Mount an ISO Image

An ISO file is a disc image, typically a copy of a CD or DVD. In order to use these files, they have to be mounted to a virtual drive. There are different methods to do this depending on your operating system. Follow these steps to start using your ISO files right away.

Steps

Mounting in Windows 7 (or Older)

  1. Download Daemon Tools Lite. This freeware program will allow you to create virtual disc drives and mount images to them. You will need version 4.35.6 or later for Windows 7, which can be found at their website | here. Install the program once it finishes downloading. The default install options should be acceptable for most users.
    • Be sure to install Desktop Gadget if you want to add Daemon Tools to your desktop gadgets. This can making mounting images an easier process.
  2. Drag your ISO file into Daemon Tools. Place it in the bottom frame of Daemon Tools and the program will automatically begin the mounting process. Once complete, the image will open as if you had inserted a disc.
  3. Associate ISO files with Daemon Tools. You can have Daemon Tools automatically mount ISO files when you click them. Open Preferences in Daemon Tools. The icon looks like a gear and is located on the right side of the toolbar.
    • Click Integration in the left frame. This will open the File Associations window. Check the box next to ISO and click Apply. Daemon Tools will now automatically open ISO files when you click them.

Mounting in Windows 8

  1. Right-click your ISO file. Windows 8 is the first version of Windows to support ISO mounting natively.
  2. Choose to open with "Windows Explorer" from the right-click menu. Your ISO image will now appear as an inserted disc in a virtual disc drive.
  3. Eject the image to unmount. Open Computer and right click on the virtual drive that your ISO file is mounted in. Select Eject to unmount the image.

Mounting in Mac OS X

  1. Double-click the ISO file. Mac OS X supports ISO files natively without the need for any third-party software. Most ISO files will mount by simply double-clicking them. The disc image will then appear on your desktop as if you had inserted a disc.
  2. Use the Disk Utility. If your ISO file does not mount when you double click it, you can use the Disk Utility program. The Disk Utility can be found in the Applications/Utilities/ directory.
    • Click File, then Open Disk Image… Navigate to your image file, and select Open.
    • The ISO file will now appear on your desktop as if you had inserted a disc.
    • This method works for other disc image filetypes, such as DMG and IMG.
  3. Use the Terminal. If you are more comfortable working with the command line, you can mount a disc image through the Terminal.
    • Type “hdiutil mount <sample>.iso” into the terminal and press Enter.
    • After processing the file, your ISO image will appear mounted on your desktop.
    • This method also works for other disc image filetypes, such as DMG and IMG.

Mounting in Linux

  1. Log in as a root user. If you are not logged in as a root user, you can switch by typing “$ su –“ in the command line.
  2. Create a directory. This is the mount point. In the command line, type “# mkdir –p /mnt/disk”. You can replace “disk” with any folder name you would like.
  3. Mount the image file. Use the command “# mount –o loop <sample>.iso /mnt/disk/”. Replace <sample> with the filename of the image. If you changed the directory name in the previous step, then be sure to enter the changed name in this step.
  4. Browse the files. If image you mount contains a file system, you can browse the files with the following commands: “# cd /mnt/disk” followed by “# ls -1”.

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Sources and Citations

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