Make a disk image

IsoHappy works on image files, not on discs or drives directly. An image is a single file that holds a copy of the disc or drive. Once you have one, open it in IsoHappy.

Before you start, find somewhere to save the image with enough free space. An image of a card or drive is as big as the whole card or drive, not just the files on it. Save it to a different drive from the one you are copying.

CDs and DVDs: use Disk Utility

1. Insert the disc and open Disk Utility (in Applications, then Utilities).
2. Select the disc in the sidebar.
3. Choose File, then New Image, then “Image from” followed by the disc’s name.
4. Pick where to save it. Set Format to “compressed” and Encryption to “none”.
5. Click Save and wait for it to finish. Open the .dmg file in IsoHappy.

For audio CDs, a CD ripping app that saves a BIN/CUE pair gives the best result. Open the .cue file in IsoHappy.

Cards and drives: use dd in Terminal

If you want to recover deleted files from a memory card, USB stick or drive, use this method. It copies every block, including the free space where deleted files are found. This is for people comfortable with Terminal.

Be careful. Typing the wrong disk number can destroy data. dd only reads from the source (if=) and writes to the output file (of=). Never put a disk in of=. If you are unsure, stop and email [email protected].

1. Connect the card or drive. Open Terminal and run:

   diskutil list
   

   Find your card or drive in the list by its size and name. Note its identifier, such as /dev/disk4. Your number will be different. Make sure it is marked “external, physical” and that it is not your Mac’s internal disk.

2. Unmount it, so nothing writes to it while you copy (use your disk number):

   diskutil unmountDisk /dev/disk4
   

3. Copy it to an image file on another drive. Use rdisk with the same number, which is faster:

   sudo dd if=/dev/rdisk4 of=/Volumes/Backup/card.img bs=1m
   

   Here if= is the card or drive you are reading, and of= is the new file you are creating on your backup drive. Enter your Mac password when asked. There is no progress bar; press Control-T to see how much has been copied.

4. When the prompt comes back, open card.img in IsoHappy.

If Terminal says “Operation not permitted”, give Terminal Full Disk Access in System Settings, under Privacy & Security, then try again.

If the card or drive has read errors, dd stops at the first one. Email us and we can help you with the next step.