How to extract an iso disk image file. How to open a ZIP, RAR, ISO file - unpack with or without an archiver. Key Features and Functions

An ISO is an optical disk image written to a file. It is a kind of virtual copy of a CD. The problem is that Windows 7 does not provide special tools for launching objects of this kind. However, there are several ways in which you can play ISO contents on a given OS.

ISO in Windows 7 can only be launched using third-party software. These are special applications for image processing. It is also possible to view ISO contents using some archivers. Next we will talk in more detail about various methods for solving this problem.

Method 1: Programs for working with images

Let's consider an algorithm of actions using third-party software for image processing. One of the most popular programs for solving the problem posed in this article is an application called UltraISO.

1. Launch the program and click on the icon "Mount to virtual drive" on its top panel.



2. Next, in order to select a specific object with an ISO extension, click on the button with the ellipsis opposite the field "Image file".



3. A standard file selection window will open. Go to the ISO location directory, highlight this object and click "Open".



4. Next press the button "Mount".



5. Then click on the button to the right of the field "Virtual drive".



6. The ISO file will then be launched. Depending on its contents, the image will open in "Explorer", media player (or other program), or if it contains a bootable executable file, the application will be activated.

   

Method 2: Archivers

You can also open and view the contents of an ISO, as well as run individual files contained in it, using conventional archivers. This option is good because, unlike software for working with images, there are many free programs among this type of application. We will look at the procedure using the example of the 7-Zip archiver.

1. Launch 7-Zip and use the built-in file manager to navigate to the directory containing the ISO. To view the contents of an image, simply click on it.



2. A list of all files and folders stored in the ISO will open.



3. If you want to extract the contents of an image in order to play it back or perform other processing on it, you need to go back a step. Click the folder button to the left of the address bar.



4. Select the image and click the button "Extract" on the toolbar.



5. An unpacking window will open. If you want to unzip the contents of the image not into the current folder, but into another, click on the button to the right of the field "Unpack in...".



6. In the window that opens, navigate to the directory containing the directory to which you want to send the ISO content. Select it and click "OK".



7. After the path to the selected folder is displayed in the field "Unpack in..." in the extraction settings window, click "OK".



8. The procedure will be performed to extract files to the specified folder.



9. Now you can open the standard "Windows Explorer" and go to the directory that you specified when unpacking in 7-Zip. All files extracted from the image will be there. Depending on the purpose of these objects, you can view, play, or perform other manipulations with them.

   

Despite the fact that standard Windows 7 tools do not allow you to open an ISO image or run its contents, this can still be done there using third-party programs. First of all, special applications for working with images will help you. But the problem can also be solved using conventional archivers.

An ISO image is often used to create a copy of installation programs such as Windows.

An ISO file is an optical image of a CD or DVD containing the ISO 9660 file system.

The image is a simple file. With the help of specialized programs it can be used instead of a standard CD.

Such a file has less information than the disk itself from which it was copied. The disk may contain information that can protect it from being copied.

Only programs that have this capability can save such information.

You can view ISO file information using archiving programs that can support this format.

Often such a file is used to “pack” as many files and folders as possible into one archive.

This format involves storing and distributing boot files and other large files at a faster rate than through removable or other physical media.

Now the ISO format is being used more and more often.

The main difficulty with such files is that Windows Vista and XP cannot initially recognize their format, which is why some inexperienced PC users experience difficulties.

When you try to open it without pre-installed third-party software, older operating systems do not know what to do with this file.

How to open an ISO file?

Read also: 5 easy ways to create a Windows 10 OS image

Rice. 2. Creating a disk image

This format is most often used to transfer information from a CD or DVD via the Internet or media.

All necessary data is saved in the archive, which is then transferred and unpacked on another computer.

Recently, this format has begun to be used frequently, therefore, every PC user should know how to open it, because not every computer will be able to immediately select the appropriate program.

This format is used for archiving games and operating system data.

This is done so that it can be launched without having a physical disk, but with only its image. In this case, you can do without unpacking.

You can simply launch the file by double-clicking the mouse. But if you need to extract information from a virtual disk, you will need a special program.

At the moment, there are several more well-known, free programs that are easy to use and accessible to any user. So, how do you open an ISO file?

1 Alcohol

4 WinRAR

5 7-zip

5 Windows 8-10 (System Explorer)

Read also: TOP 15 programs for cleaning your computer from junk

Daemon Tools is a program for creating CD/DVD images.

The drive is created programmatically, after which it is perceived by the computer as if it contains a disk. This allows you to use images as if they were physical disks located on a CD-ROM.

It is possible to create images in various formats for subsequent use in this and other similar programs.

A virtual disk drive is created to increase the speed of information transfer and reduce wear on media.

One of the most popular utilities for creating images and unpacking them.

Rice. 3. Utility download page

You can find a free version on the developer's official website, but after the update you will have to buy it. Go to the developer's website and click the "Download" button.

In order to open the files you need, the Lite version will be enough. This version is suitable if you do not need to perform any complex manipulations. It is in second place on the developer's website.

After downloading the program, install it and run it. To create an image, click on the button shown in Fig. 4.

Rice. 4. Creating an image in Daemon Tools

After clicking on this button, you need to select the file you want to convert.

But it will not start in the program, however, it can be found in “My Computer”, like a disk located in the drive.

You can also open it through “My Computer,” but before that you need to launch it in the program. To do this, press the corresponding button shown in Fig. 5.

Fig.5 Putting the image into operation.

After launching the image, it will be visible in “My Computer”, where it can already be opened.

Fig.6 Added disk image.

Through Daemon Tools the work is quite simple.

Considering the fact that recently ISO files have become quite popular and widespread, you need to have this program on your .

Its system requirements are small and the amount of memory it takes is minimal. Additionally, it can be noted that this utility is often installed along with the game, as a required application, if this comes from a disk through a drive.

From reviews:

“An excellent program for virtualizing optical disks, and it’s also free.”

“One of the best programs for working with disk images”

“Excellently and efficiently creates a virtual disk and stores data on it”

Alcohol

Read also: Error “Windows cannot complete formatting”: causes of the error and 5 ways to fix it

Paid application for creating disk images.

With its help, you can create up to 31 drives, as well as write information to.

There is a version of Alcohol 52%, which is distinguished by the absence of the ability to record information on media, and is also absolutely free and intended for non-commercial use.

You can download this program on the official website of the developer.

But it is provided free of charge only for 30 days. Next, the utility asks you to buy a license.

The full version can, of course, be downloaded from pirated sites, but this is not recommended, as you can download virus software, thereby harming your PC.

By going to the developer’s website, you will be taken to the main page. On it you need to click “Download trial”.

After this, you will automatically be redirected to the download page, where you need to click the “Download” button, after which the installation file will begin downloading.

Once the download is complete, install the program and run it. The main window will open, in which we select the “File” submenu, and then click “Open”.

Fig.9. The main window of the utility.

Further work with the finished image is no different from working in Daemon Tools - Launch “My Computer”, find the desired disk and launch it.

From reviews:

“This program is much better than Daemon Tools, much! It’s very easy to create images, and it’s easy to remove (unlike Daemon Tools again)”;

“Cool program for images”;

“A must-have program for any computer. No comments needed.”;

“Cool program is very necessary for gamers!!!”;

“Damn, the program is absolutely a bomb, and even if you know how to use it, download it without fail!!!”

Read also:Create a bootable USB flash drive with utilities for Windows yourself

The program is designed for Windows OS, the main functions of which are creating, editing and converting CD/DVD images.

Has the ability to emulate and create CD burning.

There are paid and free versions. The difference is that in the free version it is impossible to work with images whose size is more than 300 MB. Multilingual interface. Can use native ISZ format.

UltraISO is not only popular, but also easy to use. Its simplicity is what accounts for its popularity. You can download the program for free on any website where it is available. One of the best is SoftPortal. How to download the program:

1 Go to the above site and look for UltraISO in the search bar. Click on the “Download” button.

Fig. 12. Downloading the utility.

The site will automatically redirect you to another page, where you will need to select the download source - the developer’s site or an alternative to it.

Fig. 14. Open the installation file.

When the installation is complete, open the program. After launching the application, proceed to opening the disk image using the “Open” button, as shown in Fig. 15.

Fig. 15. Opening a file to create an image.

In the window that opens, select the desired ISO file to create an image. The content will open as shown in Figure 16.

Fig. 16. Contents of the image.

Everything that is in the image is displayed in this window. Here you can already select what you need and work with the file.

The program is easy to use, so even the most inexperienced beginner can handle it.

From reviews:

“The program is just super, I recommend it to everyone”;

“The program can be useful in a variety of cases, from creating an image from a physical disk to converting formats. There is a function for burning images to disk. Working with the program is quite easy, it is Russified, which facilitates the rapid development of all functions. The internal file browser allows you to conveniently browse folders and select files for new projects. I recommend it for use!”;

“Great thing! I use it for free, I’m satisfied with the functionality.”

A free file archiver with a high degree of file compression.

It has more than one compression algorithm and a large number of data formats, including its own - 7z.

Developed in 1999, it is still popular among users and is open source, which is freely distributed under a license.

The main platform is the OS. GUI and command line versions are available.

It is surprising that an ISO file can be opened by a regular 7-zip archiver.

You can download the full free version on the developer's website. On the download page you will need to select the system version.

If your PC has the Windows 7 operating system, then most likely a 64-bit version will do. Having selected the version, click the “Download” button, after which the installation file will begin downloading.

Fig. 10. Utility download page.

Installation has no special features and occurs in the same way as with any other program.

After installation is complete, launch the program. If you click on the “Plus” (add) button in the window that opens, another window will open in which you need to select the ISO file to unpack.

The contents of the file will be opened as in a regular folder. To extract what you need, just drag the selected file from the utility onto your desktop using the mouse.

Fig. 11. Adding a file for unpacking.

From reviews:

“It’s a pleasure to work in the program, everything is smooth and hassle-free. Archives can be unpacked both into the current folder and into a folder with a name like the name itself (which is much more convenient). You can pack the folder (“Add to archive”) and send it by e-mail. You can simply open the archive and view its contents”;

“Very simple, very useful and functional, highly recommend”;

“The program is excellent, I’ve been using it for more than a year. It works well, the developers are great. And most importantly - it's free!!! Place your bet, you won’t regret it.”

Most of us use a computer, and almost every beginner asks the question: how to open an ISO file?

By default, Windows does not have programs that can open the .iso extension.

Many programs have been created for this, including free ones. Let's look at them in more detail.

What is an ISO file image?

ISO file is a digital image of an optical disc. This can be said to be an archive that contains files and information on the disk. The images mainly store games, as well as operating system distributions.

How to open an ISO file?

In general, there are two ways to view the contents of ISO files:

• with the help of archivers;
• creating a disk image using special programs.

Using archivers

There are many archiver programs, the most popular of which are WinRar and 7Zip. You can download them from the official sites:

• Winrar ;
• 7Zip.

After installation, right-click (right-click) on the ISO file that we want to open. Select “Open with /Winrar/7Zip”.

Special programs

There are many different programs for opening on the Internet. For example:

1. MagicISO.
2. Ultra ISO.
3. Alcohol 120%.
4. IsoBuster.
5. Daemon Tools

and others.

The question then becomes, “Which one is the best?” Most users use Ultra ISO and Daemon Tools. Let's look at how to use them.

Ultra ISO

You can download the program on the official Ultra ISO website:

Installation is simple. We will not dwell on it in detail.

When installing the program, do not uncheck the “Install ISO emulator” checkbox.

Then launch Ultra ISO, click “Trial period”.

The following window will open in front of us:

Click "File/Open".

We indicate the path to the image and in the program window we see the open ISO file.

To create a disk image, at the top of the window click:

“Tools/Mount into virtual drive...” (or just press F6).

In the window that appears, click “Mount”.

All! The disk is now successfully mounted.

To use files on it, open “My Computer” and see the disk we mounted.

Read also:

Daemon Tools

On official website download the utility.

After installing the utility, a program icon (a circle with a lightning bolt) will appear in the lower right corner next to the time and date.

Right-click on it and select “Virtual drives/Add virtual SCSI drive”.

A new virtual drive will be available soon.

After that, click on the icon again and click: “Virtual drives / Drive 0 / Mount image.”

Specify the path to the ISO file. Everything is ready.

Undoubtedly, to launch files with an ISO extension, I advise you to use Winrar and Daemon Tools Lite, since these utilities are convenient and free.

Let's watch a useful video to supplement the information:

You can unpack an ISO file on your computer using conventional WinRAR or 7-Zip archivers, which can also easily cope with this task, as well as special programs that open ISO files. One of these archivers, as a rule, is already installed on the computer, and then options for unpacking an ISO file with each of them will be discussed in detail.

You can unpack an ISO disk image in many ways and even without additional programs; you can learn more about this in the article at the link http://chajnikam.ru/computer/39-kak-otkryt-fayl-iso.html. Archivers allow you to work with an ISO disk image as with a regular archive, and the whole task will be reduced only to selecting the image file through Explorer and searching for the “Extract” menu item.

How to extract an ISO file using WinRAR?

WinRAR is one of the most popular paid data archivers, capable of unpacking many archive formats. Despite the required license to operate, it works great and is free without any restrictions in functionality, periodically displaying a message about the need to purchase the product.

Its menu is integrated into the Windows shell, which allows you to work with archives directly in Explorer without first launching the archiver application itself. The fastest way to extract an ISO to your hard drive using WinRAR is to right-click on the file in Explorer and select the appropriate data extraction option from the context menu.

When you open an ISO file directly through the WinRAR program, you can immediately view the contents of this disk image and extract either any individual file or all files through the standard program menu.

How to extract an ISO file using 7-Zip?

7-Zip is a free, open-source archiver that has a high compression ratio, supports a variety of archive formats, and has its own file compression format.

This archiver is also integrated into the Windows shell, and allows you to unpack the archive through the operating system context menu, without entering the program itself. Unlike WinRAR, 7-Zip does not offer options for integration into the Windows shell during installation and has a nested menu structure. To extract an ISO disk image using 7-Zip, you need to right-click on this file in Explorer, select “7-Zip” and then select the desired item from the menu list that appears.

Hello dear readers. In today's article we will talk about ISO files, or rather, we will look at two ways to unpack them.

An ISO file is most often a backup copy of the original media. We usually encounter files of this format when we download games from the Internet or operating systems.

There are a number of programs that can be used to open ISO files without first unpacking them. For example, using the 7-Zip archiver. With this paragraph I went a little ahead.

Unpacking ISO files

I don’t want to burden you with any complex programs to carry out this process. Therefore, as I mentioned above, to unpack an ISO file it is enough to have one of the archivers: Winrar or 7Zip.

So that you don’t have to surf the official websites of these programs, I will post them for download below:

Download Winrar archiver for free

Download free archiver 7Zip

Have you downloaded and installed? Now you just need to right-click on the ISO file required for unpacking and select “ Open with help yu" → " Winrar/7Zip».

I note that during the installation of Winrar you must check the box next to ISO. If you do not do this, you will not be able to open ISO files. Therefore, be careful. Although if you forgot to do this, then you can make a similar adjustment in the archiver settings.

As for other programs for working with unpacking ISO files, I would highlight such as IsoBuster, Daemon Tools, MagicISO, Ultra ISO, DeepBurner Free and many others. For home use, I recommend the free version of Daemon Tools called lite.

To extract an ISO file using Daemon Tools lite you need to:

4. An explorer window will open with everything stored in the ISO file. Now you can easily copy any folder or file and extract it to your hard drive using regular copying.

This method is a little longer than if you use archiving programs, but it also has a right to exist. That's all, I wish you good luck in extracting your ISO files.