I was wondering if  any virtual CD/DVD writer software exists.  I know
of virtual cd/dvd drives (like Alcohol 120%) but haven't seen any that
writers.  I am not looking for something to burn an .iso file to an
actual cd, but a piece of software that creates a virtual cd/dvd
writer on my computer so another piece of software thinks it's writing
to a cd but is actually writing to the hard drive.

You might want to check out 'Virtual master':
http://homepage.mac.com/uesugis/indexe.html

I have no idea if it's any good or works etc...

I need software for pc, not mac.  thanks though.

I've been looking for the SAME exact piece of software!  I too have
scoured the 'net looking for something that would do this (seems
pretty feasible given other stuff out there) but haven't stumbled
across anything.  I'm anxious to see if anything is found via this
question!

Not sure but try this
http://www.cd-rw.org/software/cdr_software/cdr_tools/daemon_tools.cfm

Here's a site which *might* be alright, the newest version of
"Original CD Emulator" Personal Edition (V2.30) claims that it can:
"Work as CDRW Drive, let you burn music files to Virtual CDRW"

http://www.ztekware.com/

Who knows?  could just be bad english.

I've probably missed something here but what exactly are you hoping to
achieve? You've already stated that writing a cd to a hard drive is
basically the same as writing an image - so what are you trying to do
and why?

i want to trick a program into thinking that it is writing to a cd
when it is really writing to an iso file.

Could you not save the file to hard disk and then burn an iso using nero or similar?

i don't want to save just a file, i need to burn the cd, so i want to
trick the program into thinking that it is burning a cd.

There is no virtual cd dvd writer that exsists. If I may ask what are
you trying to do exactly? If I knew that I could proboly help you
more. More as of now I have no idea what you are trying to accomplish.
And the reason a virtual writer dosen't exsists is that there is no
purpose for it.

I too want to a sw to emulate CD writer and able to mount this image.
I can not used nero to write an image because sw i am using is has own
build in writer that's write directly to a CD.

I tried Original CD Emulator and mounted the image. the image when
mounted is seen as an audio CD, somethinmg not right. May be i should
get in touch with author?

Sir 
Charles

i'm not sure what isn't clear about my problem, but i'll be more
specific anyway.  i subscribe to audibe.com (audio books) and i have
to burn audio cd's.  i want to burn them to a virtual cd-r so i can
rip them back onto my computer without a wasted cd.

You could purcahse total recorder you can find it on download.com the
trial version only records a few seconds. But for what you are wanting
it may work. Just use the trial to see if it will work. Then if the
program does jsut play the cd and record it at the same time. Or you
can simply buy a cd-rw which is a read wright and then you can reburn
over it time and time again.

I've got the same need but a more legal need.  I'm using Intervideo
WinDVD Creator and the program does not support exporting projects to
ISO files, rather it requires your DVD Writer to be connected to the
PC the software is on to create the final product.

I'd like to be able to "burn" to an ISO file and then take that ISO
file to my PC with a DVD Write and burn it.

I could also see where this might be handy in making a master ISO that
you could ship off to make pressed CDs/DVDs.

I am able to do what you want using Original CD Emulator.  Download
the software (http://www.ztekware.com/product.htm#download) and after
install follow the help page under 'Work as CDRW' called 'Mount CDRW
Image'.  That should allow you to use Windows Media Player to "burn" a
music file to a virtual blank cd, and then rip it back without using
any cd's.