Secure Disc Creator 8.3.1

Overview

GiliSoft Secure Disc Creator is a piece of software that can produce CDs or DVDs that include some password protection to make them more secure. Encryption can also be added to ensure that the data is scrambled when it is burned to the disc. Good, effective backups is crucial because sooner or later a hard disk drive will fail most likely due to mechanical failure and often all data is immediately lost. This is not always predictable in its timing or severity, so regular backups are needed to protect the most important files. GiliSoft Secure Disc Creator is one software that can help in this area. The software will also create a virtual disc to access through the hard drive which acts like a CD or DVD. The software can also use its ISO Burner feature to create bootable discs with ISO images for applications, other operating systems and rescue discs.

Installation

The installation goes smoothly. The software requires 20.9 MB of free disk space to setup correctly otherwise it will abort the installation. A shortcut icon, Start menu folder and Quick Launch icon can all be setup for you if you opt for those selections. There were no extra surprises in the form of malicious content or adware such as toolbars.

The software is offered on a limited 10 uses before it will time out, so the user will want to be careful when they load the software to ensure they get the most out of it before it locks out. A full version can be purchased and the licence entered to register the software as a full version.

Interface

The Secure Disc interface is fairly straight forward and most of the options are presented on the first screen.

The recorder (the CD or DVD drive) is listed at the top with the drop-down menu to pick a different burner if more than one is installed in the PC. The disc information panel will confirm what type of disc is presently inserted into the selected drive (if any) and its capacity.

Files can be added using the Add File button to include files to add to a secure disc later. The Disc can then be named. There is a pie chart which displays information about the size of the files that have been versus the size of the burnable disc inserted into the recorder.

The Burn button sits at the bottom which will start a burn session procedure once clicked.

Pros

• Burn CDs and DVD
• Add encryption and password protection to all discs burned with the software
• Produce self-expanding archive files
• Produce secure ISO image discs
• Only 10 application loads before trial ends
• Works with Windows 2000, 2003, XP, Vista or 7

Cons

None found.

Conclusion

GiliSoft Secure Disc Creator has some useful features for people who wish to burn secure data backup CDs or DVDs, create secure ISO image discs or self-expanding archives.