The ISO format is a very common type of file that is an archived disk image. But the question is different - how to open this format in order to gain access to files inside? In fact, there are even a few solutions, and they all work reliably.
ISO extension - brief information for users
As already mentioned, ISO is a format that is used for archived files, most often used to create a complete image of CDs and DVDs. In addition, this format creates backup copies of hard drives. They have their own installer, and are also well recognized by programs. But an inexperienced user who downloads such a file from a torrent or directly from the Internet may encounter problems when starting it. Indeed, not everyone knows how to open the ISO format on a PC. Although in fact, everything is elementary.
An ISO image is created using programs for recording and copying discs, such as NERO Burning ROM, the same UltraISO and many others. It is in them that there are options that allow you to completely copy the disk, creating its image for a virtual drive.
It is noteworthy that figuring out how to open the ISO format will also not be a problem, since it is compatible with any operating system.
Opening ISO format using archivers
If you just need to access the files in the ISO-image, just use any of the archivers installed on the PC. In order to understand how to open the ISO format on a computer, just right-click on the image and select one of the following items in the context menu:
- 7-zip. Select the option "Open archive" or you can unzip it to your PC.
- “Open archive” using the standard WinRar archiver.
The advantage of this method, which shows how to open the ISO format, is that using any archiver you can extract from the ISO image not only the entire archive, but also certain files.
The end result of this procedure is to create a new folder in which the files from the image will be already unpacked.
There is one important point when using the WinRar archiver. In the settings of the program itself should be checked "Integrate WinRar with ISO." Further procedures are performed in accordance with the recommendations above.
There is a second way to open ISO files through archivers. To do this, run the program itself, and then select the "Open archive" item. In the window that opens, you need to specify the path to the desired disk image file, and then use the above recommendations.
Using special software to mount disks
This method is relevant if the ISO file contains multimedia files or game installers. In this case, the way how to open the game in ISO format using the archiver will not help much, since it does not guarantee a 100% clean installation.
It is best to use special programs, among which the real leaders are Daemon Tools, ISOBuster, UltraISO, Alcohol 120. Each of these programs creates a so-called virtual drive on the PC, in which all ISO images are easily mounted. Most importantly, emulator programs completely recreate the image of the original disk, preserving its integrity. So there should be no possible crashes and incorrect settings.
An important point is the fact that all of the listed software is free.
Opening ISO format in Daemon Tools
The most popular program today - Daemon Tools Lite has a complete set of tools to open an ISO image. In order to understand how to open the ISO format, you need to run the program once. Then she herself will discover the available images, add them to the directory.
For information! After analysis and scanning, Daemon Tools automatically integrates all the ISO files for itself, so that the image can be launched into a virtual drive with a simple double-click. Thus, how to open an ISO file through this program, it becomes clear and simple.
In comparison, the work of Daemon Tools with disk images can be put on one level, as if an original disk with a game, movie or other files was inserted into a physical DVD drive.
By analogy, there are other applications for working with mounting disk images. The disk should be mounted, after which it will automatically start and offer the user several actions to choose from. The main thing is that a virtual drive is already installed.