How to Open ISO Files?

Here is the simple tutorial on how to open ISO files. While working on computer, you may encounter a file having extension ISO that may confuse you. You may have trouble to open and use it. ISO files are actually the simple image files that contain a number of files and folders, which are created during the packaging process of optical disc data and provide an easy way to download all data from an optical disc.

ISO file is basically an archived file that carries all files and folders in one zipped file. This file format often causes confusion for the computer users regarding their opening and usage. A number of ways are available for this purpose and the user can adopt the most suitable way based on his situation.

These files might be unknown to you, so here a little about these files are discussed for your convenience to use and to enhance your knowledge.

Opening ISO Files via Third Party Software

Windows XP and Windows Vista do not recognize these files. However, if you are user of any of these Operating Systems then you are in need to install third party software in order to open and use these files. Windows 7 provides a feature to deal with ISO files and you either can burn them to a disc or can store them on PC.

However, the easiest way to open these files is to burn them on an optical disc. This process will extract all files and folders from ISO file to the disc and will arrange them there to make them available for use.

Contents of ISO files can be read and used using some special software such as archive program 7-Zip, it reads the content of ISO files in the same way as to read from an archived file. It also has capacity to transfer ISO file contents to hard drive or USB device.

Opening ISO Files via WinRAR

WinRAR has also a capacity to deal with or unzip the ISO files, so you can use it without any hesitation. For this purpose, you just have to install WinRAR to your PC and make it sure that you have checked fox against .ISO files. Open the file in WinRAR window and drag out the folder from there to your required destiny.

Besides this, you can also give a command to extract file, which will be completed in few minutes. Now close the WinRAR window. The files are ready to use now and you can access them whenever you want.

Use of Daemon Tool to Open ISO Files

Daemon tool is another way to open and use ISO files. Download and install daemon tools to your PC.  Run the program when it is installed by right clicking the program icon in system tray. Select the virtual CD/DVD ROM option and set the number of devices as drive1. Wait for the finishing point of processing then left click daemon tools and pick device 0: no media.

In opening window, open your ISO file. Open ‘My Computer’ window, it will show a new CDROM Drive, open this drive by double clicking this icon. It will display all the contents of ISO file.

After using the ISO file, you can remove the virtual CD/DVD Drive by right clicking daemon tools in the system tray and selecting unmount all drives. This will remove all virtual drives and ‘My Computer’ window will not display any drive or content of ISO file any longer.

Use of  VLC Media Player

As ISO file is an image file of CD/DVD content, you also have another better and easy to use option that is use of VLC Media Player for opening ISO files. It does not require any mounting, burning, or extraction of files. The procedure is as simple as opening a media file in VLC Media Player, click open, and choose your ISO file from your computer to open it. It will display the file content for you.

Hence, ISO files can be viewed by using any of the above-stated methods and you can select the procedure as per your convenience depending upon the sources you have for this purpose.