Update: It looks like Slysoft has shutdown their business 🙁
How to mount an ISO file with Virtual CloneDrive
Sometimes you might need to mount an ISO file you have downloaded. Windows can do that out of the box yet, but rumors say that we will be able to do that in Windows 8. Until then you should check out Virtual CloneDrive from SlySoft. Instead of burning the ISO file to a CD or DVD you can just right-click on the ISO file and select Mount. When you do this Virtual CloneDrive will load your ISO files into a Virtual CD/DVD Drive on your Windows computer. When the ISO file is mapped you can use the Virtual drive just as if it was a real physical CD/DVD drive in your computer. It even works with a lot of computer games that require the CD/DVD is in the drive while you play the game. Instead you can create an ISO file of the CD/DVD and mount it with Virtual CloneDrive.
When you are finish using the ISO file you just right click on the Virtual drive and select Unmount. Now you can delete the ISO file if you down need it anymore or you can burn it if you want to keep it but what to free up some disk space.
Virtual CloneDrive Features:
- Supports all common image formats such as ISO, BIN and CCD
- Supports up to 8 virtual drives at the same time
- Easy to use – just double-click an image file to mount as a drive
- Virtual CloneDrive is freeware.
Supported platforms:
Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7 (32 or 64 bit)
Had you heard about Virtual CloneDrive before reading this post? Let me hear what you think about it. Please drop me a comment below. You can download Virtual CloneDrive here
I didn’t know what to do with ISO files. That’s why it is very convenient to try Virtual CloneDrive in opening ISO files. Maybe I will check the slysoft to check if the software is compatible with my computer and if it is free to use. Thanks for the insights of this download.
You should check it out. It is a great way to manage ISO files.
i have never used it but after reading this article i will do this thnx for the share
You really should. It is such an easy way to manage ISO files and you don’t need to burn any DVD’s anymore.
Pretty good post. I just came across your site and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts. Any way I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon.
DVD business card
Hello! I have just installed this program, Have I got this right, mount the ISO to the drive, copy contents to a folder, remove unwanted file(s), mount this and then run or burn to a DVD.? I want to create a win7 multi edition boot disk and need to remove the ei.cfg files.
Hi Ian
You cannot make any changes to ISO files with Virtual CloneDrive you can only mount ISO files. Take a look at this article: http://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips/simple-ways-to-create-burn-and-mount-an-iso-image-file/ I think that might help you.
Thanks Thomas I followed that link but it did not help! As in my earlier request. how can I remove those files from my installation disc?
I want to create a win7 multi edition boot disk and need to remove the ei.cfg files.
I am not sure how you can edit an existing ISO files, but if you copy the files you need from your existing ISO files to your hard drive, make the changes you need and then use Files2ISO to create a new ISO, I think it will be possible.
Hey Thomas Thanks for that! Worked and now have a boot disc made to install all versions of win 7 thanks and I will follow you on twitter from now on !
Hi Ian
Glad to hear that it worked out for you and I learned about Folder2Iso. It could be a handy tool one day 🙂
This didn’t work. I did what you said but nothing will mount.
Hi Maddie
Could you give me some extra information? Did the installation succed? If you right click on an ISO file you should get the option to mount your ISO file.
I have used Slysoft virtual clone for a few years, it has stopped working, I’ve uninstalled and reinstalled It will not mount my ISO files, I have’nt changed anything on my system, I have no Idea why it wont work now…..any idea’s
Hi Mike
It is difficult to say. Do you get any kind of error-message when you try to mount an ISO file?
Maybe you have installed another program that conflicts with Virtual Clone? Do you see the virtual DVD drive on your computer?
Hi Thomas, thanks for your quick reply. The only thing I have done recently was to change from Arcsoft movie player 3 to Power dvd 11. The icon on the my computer screen i have never had, I have all my movies in windows media center with pictures of the dvd covers I would click on a cover and then click play, the movie would just play, iso, mkv, avi any file. Only iso will not play now, I go to the folder open a click on the iso and chose mount with virtual clone and power dvd opens and that’s it, nothing else happens. I’ve played movies this way for about 4 years, I can’t understand what’s changed.