Other than software to burn ISO images to CD or DVD in Windows operating system, users may also desire to mount the ISO, CUE/BIN, IMG, VCD (FarStone Virtual Drive), NRG (Nero Burning ROM), CCD (CloneCD), CIF (Easy CD Creator), DVD, UDF, MDS (Media Descriptor File), CDI (DiscJuggler), BWT (BlindWrite), PID (Instant CD/DVD Copy), B5T (BlindWrite v) and other CD or DVD prototype file and open the information content in Windows itself without actually need to write the image to physical CD or DVD disc. In that location are plenty of complimentary and paid CD and DVD emulation software applications that create virtual CD and DVD drives to mount and play CDs and DVDs via software simulation.

Native ISO and IMG Archive Image Format Support in Windows 8 / Windows eight.1 / Windows 10

Beginning from Windows 8, including Windows 8.1 and Windows x, Windows OS has native support to mount and open both .ISO and .IMG disc image files without any tertiary-political party software. Just double-click a .ISO or .IMG disc paradigm, or right click on the file and select "Mount", or click the "Deejay Image Tools" tab on the ribbon to select "Mount" in order to open the disc image in Windows Explorer or File Explorer as if it'due south inserted into a physical CD/DVD drive.

Mount ISO in Windows 10

To unmount the disc, simply right-click the virtual DVD/CD disc bulldoze and select "Eject", where the disc volition be unmounted and the virtual bulldoze will disappear from the Explorer.

WinCDEmu

WinCDEmu is an open up-source CD/DVD/BD emulator that allows you to mount optical disc images by merely clicking on them in Windows Explorer and use it without burning information technology to a bare disc.

WinCDEmu

Features of WinCDEmu:

  • 1-click mounting of ISO, CUE, NRG, MDS/MDF, CCD, IMG images.
  • Supports unlimited corporeality of virtual drives.
  • Runs on 32-bit and 64-scrap Windows versions from XP to Windows 10.
  • llows creating ISO images through a context menu in Explorer.
  • Pocket-size installer size – less than 2MB!
  • Does non require rebooting after installation.
  • A special portable version is available.
  • Translated to more than 20 languages.
  • Does not occupy drive letters when non used.
  • Supports data, DVD-video and BD-video images.
  • WinCDEmu is free for any kind of utilize – it is licensed under LGPL.

Download WinCDEmu.

DAEMON Tools

Daemon Tools / Daemon Tools Pro is CD and DVD emulation software which allows users to make CD/DVD disc images, create a virtual CD-ROM / DVD-ROM drives and play CDs and DVDs without the demand for the physical disc or burning the paradigm to disc. Daemon Tools program is famous every bit advanced application for multiprotection emulation, which emulate Generic Safedisc to allow running backup copies of SafeDisc (C-Dilla), Securom or Laserlock protected games. DAEMON Tools supports the most variety of popular image files including .cue, .bin, .iso, .ccd, .bwt, .mds, .cdi, .nrg, .pdi, .b5t.

Daemon Tools has free Lite or paid Ultra and Pro version. Annotation that the gratuitous Lite version (and even paid versions) comes with an ad software (aka spyware). You should try not to install the adware while installing. But almost importantly, DAEMON Tools has full back up and compatibility with all editions of Windows 10, together with Win eight.1, 8, 7, Vista, 2000, XP and 2003.

DAEMON Tools Virtual Drive

Download latest version of DAEMON Tools Light with SPTD (CSI Pass Through Directly Layer) from disk-tools.com. Once downloaded, just run the installer to setup the virtual optical drive.

Virtual CloneDrive

Virtual Clone Drive is a complimentary, small and lightweight virtual CD-ROM and DVD-ROM emulator that allow users mount .iso, .ccd, .dvd, .img, .udf and .bin/.cue paradigm files just like a concrete CD/DVD bulldoze.

Virtual CloneDrive

Virtual Clone Bulldoze supports and tested to piece of work on almost whatever versions of Windows operating arrangement, including both 32-flake and 64-bit of Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.i, Windows 10 and so on. It'southward free, so if you just desire a virtual drive simply without whatsoever crap to mount your disc image, Virtual CloneDrive is perfect alternative.

Simply download the installer to setup upwards to eight virtual drives. You may need to restart the figurer. If you choose to acquaintance the supported paradigm file formats and extensions with Virtual CloneDrive, you tin and so only double-click on an image file to mount every bit a bulldoze. The usual way to mount an image still work, i.e. right click on virtual drive to select mount image selection. To differentiate the virtual drives from physical drives, Virtual CloneDrive also has Virtual Sheep logo equally icon, which can be turned off at settings.

Download latest version of VirtualCloneDrive: (SetupVCD.exe)

MagicISO MagicDisc

MagicDisc is freeware virtual CD/DVD-ROM from MagicISO which allows users to use nigh all CD/DVD image without burning them onto CD or DVD in order to easily access your favorite games, music, or software programs. MagicDisk works similar a existent CD/DVD-ROM, where users can run programs, play games, or heed to music from your virtual CD-ROM. By using virtual CD/DVD-ROM, users have the added advantage of runnuing game images at over 200x faster than from a conventional CD/DVD-ROM.

MagicDisc supports the following CD/DVD image formats: .bin (CDRWin), .ima/.img (generic disk images), .cif (Easy CD Creator), .nrg (Nero – Burning ROM), .img/.ccd (CloneCD), .mdf/.mds (Fantom CD), .vcd (Farstone Virtual Drive), .VaporCD (Noum Vapor CDROM), .p01/.md1/.xa (Gear), .vc4/.000 (Virtual CD), .vdi (Virtual CD Manager), .c2d (WinOnCD), .bwi/.bwt (BlinkWrite), .cdi (DiscJuggler), .tao/.dao (Duplicator), .pdi (Instant Copy) and many more. It supports Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 2003 and Windows XP officially, though should works also in Windows 10. It works on both 32 and 64 bits edition of Windows.

MagicDisc

Download MagicDisc for Windows XP/2003/2008/Vista/7/eight/x (setup_magicdisc.exe)
Download MagicDisc for Windows 98/ME/2000 (setup_magicdisc105.exe)

Booze 52%

Alcohol 52% is the sibling of Alcohol 120%, and is a CD and DVD emulation software that tin create upwards to 31 virtual CD/DVD-ROM drives, allowing the user to play CDs & DVDs without the demand for the original disc. Complimentary version of Booze 52% can handle up to 6 virtual CD DVD-ROM drives, all at in one case with the reading speed of 200X. Booze 52% supports normal CD DVD and CD RAW sub-channel reading methods: RAW reading method enables to emulate all CDs. CD formats supported: CD-DA, CD+Yard, CD-ROM, CD-XA, Video CD, Photo CD, Mixed Mode, Multi-session CD, while DVD formats supported: DVD-ROM, DVD-Video, DVD-Audio Support for all current (ATAPI SCSI) drives: CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-RAM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW. Information technology also includes total support for IEEE-1394 (Firewire) and USB protocols.

Alcohol 52%

Download Alcohol 52% Complimentary edition grade filefacts.com. Note that Complimentary Edition includes Protection Database Search Toolbar, a spyware or adware.

Fantom DVD Virtual C/DVD-ROM

Fantom DVD Virtual C/DVD-ROM simulation driver and C/DVD paradigm file mountain software is a program from Taiwan which supports x86 and x64 of Windows Vista, XP and 2003, and 32-bit Windows 2K and Tablet PC 2005. Information technology'south a component of Fantom DVD Professional person which has both C/DVD-simulation function and the role to record the C/DVD paradigm file to a blank C/DVD if y'all take a C/DVD recorder.

Download Fantom DVD Virtual C/DVD-ROM FantomDVD-20070724.zippo (no longer available). Updated release tin can be found at Fantom DVD homepage (defunct).

Other Possible Alternatives

In fact, other than the in a higher place listing of native OS support for annal epitome and free virtual CD-ROM and DVD-ROM drive emulator which tin can be used to mountain ISO and other epitome files in Windows, there are a lot more than paid software utilities which require payment or license, or gratuitous through ads-support such as Alcohol 120%.

Another possible alternative is to merely open the ISO or image file to extract the contents directly. This workaround will work on about data CD/DVD except Sound CD, Video CD, DVD and Blu-Ray flick. In fact, if yous have popular CD and DVD image file processing tool such equally PowerISO, UltraISO, and even compression and extraction utility such as WinRAR, you lot tin already unpack and extract the contents of ISO prototype file easily.