Virtual CD-ROM in XP
Saturday, January 06, 2007
I have a portable computer that doesn't have CD-ROM drive. It weights around 2.5 to 3 lbs. Because of the convenient small size, I had to compromise with not having a CD-ROM drive. I rarely need one now a days, as most software is actually available to download online. But once in a while, some programs need the CD-ROM to function, even after the full install (I hate those programs).
So what can you do if you need a CD-ROM drive?
Fake it. I don't mean imagine a CD-ROM and fake using it, I mean fake the CD-ROM drive. In other words, use a virtual CD-ROM.
I didn't know that in XP you can create a virtual CD-ROM, using a handy Microsoft program called
Virtual CD-ROM Control Panel, until I needed one.
This tool doesn't come standard with any OS installation and it doesn't have any support, so you have to download it and play around with it to learn how to use it.
So if you have an ISO image of a CD and need to run it on your non-CD-ROM computer, this is the way to go. It works flawlessly.
Comments:
Check out Deamon Tools:
http://www.daemon-tools.cc
It allows you to even have several virtual CD drives, reads a variety of disk image formats and emulates even disc protection schemes. Extremely handy!
Actually, this little tool also lets you mount > 1 CD-ROM so that they can be used as lettered drives in the OS.
Alcohol 120% the best! :p