Key Details of Alcohol 120

  • Create virtual CD/DVD-ROMs and burn backup copies of your favorite discs.
  • Last updated on
  • There have been 4 updates
  • Virus scan status:

    Blocked (it's highly probable this software program is malicious or contains unwanted bundled software)


Enlarged image for Alcohol 120
Alcohol 120 0/1

Editors' Review

Download.com staff

Alcohol 120% rips and burns backup copies of your valuable discs and also creates and plays 31 different virtual discs—everything from Audio CDs to DVDs, with blazing access speeds. It records audio and converts data, too. Alcohol 120% is free to try for 15 days; however, the trial version is limited to six virtual drives instead of the full 31, and burning is restricted to only two drives simultaneously. The software is compatible with Windows XP to 11, with a separate download available for Windows 98/Me. 

You will need an optical disc drive to use Alcohol 120%, though you'll only require a disc burner if you plan to burn discs.

When we chose the Advanced option instead of the "recommended" standard installation while installing Alcohol 120%, we were pleased with our choice. The installation wizard tries to add some "extra" programs, which can be a nuisance. 

Freeware often comes with optional downloads, but Alcohol 120% isn't freeware, nor is it particularly cheap, even for a good disc burner. We were a bit dismayed not only to see extra toolbars and coupon apps but also the sheer number of them—more than we'd expect even from free software. 

On the bright side, Alcohol 120% offers a solid amount of support, including a comprehensive manual. Its user interface is easy to navigate, with a clean but familiar design. The program began by asking permission to scan our system to gather information about our DVD burner and any virtual discs we had. While its speed will depend on your system's resources, Alcohol 120% certainly performed tasks quickly and efficiently.

In comparison, Nero Burning ROM is another well-known disc-burning software that has been around for years. While both Alcohol 120% and Nero allow for disc burning and creating virtual drives, Nero offers more robust features, including advanced data recovery options, disc encryption, and a broader range of supported formats. However, some users may find Nero's interface slightly overwhelming, given its numerous options and features. 

Alcohol 120%, on the other hand, presents a more straightforward interface, making it more accessible for users who may not need all the bells and whistles.

Bottom Line

A good disc-burning utility isn't hard to find, and it would likely be challenging to justify Alcohol 120%'s cost if that were its only function. However, when combined with a terabyte drive, Alcohol 120% becomes a powerful disc archiving tool, allowing you to play your CDs, DVDs, and games over and over without worrying about scratching them on the tray. 

For anyone serious about managing their disc collection and ensuring their data is backed up, Alcohol 120% is an excellent option that provides advanced features for data management and backup solutions.

What's new in version 2.0.3.8703

  • Added support for more drives.
  • Fixed minor bugs reported by users.



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Full Specifications

GENERAL
Release
Latest update
Version
2.0.3.8703
OPERATING SYSTEMS
Platform
Windows
Operating System
  • Windows ME
  • Windows XP
  • Windows 7
  • Windows 2000
  • Windows 8
  • Windows NT
  • Windows 2003
  • Windows Vista
POPULARITY
Total Downloads
12,023,116
Downloads Last Week
11

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User Reviews

3.8/5

230 User Votes


Developer's Description

Create virtual CD/DVD-ROMs and burn backup copies of your favorite discs.

Alcohol 120% can handle the creation of 31 virtual CD and DVD-ROMs, letting users play discs without needing the physical disc. Users can copy CDs and DVDs to CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD-RAM, and DVD+RW discs. The reading speed of a virtual CD-ROM is 200x. It supports normal CD, DVD, and CD RAW sub channel reading methods. The RAW reading method lets users emulate all CDs. Alcohol 120% supports numerous CD (CD-DA, CD+G, CD-ROM, CD-XA, VideoCD, Photo CD) and DVD (DVD-ROM, DVD-Video, DVD-Audio) formats. It also supports all current (ATAPI & SCSI) drives. The latest version adds two more profiles to the data type options and includes support for unusually formatted DVD+RW discs formatted by other software.