Please MS build in ISO mounter

Hi all
I know there are 3rd party tools etc (and probably the EU would have a fit again) but I think it would be an excellent idea for MS to build an ISO mounter in to the functionality of the OS. Virtual drives are flexible, convenient etc and with the HUGE sizes of pocket sized external USB drives available it makes no sense either practically or environmentally for people on the move who need to take a lot of software with them for testing to have to carry loads of DVD's. I have loads and loads of ISO's on a tiny (in physical size) 320GB WD passport USB drive - really handy BTW.

(Linux has had the ability to mount ISO's for YEARS).

Of course you've got Ultra ISO / sly soft etc etc but this to me should be an integral part of the OS.

(BIOS manufacturers should also look at the possibility of being able to boot directly from a virtual ISO instead of having to insert a separate USB stick etc at boot).

Hopefully in W7 SP1 maybe.

Cheers
jimbo

I need to get some viryual drive software...can anybody recomend any? Preferable something that doesnt cost a lot too! lol :)

Thanks

burtie said:

I need to get some viryual drive software...can anybody recomend any? Preferable something that doesnt cost a lot too! lol :)

Thanks

I've been using Gizmo (free) - Gizmo Drive -- Mount ISOs, encrypted hard drive images to a virtual drive

Hi there
I know we can get this stuff but I was saying this really should be an integral part of the OS.

Whilst I'm not against 3rd party products -- many many applications are EXCELLENT and definitely aren't part of the OS but there are other applications and features that really SHOULD be part of the base product and something like this is definitly a "Base feature".

Also when W7 came out quite a lot of these 3rd party tools didn't work such as alcohol etc. if you use these a lot it prevents you from upgrading in a timely manner.

Cheers
jimbo

smarteyeball said:

PowerIso


* As great as it would be to have inbuilt support, I wouldn't hold my breath for it to ever happen.

You can just imagine the anti-trust, anti-piracy, anti-anti groups making such a fuss that it would ultimately be deemed by MS to be not worthwhile.

Quite actually I can not.
ISO is a container format, nothing else. In other words it´s about the same as a VHD or a zip-file wich is supported. WIn7 also does iso burning so it already has the knowledge on how to read a ISO file.

Further on, MS do ship there software in ISO format on technet/MSDN and VLCS, therefore there is a very clear need for this kind of function in Windows to be able to use MS own software. Burning it to a disc is not enviromental friendly.

Third party apps in this sector is very high on PSS list over known bluescreen genetrators (only AV is worse). That in turn gives MS a bad reputation because "Windows crashed", a user doesn't understand that it was the third party app that realy caused the bluescreen

For you that have SA/EA, or partner connections. Drop MS a DCR for a mounting capability. Enough customer feedback on this and we will get it