Newcomers to working with a PC often find that they cannot open a file. This is due to the lack of software that can read it, and due to ignorance of file extensions. Often this problem is caused by ISO format.
What is an ISO? This is the most commonly used disk image format. More precisely, this is a DVD / CD disc image based on ISO 9660 standards. This format was released in 1988. The file with the image reflects an exact copy of the physical disk: data, directory structure , information regarding the file system, file attributes, boot data.
What are disk images for?
To better understand what ISO is, consider the scope of this format. Image files are used to create copies of DVD / CD discs. When forming the image, a copy of each bit of the CD is created according to the original medium. If you simply copy files from a DVD or CD to your computer’s hard drive, boot information, disc titles, track information will be lost. Having a disk image, you can later easily restore the original version of the duplicated media.
Virtual Disk Benefits
Now you have a general idea of what ISO is. What is needed to open it without writing to a disc disc? For these purposes, there are special programs. Such a program will create a virtual disk on your computer with which you can easily open files with the following extensions: NRG, CCD, CDI, B5T, ISO, MDS, BIN / CUE, BWT and others.
Other benefits of a virtual disk:
- if you urgently need to rewrite the disc, but you do not have clean “records”, you can record the image and run it using the virtual disk;
- convenient in the absence of a writable CD / DVD-ROM;
- you can use the image instead of your favorite drive, thereby reducing wear on both the drive and the drive;
- unlike optical, you can create a large number of virtual disks.
How to open a disk image?
To open the image file, use a program called Alcohol 120%. Consider this process step by step.
- Download and install Alcohol 120%.
- Run the program. Select "Virtual Disk" in the second menu on the left.
- In the window that appears, select the required number of virtual disks (for example, 1), click OK.
- Look in the lower right corner of the program, there appeared a virtual drive.
- Choose the menu “File”, “Open”.
- In the window that appears, mark the desired file, click "Open."
- An image file will appear in the upper right part of the program, mark it with the right mouse button, and then select the “Mount to device” action. The image can be used.
There are other programs for working with disk images:
- Virtual Drive
- ISOBuster
- PowerISO
- DAEMON Tools.
In order to burn the image file to a DVD / CD, you can use the following software:
- Ashampoo Burning Studio;
- UltraISO;
- CDmage
- Alcohol 120%;
- ISOBuster
- ISO Commander;
- Nero
Consider the example of writing an image to a CD using UltraISO.
- Download, install the UltraISO program.
- Run it, select "Open" in the "File" menu.
- In the window that appears, mark the desired file, click "Open."
- Click “Burn CD Image” (the button is located on the toolbar).
- Choose a recording method, speed. Click “Burn."
How to create an image?
You yourself can create an image of the desired disk using the above programs. Consider the process of creating an image file using Ashampoo Burning Studio.
- Download, install Ashampoo Burning Studio.
- Insert the disc into the drive, open the program and select "Create / Burn Disc Image", then - "Create CD / DVD disc image."
- Click "Next."
- Specify the location to store the image file, as well as the desired extension. Click "Next."
The image is created. From this image you can install any game or program, as well as just see its contents.
We hope that this article has helped you fully understand not only what ISO is, but also how to work with this format.