Convert MDF to BWS

Understanding mdf and bws file formats

MDF (Mirror Disk File) is a proprietary disc image file format created by Alcohol 120% and similar disc imaging software. It is typically used to store the contents of a CD or DVD, often accompanied by an .mds descriptor file. MDF files are commonly used for backing up optical discs or for mounting virtual drives.

BWS (BlindWrite Sub) is a file format associated with the BlindWrite suite, specifically storing subchannel data extracted from CDs. BWS files are used in conjunction with BlindWrite's main image files (.bwi, .bwt, and .bwa) to provide a complete backup of a disc, including copy protection and subchannel information.

Is mdf to bws conversion possible?

Direct conversion from MDF to BWS is not straightforward, as these formats serve different purposes and are used by different disc imaging software. MDF is a full disc image, while BWS is only the subchannel data. However, you can extract the contents of an MDF file and then use BlindWrite to create a new disc image, including a BWS file, if subchannel data is needed.

How to convert mdf to bws

1. Mount or extract the MDF file: Use a tool like Alcohol 120% or DAEMON Tools to mount the MDF file as a virtual drive, or use WinRAR or PowerISO to extract its contents.
2. Burn or emulate the disc: If you have a physical CD/DVD writer, burn the MDF image to a blank disc. Alternatively, keep the image mounted as a virtual drive.
3. Use BlindWrite to create a new image: Open BlindWrite, select the source drive (physical or virtual), and start the disc imaging process. During this process, BlindWrite will generate a BWS file along with other BlindWrite image files.

Recommended software for mdf to bws conversion

• Alcohol 120% – for mounting or burning MDF files.
• DAEMON Tools – for mounting MDF images as virtual drives.
• BlindWrite – for creating BWS files from a mounted or physical disc.

To create a BWS file, use BlindWrite → Read → Select Source → Start. Ensure the source is the mounted or burned disc from your MDF image.

Summary

While there is no direct MDF to BWS file converter, you can achieve the conversion by mounting or burning the MDF image and then using BlindWrite to create a new disc image, which will include the BWS subchannel data file.