Daemon Tools is a 'virtual drive' utility program (some people call it a 'disk image emulator' but that is an inaccurate description). Jargon aside, what it does is add an extra cd drive to 'windows' so you can use ISO files where there isn't really a drive at all - that is where the term virtual comes in: it looks like a cd drive, it behaves like a cd drive and for all intents and purposes it is a cd drive... with the exception that there is no additional hardware installed. You might think of it as a software cd drive rather than a piece of hardware installed in your computer.
You may download daemon tools version 3.47 for windows here: daemon347.exe. Version 3.47 is freeware. It is also the last adware-free version and therefore the recommended choice. If you wish to get the latest release then visit the daemon tools homepage.
Install daemon tools just as you would any other program.
After the program is installed you will see an icon in the system tray. If you don't, just click the program icon on the desktop (or start menu) - no program will open; just the icon will appear in the system tray.
Right click the icon. You will see the options.
Note. I moved the task bar to the left in order to avoid overlapping menus.
The help menu gives the usuall choices. You shouldn't need them.
This is how I have the 'options' set. Automount means your iso, if you have one, will automatically be set every time you boot your computer. Autostart means the icon will appear in the system tray. I have mine off. I just launch the program when I need it, then exit afterward. You can turn everything off if you want.
Emulation. You can leave everything blank.
Virtual CD/DVD-ROM. This is the main one you want to configure.
Set number of devices to one drive (you are allowed up to four)
Here's why. Normally, windows explorer shows all the drives on your computer. I have two dvd drives.
After I set the number of devices to one (or more), I get extra drive(s). When I add one drive with daemon tools, windows explorer shows that I now have three drives altogether (two hardware drives and one virtual drive).
The extra drive is the virtual drive created by daemon tools. You can set as many as four drives.
Now we get to the good part. Instead of inserting a disk into the cd tray, we "mount" an ISO image. To do this, on the virtual CD/DVD-ROM option, select "mount image."
You will be prompted to select a file. Browse to where you downloaded the ISO files on your hard drive, select one, and click open. (Note. The icon beside the iso file may look different on your computer.)
You will see the contents of the iso as if it were a real disk in a real cd drive.
You can use the virtual drive like a real drive. You can unmount it when you're finished or you leave it permanently mounted. The choice is yours.
