Create a virtual disk on your computer. Windows virtual disk through Daemon Tools. Virtual hard drive

Creating a virtual hard disk - one of the operations available to each windows user. Using the free space of its hard drive, you can create a separate volume endowed with the same capabilities as the main (physical) HDD.

Operational windows system has a utility "Disk management"operating with all connected to a computer or laptop with hard drives. With it, you can perform various operations, including creating virtual HDD.which is part of a physical disk.

Run the dialog box "Run" keys Win + R. Write in the input field diskmgmt.msc..
A utility will open. On the toolbar, select "Act" > "Create virtual hDD» .
The window will start in which set the following settings:
The initialized disk will appear in Windows Explorer.

In addition, autorun will be carried out.

Using virtual HDD

Use a virtual drive can be in the same way as the usual disk. You can move various documents and files to it, as well as install the second operating system, for example, Ubuntu.

Good day to everyone!

Ordinary CD / DVDs, no matter how sad, the year from year to lose their popularity (before they were sold at every corner at all). Still development network technologies Doing your business ...

Meanwhile, there is another side of the medal - so-called so-called great popularity virtual disks - A separate file (s), made based on the exact copy of the physical CD / DVD. They are also called images.

Most Popular Image Formats: ISO, BIN, MDS / MDF, NRG, CCD. By the way, now many file files are transmitted precisely in images (for example, even to create blood flash drive with windows - you need to first download from the site microsoft download installation image with the system).

Just so such an image does not open, you need (as you guessed) special virtual drive (or drive. They are also called CD / DVD emulators).

In general, I decided to build this article in the form of questions-answers to work with images (koi there is always a lot). Along the way I will present the programs that best copes with the task. I think it will be easier to submit the founders for an inexperienced reader.

And so, proceed ...

Most popular questions about working with virtual disks

❶. How to create a virtual disk / image of ISO and others.

And in general, in my opinion, she is one of the best (and most popular, by the way) programs to work with disk images. I recommend it unambiguously to install and familiarize.

Daemon Tools. (Lite)

This program allows you to mount almost all types of images, as well as emulates simultaneously work up to 4 drives. In addition, the program allows you to record ready-made images on physical disks, convert from one format to another, create protected images and much more (by the way, part of the functions are paid, unfortunately).

Pretty well, the program has been organized by the storage of images: you can always find disc From your collection.

So, Let us say there are several CDs with music, games that are often used, and you are simply tired of inserting them into the drive (and with time wheels deteriorate, scratching, when inserted into the drive noise). Therefore, logical, making the images of these disks once - you can easily use them without noise.

1) First you need to insert a CD into a real physical drive.

3) After you need to specify the drive with the disk, specify the folder where the image will be saved, and the image format (in your example I chose ISO). To start copying, press the "Start" button.

5) When the image is ready - you will see a message that the operation is successfully completed, as in the screenshot below.

In general, all. Now you can use this way (only you must create a virtual drive, just below).

❷. How to create a Virtual Drive / CD / DVD-ROM Emulator

We use all the same Daemon Tools ...

First you need to run the program and click "Add drive" (in the left program menu).

At the bottom of the window, a new drive should appear: in my case, under the letter "F: (empty)".

Daemon. Tools Lite. - A new drive appeared (F :)!

❸. How to open images: ISO, MDF, NRG, etc. and launch the application from them

After the Virtual Drive in Daemon Tools was created - you can start the opening and reading of images in it. In general, Daemon Tools opens almost any images: ISO, BIN, MDF, NRG (even archives, 7Z, RAR, ZIP format, etc.).

At the bottom of the window - right-click on the virtual drive (which we created in the previous step). See Screenshot below.

Daemon Tools Lite - First click the left mouse button on the drive

If a automatic start CD / DVD discs are disabled (and nothing appeared on the screen), go to "/ this computer": among the drives there should be a virtual, with a disk (that is, the way we opened.

If you have a question about whether to allow this application to make changes - answer the affirmative (at least for familiar disks ...).

❹. How to burn an image on a physical CD / DVD disk

Daemon Tools, of course, can write images to physical disks, but this feature is available only in the paid version of the program. Therefore, it is better to take advantage of the analogues, especially since there is enough free versions in this segment.

Why not Nero? Because Nero package paid, weighs a few gigabytes, very "brake" and bad. Hardly many will use at least the tenth of its functions (not to mention the fact that most you just need to record the disk and everything ...).

Cdburnerxp

CdBurnerXP - free program To record CD and DVDs, including Blu-ray and HD-DVD. Also, the program works great with ISO images, allowing not only to create them, but from writing on physical disks. The program supports tens of languages \u200b\u200b(including Russian). Works in Windows XP / 7/8 / 9/10.

Main features:

to record data (files, documents, pictures, etc.) on any types of discs;
recording of audio parts;
creating and recording ISO images;
creating bootable (installation) disks;
bIN / NRG image converter → ISO;
the ability to print covers.

After starting the program, click "Record ISO image to disk" (See Screen below).

Then specify an ISO image for recording, physical drive, recording speed (highlighted yellow on the screen below - by the way, do not put the highest speed, errors are possible) and press "Record disk" . In general, it's all - in 10-15 minutes. Your disk will be recorded!

Record Settings // CDBURNERXP

❺. What other programs can be used to work and read images

Alcohol 120%

Alcohol 120% - excellent and very powerful program To work with images. Does everything: creates images, mounts them into virtual drives, writes, creates the library on your PC (for them quick search and reading).

Although the program is paid, but there is a trial free period of 15 days (and there free version, with trimmed possibilities). In general, I recommend to get acquainted!

Main features:

creating up to 31 virtual drives;
creating disk images (support for formats: MDF / MDS, CCD, BIN / CUE, ISO, CDI, etc.);
recording from disk images: CD, DVD and Blu-Ray;
erase of discs: CD-RW, DVD-RW and BD-RE;
search and create a library from file-hard disk files;
the presence of an audio converter to work with audio parts.

Ultra Iso.

A very powerful program for working with ISO images. Allows you to create with real disks, record, emulate in a virtual drive, and, most importantly - edit on the fly.

Those. You can open an ISO image, remove from it unnecessary file (or add) and save the image. Actually, this is done very quickly!

In addition, the program will help create a bootable (installation) disk, USB flash drive. You can also try to squeeze current ISO images, etc. In general, everyone who works with ISO - I recommend that you have to have it at your PC ...

Burn4free

Very reliable I. simple program To work with CD / DVDs. Allows you to perform almost the entire range of tasks, which may be required by the average PC user. With all this, it takes very little space on the hard disk (several megabytes!).

Main advantages:

recording CD / DVD discs in several clicks with the mouse;
the program is very light and simple, the design is made in the style of minimalism;
you can copy the audio sections of various formats (WAV, FLAC, WAVPACK, WMA, etc.);
sCSI support - IDE / EIDE - SATA - USB;
support for Russian language;
creating and recording ISO images;
ability to record MP3 disks;
support for all versions of Windows: 10, 8, 7, Vista, 2008, 2003, XP, 2000, 98;
support for most actuators (more than 4000!).

In general, I will add from myself that this program worked even in cases where its analogues refused to either be launched or seeing the drive. I recommend to have in the arsenal to everyone who often works with ISO or with optical discs.

Virtual Clone Drive.

This program is free and is designed to create a virtual drive. The program is very simple, and reliable. Supports up to 15. virtual disksoDO, fully integrated into windows ExplorerFor simpler and fast work.

In general, compared to many similar programs This spectrum, it is noticeably stand out. I recommend to get acquainted.

Main features:

support for all popular image formats: ISO, BIN, IMG, UDF, DVD, CCD;
emulation up to 15 virtual drives (CD, DVD, and Blu-Ray);
there is a history of using images (for faster searching and reading the right file);
convenient embedding in the conductor (now any image can be opened with a mouse click!).

Greetings, dear readers!
Today, the conversation will go about what the Windows virtual disk is and how to create it with daemon programs Tools. Why i decided to write this instruction? The fact is that for several years now in the network, my free course on setting up routers is actively distributed and downloaded, and during this time there have been many different letters from readers - both thanks and containing some wishes for clarifying its use. And one of the common swabs was a file with extension.iso, in which this course is made.

What is a virtual hard disk?

The technology is that first with the help special Program Developer of a course or those who post a copy to the network DVD Disc, for example, with the recording of your solo concert (it is its own, since we are against the spread of not licensed products), a virtual disk image is created - a file with extension.iso, which is like digital substitutes for a real hard disk.

And then you need to create in Windows using a special program virtual disk, which then write this image. That is, the file is on the hard disk, and the program deceives Windows in such a way that the system seems that there is another drive on the computer - I hope quite clearly explained.

How to create a Windows virtual disk?

The program for creating a virtual disk is called Daemon Tools. We will suit lite version - It is free for home non-commercial use. Swing it and install it. I will show how to make a Windows 7 virtual disk, but it is suitable for all versions of windows.

So, we start the program, and the zipper icon appears in the lower right corner on the status panel.
Click now on it once the right mouse button. A quick menu appears - in it we will select the "Virtual Drives\u003e Add New" section
On my screenshot there are already two virtual disks, or rather, virtual drives, for the program creates additional CD / DVD drives. We click on the "Add Virtual SCSI drive" item and ask it the desired letter. After that, go to the "Start\u003e Computer" and we see two new drives on your computer.
Now it is necessary to associate this disc with in our way disk iso.For example, with the WordPress Express video course.
Let us in the same way in the program menu and bring the mouse to one of the disks. Next, choose "Mount the image".

Another way is to click on the Daemon Tools icon with the left button twice - another menu will open. In it you will see a list of all ever-mounted files, a list of virtual disks and a menu bar. Click to the point where the disc is drawn with a plus and add a video course here.
After that, you need to select the drive and mount the disk image by clicking on the Play button.
After that, we return to the "Computer" section in Windows and we observe that in our newly created virtual disk is now located video course.

As I said, the computer perceives it like a DVD inserted into the drive, that is, you can now open it and enjoy both any ordinary laser disk.

That's so easy enough can be created in Windows Virtual Disc on a virtual drive using a special program of Daemon Tools, which is enough to download on the network.

Thank you! Did not help

Hello.

In this article, I would like to touch at once two things: a virtual disk and drive. In essence, they are interconnected, just below immediately make a short footnote to make it clearer what we will be discussed in the article ...

Virtual disk (The network is popular with the name "Disk image") - a file, the size of which is usually equal to or a slightly more real CD / DVD disk from which this image was obtained. Often, images are made not only with CDs, but also from hard drives or flash drives.

Virtual drive (CD-ROM, drive emulator) - if rude, then this is a program that can open the image and present you information on it, as if it were a real disk. There are many programs of this kind.

The best programs for working with virtual disks and drives

1. Daemon Tools.

Link to the lightweight version: http://www.daemon-tools.cc/rus/products/dtlite#features

One of the best programs for creating and emulating images. Supported formats for emulation: * .mdx, * .mds / *. MDF, * .iso, * .b5t, * .b6t, * .bwt, * .ccd, * .cdi, * .bin / *. Cue, * .ape / *. Cue, * .flac / *. Cue, * .nrg, * .isz.

You can create only three image formats: * .mdx, * .iso, * .mds. You can use a lightweight version of the home program (not commercial purposes). The link is given above.

After installing the program, you have another CD-ROM (virtual), which can appear in the system. open any images (See above) which you can only find on the Internet.

To mount the image: Run the program, then right-click on the CD-ROM, and select the Mount "Mount" command.

To create an image It is enough to run the program and select the "Create Disk Image" function.

After that, the window will pop up in which you need to choose three things:

Disc, the image of which will be obtained;

Image format (ISO, MDF or MDS);

The place where the virtual disk (i.e. image) will be saved.

Conclusions:

One of the best programs to work with virtual disks and drives. Its opportunities are enough, probably, the absolute majority of users. The program works very quickly, the system does not load, supports all the most popular versions of Windows: XP, 7, 8.

2. Alcohol 120% / 52%

Link: http://trial.alcohol-soft.com/en/downloadtrial.php.

(To download Alcohol 52% when you follow the link above, look for a link to load the very bottom page)

Direct competitor Daemon Tools, and many evaluate Alcohol even higher. In general, the functionality of Alcohol is not inferior to Daemon Tools: the program can also create virtual disks, emulate them, record.

Why 52% and 120%? The case is in the number of options. If 120% can create 31 virtual drives, then 52% - only 6 (although for me - and 1-2 more than enough), plus 52% cannot record images on CD / DVDs. Naturally, 52% are free, and 120% is a paid version of the program. But, by the way, at the time of writing a 120% version, the version gives 15 days for trial use.

Personally, I installed 52% on my computer. The screenshot of the window is shown below. The basic functions are all, you can make quickly any image and use it. There is also an audio converter, but never used it ...

3. Ashampoo Burning Studio Free

Link: https://www.ashampoo.com/en/usd/pin/7110/burning-software/ashampoo-burning-studio-free

This is one of the best programs for home use (Moreover, free). What can she?

Work with audio discs, video, create and write images, create images from files, write to any (CD / DVD-R and RW) discs, etc.

For example, when working with an audio format, you can:

Create Audio CD;

Create MP3 Disk (https: // Site / Kak-Zapisat-MP3-Disk /);

Copy music files to disk;

Pour from the audio disk files to the hard disk in a compressed format.

With video discs, more than worthy: Video DVD, Video CD, Super Video CD.

Conclusions:

Excellent combine, which may well replace a whole complex utilities of this kind. What is called - I installed once - and always use. From the main drawbacks only one: you can not open images in virtual drive (it's simply no).

4. Nero.

Site: http://www.nero.com/rus/products/nero-burning-rom/free-trial-download.php.

Could not get around the side of such a legendary package for recording disks, working with images, and in general, everything concerns audio video files.

Using this package, you can do everything: create, record, erase, edit, convert video audio (almost any formats), even printing covers for discs.

Minuses:

A huge package in which everything you need and do not need, many even 10 parts do not use the capabilities of the program;

Paid program (a free test is possible for the first two weeks of use);

He strongly loads the computer.

Conclusions:

Personally, I have long been not using this package (which has already turned into a large "combine"). But in general - the program is very worthy, suitable for both beginners and experienced users.

5. Imgburn.

Site: http://imgburn.com/index.php?Act\u003dDownload

The program is happy since the beginning of the acquaintance: 5-6 links are given on the site, so that any user can easily download it (from whatever country it is). Plus, add a dozen three different languages \u200b\u200bsupported by the program, among which there are Russian.

In principle, not even knowing of English languageIn this program, it will not be easy to deal with even novice users. After starting, a window will appear before you, with all the features and features that the program has. See Screenshot below.

Allows you to create images of three types: ISO, BIN, IMG.

Conclusions:

Good free program. If you use it in a coupe, for example, with Daemon Tools, there are enough opportunities "for the eyes" ...

6. Clone CD / Virtual Clone Drive

Site: http://www.slysoft.com/en/download.html.

Creating a virtual hard disk in Windows 10 (VHDX or VHD) is the process of creating a file that can use the extension ".vhdx" or ".vhd" and acts as a physical hard disk, but with the difference that it is stored on the real hard drive. Using any format (.vhdx or.vhd) for a virtual disk, you can store any files, including documents, images, video, boot files And the entire installation of the OS. The only differences between these two formats are that the.VHDX file supports maximum size 64 TB, has fault tolerance to the failure and provides better performance. As a rule, VHD is useful for adding additional storage on virtual machine Hyper-V, Due to its ability to maintain other installation installations, this storage virtualization technology can be used to create a double-loading system without changing the existing partition.

Work with virtual disks in Windows.

As more and more data began to be stored on a computer, tablet or telephone, which replaced cabinets for documents, bookshelves, photo albums and CD-Holders, we quickly had to face the fact that the device may not be enough space All information, including a collection of films or games. One solution is a hard disk. Virtual Winchester partitions transfer the storage of digital data to the next level. First, we will consider what we are talking when we mean a virtual image. And one of the most important moments: The terms "Virtual Disks" and "Virtual Machines" can be interchangeable. Digital storage space and high demand for it will continue to grow. Many web services offering a virtual image in the cloud are subject to careful verification of their privacy policies. Unlike the storage of all your files on your own computer or physical external accumulator, With a virtual disk you download your files to the server. This means that technically you will not be the only one who has access to them.

Virtual disk is a type of logical partition that is used in virtualization solutions. It is similar to the usual, but installed on a virtual machine or virtual server. Virtual image performs the same task as hard drive for a computer, except that he does it for virtual machine. It is created by the virtualization manager, logically separating and distributing the space between one or more virtual machines. Virtual disk can be used to install guest operating systems, Applications and virtual machine data. The capacity of the virtual drive depends on the basic requirements of the capacitance of the physical drive. In memory virtualization, a virtual disk is a logically insulated drive over the storage network. Cloud storage solution installed on local computerAlso used as a virtual hard drive.

Creating a Laser Disc Image

Creating a virtual disk on Windows 7 image can be using one of the plurality of applications to work with images and virtual drives. Consider the process on the example of Poweriso, Winiso and WinCdemu.

How to make an ISO image of a CD, DVD or Blu-Ray disk with Poweriso

Poweriso can create an ISO file with CD, DVD or Blu-Ray, performing phased copying. All information, including download data, will be copied. You can run ISO Maker using the basic program or context menu shell. ISO file using the main program:

Run Poweriso.
Click the "Copy" button on the toolbar, then in the pop-up menu, select "Make CD / DVD / BD Image File ...".
The ISO Maker dialog box opens in Poweriso.
Create and select a virtual drive containing the disk to be copied.
Click "OK" to launch the process of creating an ISO file.

ISO file through the context menu shell:

Open "My Computer" and select the drive you want to copy.
Right-click on the selected disk, the shell context menu will appear.
Select the "Make Image File" menu.
The "ISO Maker" dialog box opens.
Select the name of the output file and set the output format in ISO.
Click "OK" to start the process.

Winiso can satisfy your need for working with all formats of images, such as .iso, .bin, .cue, .nrg (Nero), .mdf, .mds, .ccd, .img i.dvd.

Step 1. Installing and launching software. First, download Winiso free from the official site, install and run it. After installation, run the program.
Step 2: Click the "Tools" button. Click on the Tools button on the toolbar, and then "make an image from CD / DVD / BD". Or you can just click "Create". Creating a virtual disk for Windows 10 is in the same way.
Step 3. Selection and installation of the addressee. A dialog box appears. Select the drive containing CD / DVD / BD, and in the destination, select the desired output format, then enter the "File Name". After that, you can click the "OK" button to start creating an ISO file.

You can optimize data storage, applications and everything else that can be written on CD / DVD, creating ISO images and keeping them on the hard drive. Installing a program with an ISO image much faster than when using the real optical disk. Double pressing the image for its mount faster than inserting it into the drive, and the search for the correct image with using windows Search is much more convenient than the search for the desired CD on the shelf. To create iSO image Using WinCdemu, follow these steps:

insert the CD you want to copy to an optical drive;
open the "Computer" folder in the Start menu;
Right-click the CD icon and select "Create an ISO image".
Select the file name for the image. It looks like saving the newly created document or image. Click "Save".
Wait for the end of creating an image. As soon as it is created, you can extract the physical CD from the drive and mount the image every time you need it.

Virtual Hard Disk

In Windows 7 Microsoft introduced a new way reserve copy Your data called "Backup and Restore". It allows you to make backup copies of all data to another place and provides the ability to create a system image. System image is a large document with VHD extension. It can be used to restore the entire system. In Windows 7, the image creation program was so popular that it was saved in Windows 8 and Windows 10. There is a tool on the control panel - backup and recovery (Windows 7). The convenience of backing your computer using this method, besides the ability to fully restore it later, it is that you can transfer the file to any Windows 7, 8 or 10, and access data just like from a conventional hard drive. Therefore, if you need to copy only a few files from your backup, it is much easier to make a virtual hard disk to use VHD, and not restore backupwhich will first completely remove the data, and then copies the saved in the image.

Mounting VHD.

To mount the image in Windows, click "Start" and in the search window, type "Computer Management". You can also go to the control panel, then "System and Security", then click "Administration", and then "Computer Management". If you are in the "Icons" view mode, click Administration. Now in the menu on the left, press "Disk Management", and wait for the list of disks and partitions. Then right-click Disk Management and select "Mount VHD". In the Review dialog box, click the location of the file you want to connect, and click OK.

ATTENTION. If you do not check the read-only checkbox, you can add, change or delete files / folders from virtual hard disk. It is really useful because you can attach your file, add a few more data you want to copy, and then just remove it.

Once the system finishes mount, you will see that the disk will appear as a new device in my computer. Windows will automatically assign a disk letter. Otherwise, right-click on PRIMARY PARTITION and select "Change the drive letter". To remove the VHD, right-click on the gray area with the disk name and select "Extract VHD".

You can save a copy of the operating system and all personal data in the document using free tool Microsoft. Go to the "Computer Management" section, click "Drive Management", and then right-click "Disc Control". Instead of choosing to mount, click "Create VHD". This will call the window in which you want to specify the size of the document, format and location. It is recommended to choose the format of the VHDX file, since it is less susceptible to hacking and can support large sizes. If you choose the format of the VHD file, it will recommend a fixed size. If you choose VHDX, you will be offered a dynamic extension. It is better to leave the default settings. Be sure to enter the size of your virtual disk. You can change it on GB or TB in the drop-down list.

Now, another device will appear in the disk management - marked "undistributed". In a gray section for a new image, right-click and select "Enable Disk". Then you need to choose what to use - MBR or GPT. For compatibility S. windows versions Older Vista Select MBR. For new features and large hard disks Use GPT. Now right-click on an unbalanced area and select "New Simple Tom". This will cause a master of new volumes. First, you must choose the size of the new volume. It can not be the size of the unallocated space.

Click "Next" and select the disk letter to assign the section. Then select the formatting method. By default, it is installed in NTFS, but you can also choose FAT32. Select NTFS if you use a virtual media to back up files from your computer. Click "Next" and "Finish", and that's it! Now the new device will be displayed in the disk management.

Using a VHD disk in a virtual machine

Expansion denotes virtual hard drive. This is a format that is structured to represent the standard hard drive and allows you to encapsulate the operating system and the data into one file. This document supports all standard operations. The document is on our hard drive, but the entire content is recorded inside the document. All partitions, data and the entire file system are stored in the document that is used to download. Please note that the extension may include the operating system and / or data. The name can be selected during the configuration process, but its extension will always be.vhd. You can create new documentUsing available disk space.

The image is similar to an unused hard disk. After creating VHD. In it, you can create one or more partitions and format them using file System Fat, ExFat or NTFS. When it comes to size, the VHD can be fixed in size or it can dynamically expand. Fixed VHD has a predetermined number of space that is reserved on physical media. This reservation also includes empty space. The creation of VHD takes more time, but its performance is better because all it is a solid block. Dynamically expanding VHD highlights the physical disk space, since virtual memory Used virtual machine. This means that the size of the file.vhd is growing as our virtual machine is used. In addition, dynamically expanding VHD files when you delete files do not become less.

An existing image can be installed (connect) so that it is displayed in our existing operating system. You can also mount the image as a disk with the ability to read. Thus, the contents of the image will be changed. Mounted images can be removed (dismantling) or deleted. The advantage of using VHD is the ability to download and configure several versions of the operating system. When setting up MULTIBOOT using standard parameters you need to create new section and install Windows. When using images, a new VHD is simply created. This means that you can have one section with multiple files (several operating systems). Installing a virtual disk also involves greater flexibility when it comes to emergency recovery. We can copy an image from one computer, which was damaged to another with similar equipment. Users will access the same OS and data as on the old computer.

Control tools

You can use DiskPart to control VHD, drives control in Windows, Wim2VHD and BCDEDIT. MMC to control disks allows you to create, mount and remove images. FROM using diskpart You can create, mount, extract, compress, expand and view image details. General DiskPart commands used for virtual disk:

create VDisk - Creates an image with the size of a VHD file, expressed in MB (the file name must have extension .VHD);
mount VDisk - connects the image;
extract VDisk - extracts the image;
compress VDisk - Reduces the size of the image;
zoom VDisk - expands the maximum size available in the image;
details VDisk - Displays information.

Complex automatic windows installations (Windows AIK) includes the WIM2VHD emulator, which can be used to create an image from the Windows installation source. Using Wim2VHD, you can create a new image of the specified type and size, apply WIM, use the Unattend file to automate the OUT OF BOX load on Windows when you first start a generalized image and apply updates to it.