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Virtual disk. Programs overview for creating a disk image

How to create and work with disk images, as well as with which programs, read in our current article.

Disk image. Scope of application

The disk image is a file containing a full copy of the content and structure of the data placed on the accumulator.

Under the disk in this case, you should understand any hard (HDD), flexible (FDD) or optical (CD / DVD) disk or Flash drive.

Tip! The main advantage virtual imageis the fact that the disk image contains absolutely all the information to duplicate the structure, content and location of the data media data, repeating its sectors set and ignoring file System.

Virtual disks are used to:

  1. Reserve copy.
    In contrast to ordinary programs reserve copywhich are copied only to the files to which access is available, in the event of an image in addition, the loader and files that could be blocked by the OS will also be copied.
  2. Software distribution. For distribution (including through the Internet) operating systems (OS) and software (software) having a large size (for example, BSD, Linux OS Distributions).
  3. Creating virtual hard drives in virtual machines. Before you start working with a virtual machine you need to create virtual hard The disk on which the operating system will later be installed.
  4. Replication of the same type systems.
    If it is necessary to install the operating system and software on computers that have the same hardware configuration.
    A more rational step will be the installation and setting of OS and software per computer, after which the image is created together with all the system settings and is installed on other computers.

Format.iso is the most popular format of disk images, however, there is a drawback - the lack of support for many sessions.

Other popular formats are formats.dmg i.img, as well as proprietary.mds / .mdf (Alcohol, Daemon Tools), NRG (Nero Burning ROM), .vcd (VirtualCD) and others.

Programs overview for creating a disk image

Alcohol 52%

Program settings allow:

    check the accuracy of reading data from physical devices;

    improve the quality of scanning damaged sectors;

    simultaneous work with 6 virtual drives;

    work with formats: BIN, BWA, BWI, BWS, BWT, CCD, CDI, CUE, ISO, ISZ, NRG, MDS;

Daemon Tools.

As can be seen from the table, for the tasks of the average user, there is enough a free version functionality that allows you to create and mount all existing types of images and emulate up to 4 drives.

The program has a clear Russified menu.

Ultra Iso.

The useful features of the program include:

    optimization of a disk image structure that allows you to more rationally use a hard disk space;

    creating boot discs containing boot sectors of the most popular operating systems (DOS, Windows, Linux);

    extraction boot sectors With hard (HDD) and flexible disks (FDD);

    adding, deleting, editing files and folders directly inside the disk image.

The program interface is available on more than 40 languages, including support for English, Ukrainian and Russian languages.

The license cost of the program is 30 dollars, there is also a trial version.

How to create an image of the game using the Daemon Tools program

3 best programs To create a disk image

Depending on the emulator program, you can set five to six or even 10-20 virtual drives, and all this will not cost a penny, while the number of physical drives is usually limited to one or two.

Most users use CD / DVD drive emulation programs for the following purposes:

Starting images CD / DVD with hard disk without the need to record it on physical optical disk.
- Increase the speed of access to data (the hard disk speed is much more than optical).
- backup multiple disk image files on new hard The disc, which is much easier than the recording of several new CD / DVD.
- prevent the appearance of scratches or wear of CD / DVD disks when using them.
- Saving copies of the optical disk on hDD Computer, in case of damage, loss or abduction.
- Liberation of the workspace due to getting rid of the large number of physical disks.
- launch of disk images from a laptop or a netbook that do not have built-in CD / DVD drives or with off (to save battery charge) drive.
- Providing access to the disk for users on the network.
- Encryption disks to ensure safety.

Given the majority of the above objectives, all the following CD / DVD emulators are considered and evaluated according to the following parameters:

The number of available virtual drives.
- ISO support and other formats of images.
- The ability to create a disk image with CD / DVD.
- Interface and additional functions.

Overview

- This wonderful product allows you to mount the ISO file (or disk image in another format) to the virtual drive created using this program. After the image is mounted, it will be displayed in Windows Explorer as a "real" CD / DVD disc or hard disk.

Gizmo Drive supports up to 26 virtual drives. In addition to ISO, it works with other images, including VHD, IMG, BIN, CUE, NRG, CCD, MDS, MDF, and GDRIVE.

In addition to the launch of disk images on virtual drives, Gizmo Drive will be used when creating ISO images (both disks and individual folders), or to record the contents of the ISO file or folder to the optical disk. To perform various tasks in the program there is a special manager and a master of images.

The user interface Gizmo Drive is informative and useful. Additional functions Programs include the creation of GDRIVE images to simulate a hard disk with compression and encryption, creating virtual hard Disc with support for system memory to increase productivity in obtaining access to data depending on data, etc.

Another emulator designed to create and manage virtual CD / DVD drives. From allows you to run many types of disk images without writing them on a CD or DVD. Also, this program will help you in creating disk images and save them in various formats (including ISO, BIN / CUE, NRG and UIF).

MagicDisc Virtual DVD / CD-ROM has a simple interface and supports up to 15 virtual drives simultaneously. Among other features supported by this program are compression of various formats (ISO, NRG, CUE, MDS, CCD) in UIF, and the Recovery of UIF in ISO. The image recording function on CD / DVD discs this program is not supported.

Another easy to use emulator is called. With it, the disk image can be mounted on a virtual drive literally for two clicks with the mouse. Just as with the aforementioned programs, it is achieved using the auxiliary commands that appear in the context menu. Windows Explorer, and used for mounting and disassembling images.

In the latest versions of Virtual CloneDrive, you can set (as in MagicDisc Virtual DVD / CD-ROM) to 15 virtual drives. To the original useful features of the utility can also be attributed to the automatic mounting of the last image and special icons, which are indicated by virtual drives (for differences from physical).

The list of supported formats Virtual Clonedrive includes ISO, CCD, IMG, UDF, BIN, etc., but NRG, MDF / MDS and some others are not supported. This, as well as the absence of the ability to create and write disk images is a minus of this program.

Other programs

In addition to the above products there are still a number of free softwareperforming similar functions. Below you can view a list of some of them:

Alcohol 52% FREE EDITION - a trimmed version of the commercial product Alcohol 120%. Free version Limited by 6 virtual drives, and sets the search panel to your browser (you can disable). Additional features - CD / DVD manager and image creation wizard in ISO, MDS, CCD and CUE formats.

Daemon Tools Lite supports only 4 virtual drives. Supported formats include ISO, ISZ, CCD, CDI, CUE, MDS, NRG, BWT, PDI, etc. also Daemon Tools Lite. Allows you to create images in ISO and MDS formats. This program, like the previous one, establishes an additional search bar to your browser and changes the main search provider.

Virtual CD-ROM Control Panel - free utility From Microsoft, operating in the Windows XP operating system, and allows you to add virtual drives from A to Z, or delete them. Supported formats: ISO, UDF, CDFS, ROCK or JO. Cons - not very friendly interface and lack of ways to create images.

WinCdemu - program with open codesallowing CD / DVD images simple click on the desired file. To dismantle the image you only need to click on it again, or extract the appropriate drive using context menu. The utility supports iSO formats, Cue, NRG, MDS / MDF, CCD, IMG and works in operating systems from WinXP to Win7. Cons - no uninstaller, and the impossibility of creating images.

Sometimes the PC users are sharply asked how to create a virtual hard disk or CD-ROM. We study the procedure for performing these tasks in Windows 7.

Methods for creating a virtual disk, first of all depend on what option you wish to get in the end: the image of hard Media or CD / DVD. Usually, hard files The drives have the VHD extension, and ISO images are used to mount CD or DVD. In order to implement these operations, you can use the built-in Windows tools or contact third-party help.

Method 1: Daemon Tools Ultra

First of all, consider the creation of a virtual hard disk using third-party program To work with drives -.

  1. Run the application with administrator rights. Go to the tab "Instruments".

  2. A list of the list of available program tools opens. Choose item "Add VHD".

  3. A VHD add window opens, that is, creating a conditional hard medium. First of all, you need to register a directory where it will be placed this object. To do this, click on the button to the right of the field "Save as".

  4. Opens the save window. Log in it to the directory where you want to locate a virtual drive. In field "File name" You can change the name of the object. Default is "NewVHD". Next click "Save".

  5. As you can see, the selected path is now displayed in the field. "Save as" In the shell of the program Daemon Tools Ultra. Now you need to specify the size of the object. To do this, by switching the radio channel, set one of two types:
    • Fixed size;
    • Dynamic expansion.

    In the first case, the volume of the disk will be accurately given by you, and when the second item is selected as the object is filling, it will expand. The actual limit will be the size of the empty place in the area of \u200b\u200bthe HDD, where the VHD file will be placed. But even when choosing this option, still in the field "The size" It is required to install the initial volume. Just the number fits, and the unit unit is selected to the right of the field in the drop-down list. The following units of measurement are available:

    • megabytes (default);
    • gigabytes;
    • terabytes.

    Attentively, take care of the choice of the desired item, because when an error, the difference in size in comparison with the desired volume will be much more or less. Next, if necessary, you can change the name of the disk in the field "Tag". But this is not a prerequisite. Producing the actions described, to start the formation of the VHD file, press "Start".

  6. The process of forming a VHD file is performed. Its speaker is displayed using the indicator.

  7. After the procedure is completed, the following inscription will be displayed in the Daemon Tools Ultra shell: "The process of creating VHD has been successfully completed!". Press "Ready".

  8. Thus, virtual hard storage Using the Daemon Tools Ultra program created.

Method 2: disk2vhd

If Daemon Tools Ultra is a universal tool for working with media, then disk2vhd is a highly specialized utility intended for creating VHD and VHDX files, that is, virtual hard disks. In contrast to the previous way, applying this option Actions, you can not make an empty virtual media, but only create a cast of an existing disk.


Method 3: Windows Tools

The conditional hard medium can be formed with the help of standard system tools.

  1. Press "Start". Right mouse button ( PKM.) Click by name "A computer". Opens a list where you choose "Control".

  2. The system management window appears. In the left of its menu in the block "Storage devices" Go up by position "Disk management".

  3. The storage control tool is started. Click on position "Act" And select Option "Create a Virtual Hard Disk".

  4. The creation window opens, where you should specify, in which directory will be a disk. Press "Overview".

  5. Object viewing window opens. Move to the directory where you plan to host the drive file in VHD format. It is desirable that this directory is not located on the TOM section of the HDD on which the system is installed. Mandatory condition It is that the partition is not cleaned, otherwise performing the operation will not work. In field "File name" Be sure to specify the name under which you will identify this element. Then press "Save".

  6. Returns in the Virtual Disc Window. In field "Location" We see the way to the directories selected in the previous step. Next you need to assign the size of the object. It is done almost the same as in daemon program Tools Ultra. First of all, select one of the formats:
    • Fixed size (installed by default);
    • Dynamic expansion.

    The values \u200b\u200bof these formats correspond to the values \u200b\u200bof the types of discs that we have previously considered in Daemon Tools.

    • megabytes (default);
    • gigabytes;
    • terabytes.

    After performing these manipulations, press Ok.

  7. Returning to the main section of the section management window, it can be observed in its lower area that a unallocated drive has now appeared. Press PKM. By his name. Typical template for this name "Disc №". In the menu that appears, select Option "Initialize disk".

  8. Opened disk initialization window. Here you just click Ok.

  9. After that, the list appears in the list of our item. "Online". Click PKM. on an empty place in the block "Not distributed". Choose "Create a simple volume ...".

  10. The welcome window is launched "MASTERS CREATING TOMA". Press "Further".

  11. The next window indicates the size of the volume. It is automatically calculated from the data that we laid when creating a virtual disk. So there is no need to change anything, just press "Further".

  12. But in the next window, you need to select the letter of the name of the volume from the drop-down list. It is important that on a volume computer that has the same designation has not been. After the letter is chosen, press "Further".

  13. In the next window, make changes not necessarily. But in the field "Tom Mark" You can replace the standard name. "New Tom" on any other, for example "Virtual disk". After that B. "Explorer" This element will be titled "Virtual disk k" Or with another letter you chose in the previous step. Press "Further".

  14. The window will then open with the summary data that you entered in the field "Masters". If you wish to change something, please click "Back" And make changes. If everything suits you, then click "Ready".

  15. After that, the created virtual drive is displayed in the Computer Management window.

  16. You can proceed with "Explorer" In chapter "A computer"where there is a list of all disks connected to the PC.

  17. But on some computer devices after rebooting in the specified section, this virtual disk may not appear. Then run the tool "Computer Management" and go to the department again "Disk management". Click in the menu "Act" And choose a position .

  18. The drive attachment window is started. Click "Overview…".

  19. File viewing tool appears. Go to the directory where you previously saved the VHD object. Highlight it and press "Open".

  20. The path to the selected object will be displayed in the field. "Location" window "Attach a virtual hard disk". Click Ok.

  21. The selected disk will be available again. Unfortunately, some computers have to do this operation After each restart.

Method 4: Ultraiso

Sometimes you want to create a not hard virtual disk, but a virtual CD drive and run a file in it. image of ISO.. In contrast to the previous one, this task cannot be performed solely using the operating system tools. To solve it, it is necessary to use third-party software, for example.


We figured out that virtual disks can be of two types: hard (VHD) and CD / DVD images (ISO). If the first category of objects can be created both using third-party software and using internal Windows tools, then with the ISO mounted task, you can cope only by using third-party software products.

Last Week We Asked You to Share Your Favorite Disk Image Tools, Then We Rounded Up the Five Most Popular Responses for a vote. Now We "Re Back to Highlight Your Favorite. Daemon Tools Led The Pack By A Comfortable Margin WITH 40% Of The Vote.

SoftPedia.com Daemon Tools Lite Is A Software Solution That Will Impress You, Especially Thanks to Its Advanced Features That Can Deal With Virtually All Image Formats on the Market. Reliable Application That Creates Virtual Drives On Your Computer, Providing You With the Possiblity to Emulate CDS and DVDS for Instant Access.

PcWorld.com If You Spend A Lot of Time Swapping and Hence Waiting On CDS OR DVDS TO MOUNT, DAEMON TOOLS LITE IS WORTH ITS WEIGHT IN GOLD. Even if you don "t, it" s a Program You Should download to Keep in Your Bag of Tricks - You "LL Find A Use for it Evenually.

Download.com The Advantage IS That You Can Burn The Images Lite Right Away Or Just Test An Image Before Burning It to See If It Was Created Correctly. Daemon Tools Lite Works with Most Image Formats.

Filecluster.com Pros.
- Small and Highly Stable Program.
- Low Resource Requirements.
- Simple and Functional Interface ...

Software.informer.com Daemon Tools Lite Manages to Be More Comprehensive and Feature-Rich Than Many Of Its Competitors. And that "s Quite Remarkable, Especially Considering That Daemon Tools Lite Is Free While Many Of Its Competitors Are Not.

Downloads.tomsguide.com AS A Disc Imaging Tool, Daemon Tools Lite "S Free Nature Automatically Makes It A Lot Better Than Many Competing Applications Simply Because It Offers Most Of What The Sefer at the Vastly Reduced Price Of Free.

www.techadvisor.co.uk WWW You Have a Disc That You know You "LL Need to Access Regularly, Then, Daemon Tools Lite Allows You to Create An Image in Just a Couple of Clicks. This then showing up in its image catalog Speedy Reloading Later, And You Can Put The Real Disc Away.

techgyd.com Daemon Tools Lite Is One Of the Best. Software for Emulating and Organizing Your Disc Images. The Software Is Very Easy to Use And Fulfills All Your Disc Related Requirements. The Virtual Drives Support Is Amazing.

Maddownload.com if you are looking for the best software to work with ISO, MDX, MDS, and MDX Files? Well, You Have Come to the Right Place. Daemon Tools Lite Is An Easy and Ready To Use Downloadable Software Compatible with Windows. IT IS Well Known Reputable Software That Gives You The Power of Having A DVD-ROM Emulator Right Ato The Comfort of Your Own Home.

Giga.De Mit Dem Daemon Tools Lite Download Könnt Ihr Virtuelle Images Erstellen, Speichern und Einbinden Sowie Virtuelle Laufwerke Emulieren.

It's no secret that the use of DVD and CDs has recently goes to recession, since there are more convenient analogues: various flash cards, removable hard drives And other wonders of technology. However, there is no attention to the technology developed relatively long ago - the creation of virtual drives and disks.

What is a virtual drive?

Virtual drives from virtual disks should be distinguished.

Virtual drive is a device that has the same functions as physically real drive: a disk recording, reading and so on.

Virtual disk is analogy that can be read or recorded using a virtual drive. Most often, the object of recording to a virtual disk is the so-called disk image, which is an ISO file.

In this case, the virtual drive and the disk cannot be transferred, scratch or folded into the envelope. These devices are virtual, that is, do not exist physically. We emulate their presence in our computer.

Why do you need a virtual drive?

There are a number of reasons for using virtual drives and disks is justified:

  • The ability to quickly rewrite the disk to the computer without spending the purchase of a DVD disk.
  • Maximum security. Real disk or drive can be scratched, hit, break. Virtual devices are devoid of such a threat.
  • The ability to create as many virtual drives and the more discs.
  • Convenience in the transfer of information on the Internet.

Thus, we get a flexible mechanism for recording, reading and transmitting information, without without spending on the purchase of additional drives and piles of disks, this approach is obsolete every day. You do not have to mess with packing discs, you do not need to learn to install and customize the drive in your computer. Just have enough to have installed on the computer operating system Windows 7 and above.

How to create a virtual drive?

Having understood that it gives us to use virtual drives, go to the most interesting stage - creating them on your computer.
To date, there are plenty of programs that make it possible to implement this. The most proven time and convenient to use are Alcohol 120 and Ultraiso. We will analyze the use of both programs, after which everyone can decide for themselves which of the programs is more convenient.

Virtual drive for Windows 7 with Ultraiso

Download this program from an official or any other source. It is advisable to use last version 9.6.5, although the use of older versions is not critical.

During installation, at the stage of selecting additional tasks, you must install a check mark on "Install ISO CD / DVD Emulator"

Ready. After installation, go to my computer and see that the virtual drive has already been created:

Run the program. In the upper left corner we see a disk image, which was also created automatically. To the right of it is shown its contents, which is still empty. Below is the directory of files of our computer, it is from here that we can choose files and send them to our virtual disk:

We see that the data was added to the virtual disk directory. We go to file -\u003e Save as:

Click on the "Mount to virtual drive" icon:

We are convinced that the path to the file is set correctly and click "Mount":

Go to my computer, open the contents of the virtual disk and see that the PACTIONER.php file is recorded on it:

Thus, in just a minute, we created a virtual drive and mounted a disk image on it. In the example, a regular file was used, instead of it could be, for example, some game that you need to emulate from the disk so as not to get a disk every time and not to load it into a real drive. The recording of such things looks likewise: select the disk files with the game in the directory, throw them into a virtual disk, emulate it and ready. Real disk you no longer need.

Virtual drive for Windows 7 with Alcohol 120

Download and install the program. After installing the program, we see that Alcohol 120 shares physical drives from virtual:

Virtual drive f is ready for use, for this it is enough to transfer the necessary ISO files in the field above and select the desired function. To write an image to a real disk, choose Image Burning Wizard. In this case, we want to emulate our image on a virtual drive, so add the same image that you created in Ultraiso, press the right mouse button and select Mount on Device:

Ready. We will open new Disc With recorded PACTIONER.PHP file:

RESULTS

We reviewed theoretical Foundation Virtual drives and disks, dealt with programs that allow this technology. Undoubtedly, the use of these things will save your time and nerves, which is very important in the age of information technology.