An ISO file is a type of archive file that allows users to copy the contents of an entire drive or disk. ISO files are uncompressed and contain many other files that have all been collected together for fast and easy transfers. ISO files are often used to store files from a CD or DVD so that they can be easily transferred across the Internet and then burned to a new disk when the user extracts the files.

ISO software allows users to create ISO files, burn them to disks, as well as extract content from them. Mounting software must be used to run an ISO file directly from the user’s computer without using a disk. Like standard media burning, an ISO file cannot be simply dragged and dropped onto a disk to have its contents burned. Instead, it must be burned using ISO burning software. Such ISO burning software is found below.

MagicISO
MagicISO is a semi-free software that allows users to create, edit, and extract disk images from CDs and DVDs. MagicISO also allows users to convert BIN files to ISO, convert ISO files to BIN, and create ISO files from CDs, DVDs, and hard drives. MagicISO embeds itself into Windows Explorer and, by doing so, allows users to simply right-click a file or folder and create an ISO file without even opening the interface. For example, a user could right-click on his/her primary hard drive (Disk C: in My Computer) and make a disk image of their entire computer. This one image file could serve as a backup if the hard drive ever becomes corrupted or needs to be reformatted. MagicISO is available at MagicISO.com.

IMGBurn
While MagicISO is specifically made for ISO files and allows the user to extract content from them, IMGBurn is designed for simply burning files to disks. IMGBurn is very easy to use, highly configurable, and is made to work with CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray disks. IMGBurn can burn a wide variety of file formats including BIN, CUE, DI, GI, DVD, IMG, MDS, NRG, PDI, and ISO. IMGBurn can also handle audio formats including AAC, APE, FLAC, M4A, MP3, MP4, MPC, OGG, PCM, WMA, WAV, and WV. It can be downloaded from IMGBurn.com.

ISODisk
ISODisk is a free ISO software that allows users to create and mount ISO files. ISODisk can create ISO files from CDs and DVDs or directly from files on the user’s hard drive. Though the files are assembled into an ISO file, users are able to view and access the ISO file’s content at all times. Once the ISO file has been created, the user can mount and run it as a virtual disk from within the ISODisk user interface and can even mount it to the user’s Local Area Network. ISODisk is very easy to use, can create up to 20 virtual CD/DVD drivers, and runs on all versions of the Windows Operating System. It can be found at ISODisk.com.

DoISO
DoISO is a free, open source ISO software that is capable of burning ISOs to any CD or DVD. DoISO can create ISOs from scratch, burn ISOs to CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray disks, create bootable disks, and includes support for many uncommon formats. DoISO also includes several features for customizing the way the software works. For example, users are able to set DoISO to automatically burn ISO files to a disk when they are created. Likewise, users are able to pre-erase rewritable disks. DoISO can also create video disks that will play in any DVD player. The software is made for the Windows Operating System and includes full integration with Windows Explorer. You can find DoISO here.

How To Use an ISO

ISO Recorder
ISO Recorder is a free and simple ISO creator and disk image editor that allows users to burn image files to CDs and DVDs, extract data files as well as disk images from CDs and DVDs, and create ISO files from CDs, DVDs, and folders. ISO Recorder was created by Alex Feinman and is available from his web site.

ISOBuster
ISOBuster is first and foremost a data recovery tool for CDs and DVDs. ISOBuster’s main feature is that it can recover lost or hidden data from a damaged CD or DVD and can display files and file systems from past sessions. ISOBuster is also capable, however, of creating ISO files, extracting ISO files, and burning ISO files to a disk. ISOBuster has dozens of features that deal with everything relating to disks including conversions, compression, extraction, and burning. ISOBuster sells for $29.95 and can be found at ISOBuster.com.

UltraISO
UltraISO is a virtual mimic of MagicISO. Like MagicISO, it is able to build ISO files from multiple source files and folders, extract files from CDs and DVDs, edit and convert ISO files into a number of other formats, and create bootable disks. The difference between MagicISO and UltraISO is that MagicISO is semi-free while UltraISO costs $29.95. UltraISO can be found at EZB Systems web site.

Active ISO Burner
Active ISO burner is capable of burning ISO files to CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD+R DL, DVD-RW, and DVD+RW disks. The software can create ISO files from source disks and hard drive files and folders in addition to being able to create bootable disks. Active ISO Burner is free and can be downloaded here.

Undisker
Undisker is a small utility tool that allows users to open and extract ISO files without burning them to a disk. Undisker works in the same manner that MagicISO does: by listing the individual files from within the ISO image and allowing the user to drag and drop the files that he/she wants to his/her desktop or a specific folder. Undisker is also able to create ISO files and burn them to a disk. Undisker has a Windows Explorer-like interface, is completely free, and can be found at Undisker.com.