What is ISO?

Beginners in working with a PC often face the fact that they can not open any file. This is due to the lack of software that can read it, and because of the lack of knowledge of file extensions. Often this problem is caused by the ISO format.

What is ISO? This is the most commonly used format for disk images. More precisely, it is an image of DVD / CD data , based on ISO 9660 standards. This format was released in 1988. The file with the image reflects the exact copy of the physical disk: data, directory structure , information relating to the file system, file attributes, boot data.

What are the images of disks for?

To better understand what ISO is, consider the scope of this format. Image files are used to create copies of DVD / CD disks. When creating an 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, the boot information, disk headers, track information will be lost. Having a disk image, you can later easily restore the original version of the duplicated media.

Advantages of a virtual disk

Now you have a general idea of what ISO is. What does it take to open it without burning it to a 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 advantages of a virtual disk:

• If you needed to quickly rerecord the disc, but you do not have a clean "records", you can burn the image and run it using a virtual disk;
• Convenient in the absence of a writing CD / DVD-ROM;
• You can use the image instead of your favorite disc, thus reducing the wear of both the disc and the drive;
• In contrast to optical, you can create a large number of virtual disks.

How do I open a disk image?

To open the image file, use the program called Alcohol 120%. Let's consider this process step by step.

1. Download and install Alcohol 120%.
2. Run the program. Select the item "Virtual Disk", located in the second menu on the left.
3. In the window that appears, select the required number of virtual disks (for example, 1), click OK.
4. Look in the lower right corner of the program, there appeared a virtual drive.
5. Choose the menu "File", "Open".
6. In the window that appears, select the desired file, click "Open".
7. In the right upper part of the program there will be an image file, 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 an image file to a DVD / CD, you can use the following software:

• Ashampoo Burning Studio;
• UltraISO;
• CDmage;
• Alcohol 120%;
• ISOBuster;
• ISO Commander;
• Nero.

Consider an example of recording an image on a CD by UltraISO.

1. Download, install the program UltraISO.
2. Start it, select "Open" in the "File" menu.
3. In the window that appears, select the desired file, click "Open".
4. Click "Burn CD image" (the button is located on the toolbar).
5. Select the recording method, speed. Click "Save".

How to create an image?

You can create an image of the desired disk by yourself using the above programs. Consider the sequence of actions for creating an image file using Ashampoo Burning Studio.

1. Download, install Ashampoo Burning Studio.
2. Insert the disk into the drive, open the program and select "Create / record disk image", then - "Create a CD / DVD image".
3. Click "Next".
4. Specify the location for storing the image file, as well as the desired extension. Click Next.

The image was created. With this image you can install any game or program, as well as just look at its contents.

We hope that this article has helped you to fully understand not only what ISO is, but also how to work with this format.