WinCDEmu is a free, open source program that can mount disk images (.ISO, .IMG, .CUE, .BIN and .RAW) into virtual CD or DVD drives. It works invisibly without a user interface, and simply allows the user to double click on an image file to mount a CD/DVD image into a virtual drive, and to right-click “eject” to unmount.
There are many excellent freeware programs that can mount disk images into virtual drives. What is interesting about this one, however, is that it is completely integrated into Windows explorer, such that mounting an image file becomes a simple matter of double clicking on the disk image file (as you would any other file), and – voila! it is mounted.
If you don’t know what mounting a disk image means, here’s a quick description: a disk image file (of which .ISO files are the most common) is a CD or DVD saved locally on the hard drive as a single file, and which can be burned to a CD or DVD with a program like Imgburn. “Mounting” this file to a virtual drive means that your system will behave as if a real, physical CD or DVD was inserted into a real drive. Virtual drives are much faster than physical drives.
More notes below:
- Image formats supported: I’m quoting the website; “supports ISO, CUE, BIN/RAW/IMG file formats as well as SMB network shares and includes a workaround for Windows cache bug“
- Number of drives supported: unlimited.
- Supports network shares.
The verdict: there are many freeware disk image mounting options but I like the fact that this one is invisibly integrated into Windows explorer and that it supports such a wide range of image formats. I reviewed MagicDisc previously which has the added option of creating image files from CDs/DVD, but if you do not want that functionality (or if you already have it via your CD/DVD burning program), the WinCDEmu may be a more attractive option.
Version tested: 2.2
Compatibility: Windows XP and Vista, 32 and 64 bit.
Go to the program page to download the latest version (approx 783K).
Seems nice but I am too used to Daemon Tools.
Link to program page is broken for me.
Same here.
http://wincdemu.sysprogs.org/
Did not install on my 64bit VISTA
Link to program page appears to be broken
The link works, the problem is with the redirect. Just paste the link in a new window.
However, when I reach the program site, the download link pointing to Sourceforge doesn’t work for me. I eventually found it at http://www.softpedia.com/progDownload/WinCDEmu-Download-107478.html.
I’m still looking for a CD/DVD mounting app for windows that doesn’t require an install. Just a EXE I can run when I need to mount them.
I need something I can put on my servers and access my ISO’s on the network.
Samer, have you tried WinMount? A good alternative to mount disk images.
Sorry about the link guys. Just fixed it!
I’m using Gizmo (from Arania) to make and mount ISO’s.
@benwaynet: http://www.portablefreeware.com/?id=624 works on XP, but not Vista (or 7, presumably). Note that it still helps you to install a driver – there’s just no way around that.
@Leo: This blog is called FreewareGenius.
Is there any way to make it work …. i lost a play disk and I only have a back up image …. I remember this worked like a dream in XP …. but I am having trouble with it in Vista … When I mount the image it is recognized by the OS, but my game tells me that the disk is not in the drive.
Help?
cool thanks
On my XP SP3 machine with WindowBlinds and Directory Opus, WinCDEmu hangs the PC completely. I get the ‘choose drive letter’ dialog, then no warning, just total freezeup:(