Download the iso file to your computer. ISO files - how to unpack? Program for opening ISO files

ISO files are very common on the Internet, but when downloading such a file, many people have a question about how and how to open an ISO file on a computer. In this format, the younger generation most often downloads game disc images from various file hosting services and torrents. You cannot simply open an ISO file in Windows, since this requires a special program. In this article, we will look at the most common methods and programs with which an ISO disk image can be opened, unzipped, or burned to a DVD, obtaining a copy of the original disk.

What is an ISO file?

An ISO file is a CD or DVD disk image file created by special programs, which also has the “.iso” extension. An ISO disk image is a complete copy of an optical media and contains all the tracks on the disk, preserving their layout structure and all the files. Such technologies make it possible to use optical media based on an ISO file virtually created in the system on a par with original media, even if the CD or DVD has some copy protection.

ISO files are very often used to distribute copies of CDs and DVDs over the Internet. After downloading a disk image of a game or program to your computer, you can easily create a duplicate for yourself by burning the ISO image to a DVD or CD. Moreover, it can only be written to the type of media from which the disk image was created. This means that a disc image created from a DVD can only be burned onto a DVD disc, the same with CD discs.

How to open an ISO file on Windows of different versions?

In the Windows operating system itself, there have never been any internal tools for working with ISO files before. Windows XP did not have any tools at all, but versions of Windows 7 and 8 have a built-in utility for burning an ISO disk image to optical media. Without additional programs, you will not be able to view the contents of the ISO file in these versions of the operating system. The only option is to burn the disk image onto a DVDRW disc and insert it into the computer's optical drive.

In Windows 10, the functionality for working with ISO files is already much better. When you right-click on an ISO file image in Explorer, two items are already available in the context menu: “Connect” and “Burn disk image.” In the first case, the disk image is connected to a virtual drive; in the second case, it is simply written to optical media.

There are also various special programs for working with ISO files, which will be discussed further.

Programs for opening ISO files

Depending on what needs to be done with the disk image, different methods of opening ISO files are considered. If you need to install an ISO game file or some program, it is convenient to use an image emulation program. With its help, you can mount an ISO image into a virtual drive and immediately use it as original media. If you need to unpack the ISO file to your hard drive and access the attached files, you can use the WinRAR or 7-Zip archiver.

Special programs for ISO disk image file

Among the special programs for ISO files, there are those that can only create an ISO and burn the image to disk, and those that can mount an ISO image in Windows, creating a virtual drive in the system.

Free programs for creating and burning ISO:
CDBurnerXP https://cdburnerxp.se/ru/download
BurnAware Free http://www.burnaware.com/download.html
ImgBurn http://www.imgburn.com/index.php?act=download

Programs for creating a virtual drive and mounting ISO:
DAEMON Tools Lite(free) https://www.daemon-tools.cc/rus/products/dtLite
Ultra ISO(paid) https://www.ezbsystems.com/download.htm
Alcohol 120%(full) http://trial.alcohol-soft.com/en/downloadtrial.php

How to open an iso file with DAEMON Tools Lite

DAEMON Tools Lite is one of the most popular free programs that users use to mount images into virtual drives. The program allows you to work with many disk image formats and can simultaneously create a huge number of virtual drives in the Windows operating system. In addition, she herself can create an ISO disk image from the original CD or DVD media.

Nowadays, the DAEMON Tools Lite application has a lot of built-in advertising and almost all antiviruses and firewalls block its installation and even downloading. For this reason, you have to download it from other resources, and not from the official website.

After installing the program, a program icon appears in the Windows taskbar, by clicking on which you can go to the virtual drive management menu. Through it you can very quickly connect or disconnect an ISO file. You can also launch a full-fledged application through a shortcut on the desktop, where many more settings will be available for working with virtual drives.

After installing DAEMON Tools Lite, one virtual drive is automatically created in the system and is immediately ready for use. To connect an ISO disk image to it in a quick way, you need to left-click on the program icon in the tray, select a virtual drive from the list, and find the ISO image you want to connect through Windows Explorer.

If you right-click on the tray icon, a management and settings menu will appear.

To gain access to more settings, it is better to launch a full-fledged application in which, when you hover over each menu item, you can see a hint.

How to unpack an ISO file with an archiver?

An ISO file is essentially an archive of files, and many archivers recognize this format and can easily extract the ISO file to your computer's hard drive as a regular archive. After such unpacking, all ISO image files become available for use, as if they were copied from the original media to the computer.

Popular archivers:
WinRAR http://www.win-rar.ru/download/
7-Zip http://www.7-zip.org/download.html

How to open an iso file with WinRAR

In fact, there are many more archivers that can open an ISO file, but the most popular ones are WinRAR and 7-Zip. We will look at unpacking an ISO archive using the WinRAR archiver as the most installable one. This archiver immediately perceives ISO files as archives if the ISO format box is checked in its association settings.

Yesterday I urgently needed to extract several files from the ISO image, but there was no time to install any programs, so I asked myself the question - how to open the ISO file quickly and without unnecessary movements.

A huge amount of software and operating systems are distributed in the form of ISO images, so you just need to know how to work with this format.

There are several ways to open an iso file, but not everyone knew that it can be opened even by a program that is installed on everyone’s computer. What kind of program is this and what alternative methods are available, read in this article.

What is an ISO image?

So, what is an ISO file and what does it come with? In simple words, an ISO image is an electronic version of an optical disk, which is a file with its own file system and the actual contents of the disk.

Having a disk image, you can connect it in the operating system as a regular optical disk. There are a lot of options for using disk images! Starting from installing games and programs, ending with the work of special programs that work exclusively from an optical disc. Beta versions of operating systems are also posted in image format, for example in an ISO image you can

How to open an ISO file using UltraISO

The first, and once the most convenient way for me to open ISO files, is using the UltraISO program. I won’t give a link to the program; you can buy a paid version on the official website, but in open sources there are versions for which you don’t need to pay;).

To open an ISO file, you need to run the UltraISO program, select “ Open”

and specify the path to your ISO image. Then in the program window you will see the contents of the disk image

In order to extract a file from the image, right-click on the desired file and select the menu item “ Extract to...”

How to open an ISO file using DAEMON Tools

A very cool program for mounting optical disk images. Not the most convenient way if you just need to extract a file from a disk image, but I’ll still describe it as an option.

For us, the version of the program is quite enough DAEMON Tools Lite. You can download it from the official website absolutely free of charge.

After downloading the program, install it and run it. An image catalog window will open, add your image

Now you only need to select the added image and click the “ Mount“,

after which you will have a drive in your system (in my case, drive D)

Working with a mounted disc is no different from working with regular optical discs inserted into a DVD drive.

How to Open an ISO File with 7-Zip

My favorite and, in principle, the most convenient way to open ISO disk images. I found out about it relatively recently, and was pleasantly surprised. After all, today almost every computer has a 7-Zip archiver installed. It's free and easy to use.

You can download it from the official website using a direct link:

After installation, open 7-Zip File Manager, it is a regular explorer with archiver tools

To open an ISO image, you just need to go to the folder in which it is located and double-click on it. It will open like a normal folder

You can extract a file from an ISO image by selecting it and clicking on the “ Extract“.

And work with these materials. Imagine you downloaded a game or movie from the Internet. However, they do not want to open and have an .iso extension instead of the usual games.exe or video.avi format.

Background

The described type of files is also called a virtual disk image. Answer to

the question of how ISO files will work and how to unpack them directly depends on what program you will use to run this extension.
However, the definition should be clarified and note that an .iso is a digital image of an optical disk (it can be a copy of an existing CD/DVD or a man-made image). We have selected several programs for you that will help you figure out how to run an ISO file. Let's look at them in order.

using WinRAR program

Let's start with one of the simplest programs that can open ISO files. We are talking about everything that is known. We will not dwell on

all the properties of the archiver, we will only consider opening disk images. If you need the archiver solely as a program for opening ISO files, using it will not cause any difficulties. Using the right mouse button, click on the ISO file.
You will see a context menu, find the “Extract” tab in it. This way, the file will automatically be opened through WinRAR, which will prompt you to select a directory to extract the contents of the disk image. All you have to do is wait until the information in the ISO file is transferred to the specified location.

Note that the Windows 7 ISO file can be placed on flash drives if the system needs to be reinstalled. There is a separate category of programs for creating multiboot removable media.

Daemon Tools

Daemon Tools is a program for opening ISO files, but not only that. She happens to be

an emulator that creates virtual drives, installing them on a computer, they allow you to open a virtual disk image with .iso resolution. In other words, the application allows the computer to recognize the .iso as a disk located in a CD or DVD drive.

We will not dwell on all the intricacies of Daemon Tools; we will only consider how ISO files are opened using this application. To get started, download and install the program on your computer. Launch the application. In the main window, click on the “Add image” item. Select the ISO file, click the "Open" button.

The image will be placed into the program. Right-click on the icon and select “Mount Image”. Specify the disk image. The ISO file will automatically launch.

ISO files: how to extract images using Ultra ISO

From the name of the application it is clear that it is specifically designed to process

disk images. At the same time, working with the program is quite simple. Let's look at the procedure to play an ISO file in a few steps. Download and install the application on your computer. Launch it. Go to the "File" section and select the "Open" tab, find the required file and specify it.

After the ISO file is opened, you will see its entire contents on the right side of the program window. And now you can extract these files to your computer, and then easily run them.

Features of the Alkohol 120% program

A well-known program that allows you to work with images. It will help you run or play the contents of ISO files. The application may seem difficult to use for novice users. The program is paid; to use it regularly, you must purchase a licensed version. Let's look at how to use Alkohol 120%.

Download and install the program on your computer. During installation you will be prompted to create a virtual drive. Confirm this action. Restart your computer. After the system boots, you will see a new one among the available drives; it is necessary to open the file.

Select the desired file, right-click on it and click on “Mount image”. After specifying the image, it will autorun and will allow you to see the contents of the file.

Power ISO

Power ISO is a small, easy-to-use emulator for running disk images. This is an extended version of the Ultra ISO application, which allows you to play both ISO files and other images with .md2-5, .mdl, .mdf, .bin resolutions.

Free 7-zip archiver

Download the program from the official website. Install it. The application provides two methods to extract the ISO image. The first is gaining access to the entire contents of the image. The second is to use a specific file that is located inside the disk copy. Let's start with the first method.

Right click on your file. In the menu, select “7-zip - unpack”. A dialog box will open in front of you, at the top of which there is a special field. In it, specify the path intended for unpacking the image. Now let's discuss the second method. Launch the 7-zip application. Use the “Service” function, go to “Settings”, and then “System”. Check the box next to “ISO” and save the settings.

Find your image. Double-click on it with the left mouse button. Select the file you need, click "Extract". Further, all actions are similar to those described in the first method.

CDBurnerXP

CDBurnerXP is an excellent solution for beginner users. The application is provided absolutely free, is compatible with the Windows 7 operating system, and copes with the format perfectly. The program is very simple to use.

What can Nero do?

Nero is a paid program, but it offers 15 days of free use.

Download the application from the official website. Install it. During installation, always click on “Next” and do not forget to accept the terms. Launch NeroStartSmart and select the NeroImageDrive function.

Allow the first drive, go to the “First drive” item, find the “Open” button - click it, find the file on your computer, click “Open”. Next "OK". The file will be loaded automatically into the virtual drive; it can be opened in “Computer” as a CD/DVD media.

In most cases, the question of how to open an ISO file arises among novice users. When you first encounter this format, Windows cannot always choose the optimal utility for opening content or launching it. This compression option is common, so you should know how to open a disk image. There are several free utilities for this.

How to open an ISO file

This compression format is usually used to transfer data from a DVD or CD via the Internet or removable media. The archive contains all the data, which can then be unpacked on another computer. The format is used frequently, so you need to know which program to open the ISO. Your operating system may not immediately select a suitable application for these purposes; you may have to download it.

This format is often used to archive games and OS so that it can be launched in the future from a virtual drive without a physical disk. In this case, you do not need to unpack the archive, but simply run it. If we are talking about extracting content and then using it, you will need a special program. There are several well-known, convenient and accessible utilities that will help you perform all the steps described above. ISO - how to open:

Alcohol;
Deamon Tools;
Ultra ISO;
Nero;
7-zip;

How to open an ISO file on Windows 7

This version of Windows is considered the most common and popular, so below is a list of options on how to open an ISO in Windows 7. The standard set of system applications does not have a special utility for writing or opening this extension, so you will have to download it from the Internet. If we are talking about an archive with a game, then you should find Daemon Tools Lite. This version is free and has the necessary functionality. The method of use is as follows:

Install the utility. All ISO file icons change, but that's how it should be.
During installation, another section will appear in Explorer, which will act as a virtual drive.
Double-click on the image and it will automatically launch like a regular disk.
If this does not happen automatically, then go to the program, right-click on the drive and select “mount image”.
An explorer will appear through which you should specify the location of the file.
Next, through my computer, just go to the virtual CD-rom and run the installer.

The ISO image does not necessarily contain the game, it could be the operating system that needs to be extracted. The Ultra ISO program is perfect for this. This is a multifunctional tool that works with this extension, launches, unpacks or writes to other media (flash drives, disks). Instructions for using this utility:

Download the installer, install and after launch select “Trial period”. The functionality will be fully available.
Click the “File” button and select “Open”. Through Explorer, find the folder with the disk image and select it.
Contents will appear in the program window, which you can extract, write to media, or launch directly from Ultra ISO.
You can also immediately find the location where the archive is stored, right-click on it and select “Open with...”. In the window, select the Ultra ISO program. In the future, all such files will be launched by this application.

Another simple way to open a disk image is to use the popular 7Zip archiver. This utility works with a large number of formats. It is also capable of launching an ISO document; to do this, you need to do the following:

Download and install the application. During installation, select all types of extensions.
Find the folder with the ISO, right-click on it and select "Open with".
Click on the archiver in the list, and the ISO will be launched through it.
Next, you will see a list of files that can be unpacked or displayed for reading directly from 7zip.

There is another option for opening an ISO image - the Nero program. Previously, it was a very popular application for burning CDs and DVDs, but with the advent of flash drives it became less popular. However, it is capable of working with ISO, opening or writing to disk media. You will need the latest version of the utility with all the additions. Then the launch proceeds like this:

Install and launch the application.
Click on the item in the top menu “ImageDrive”. Confirm the action to create a virtual drive.
Click on the “First drive” item and select the disk image file using the browse button.
The disk will be mounted, and you can run the executable file or burn the contents to a CD.

How to open an ISO file on Windows 10

This is the latest and newest version of Windows, which has absorbed all the best developments of previous operating systems. It has an interesting design, like in Windows 8, and convenient functionality, like in 7. The system has many built-in programs that help you perform most of the necessary actions in the system. However, the developers did not include an option to open ISO in Windows 10, so you will need to download additional software. You should select from the same list as for the 7th version of Windows. Optimal programs in order of ease of use:

7Zip is an archiver that will help you launch an image and extract all the files from it.
UltraIso - the utility can not only launch an ISO, but also write it to any media.
Deamon Tools is a popular drive emulator for mounting ISOs.
Alcohol is a less popular utility, but also suitable.

How to open an ISO file on Windows 8

This operating system is often used as a pre-installed desktop shell on many modern laptops. Users who have recently purchased a PC should know which program to use to open the ISO file. Unlike other versions of Windows, this one has a built-in tool, so you don’t have to install anything additional. You can read the ISO as follows:

Find the folder with the file.
Right click on it.
In the context menu, click “Connect”.
You will have a new virtual drive where the document will be mounted.
After that, you can work with the content.

Owners of version 8 may have problems if the image is located on media with formatting other than NTFS or on network drives. In this case, you should use the programs described above:

WinRar/7zip;
Alcohol;
Deamon Tools;
UltraISO;
Nero.

Video: which program to open an ISO file

How to open an ISO file? Review of programs, the best fast and free solutions for viewing and running ISO images.

When downloading movies and games on the Internet, it’s common to come across .avi, .exe formats. Sometimes you come across similar ones. For example, after downloading the necessary materials, you may stumble upon an .iso file. How to open something like this, and what the significance of this format is, can be found in this article.

What is the ISO format for?

This type of material is very common. Its popularity is due to its practicality and ease of use. Answering the question “what is ISO needed for?”, it’s worth starting with the fact that this format is an image (an archive with the full contents of a disk) of a CD, DVD, as well as BR (an abbreviation for the Blue Ray format).
ISO files are designed to be opened in so-called virtual drives. There are special programs for this. The difference between virtual and classic drives is that the former do not physically exist, but if you connect a file with .ISO resolution to one, the PC will perceive it as a standard CD, BR or DVD.

Important! The ISO format allows you to back up and access discs without having to use the standard disc that came out of the box. This ensures ease of use and extends the life of standard media, which can wear out over time.

Despite all the convenience of working with this format, there is one significant feature - it can be opened using special programs for the so-called burning of discs. We’ll talk further about how to do this and with what tools.

Overview of programs for opening ISO files

So, if an .ISO file has entered your PC, a program that writes data to the disk or cleans it will help you open it. Suitable ones include the following:

Alcohol 120%
DAEMON Tools
Ultra ISO

Important! Even the standard WinRAR archiver will help with the issue of opening ISO materials. Other versions of programs for similar purposes are also suitable, for example, 7z.

Alcohol 120%

A very popular program for working with this kind of materials. It has two important features that need to be taken into account:

the licensed version is paid
For beginners, Alcohol 120% may seem a little difficult

If, nevertheless, you plan to use this particular utility, then to open and launch the materials you need to perform the following sequence of actions.

Download and install the program on your PC
At the moment when the installation takes place, a proposal to create a virtual drive will appear. It needs to be accepted
Once the installation is complete, restart your PC. Upon completion of this operation, you will be able to see a new, virtual drive in the general list of available drives.
Select the desired .ISO file and right-click on it. A context menu will appear in which you need to select the “Mount image” option.
Next, a dialog box will open. It requires you to specify the required file
After these manipulations in automatic mode, Alcohol 120% ISO file will open for viewing and launching the content

DAEMON Tools

This utility is no less popular than the previous one. In addition, it is free, and the algorithm for using it is somewhat simpler.

Open the program. In its main menu, select the “Add image” option
Select the file we need and click on the button called “Open”
You need to right-click on the shortcut of the open file, thereby calling up the context menu. In it, select the option “Mount Drive” (Mount image)

After this, it will start automatically.

-

Ultra ISO

The utility is designed specifically for working with materials of this type. UltraISO is a simple and easy-to-use program.

After installing the utility, run it and in the section called “File” select the “Open” option
Specify the location of the required file and open it in UltraISO
The material will appear on the right side of the window. All files contained in the image can be extracted to a PC and run

WinRAR

This utility is built into the standard set of Windows programs. Winrar unpacks ISO files similarly to other archives. Just right-click on the image of interest, click the “Extract” option in the context menu and in the dialog box that appears, specify the location for storing the unzipped materials. All that remains to be done after this is to wait for the process to complete.

Nero

Previously, the familiar package of utilities from Nero had a special project that supported an ISO image (Nero Image Drive). He is not active now. Therefore, this program, unfortunately, is not suitable for launching virtual drive files.

Important! All the described utilities have Russian-language versions. This, combined with a simple and intuitive interface, makes using such programs extremely easy.

The presented list of solutions is quite suitable for choosing one of the most acceptable options for opening ISO images. Working with each of them is simple and does not require special skills. You can clearly see the process of using the utilities in the video review.