Virtual ISO seer. The best programs for working with virtual disks and drives

Very many users personal computers on the windows platform often asked questions - what is virtual disks and how to create virtual disk. To increase the awareness of our readers in these issues, in this article we will try to fully disclose the topic on specific examples.

Also in our article we will look at what is virtual hard drives and where they are used. After reading the material, our readers will be able to create virtual hard drives and Image DISK in ISO format, as well as without problems to mount them on the virtual device and record on DVD.

Virtual optical drive and its applications

main destination virtual drive - this is mounting images optical disks. To figure out in detail why it is needed, we will consider an example where the image disk in ISO format will be mounted on the Virtual DVD-ROM. For this example, we will use the Windows 10 operating system.

A pleasant moment for computers with the Windows 10 operating system will be the fact that a virtual DVD-ROM has already been installed. Therefore, Windows 10 holders do not have to use third-party programs For mounting images.

To mount an optical disk image into a virtual DVD-ROM, we need an image itself. For example, we will use image from the operating room linux system Ubuntu.. You can download the image of this operating system on its official website http://www.ubuntu.com. In our example, we will use the image 64-bit Ubuntu version 15.10which has a size of 1.1 GB.

After downloading the image, you can proceed to directly mounted. To do this, click on the image file right-click to open the context menu.

Mounted "Virtual Disk" You can open and copy all its contents.

As can be seen from the example, we mounted an image from Ubuntu OS on a Virtual DVD drive. In fact, we were able to do almost what we are doing with the usual and optical disk when we insert it into a DVD-drive and open it, only in our version all the components are virtual.

Creating a Laser Disc Image

In the previous example, we looked at how to open Image Disk in a virtual DVD drive. Now we'll figure it out with the situation when you need to create an image of an optical disk. To create an image, we will need the Daemon Tools Lite program, which you want to download and install. It is also worth noting that in addition to creating various formats of images, Daemon Tools. Lite. can also mock great amount Formats in your own Virtual DVD drive. After installing the program Daemon Tools Lite. In the conductor you can see a new drive named ""

This "" is just the drive of the program under consideration Daemon Tools Lite.. In this example, we will create the image of the original installation DVD with the Windows 10 operating system. To make from the installation DVD with a dozen image, insert it into a DVD drive. Now launch the utility and move on to the section " New image».

In the Utility window we find the button " Create an image from the disk"And press it. These actions will transfer us to the image creation window.

In this window, you can select the DVD drive from which the ISO image will be created, as well as select the location of it.

Also choose Image ISO format and confirm the creation by pressing the start button, which will start creating an image of a DVD disk from Windows 10.

After creation, we get an ISO image file with the name "j_ccsa_x86fre_en-ru_dv5.iso", which can be mounted or recorded on a regular blank and install with it new Windows.

From the example you can see how easy to write image for virtual DVD-ROM with Daemon Tools Lite.. In the same way, you can write images for all licensed windows disks, whether xp or vista. In addition, you can record images of games or software that are not launched without disk. In addition to the program Daemon Tools Lite. I would like to advise other popular utilities that can create and allow you to open image optical disks:

• Alcohol 120%;
• Gizmo Drive;
• WinCdemu.

Especially relevant to use these utilities on the OS, where there are no built-in virtual DVD drives, for example, in OS XP. In addition to supporting XP, each of these programs, including Daemon Tools Lite.Can write ISO images on DVD Disk. In addition to supporting ISO format, these utilities can mount other formats, including their own, they can be recorded on ordinary blanks.

Virtual hard drive

Virtual hard The disc is often used in IT specialists, as it allows you to solve many tasks with backup, virtual machines and testing of various OS. Virtual hDD is a container file that simulates the hard disk file structure.

Since such a Disk is a file, so it is usually stored on physical HDD or SSD. Starting with Windows 7, users have the opportunity to create and mount hard disk directly in the operating system.

Consider an example of creating a virtual hard disk using Windows 10 tools. To begin with, we go to the utility " Perform"Using the Win + R key combination and score in it such a command: diskmgmt.msc

This command will transfer us to the disk control panel.

To create a new Virtual HDD, you need to go to the menu " Action / Create Virtual Hard Drive"That will open the window to create such a Disk.

Starting with Windows 10, it has the opportunity to create a Disk from the format " VHDX" Unlike the "VHD" format, the format " VHDX»Can create containers having size up 64 terabyte. We will make our 32 GB virtual hard drive in a new format " VHDX", As well as put the switch to the dynamic mode of creation, in which our DISK will increase as it is filling.

After setting the parameters of our hard disk, press the OK button, which will allow you to write it to the specified folder on the screw. After creating at the output, we get a virtual hard disk named "Virtual Disk.vhdx". From the image, it is clear below that our Disk is automatically mounted, but it is still not visible in the system.

In order for the system to see our VHDX DISK, it must be initialized. You can do this with the help of clicking on the VHDX DISK right-click and select in the context menu of the point " Initialize disk».

In the window that appears, we do not change anything and press the OK button.

Now the simplest, choose the file system and letter for our disk. To do this, we turn to it and in the context menu, choose the item " Create a simple volume».

After that, the wizard will be launched in which you want to assign a disk letter and select the file system. After completing the wizard, the virtual hard disk will appear in the conductor.

From the example, it can be seen that it is very simple to create Virtual HDD tools, so we hope that you will not have a more question - how to create a virtual hard disk. I also want to note that with the VHDX discored disk you can make such operations as:

• Encrypt it using BitLocker;
• Establish an additional OS on it;
• Move and open it on another computer;
• Connect it to the virtual machine.

Computers based on the Windows XP operating system, which still remains quite popular, no support for VHD discs. But do not get upset, because the utility reviewed earlier Daemon Tools Lite. there is support for VHD discs and she fully compatible with Windows XP.

Using a VHD disk in a virtual machine

Create with the program VirtualBox virtual Machine based on the Windows XP operating system. At the stage of creating Virtual Machine for XP, it will be prompted to create or attach a virtual hard DISK to be used for windows installations XP on it.

At this stage, we can attach the VHD Disk, which we will create with using windows 10. Therefore, we will try to attach our VHD container for 30 GB, which we have done in the top ten. After creating virtuals, you can view the attached VHD Disk in its settings.

If there is little place in the Virtual Machine on XP, you can always attach new VHD Virtual HDD. Besides, you can connect to Virtual Machine for XP containers with different file data. In the same way, you can use Virtual Machine from others software products. For example, VHD containers can be installed in VMware Workstation products.

Outcome

From the considered material it is clear that using virtual drives and hard disks It makes much better to solve many tasks, especially with their creation even the novice PC user will understand. We hope that our material will help our readers better deal with the question - how to create a virtual disk and how to use it for work.

Video on the topic

Users made early "zero", probably remember those times when movies, computer games, programs and music were delivered to our computers only with the help of CDs distributed at that time DVD discs. About the free download of data on the Internet, torrents and YouTube still know no one knew. The situation was saved by optical drives, with which the information was transferred to the hard disk of the computer.

The rapid development of Internet technologies has questioned the need to have such a component as a "drive". In the current stationary systems and laptops, rarely meet the presence of a drive. All because of the virtual disks, which were ousted "Dwarfs" and became a common phenomenon. However, not everyone managed to have a comfortable transition to new technology. In this article we will try to correct this situation and explain in detail the essence of the creation process, the nuances of use and other questions that have repeatedly arose with everyone who does not know how to use a virtual CD ROM.

When it might take

Many may be doubtful to use the introduction of some innovation and just further use an optical drive, overwriting images and information on physical media. However, the archaic option loses in some cases, the most common of which are:

• Lack of or malfunction of the drive. Any detail has no eternal life. Sooner or later, a problem may arise, and it's good if it happens not at the most necessary moment (that according to the "law of meanness" occurs often). In addition, the Sistemnik, who receives a disk with information from you, may simply not be an optical drive. But the virtual CD-ROM is on any modern PC (if you dedicate for some time creating it).
• Multichannel. I have rarely when computers came across, in which several drives there were immediately. Juses, often working with recording and reading disks, had to constantly rearrange CD / DVD. There are no such problems with virtual disks, which means you can simultaneously work with several.
• Ease of data transfer. To exchange information recorded on the "Dawn", you need to personally convey the carrier of the host. In the case of virtually recorded images - transmission is carried out online, on the Internet.

Creating a Virtual CD-ROM

To read virtual images (ISO; MDF, BWI, MDS and Other files), you need to create a virtual CD-ROM, which, like optical drivePlays (emulates) data from the drive. You can make a virtual disk using a special software, such as Daemon Tools, Virtual Drive, their principle of operation is identical, and the functionality is largely similar. For example, we took the last of the listed, since with its capabilities and tools it is very easy to cope with the user even far from such processes.

1. First, you download the Alcohol installer 120% on the link from the Yandex Disk, or on the official website of the developer. Install on your computer.
2. Run the program. First of all, we need to create a virtual CD drive. To do this, select the option in the "Settings" section. "Virtual disk".

1. In the menu that opens, manually select to-in virtual disks created. Confirm the result by pressing the OK button.

The drive has been successfully created that we can observe in the "Device" panel or in My Computer folder.

1. Now open the finished image. To do this, select the "File" tab, and in the menu that opens, click on "Open ..." (or simply use the combination keys Ctrl. + O).

1. We find the file-image you need, allocate its LKM and click on the "Open" button.

The image is added to the processing library.

1. Now you need to read the previously added file. To do this, select the PCM image, and in the drop-down menu select the option "Mount to the device".

Work is done. The result can be observed in the "Computer" folder, where the installer placed in the virtual drive will be among the reading devices.

After the operations carried out in the image, it is necessary to extract it from the virtual drive. To do this, using the Alcohol 120% program, in the menu of the existing drives, select our BD-ROM with the right mouse button and select the function in the list "Dismantle the image". The disk will empty again.

If you want to remove virtual drive At all, it is necessary to repeat similar action, as when it is created:

1. IN available devices Click on DVD / CD PCM drive. In the list that appears, click "Properties".

1. Back to set the value "0", in the selection section of the Virtual Disc selection and click "OK".

Adding a virtual hard disk

The above opportunities are available to many for a decade. The popularity of using a virtual reader device has caused a similar phenomenon, called a virtual hard disk. This technology allows you to create a file (having a VHD extension), which in the conductor is displayed as a standard partition on the hard disk. The rationality of using the Virtual-drive Each decides: some thus reorganize free space on volumes, others even install the OS. You should not forget about the ability to create a secure file container, thus limiting information from the encroachment of other users.

We will create a virtual hard disk using standard windows (This feature is available in Windows 7, 8.1, 10). However, and with the help of special software you can achieve a similar result. Daemon Tools Ultra, as well as disk2vhd, is coped to the most effectively with this task. These programs have separate sections on the creation of virtual disks (both drives and drives of similar HDDs).

1. Open the "Run" service while simultaneously pressing the Win + R keys. In the empty string, enter the DiskMGMT.msc command and click "OK".

1. Service will open "Disk management". In the Control menu, activate the "Action" tab, and select "Create a Virtual Hard Disk".

1. In the window that appears, you need to specify the location created file, Select the format (VHD / VHDX), as well as determine the possibility of expanding the file.

1. The file is created, but the disc is not initialized. Press on the PKM disc, select the option "Initialize disk".

1. In the next window, you must specify a section style (we advise the GUID if you intend to limit the standard features of working with the selected space).

Connecting a disc after rebooting PC

Unfortunately, working with a virtual hard disk requires re-connecting the VHD / VHDX file after each session is completed. Fortunately create new Disc, initialize the section and create that we do not have to. To return a virtual disk to work (emulate data), you must perform the following steps:

We hope, with the help of our article you have learned how to create a virtual disk, and also identified for yourself the use of its use.

And also watch video

), After all, it has all the attributes necessary for this. Nevertheless, the main attractiveness of the product lies precisely in the features of working with images of optical disks.

Alcohol 120% Allows you to create images of CD and DVDs, it is able to straighten with some copy protection, allows for up to 31 virtual drives. However, even the simplest CSS encryption used in the manufacture of licensed video products, this program is unable.

The basic program management tools are focused on the left sidebar. In the image creation mode, you can share the file to the arbitrary segments. In addition, you can enable the read error mode. There is a whole group of protection based on emulation of damage to the disk. Standard method You will not be able to read its contents, because in the most interesting place there will be a read error. Alcohol 120% allows you to skip such sectors, still creating a source disk image file.

Depending on the size of the source data, you will be offered various formats of images. Standard CDs can be copied to the CCD, CUE and ISO images, but if you are working with a DVD filled with more than 2GB, then you will have to use MDS format.

The following two panel menu items allow you to record. optical disk From the image on the hard disk, as well as make an accurate copy of the CD / DVD media.

Alcohol 120% Contains the image search tool inside the local file system. You choose the types of desired images, and also specify the search area. In addition, you can switch to the use mode of additional extensions. In this case, the search will include files of any types.

The program allows you to independently change the letters of logical partitions of virtual drives, set the regional DVD code, output the sound of analog audio to any virtual device (Direct Sound), flexibly adjust the location modes of optical disks.

On the official project page you can also familiarize yourself with the Alcohol program 52%, which has no own optical disk recording module.

The program places your icon in the system tray. The left mouse button on the icon opens a list of all connected images, and also allows you to make them a common shutdown. Using the right mouse button, you can call the program properties.

The first paragraph of the Virtual CD / DVD-ROM menu focuses features that allow you to specify the number of virtual drives, as well as control the connection / disabling images. The emulation menu contains a list of all available protection supported by the program. You can include their emulation, both individually and all at once.

Program settings include only a few points. You can download the program along with the start of the operating system, automatically mount images, use the secure mode.

By default, the icon in the system tray has a red color. Depending on the formats of connected images and types of protection, the color may vary on green and blue.

In the last three guidebooks, 30 programs were considered, one way or another related to copying information from optical media.

Over the past year, the positive trend of the gradual transition from the piracy to the more or less civilized use of licensed products has emerged in Russia. Official publishers finally began to pursue a clear and flexible pricing policy, making an accessible viewing of licensed films for wide segments of the population. Often, a DVD with a licensed film costs as much as a pirated analogue.

There is nothing more expensive than your health. It is said that the fault of all diseases is our nervous system. If you are constantly disturbing something, if you feel fear, a remorse of conscience, then the exacerbation of many diseases is not far off. Permanent from low-quality screen copies and vague DVDRip, a bustle of restrictions for free accounts on file sharing servers, wolf laws of peer-in-room networks, mountains unidentified chickles on the shelves - all this does not add health, peace.

The other day I decided to upload a movie from the network that I have long wanted to see. When the download reached approximately half, the connection was cut off, and the server did not support the designer. I was very upset, I began to worry. But it seems that my experiences are not worth a penny, I got dressed and ran into the nearest store, buying a license disk there. The disc was protected from copying using CSS encryption, but I did everything a copy on the hard disk using one of the programs considered in program guidebooks. Suddenly, the disk is scratched.

I really hope friends that you will not use the last articles described in the last articles. software in illegal purposes. And the point here is not in high morality. Simply, take care of yourself, your health.

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 CD / DVD images from a hard disk without the need to record it on a physical optical disk.
- Increase the speed of access to data (the hard disk speed is much more than optical).
- Backup multiple disk image files to a new hard drive, which is much easier than recording multiple new CD / DVD.
- prevent the appearance of scratches or wear of CD / DVD disks when using them.
- Saving copies of the optical disk to the hard disk of the 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 climbed 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 a virtual hard disk with system memory support to increase productivity to obtain access to data depending on data and so on.

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 recent versions Virtual CloneDrive can be installed (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%. The free version is limited to 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 operating room windows system XP, 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 disassemble the image, you only need to click on it twice again, or extract the appropriate drive using the context menu. The utility supports ISO, CUE, NRG, MDS / MDF, CCD formats, IMG and works in operating systems From WinXP to Win7. Cons - no uninstaller, and the impossibility of creating images.

CD / DVDs are among the most popular external media, however, work with them is not always convenient, and there are a lot of reasons for this. These discs need to be inserted into the drive and the exchange of data with them is made noticeably slower than with a hard disk. As a result, the start of the program from the CD will require more time. CD / DVDs are ceased to read by the appearance of failure sectors or multiple scratches on them, and this will sooner or later occur during their active operation. For mobile users Another difficulty arises - going on a business trip, they have to take with them the entire set of discs, which may be required in work, which is also unparalleled because it increases the size of baggage. You can avoid such problems by copying information from CDs on Winchester, but this option It will work far from each program. For example, discs with games, licensed databases, training programs, audio languages, etc. When copying them to the hard drive, it is often refused to work. In such cases, you will have to go different ways - create virtual CD / DVD drives on your computer and place images of frequently used discs on them. Technically, this implies the execution of two operations. First you will need to create files Disk images (i.e. virtual CDs) - This can be done using programs for recording and copying CD-DVDs (such as, for example, Nero Burning ROM) and save data on hard disk. And then you have to use the special program-emulator of virtual drives, with which you need to create the desired number of virtual CD / DVD drives and connect it to the prepared disk image in each of them. As a result, you can work with virtual CDs in the same way as with real. Moreover, it will be much faster and more reliable. Why? Everything is very simple. On the one hand, access to information will accelerate, since it will be read much faster from the hard disk than from a CD, and to start a virtual disk you do not have to insert a real disk into the physical drive. On the other hand, the likelihood of the loss of valuable data will decrease as a result of the output of the disks, because the CD / DVD disks themselves are not inserted into the drive, and therefore their surface is not wearing. Moreover, it will be possible to work with multiple disks at the same time.

Daemon Tools 4.30.0305

Developer: DT Soft Ltd.
Distribution size: Daemon Tools Pro Advanced and Daemon Tools Pro Standard - 11 MB; Daemon Tools Lite - 7.4 MB
Spread: Conditionally free Daemon Tools is one of the most attractive functionality of solutions to emulate virtual drives. This package is presented in three editions: Daemon Tools Pro Advanced, Daemon Tools Pro Standard and Daemon Tools Lite. The most modest features of the Daemon Tools Lite editor - it has no graphical interface (the appeal is made through the system tray) and allows you to create up to four virtual drives and mounted images on them. Two other versions already have a convenient graphical interface and provide creation from 16 to 32 virtual SCSI devices, and Daemon Tools Pro Advanced can also emulate two virtual IDE devices, which is relevant to connect a part of the CD / DVD coping part. As for the images themselves, in all three solutions it is provided for creating images from CDs, and not only with conventional (Audio CD formats, video CD, Mixed Mode CD, CD-Extra, Video CD, DVD-Video, DVD-Audio ), but also with copy-protected, including SafeDisc, Securom, Laserlock, Rmps, Hide CD-R, CD / DVD-COPS, ProtectCD, StarForce and Tages. At the same time, almost any formats of image files (B6T, B6T, BWT, CCD, CDI, CUE, ISO, MDS, NRG, PDI, ISZ) are supported. If desired, images are easy to protect password. In the Pro-versions there is also editing images, which allows you to add files to the image, as well as replace them in it and delete. Working with images is implemented very convenient - you can add them to the collection, specifying manually or choosing from the list found during automatic search (the images created in the program itself are added to the collection automatically), and in the collection itself it is possible to place images by subdirectories (it is more convenient for further Orientation). When creating images, their compression is provided that with a large number of images on the disk will be very useful, however, you can compress only MDS images - images in other formats first will have to be converted to MDS format (possibly only in Daemon Tools Pro Advanced). The demo version of the program (there is a Russian-speaking localization) are fully functional and efficient for 20 days. The cost of commercial versions is different - Daemon Tools Pro Advanced it is 39.90 euros, Daemon Tools Pro Standard has 16,90 euros, and Daemon Tools Lite - 14.90 euros. At the same time, the version of Daemon Tools Lite for non-commercial use is free. Since the easiest application is the Daemon Tools Lite utility, then we will start with it. Graphic interface It does not have, so all operations in this utility are carried out through the system tray. Connect virtual drives in Daemon Tools Lite simplest. At first, you will need to install the desired number of virtual devices - right-click on the program icon in the system tray, select the Virtual CD / DVD-ROM command and specify the desired number of drives.

And then sequentially for each of the drives, mount a virtual disk, simply specifying the appropriate hard disk files for them (the Virtual CD / DVD-ROM command\u003e "Drive ..."\u003e "Mount the image"). To remove an image from a virtual drive, you will need to "unmount the image" command.

Working technology with Daemon Tools Pro is somewhat more complicated. The window of this utility is implemented in the form of three panels - the information panel and two windows: windows of images and windows of the drives. The images window is intended to perform different types of images, and the drive window allows you to manage physical and virtual CD / DVD devices.

First of all in Daemon Tools Pro, you need to form a collection of images. If the images were created earlier and you still could not be forgotten which specifically the folder on the disk they are, then you need to click on the "Add images" button and immediately place them in the collection. If you do not remember where they are, you will have to use the mode automatic search ("Image Search" button.

If there are no images on the disk, then you need to create them. To do this, insert the cherished disk in the CD / DVD-ROM, click on the "Creating Image" button, select the appropriate physical drive (understandable if the drives are somewhat) and, if necessary, on the "Drive" tab, change the disc reading settings. And then on the "Image Directory" tab, the name of the image is introduced and indicate the output format, then click on the "Start" button and after a couple of minutes get a welcome image.

After in one way or another, the collection will be filled with images, set the desired number of virtual drives, corresponding to the number of times clicking on the "Add SCSI Virtual Drive" button - the connected drives appear in the virtual drive window. It should be noted that one virtual drive is created automatically during the installation process.

Then, each of the virtual CD / DVD devices set virtual image. To carry out such installation, activate the first image and apply from context menu Command "Mount the image" with the subsequent indication of the desired virtual drive. After that, the same operation will need to spend with all other images. If you need to remove an image from a virtual drive, use the "Unmount" command from the context menu.

Alcohol 120% 1.9.8.7612 and Alcohol 52% 1.9.8.7612

Developer: Alcohol Software.
Distribution size: Alcohol 120% - 12.3 MB, Alcohol 52% - 11.5 MB
Spread: Conditionally free Alcohol 120% and Alcohol 52% are one of the most popular solutions for creating virtual CD / DVD drives. Alcohol 120% includes all the functions of Alcohol 52% and additionally allows you to record CDs and DVDs from image files or "on the fly" - with source CDs. It is possible to record at once a few drives at the same time. With regard to emulation of virtual drives, programs are identical. With their help, it is easy to connect to a computer up to 31 virtual drives and mounted virtual CDs on them in almost any format of image files. The source images are added in the image search mode or automatically - the last in case of their creation in the Alcohol environment. Support for multiple CD formats (CD-DA, CD + G, CD-ROM, CD-XA, VIDEO CD, Photo CD, Mixed Mode, Multi-Session CD, DVD-ROM, DVD-Video and DVD-Audio) and a variety of protection systems, including SafeDisc 2/3/4, Securom New 4/5/7, LaserLock, StarForce 1/2/3/4, VOB ProtectCD V5. When emulating, you can ignore the media type, the physical signature of the recordable disk (RMPS), the presence of bad sectors, etc. The demo version of the program (there is a Russian-language localization) is operational for 15 days and has limitations to the number of virtual devices being created (there can be only six). The cost of the commercial version of Alcohol 120% is $ 50, Alcohol 52% - $ 27, in addition, there is also completely free version Alcohol 52% FE 1.9.5.4, allowing you to create up to six virtual devices. The Alcohol window 120% and Alcohol 52% is implemented as one vertical and two horizontal panels. The vertical panel is located on the left side of the main program window and is a panel of operations intended for quickly launch The main components of the program. The horizontal panels located on the right side of the main window are the working windows of the database browser, providing images, virtual drives and physical CD / DVD devices.

Emulation of virtual CD / DVD drives in Alcohol 120% and Alcohol programs 52% require three steps. The first form a collection of images. If the images already exist, they can be connected directly by simply by right-clicking in the free domain of the browser window by calling the "Add images" command from the context menu. the desired images. Well, if you do not remember where it is specifically on the image disk, you can use the search for images (Operation "Search" in the "Basic Operations" group), and only then connect images.

If the disk image files do not exist, they will have to be created. To carry out this in Alcohol 120% (or in Alcohol 52%) is completely simple. To do this, it is enough to activate the "Creating Images" operation, select the physical drive (only if the drives are somewhat), determine the data type and, if necessary, adjust the disk reading settings, and enter the image name and click the "Start" button on the next screen.

After the formation of the image collection, virtual drives are connected - the "Virtual Disc" operation from the "Settings" group is responsible for it, after starting which you want to determine the desired number of virtual devices. Immediately it will be possible to enable / disable the checkboxes "Remount images when rebooting the system" and "Mount the image on the device 0 double-click". Enable the first flag will save virtual disks in your virtual drives after restarting or turning off the computer. Turning on the second - allows you to mount the image file for a double click on it to the first free virtual drive. After that, it will still be necessary to activate the" File Association "subsection. Those extensions of image files that are assumed to be mounted in virtual devices. The result of these manipulations will be the appearance of the program in the right-day bottom of the program in addition to the physical CD / DVD devices of the list of virtual drives appearing. By the way, it is necessary to note that one virtual drive can be created. Already when installing the program, unless, of course, you will not remove the corresponding checkbox during the installation.

Well, now the virtual CDs will remain on the virtual devices, using the "Mount to the device" command from the context menu. You can mount the image and faster - simply by double-clicking on it, however, it is only if the box "Mount the image on the device 0 to double-click" when the virtual drives is connected, was not disabled. To remove an image from a virtual drive, a "dismantle image" command is used.

Virtual CD 9.3.0.1

Developer: H + H Software GmbH
Distribution size: 56.4 MB
Spread: Conditionally free Virtual CD is one of the most multifunctional (but the most complex in development) solutions for emulation of virtual CD / DVD-ROM devices, management of virtual CDs and organizations network access to them. The program allows you to create up to 23 virtual drives and connect the image files to them in a fairly wide range of formats. These images can be created directly in the Virtual CD environment, connected according to the results of automatic search or manually manually. Working with collections of virtual CDs is implemented in the program, taking into account the fact that their number may be great - therefore, images can be broken by categories, sort, group, search in the library, etc. When creating images (supported CD-ROM formats, DVD, VIDEO CD, Super Video CD, Photo CD, Audio CD, CD-Text, CD-Extra, Mixed Mode CDS), it is possible to compress them, and very effective. In addition, images can be converted to VC4 format and, if necessary, protect the password. It is also provided to edit images in which it is easy to make new files or remove unnecessary - this feature It may be useful not only when using image files on virtual drives, but also in the process of testing them before recording for a real CD. The latter in Virtual CD is also implemented, in addition, in the program it is possible to directly copy data from the disk to disk and delete data from the CD / DVD rewritable. The demo version of the program (the Russian-speaking localization is missing) is fully functional and efficient for 30 days, the cost of the commercial version is $ 39.95. Virtual CD is a merging of two interface modules - Toolbox and CD Management (both modules are called from the system tray, and toolbox It can also be run through the "Start" menu). The Toolbox module opens direct access to all the main features of the program.

The CD Management Module provides virtual CDs and Images.

In Virtual CD, it is difficult to deal with the options responsible for creating a collection, since they are scattered by different modules, and the total number of various settings are large. If we are talking about adding already available image files to the collection, you can do it both through the Toolbox module and through the CD Management module. In the first case, you open the Main Tasks in Virtual CD tab and run the Find Virtual CDS automatic search feature.

In the second, they call the Add command from the context menu and specify specific images from the folder.

You can also add a new virtual drive in two ways in two ways - using the Add / Remove Virtual Drives command by activating it from the system tray or in the CD Management module by calling the Drive Editor command from the context menu. In both cases, the device selection dialog box opens, where additional actuators should be included. By the way, if no more than four drives are required, then these operations do not have to hold, since by default the program automatically adds four virtual drives to the system when installing.

With the mounting of virtual CDs, it is simpler because it is carried out by the usual dragging image to the drive in the CD Management window or installing a virtual CD to drive through the system tray. For deleting an image from a virtual drive, the EJECT command is answered.

It should be noted that many operations in Virtual CD require a sequential opening of a multitude of windows (and this slows down the process) - to speed up the work can be prescribed by a series of hotkeys actions, as well as the active use of the system tray commands, duplicate the basic operations of the Toolbox modules and CD Management modules.