Home-Payment systems-Virtual drive for iso images of windows xp. Creating a virtual drive in UltraISO

Virtual drive for iso images of windows xp. Creating a virtual drive in UltraISO

Depending on the emulator program, you can install five or six or even 10–20 virtual drives on your computer, and all this will not cost the user a penny, whereas the number of physical drives is usually limited to one or two.

Most users use CD/DVD drive emulation programs for the following purposes:

Run CD/DVD images from your hard drive without having to burn it to a physical optical disc.
- Increased data access speed (hard disk speed is much higher than optical disk).
- Backup several disk image files to a new hard drive, which is much easier than burning several new CDs/DVDs.
- Prevent CD/DVD discs from scratches or wear due to frequent use.
- Saving a copy of the optical disc to your computer's hard drive in case of damage, loss or theft.
- Freeing up work space by getting rid of a large number of physical disks.
- Launching disk images from a laptop or netbook that does not have built-in CD/DVD drives or with the drive turned off (to save battery charge).
- Providing access to the disk for users on the network.
- Disk encryption for security.

Keeping in mind most of the above mentioned purposes, all the following CD/DVD emulators are reviewed and rated according to the following parameters:

Number of available virtual drives.
- Supports ISO and other image formats.
- Possibility of creating a disk image from a CD/DVD.
- Interface and additional functions.

Review

- this wonderful product allows you to mount an ISO file (or a disk image in another format) onto a virtual drive created using this program. Once the image is mounted, it will appear in Windows Explorer as a “real” CD/DVD or hard drive.

Gizmo Drive supports up to 26 virtual drives. In addition to ISO, it works with other images, including VHD, IMG, BIN, CUE, NRG, CCD, MDS, MDF and GDRIVE.

In addition to running disk images on virtual drives, Gizmo Drive is useful for creating ISO images (both disks and individual folders), or for burning the contents of an ISO file or folder to an optical disc. To perform various tasks, the program provides a special manager and image wizard.

Gizmo Drive's user interface is informative and useful. Additional program features include creating GDRIVE images to simulate a hard drive with compression and encryption, creating a virtual hard drive with system memory support for improved performance in accessing time-sensitive data, and more.

Another emulator designed to create and manage virtual CD/DVD drives. It allows you to run many types of disk images without burning them to a CD or DVD. This program will also help you create disk images and save them in various formats (including ISO, BIN/CUE, NRG and UIF).

MagicDisc Virtual DVD/CD-ROM has a simple interface and supports up to 15 virtual drives simultaneously. Other features supported by this program include compression of various formats (ISO, NRG, CUE, MDS, CCD) into UIF, and recovery of UIF into ISO. The function of burning images to CD/DVD discs is not supported by this program.

Another easy-to-use emulator is called . With its help, a disk image can be mounted on a virtual drive in just two mouse clicks. Just as with the above-mentioned programs, this is achieved using auxiliary commands that appear in the Windows Explorer context menu, and are used to mount and unmount images.

In the latest versions of Virtual CloneDrive you can install (as in MagicDisc Virtual DVD/CD-ROM) up to 15 virtual drives. The original useful features of the utility also include automatic mounting of the latest image and special icons that indicate virtual drives (to distinguish them from physical ones).

Virtual CloneDrive's supported formats include ISO, CCD, IMG, UDF, BIN, etc., but NRG, MDF/MDS, and some others are not supported. This, as well as the lack of the ability to create and burn disk images, is a disadvantage of this program.

Other programs

In addition to the above-mentioned products, there are a number of free programs that perform similar functions. Below you can see a list of some of them:

Alcohol 52% Free Edition is a stripped-down version of the commercial product Alcohol 120%. The free version is limited to 6 virtual drives, and installs a search bar in your browser (can be disabled). Additional features - CD/DVD manager and wizard for creating images in ISO, MDS, CCD and CUE formats.

DAEMON Tools Lite supports a total of 4 virtual drives. Supported formats include ISO, ISZ, CCD, CDI, CUE, MDS, NRG, BWT, PDI, etc. DAEMON Tools Lite also allows you to create images in ISO and MDS formats. This program, like the previous one, installs an additional search bar in your browser and changes the main search provider.

Virtual CD-ROM Control Panel is a free utility from Microsoft that runs on the Windows XP operating system and allows you to add or remove virtual drives from A to Z. Supported formats: ISO, UDF, CDFS, ROCK or JO. Cons: not very user-friendly interface and lack of ability to create images.

WinCDEmu is an open source program that allows you to mount CD/DVD images by simply clicking on the desired file. To dismantle the image, you just need to double-click on it again, or remove the corresponding drive using the context menu. The utility supports ISO, CUE, NRG, MDS/MDF, CCD, IMG formats and works in operating systems from WinXP to Win7. Disadvantages - lack of an uninstaller, and the inability to create images.

Good day everyone!

Regular CD/DVD discs, no matter how sad it may be, are losing their popularity year after year (they used to be sold on every corner ☻). Still, the development of network technologies is doing its job...

Meanwhile, there is another side of the coin - the so-called virtual disks - a separate file(s) made from an exact copy of a physical CD/DVD. They are also called images. The most popular image formats: ISO, BIN, MDS/MDF, NRG, CCD. By the way, now many files are transferred over the network in images (for example, even to create a bootable USB flash drive with Windows, you must first download the installation image with the system from the Microsoft website).

You can’t just open such an image, you need (you guessed it) a special one virtual disk drive (or drive. Also called CD/DVD emulators).

In general, I decided to construct this article in the form of questions and answers on working with images (of which there are always many). Along the way, I will present programs that best cope with the task. I think this will make it easier to present the basics to the inexperienced reader. So, let's get started...

The most popular questions about working with virtual disks

❶. How to create a virtual disk/ISO image, etc.

First of all, to get started, I recommend installing one program - Daemon Tools (Lite version, it is free and its capabilities for creating and emulating images are more than enough). And in general, in my opinion, it is one of the best (and most popular, by the way) programs for working with disk images. I definitely recommend installation and review.

Daemon Tools (Lite)

This program allows you to mount almost all types of images, and also emulates the simultaneous operation of up to 4 drives. In addition, the program allows you to burn ready-made images to physical discs, convert from one format to another, create protected images and much more (by the way, some of the functions are paid, unfortunately). The program organizes image storage quite well: you can always find the desired disk from your collection.

And so, let’s say we have several CDs with music and games that are often used, and you are simply tired of inserting them into the drive (and over time, the discs deteriorate, get scratched, and make noise when inserted into the drive). Therefore, it is logical that once you make images of these disks, you can easily and quietly use them.

1) First you need to insert the CD into an actual physical drive.

3) Then you need to specify the drive with the disk, specify the folder where the image will be saved, and the image format (in my example, I chose ISO). To start copying, click the "Start" button.

5) When the image is ready, you will see a message stating that the operation was completed successfully, as in the screenshot below.

In general, that's all. Now you can use this image (you just need to first create a virtual drive, more on that below).

❷. How to create a virtual drive/CD/DVD-Rom emulator

Let's use the same Daemon Tools...

First you need to run the program and click "Add drive" (in the left menu of the program).

A new drive should appear at the bottom of the window: in my case, under the letter "F: (blank)".

DAEMON Tools Lite - a new drive has appeared (F:)!

❸. How to open images: ISO, MDF, NRG, etc. and run the application from them

After the virtual drive has been created in Daemon Tools, you can start opening and reading images in it. In general, Daemon Tools opens almost any image: ISO, BIN, MDF, NRG (even archives in 7z, rar, zip, etc.).

At the bottom of the window - left-click on the virtual drive (which we created in the previous step). See screenshot below.

DAEMON Tools Lite - first left click on the drive

If automatic launch of CD/DVD discs is disabled for you (and nothing appears on the screen), go to “My Computer/This Computer”: among the drives there should be a virtual one, with the disk (i.e. image) that we opened.

If you are asked whether to allow this application to make changes, answer in the affirmative (at least for familiar drives...).

❹. How to burn an image to a physical CD/DVD

Daemon Tools, of course, can burn images to physical disks, but this feature is only available in the paid version of the program. Therefore, it is better to use analogues, especially since there are also free versions in this segment.

Why not Nero? Because the Nero package is paid, weighs several gigabytes, is very slow and clumsy. It’s unlikely that many will use even a tenth of its functions (not to mention the fact that most just need to burn a disc and that’s it...).

CDBurnerXP

CDBurnerXP is a free program for burning CDs and DVDs, including Blu-Ray and HD-DVD. The program also works great with ISO images, allowing you not only to create them, but also burn them to physical discs. The program supports dozens of languages ​​(including Russian). Works on Windows XP/7/8/9/10.

Main features:

  1. record data (files, documents, pictures, etc.) on any type of disk;
  2. recording audio CDs;
  3. creating and burning ISO images;
  4. creating boot (installation) disks;
  5. BIN/NRG image converter → to ISO;
  6. possibility of printing covers.

After starting the program, click the button "Burn ISO image to disc" (see screenshot below).

Then specify the ISO image to burn, the physical drive, the writing speed (highlighted in yellow in the screenshot below - by the way, do not set the highest speed, errors are possible) and click "Burn disc". In general, that's all - in 10-15 minutes. your disc will be burned!

Burn Settings // CDBurnerXP

❺. What other programs can be used to work and read images?

Alcohol 120%

Alcohol 120% is an excellent and very powerful program for working with images. It does everything: creates images, mounts them into virtual drives, writes them, creates a library on your PC (for quickly searching and reading them).

Although the program is paid, there is a free trial period of 15 days (and there is also a free version with reduced capabilities). In general, I recommend you check it out!

Main features:

  1. creation of up to 31 virtual drives;
  2. creating disk images (format support: MDF/MDS, CCD, BIN/CUE, ISO, CDI, etc.);
  3. recording from disk images: CD, DVD and Blu-ray;
  4. erasing discs: CD-RW, DVD-RW and BD-RE;
  5. search and create a library from image files on the PC hard drive;
  6. Availability of an audio converter for working with audio CDs.

Ultra ISO

Official website: https://www.ezbsystems.com/ultraiso/

A very powerful program for working with ISO images. Allows you to create them from real disks, record them, emulate them in a virtual drive, and, most importantly, edit them on the fly. Those. you can open the ISO image, remove the unnecessary file from it (or add it) and save the image. Actually, this is done very quickly!

In addition, the program will help you create a boot (installation) disk or flash drive. You can also try to compress current ISO images, etc. In general, I recommend everyone who works with ISO to have it on their PC...

Burn4Free

A very reliable and simple program for working with CD/DVD discs. Allows you to perform almost the entire range of tasks that the average PC user may need. With all this, it takes up very little space on your hard drive (several megabytes!).

Main advantages:

  • burn CD/DVD discs in a few mouse clicks;
  • the program is very easy and simple, the design is made in a minimalist style;
  • you can copy audio discs in various formats (WAV, FLAC, WavPack, WMA, etc.);
  • support SCSI - IDE/EIDE - SATA - USB;
  • Russian language support;
  • creating and burning ISO images;
  • ability to record MP3 discs;
  • support for all versions of Windows: 10, 8, 7, Vista, 2008, 2003, XP, 2000, 98;
  • support for most drive models (more than 4000!).

In general, I’ll add on my own behalf that this program worked even in cases where its analogs refused to either start or see the drive. I recommend it to anyone who often works with ISO or optical discs to have in their arsenal.

Virtual Clone Drive

This program is free and designed to create a virtual drive. The program is very simple and reliable. Supports up to 15 virtual drives, fully integrated into Windows Explorer for easier and faster operation.

In general, compared to many similar programs in this spectrum, it stands out noticeably. I recommend you check it out.

Main features:

  1. support for all popular image formats: ISO, BIN, IMG, UDF, DVD, CCD;
  2. emulation of up to 15 virtual drives (CD, DVD, and Blu-ray);
  3. there is a history of using images (for faster search and reading of the desired file);
  4. convenient integration into Explorer (now any image can be opened with a couple of mouse clicks!).

Instructions complete...

Good luck!

Virtual disks are software emulated devices that can be used to open virtual disk images. This is sometimes the name given to files obtained after reading information from physical media. Below is a list of programs that allow you to emulate virtual drives and disks, as well as create and mount images.

Daemon Tools is one of the most common programs for working with disk images and virtual drives. The software allows you to create, convert and record files onto discs, and emulate drives for reproducing information from optical media. In addition to CD and DVD devices, the program can also create virtual hard drives.

Daemon Tools includes the TrueCrypt utility, which allows you to create password-protected encrypted containers on your computer. This approach helps preserve important information and protect it from intruders.

Alcohol 120%

Alcohol 120% is the main competitor of the previous review participant. The program, like Daemon Tools, can remove images from disks, mount them into emulated drives and write files to discs.

There are two main differences: the software allows you to create images from files and folders, but is not able to emulate a HDD.

Ashampoo Burning Studio

Ashampoo Burning Studio is a processor for working with CDs and their images. The program is focused on converting, copying and recording audio and video to discs, creating covers for discs.

One of the key features is the ability to create archives with backup copies of files and folders, from which, if necessary, you can restore important information.

Nero

Nero is another multifunctional program for processing multimedia files. Capable of burning ISO and other files to discs, converting multimedia to various formats, and creating covers.

A distinctive feature is the presence of a full-fledged video editor, with which you can perform editing: cutting, applying effects, adding sound, and also creating slide shows.

Ultra ISO

UltraISO is a program designed exclusively for working with disk images. Allows you to remove images from physical media, including hard drives, convert and compress finished files.

The main task of the program is to create images from files and save them to a computer or write them to blanks or flash drives. Among other things, the program has a function for creating a virtual drive for mounting images.

Power ISO

PowerISO is a program similar in functionality to UltraISO, but with some differences. This software can also create images from physical disks and files, edit ready-made ISOs, burn discs and emulate virtual drives.

The main difference is the grabbing function, which allows you to digitize music recorded on an audio CD with high quality and without loss.

ImgBurn

ImgBurn is software aimed at working with images: creation, including from files on the computer, checking for errors and recording. It does not have a clutter of unnecessary functions and solves only the problems mentioned above.

DVDFab Virtual Drive

DVDFab Virtual Drive is an extremely simple program designed exclusively for creating a large number of virtual drives. It does not have a graphical interface, so all actions are performed using the context menu in the system tray.

The programs presented in this review can be divided into two parts: the first is software for working with images, the second is virtual drive emulators. As you may have noticed, most developers strive to combine both of these functions in their products. Despite this, there are bright representatives in each category, for example, UtraISO is indispensable for creating and editing images, and Daemon Tools is great for emulating virtual media - CD/DVD and hard drives.

Read about how to create and work with disk images, as well as what programs you use in our article today.

Disk image. Areas of application

A disk image is a file containing a complete copy of the content and structure of the data located on the drive.

In this case, a disk should be understood as any hard disk (HDD), floppy disk (FDD) or optical disk (CD/DVD) or Flash drive.

Advice! The main advantage of a virtual image is the fact that the disk image contains absolutely all the information to duplicate the structure, content and location of data on the storage medium, repeating its set of sectors and ignoring the file system.

Virtual disks are used for the following purposes:

  1. Backup.
    Unlike conventional backup programs, which copy only those files to which you have access, if you create an image, in addition to the actual data, the bootloader and files that may have been blocked by the OS will also be copied.
  2. Software distribution. For distribution (including via the Internet) of large operating systems (OS) and software (for example, BSD, Linux OS distributions).
  3. Creating virtual hard disks in virtual machines. Before you start working with a virtual machine, you need to create a virtual hard disk on which the operating system will subsequently be installed.
  4. Replication of similar systems.
    If it is necessary to install the operating system and software on computers that have the same hardware configuration.
    A more rational step would be to install and configure the OS and software on one computer, after which an image is created along with all system settings and installed on other computers.

The .ISO format is the most popular disk image format, but has the disadvantage of lacking support for multi-session data.

Other popular formats are .DMG and .IMG formats, as well as proprietary .MDS/.MDF (Alcohol, Daemon Tools), NRG (Nero Burning ROM), .VCD (VirtualCD) and others.

Overview of programs for creating a disk image

Alcohol 52%

The program settings allow you to:

    check the accuracy of reading data from physical devices;

    improve the quality of scanning bad sectors;

    simultaneous operation with 6 virtual drives;

    work with formats: BIN, BWA, BWI, BWS, BWT, CCD, CDI, CUE, ISO, ISZ, NRG, MDS;

DAEMON Tools

As can be seen from the table, the functionality of the free version is sufficient for the tasks of the average user, which allows you to create and mount all existing types of images and emulate up to 4 drives.

The program has a clear Russified menu.

Ultra ISO

Ultra ISO- this program allows you to create, edit, convert images into various formats (b5i, b5t, b6i, b6t, bin, bwi, bwt, ccd, cdi, cue, daa, dao, dmg, icf, iso, ima, img, isz, lcd, mdf, mds, nrg, pxi, sub, tao, uif, vc4).

In addition to creating images from CDs, it is also possible to create images from hard drives and

For one reason or another they cannot be used. Imagine the situation: you downloaded an image of a game from the Internet, but you don’t have discs at hand to record it! This has probably happened to many people.

Of course, you can install this image on a flash drive, but not everyone knows how to do this. What to do in this case? A virtual drive will come to your aid, from which you will install the program or game you need. Creating it is not difficult at all, and it does not require any specific computer knowledge or skills.

There is one small bug in some versions of the program. The fact is that if you select an odd number of disks, the program, for some reason, cannot create them. For example, it can easily create 4 disks, but when creating a seventh virtual drive, it may stumble.

By the way, what else might the average user need them for? Let's start with the fact that using a virtual disk you can avoid damage to your physical media. In simple terms, it is better to create an image of your licensed copy of the game and run it from a virtual disk. Thus, the real media will be less susceptible to abrasion and scratches.

In addition, a virtual drive for Windows 7 in some cases can be used to create an avi video file from a virtual one. In this case, the process will go much faster, because the speed of the virtual disk is many times higher than the speed of the physical disk!



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