ISO file help

[R Fernandez]

(Program with to cd's) when installing from original cd's two installation options are given "Typical" which only installs the program or "Full" which installs the program and second cd. When choosing "Full" installation will ask for disk 2--Program installs. I want to install from external drive. Used Roxio to create two iso files. Used WinRAR to extract both files. Opened first file and clicked on Setup. Both options are given "Typical" and "Full". Selecting "Typical" will install the program ok (program works but no info from disk 2). If I select "Full" an error message will pop up. Is there a way to get around this problem? Once the error message appears I have to abort.

 

[DavidE]

Here's something from MS you could try.

The Virtual CD-ROM Control Panel utility enables users of Windows XP, Vista, and 7 to mount ISO disk image files as virtual CD-ROM drives. This can be highly useful for reading disk images to install software or recover backup files. Notes: This tool is not supported by Microsoft; use at your own risk. Windows 8 users do NOT need this tool. Windows 8 natively supports ISO files. In Windows 8, you can simply open an ISO file and Windows automatically assigns it a drive letter and reads it as a virtual drive.

Source: Download Virtual CD-ROM Control Panel from Official Microsoft Download Center

 

[DavidE]

I had some time and played with the MS Utility.
It didn't work well for me.
Everything installed, ran, I mounted an ISO image.
No errors ...
Problem is I don't see the mounted drive in Explorer or Disk Management

I tried this other utility from SlySoft.
For me it's much easier to use.
I mounted 2 ISOs and see both of them in Explorer and Disk Management

SlySoft Virtual CloneDrive

 

[UsernameIssues]

+1 for Virtual CloneDrive

Using the link provided above - you should see this:



Followed by this:




After installation completes, double click on the shortcut that the install process places on the desktop and consider selecting these options:




Once the options are set, you can delete the desktop shortcut - you will rarely need to use it. You can get to the settings via the Start menu:




edit: I should add...
...double click on an ISO file from within Windows (file) Explorer to mount/use/view that ISO
...right click on the drive letter from within Windows (file) Explorer to eject that ISO

...and like David said, you can live without the VCCDaemon running all of the time.




edit2: You don't have to do this - but I assign drive letters V (virtual) and W to the two virtual drives so that the drive letters stay the same in case other drives are added over time. That way, if I install something via a mounted ISO, the installation comes from drive V. I use drive W mostly when comparing the files withing two ISOs.

 

[DavidE]

Nice help UsernameIssues +1.
Also, installing it does add a msconfig / startup entry for it.
I removed it from startup.

 

[UsernameIssues]

Nice help UsernameIssues +1.
Also, installing it does add a msconfig / startup entry for it.
I removed it from startup.

You are correct about not needing that app always running.
I've added a tiny bit to my post to reflect removing it.
Thanks for the reminder. I had not removed it from this laptop.