Just in case you didn’t know, an ISO file is an exact image of a CD or DVD that can be burned to a disc. There are also other types of files that contain disc images, such as CUE, NRG, MDS/MDF, CCD, and IMG. Often times, software can be downloaded as an ISO file or another disc image type.
Not only can these image files be burned to a new disc, they can also be opened or “mounted” as a virtual drive. When you mount an ISO or similar file, it can be found as a new drive letter on your computer. This is handy, especially if you want to find out what’s in a disc image before you burn it, or if you don’t have a CD/DVD drive on your computer.
In order to mount a disc image, you’ll normally need to install virtual drive software on your PC. My favorite mounting software is Virtual Clone Drive. Once installed, it’s easy to use. You only need to double click an ISO to mount it as a new drive. Another good one is MagicDisc, which was reviewed here a few years ago.
Here’s one I recently ran into. It’s called WinCDEmu. It’s available as a normal install, and also as a portable program (single EXE file). I have a special love for portable applications and gave WinCDEmu a try.
I downloaded the portable version. It’s a small download, at about 235k. When you first launch it, you’ll be prompted to let it install it’s driver.
Click the Yesbutton to continue. After that, you’ll be able to mount ISO and other disc images by clicking the Mount another imagebutton.
As you can see above, you’ll be able to see the drive letters for your new virtual drives as you add them. That’s as complicated as it gets …
Downloads
Download WinCDEmu from SourceForge (portable and installed versions)
Download WinCDEmu from Download.com (portable)
Download WinCDEmu from Download.com (installed)
Here are some more things that might interest you
- Free ISO Burner & Burn ISO Files to CD/DVD Free tool Using these tools you can easily burn a ISO file to a CD or DVD.
- Create ISO Files from any Folder Want to create your own ISO files? Use this handy tool to create them.
- Find Which Programs Can open Unknown File Types Have you ever come across files that you are not aware of or have never seen before? Use this excellent free utility to find which application can open that file.
- For more information related to ISO, please visit the ISO section on Techie Buzz
Techie Buzz Verdict:
WinCDEmu has several things going for it. It’s free, open-source, small, and has a portable version. As I’ve shown, the portable version is simple to use, and the installed version is even easier, since it allows you to mount images by double clicking on them.
Techie Buzz Rating: 4/5 (Excellent)
