or blanking whole disc) with cdrecord/wodim;
  • DVD-R, DVD+R: writing files and ISO images (multi-session, but without closing disc, or single-session) with cdrecord/wodim and dvd+rw-tools
  • DVD-RW: writing files and ISO images (multi-session or single-session); erasing, formatting - quick or slow (full) method; dvd+rw-tools only.
  • DVD+RW: writing files and ISO images (both writing to disc from scratch and appending data), without closing disc; blanking disc, but takes lots of time, and you don't need to do it anyway - you can always start writing to the same disc like you would write to blank disc. DVD+RW can be handled by both cdrecord/wodim and dvd+rw-tools. Note: sometimes cdw can't recognize if DVD+RW disc is empty - you will see '?' mark next to 'Empty' label in lower left corner of cdw window. You have to check it yourself in order to write data in 'append' mode without errors.
  • DVD+R DL: there is now partial support for DVD+R DL discs: cdw can burn ISO image and files in single session. User has to explicitly enable it by passing "--enable-dvd-rp-dl" command line argument to cdw; cdw can handle DVD+R DL discs only using dvd+rw-tools; this feature is very incomplete and possibly buggy.

For all data disc types, with exception of DVD+R DL, cdw can read first session from a disc with ISO9660 file system and store it to ISO image file on hard disc. cdw can also verify writing ISO9660 image file to these discs (again, with exception of DVD+R DL).

Dual-layer media other than DVD+R DL are not yet supported. DVD-RAM, Blu-ray, HD-DVD discs are not supported.


cdw features (version 0.4.0 / 0.5.0):

  • creating ISO image from selected files
  • writing data files from hdd to CD/DVD
  • writing ISO image to CD/DVD
  • verification of md5sum of ISO image written to CD (but not DVD)
  • erasing CD-RW, DVD-RW (with reformatting: Restricted <--> Sequential) and DVD+RW discs
  • ripping audio CDs to raw audio track files (user has to use external tools, e.g. sox, to convert them to other formats)
  • copying single-session (or first session of multi-session) data CDs to ISO image on hdd
  • updated man page
  • wizard dialogs for writing data to disc and blanking disc
  • basic management of external tools (cdrecord, mkisofs) in configuration module
  • simple hardware configuration
  • context help tooltips

list of supported media:

  • CD-AUDIO: ripping audio tracks to raw audio files
  • CD-R: writing files and ISO images (single- and multi-session) with cdrecord/wodim; copying content of first session to image file on your hard disc (ISO file system only)
  • CD-RW: writing files and ISO images (single- and multi-session), erasing (erasing only TOC or blanking whole disc) with cdrecord/wodim; copying content of first session to image file on your hard disc
  • DVD-R, DVD+R: writing files and ISO images (multi-session, but without closing disc, or single-session) with cdrecord/wodim and dvd+rw-tools
  • DVD-RW: writing files and ISO images (multi-session or single-session); erasing, formatting - quick or slow (full) method; dvd+rw-tools only.
  • DVD+RW: writing files and ISO images (both writing to disc from scratch and appending data), without closing disc; blanking disc, but takes lots of time, and you don't need to do it anyway - you can always start writing to the same disc like you would write to blank disc. DVD+RW can be handled by both cdrecord/wodim and dvd+rw-tools. Note: sometimes cdw can't recognize if DVD+RW disc is empty - you will see '?' mark next to 'Empty' label in lower left corner of cdw window. You have to check it yourself in order to write data in 'append' mode without errors.
  • DVD+R DL: there is now partial support for DVD+R DL discs: cdw can burn ISO image and files in single session. User has to explicitly enable it by passing "--enable-dvd-rp-dl" command line argument to cdw; cdw can handle DVD+R DL discs only using dvd+rw-tools; this feature is very incomplete and possibly buggy.

Dual-layer media other than DVD+R DL are not yet supported. DVD-RAM, Blu-ray, HD-DVD discs are not supported.

cdw features (version 0.3.95):

  • creating iso image from selected files
  • writing data files from hdd to CD/DVD
  • writing iso image to CD/DVD
  • verification of md5sum of ISO image written to CD (but not DVD)
  • erasing CD-RW, DVD-RW (with reformatting: Restricted <--> Sequential) and DVD+RW discs
  • ripping audio CDs to raw audio track files (user has to use external tools, e.g. sox, to convert them to other formats)
  • copying single-session (or first session of multi-session) data CDs to iso image on hdd
  • updated man page
  • wizard dialogs for writing data to disc and blanking disc
  • basic management of external tools (cdrecord, mkisofs) in configuration module
  • simple hardware configuration
  • context help tooltips

list of supported media:

  • CD-AUDIO: ripping audio tracks to raw audio files
  • CD-R: writing files and ISO images (single- and multi-session); copying content of first session to image file on your hard disc; actions performed with cdrecord/wodim
  • CD-RW: writing files and ISO images (single- and multi-session), erasing (erasing only TOC or blanking whole disc); copying content of first session to image file on your hard disc; actions performed with cdrecord/wodim
  • DVD-R, DVD+R: writing files and ISO images (multi-session, but without closing disc, or single-session); actions performed with cdrecord/wodim and dvd+rw-tools
  • DVD-RW: writing files and ISO images (multi-session or single-session); erasing, formatting - quick or slow (full) method; cdw can recognize and try to handle properly both DVD-RW Restricted Overwrite and DVD-RW Sequential Recording, however support for DVD-RW disc is still a bit experimental - consider yourself warned. WARNING: multiple blanking may render your media unusable. Actions performed with dvd+rw-tools only.
  • DVD+RW: writing files and ISO images (both writing to disc from scratch and appending data), without closing disc; blanking disc, but takes lots of time, and you don't need to do it anyway - you can always start writing to the same disc like you would write to blank disc; WARNING: sometimes cdw can't recognize if DVD+RW disc is empty - you will see '?' mark next to 'Empty' label in lower left corner of cdw window. You have to check it yourself in order to write data in 'append' mode without errors; actions performed with cdrecord/wodim and dvd+rw-tools

DVD-RAM, Blu-ray, HD-DVD discs are not supported. Dual layer media are not supported, but there was request for this feature, so next version of cdw may have at least basic support for dual layer DVD discs.

cdw features (version 0.3.93 / 0.3.94):

  • creating iso image from selected files
  • writing data from hdd to CD/DVD
  • writing iso image to CD/DVD
  • verification of md5sum of ISO image written to CD (but not DVD)
  • erasing CD-RW, DVD-RW (with reformatting: Restricted <--> Sequential) and DVD+RW discs
  • ripping audio CDs to raw audio track files (user has to use external tools, e.g. sox, to convert them to other formats)
  • copying single-session (or first session of multi-session) data CDs to iso image on hdd
  • updated man page
  • wizard dialogs for writing data to disc and blanking disc
  • basic management of external tools (cdrecord, mkisofs) in configuration module
  • simple hardware configuration
  • context help tooltips

list of supported media:

  • CD-AUDIO (ripping audio tracks only)
  • CD-R, CD-RW
  • DVD-R, DVD+R
  • DVD-RW: Sequential Incremental and Restricted Overwrite
  • DVD+RW

DVD-RAM, Blu-ray, HD-DVD discs are not supported. Dual layer media are not supported, but there was request for this feature, so next version of cdw will have at least basic support for dual layer DVD discs.

cdw features (version 0.3.92):

  • creating iso image from selected files
  • writing data from hdd to CD/DVD
  • writing iso image to CD/DVD
  • verification of md5sum of ISO image written to CD (but not DVD)
  • erasing CD-RW, DVD-RW (with reformatting: Restricted <--> Sequential) and DVD+RW discs
  • ripping audio CDs to raw audio track files (user has to use external tools, e.g. sox., to convert them to other formats)
  • copying single-session (or first session of multi-session) data CDs to iso image on hdd
  • updated man page
  • wizard dialogs for writing data to disc and blanking disc
  • simplified hardware configuration
  • context help tooltips

list of supported media:

  • CD-AUDIO (ripping audio tracks only)
  • CD-R, CD-RW
  • DVD-R, DVD+R
  • DVD-RW: Sequential Incremental and Restricted Overwrite
  • DVD+RW

Dual-layer media are not supported. DVD-RAM, Blu-ray, HD-DVD discs are not supported.

cdw features (version 0.3.91):

  • creating iso image from selected files
  • writing data from hdd to CD/DVD
  • writing iso image to CD/DVD
  • erasing CD-RW, DVD-RW and DVD+RW discs
  • ripping audio CDs to raw audio track files (user has to use external tools, e.g. sox, to convert them to other formats)
  • copying single-session data CDs to iso image on hdd
  • updated man page
  • wizard dialogs for writing data to disc and blanking disc
  • simplified hardware configuration
  • context help tooltips

list of supported media:

  • CD-AUDIO (ripping audio tracks only)
  • CD-R, CD-RW
  • DVD-R, DVD+R
  • DVD-RW, DVD+RW


cdw features (version 0.3.3):

  • creating iso image from selected files
  • writing data from hdd to CD
  • writing data from hdd to DVD (single session only)
  • writing iso image to CD/DVD
  • erasing CD-RW disks (full or fast mode)
  • ripping audio CDs to raw audio track files (user has to use external tools, e.g. sox, to convert them to other formats)
  • copying single-session data CDs to iso image on hdd
  • updated man page
  • cdw 0.3.3 now requires libcdio (http://www.gnu.org/software/libcdio/libcdio.html)
  • context help tooltips

Top of page
Go back to main page