How Do I Play ISO PC Games?

Written by:  • Edited by: Michael Hartman
Updated Jun 29, 2009

ISO images can be downloaded from the internet and are usually complete 'mirror' images of software packages, including games. But how do you use ISO images on your PC?

Burning ISO Image Files onto CD

An ISO image is a disk image of an optical disc. It is commonly used in the distribution of software and the name comes from the file system used with CD-ROM media. However, the term ISO image can refer to any optical disc image.

Many downloadable, free games come in .ISO format, but to use them, these files need to either be transferred to optical media or used to mount a 'virtual drive' which emulates the optical disc operation. Most optical disc authoring software, such as Nero or Roxio can write ISO files to disc.

If you have downloaded an ISO image and need to burn it to disc, there are several software packages that can perform this task:

Active@ ISO Burner
(Free)

Finalburner PRO (Free)

CD Burner XP (Free)

Deepburner (Free)

Using Virtual Drive Software

As you can see, burning an ISO image isn't that complex. However, you may find it easier to run an ISO image via virtual drive software, which can perform much faster than standard optical media. To set up a virtual drive, you will need to source a disk image emulator, which then creates a virtual drive on your PC, which looks to the operating system to be an ordinary disc drive.

There are several disc image emulators available, which include:

UltraISO (Paid)

Alcohol 120% (Paid) - Review of Alcohol 120%

PowerISO (Paid)

Daemon Tools (Free)

Using a virtual drive to run ISO files has many uses and benefits for the user. For instance, it helps to save on wear of the physical CD/DVD drive's mechanisms; it helps prevent CD media from being scratched; can enable users to create back-up compies of discs in the case of loss or damage to the original; can be used across a network where several CD copies would ordinarily be required for other users and can make the PC run quieter, as most optical drives tend to be noisy when being accessed.

However, using .ISO images and disc emulation software also has drawbacks, not least of all is the fact that as .ISO images contain all the files and data of physical CD media, which when used in conjunction with disc emulation software, can be used to aid in the duplication and creation of software which may aid in software copyright infringement.

With the introduction of broadband internet and peer-to-peer file sharing software, it's relatively easy to find most software - whether games, utilities or other types of software - in .ISO format. Remember, however, that illegal copying of software for distribution purposes is illegal in most countries!


Comments

Showing all 7 comments
 
xbox 360 game burning software Dec 5, 2011 6:40 AM
RE: How Do I Play ISO PC Games?
Well...You shared a great information about 'how to download iso image by using different softwares (Nero and roxio) in a very easy way'.it's reallly gonna help me as i m interested in playing games..i like to read this type of stuff..thanks for providing such an information.
jay Feb 24, 2011 6:23 PM
RE: How Do I Play ISO PC Games?
download you can do more than one iso cd disk
asiff Nov 26, 2010 10:32 PM
how to play iso games
i have 2 CD game ISO Files and 1st CD is mounted on a demon tool but it shows a message that the microsft windows cannot access the disc,. please advice on how tro play
Forrest Jun 22, 2010 12:19 PM
QuadrupleDoubleRE:RE ISO help...?
Mkay, I'm using PowerISO and I have a two disc game. I've installed it, have disc 1 mounted and disc 2 mounted. However, when I auto-run disc one it says

"There is no disc inserted, please insert now. Retry Cancel"

Anything at all or will I have to burn it to a real disc?
g Jun 8, 2010 6:33 PM
games
if you have an hp you can click the iso file it it will bring up a program to burn to a disk. sadly macs dont ):
Brandon Mar 24, 2010 1:43 PM
RE: How Do I Play ISO PC Games?
I downloaded everything to cd, it installs great but when you go to play it says "insert play disc". Which I have, but it says retry. What am I missing?
Wants to play Jan 28, 2010 8:26 AM
need more info, these programs are confusing
would be nice if you actually showed some screen shots and walked a person through it
 
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