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To create a PSX .bin/.cue image, put the original disc in an optical drive, use an imaging program’s disc-read mode, choose BIN/CUE as the output, and start the read. Keep the generated CUE file beside every BIN file it references. The BIN contains the disc sectors; the CUE is a text map of files, tracks, indexes, gaps and playback flags. A game may need several BIN files when it has separate CD-audio tracks.
This produces a convenient image for personal use, but it is not automatically a preservation-grade dump. Accurate archival work depends on a compatible drive, specialized software and, for some discs, reliable subchannel and copy-protection handling.
What BIN and CUE files represent
A BIN/CUE image is a pair, not two copies of the same data:
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- BIN: the image data read from the disc. It contains the sectors and, depending on the tool and layout, may be one file for the whole disc or separate files for individual tracks.
- CUE: a small ASCII text file that tells software which image files belong together and how the tracks are arranged. It can record track numbers, track types, index positions, pregaps, flags, file names and file order.
The CUE does not duplicate the game. It supplies the structure needed to interpret the bytes in the BIN correctly. In the CDRWIN-style description, a raw BIN begins at sector 00:02:00 and uses 0x930-byte sectors; those are format-specific details, not values you should edit manually when a modern imaging utility has already generated the files.
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A simple single-data-track disc without a pregap can sometimes be opened without a CUE. You should still retain the CUE because you may not know the disc’s table of contents, and future software may need the track metadata.
Why PSX games often need track metadata
PlayStation discs are not all single data tracks. Many contain a data track plus CD-DA audio tracks, a mixed-mode arrangement commonly used for music, voices or attract-mode audio. The CUE records where each track starts, where indexes and gaps occur, and which file supplies each track.
Without that information, an emulator can see the game’s data but miss audio tracks, start them at the wrong sector, or fail to mount the image. The metadata also preserves the order of files when a tool stores each track separately. A disc can be represented as one BIN for the entire disc or as one BIN per track; both layouts can be valid when the CUE accurately describes them.
Typical CUE directives
FILEnames a BIN (or another image file) and establishes the file that follows.TRACKdeclares a track number and type, such as a data or audio track.INDEXgives the start position of an index within a track.PREGAPdescribes a gap before a track when the layout includes one.- Additional flags can identify properties such as pre-emphasis or copy-related track behavior.
Do not hand-type sector positions unless you have the disc’s table of contents and understand the format. Preserve the generated CUE instead. If you rename a BIN or move it to another folder, change the corresponding FILE line so the path and capitalization match the actual file exactly.
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What you need before reading a disc
- The original PSX disc and permission to make a personal backup where you live. A backup does not grant permission to distribute the image or copyrighted game files.
- An optical drive that can read CDs. If your computer has no internal drive, a USB external CD/DVD drive is the generic solution.
- Enough storage for the BIN file or files and a separate copy of the CUE. A CD image is usually hundreds of megabytes, and a multi-track layout can create several files.
- An imaging utility with a disc-read mode. ImgBurn’s official documentation calls this mode Read and lists BIN and CUE among its supported image formats.
- A destination folder on a healthy disk. Avoid saving directly to a nearly full removable drive while reading.
Creating an ordinary BIN/CUE image for personal use
- Insert the original disc. Wait for the operating system to recognize the optical drive. Close any media player or file browser that may try to access the disc.
- Open the imaging program’s disc-read mode. In ImgBurn, choose Read. The mode reads a disc to an image file rather than burning an image to blank media.
- Select the destination and image layout. Choose a writable folder and the application’s BIN/CUE output option. Use the program’s default track handling unless you have a specific reason to change it.
- Start the read. Let the drive finish all sectors. Do not eject the disc or allow the computer to sleep during the operation.
- Keep the complete set together. Retain the CUE and every BIN produced by the program. If a music-heavy game creates multiple BIN files, those files are tracks, not needless duplicates.
- Open the CUE in your emulator. Point the emulator at the CUE rather than guessing which BIN to select. The CUE tells it how to assemble the data and audio tracks.
ImgBurn also provides a Verify mode that can check whether a disc or image is readable and can optionally compare the read result with an image file. That feature confirms what the program can verify; it does not by itself turn an image into a preservation-standard dump.
ImgBurn’s version and support status
The official ImgBurn page reports version 2.5.8.0, released 16 June 2013. Treat that as the site’s stated release information, not as evidence of a recent update. The program documents Read, Write and Verify modes and BIN/CUE support, but you should check its current documentation and your operating system before installing it.
When a BIN/CUE image is not an archival dump
“It boots” and “it is a complete preservation dump” are different claims. A normal GUI read is optimized for convenience and emulator use. Preservation projects require reproducible metadata and a drive that can retrieve the disc information their checks expect.
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Redump’s current guidance requires a drive from its compatible list for submissions and directs contributors to supported dumping software. Its desktop FAQ identifies Redumper and DiscImageCreator as the primary supported tools. The DiscImageCreator workflow can check EDC data, inspect the date in a PSX executable and run an additional LibCrypt check for PAL PSX discs. CD-audio discs may produce multiple BIN files, all of which belong with the generated metadata.
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Subchannels, protections and the limits of “perfect” copies
Optical drives differ in whether software can access subchannel data under computer control. Some PSX protections and disc features depend on information outside the ordinary user-data sectors. Redump notes that subchannel data and certain protections can be difficult to retrieve accurately. Therefore a generic BIN/CUE made by a consumer drive should not be described as a complete archival representation of every bit on the original disc.
For specialized work, some mainstream image formats can carry external subchannel data. ConsoleMods documents IMG+CCD+SUB as one route associated with subchannel support and discusses raw extraction and conversion tools such as IsoBuster. These options do not remove the need for a compatible drive or the project’s verification procedures.
Convenience image versus preservation workflow
| Aspect | Ordinary personal image | Preservation-oriented dump |
|---|---|---|
| Primary goal | Make an image that an emulator can mount and play | Capture and document the disc as accurately and repeatably as the hardware allows |
| Software approach | GUI read mode, such as ImgBurn’s Read function | Project-supported tools such as DiscImageCreator or Redumper, following the current guide |
| Drive requirement | Any drive that can read the disc reliably | A drive on the project’s compatible list for submissions |
| Track output | One BIN or several BIN files, depending on settings and disc layout | Often separate BIN files for CD-audio tracks, with project checks and logs |
| Subchannels and protections | May be absent or incompletely captured | Handled according to the tool and drive capabilities; difficult cases still require qualification |
| Operating-system and hardware compatibility | Depends on the chosen GUI and optical drive | Must match the current project documentation and supported hardware |
Use the first column when your goal is personal access to a game you own. Use the second when you are preparing a submission or need the strongest available evidence that the dump matches the source disc.
Preservation-oriented steps with DiscImageCreator
- Check the current compatibility list. Confirm that your optical drive is approved for the preservation project. A drive that reads ordinary CDs may still lack the features needed for subchannel or protection checks.
- Read the current project guide. Use the documented DiscImageCreator command and options for PSX rather than copying an old command from a forum post. Tool syntax and supported hardware can change.
- Choose a dedicated output folder. Keep the generated BIN files, CUE or other metadata, logs and verification results together. Do not rename files until all checks are complete.
- Run the PSX-specific checks. The documented workflow includes EDC checking and a PSX executable-date check. For PAL PSX discs, run the additional LibCrypt check described by the guide.
- Inspect the result before archiving. Confirm that every file referenced by the metadata exists, that the logs show successful checks and that the output has enough free storage for a second copy.
- Preserve the original output. Keep logs and metadata with the image. If the project requests a particular naming convention or submission package, follow that current instruction rather than improvising.
These steps are not interchangeable with a quick emulator dump. If the drive is not compatible or the software cannot retrieve required subchannels, label the result as a convenience image instead of calling it verified or perfect.
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How to verify and organize your files
Check the CUE references
Open the CUE in a plain-text editor only to inspect it. For each FILE entry, verify that the referenced BIN exists in the same relative location, with the same spelling and capitalization. A CUE that says FILE "GAME.BIN" BINARY will not find a file renamed to game.bin on a case-sensitive filesystem.
Keep a stable folder layout
Use one folder per disc and keep the CUE beside its BIN files. If you move the image, move the complete set. When distributing a personal backup to another computer, copy all referenced files rather than only the largest BIN.
Test in an emulator without altering the source
Load the CUE, start the game and check a section that uses audio if the disc has CD-DA tracks. A game reaching its title screen proves that the emulator can read enough data to start; it does not prove that every sector, gap or subchannel was captured.
Troubleshooting common failures
“The CUE cannot find the BIN.”
- Open the CUE and read each
FILEline. - Compare the filename, extension, capitalization and folder path with the actual BIN.
- Undo accidental renames, or edit the
FILEreference to the new relative path. - Keep the CUE and BIN in the same folder unless you intentionally maintain a correct relative path.
The game boots, but music is missing
Check whether the disc is mixed-mode. Look for multiple BIN files and make sure none was discarded. Load the CUE, not an arbitrary data BIN. If the imaging program produced only one file, reread the original with track-aware output settings; do not merge or split files by guessing.
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The image is one BIN, but the disc has several tracks
A single-file image can still contain multiple tracks if its CUE describes them correctly. Inspect the CUE’s TRACK and INDEX entries. If those entries are missing or the emulator reports an invalid layout, create a new image with a tool that preserves the disc’s track structure.
The image boots but fails preservation checks
Bootability only shows that the emulator found usable game data. Preservation checks may fail because the drive cannot read required subchannels, because a protection feature was not captured, or because the tool and drive combination is unsupported. Recheck the compatible-drive requirement and use the project’s documented software before attempting another dump.
The disc read reports errors
Clean the disc with a suitable non-abrasive method, inspect it for scratches and retry at a conservative drive speed if the software offers that option. Save the log. If repeated reads fail at the same sector, try another compatible drive; do not silently replace unreadable data with a downloaded image if your goal is an authentic dump.
Choosing the right approach
Choose a GUI BIN/CUE read when
- You need a playable personal image.
- You want the shortest workflow and do not need project submission files.
- Your drive reads the disc consistently and the game does not require a specialized protection capture.
Choose the preservation workflow when
- You are submitting to a preservation database.
- You need documented checks, logs and a reproducible result.
- The title uses unusual track layouts, LibCrypt or other features where subchannel access matters.
Use an external drive when necessary
A USB external CD/DVD drive is a practical solution for a computer without an optical reader. For ordinary images, select a model that your operating system recognizes and that can read CDs reliably. For preservation, choose from the project’s current compatible-drive list rather than relying on a generic “USB CD drive” description.
Legal, storage and backup considerations
Making a copy for personal use is governed by local law and by the rights attached to the disc. Do not upload or exchange copyrighted BIN/CUE files unless you have the necessary permission. Keep the original disc safe, because an image is not proof that every physical feature was captured.
Store at least one additional copy of important images on a separate disk. Preserve the CUE, all BIN files and, for archival work, the tool logs and verification output. Periodically check that the files remain readable. If you later move the folder, test the CUE reference before deleting the old copy.
Bottom line
A PSX BIN/CUE image is created by reading the physical disc with an imaging utility and retaining the resulting data file together with its track-description file. The CUE is essential for mixed-mode and multi-track games because it records the layout that an emulator cannot infer safely from raw bytes alone. For a convenient personal backup, a GUI Read workflow is usually sufficient. For preservation, use a compatible drive and the current Redump-supported procedure, and describe the result honestly: ordinary BIN/CUE files do not necessarily contain every subchannel or copy-protection detail from the original disc.
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