Mount ISO files as virtual CD drives with Microsoft's free utility

Need to quickly mount an ISO file in Windows 7 or earlier? Here's a tool from Microsoft

By Melanie Pinola

May 02, 2013, 5:10 PM — In Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7, to mount an ISO disk image for installing software or recover backup files, you need to install a third-party utility. Now Microsoft has released a tool called Virtual CD-ROM Control Panel that will allow these older versions of Windows mount ISO files as virtual CD-ROM drives.

The free tool is a lightweight 60KB.

Note that Windows 8 natively supports mounting ISO files, so this utility isn't for Windows 8 users. I haven't been able to test this because my computer's running Windows 8, but if you give it a try, let us know what you think in the comments.

Grab the free utility here.

[h/t WinBeta]

Read more of Melanie Pinola’s Tech IT Out blog and follow the latest IT news at ITworld. Follow Melanie on Twitter at @melaniepinola. For the latest IT news, analysis and how-tos, follow ITworld on Twitter and Facebook.

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Melanie Pinola is a freelance writer covering all things tech-related. A former IT admin and occasional web developer, she is also a Lifehacker editor, PCWorld contributor, and the Guide to Mobile Office Tech at About.com.

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