How to Install Games from ISO Files on Windows PC

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Versions from Windows 8 and above include the ability to mount multiple ISO image files to a virtual drive. Windows 7 and earlier versions require third-party software to create a virtual drive capable of mounting ISO files. After the ISO image is mounted to the virtual drive, you can install the game just like you would using a real disc. The methods below will help you understand how to create virtual drives, mount ISO image files and install games from ISO files on any version of Windows.

Table of Contents

Install from ISO file on Windows 8 and later

Mount the ISO file to File Explorer. File Explorer on the advanced Windows operating system allows you to mount ISO files to virtual drives. Right click on the ISO and select “Mount”. The ISO image will automatically be mounted to the virtual drive and opens a new File Explorer window showing the contents of the ISO file. ^{[1] X Research Source}

If a new window doesn’t open, you can click the folder icon in the taskbar or press ⊞ Win + E to open File Explorer. In the left pane of the File Explorer window, click “This PC” to display all drives (including virtual drives).

Launch the setup program. This program may have a “Setup.exe”, “Install.exe” or “Autoexec.exe” file for you to launch the installer. Double-click these files to launch the installer.

Follow the setup instructions to install the game. If the game requires a disc to run after installation, you need to make sure that the ISO image is mounted to the virtual drive.

Install from ISO file on Windows 7 and earlier

Download virtual drive software. Previous versions of Windows did not natively support disk mounting, but had to have third-party software to take care of this. ^{[2] X Research Sources} Search for “mount iso” or “virtual drive” and read reviews to determine the best software for you. Some software will have a paid or free version available.

You should use caution when searching for software online. Reading reviews will help you choose reliable software that won’t harm your computer.
Some programs also support other ISO file types. If the file type is not supported, you can find conversion software online to convert to a compatible file format.

Install the software and open the program. Launch the setup program of the software of your choice and then follow the instructions to install it on your computer. After the installation is complete, open the program from within the Start menu or the desktop (if a shortcut icon is available.

The software will create a virtual drive that appears as a regular drive on the computer. This drive can be specified as a CD, DVD or Blu-Ray disc. You need to make sure that the drive above is compatible with the ISO image to be opened.
The program may open but will not display like a regular window. You need to check the system tray in the taskbar to see if the program shows up here. The taskbar is usually located at the bottom of the screen.

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Mount the ISO file to the virtual drive. On the disk mounting software, you will see a list of virtual drives available to mount the ISO file to. The software can also provide a directory system for you to mount ISO files. Please right-click the ISO file on the program to “Mount” to the virtual drive. You can also mount the ISO file directly to the virtual drive by right-clicking on the virtual drive and selecting “Mount”.

You will need to browse for the ISO file on your computer. Once mounted, the drive will contain this ISO image until it is replaced by another ISO image or you actively unmount the ISO file from the drive.
You can mount the ISO file on Windows Explorer by right-clicking the ISO file and selecting “Mount”.

Open the drive in Windows Explorer. The mounted ISO file will show up as a regular drive. You can right-click the drive, select “Open” to open it, or double-click the “Setup.exe”, “Install.exe” or “Autoexec.exe” file to launch the program’s installer. When you double-click the drive, the program “autoexec.exe” will launch (if available). This is a shortcut that shows you how to install the game.

Follow the on-screen instructions to install the game. If the game requires a disc to run after installation, you need to make sure that the ISO image is mounted to the virtual drive.

Prepare ISO file

ISO is a compressed file format containing disc images. ^{[3] X Research Resources} You can find more information online on how to create a disk image archive. Note: discs with copy protection will prevent you from making copies.
The ISO file may be provided as freeware from the developer or publisher, where the software will then be available and free. ^{[4] X Research Sources}
Downloading an ISO file of a commercial product from somewhere other than the manufacturer, developer, or publisher may violate copyright laws in the country in which you live, such as the US. Digital Millennium Copyright Act – Digital Millennium Copyright Act. ^{[5] X Research Sources}
Downloading ISO files labeled as “Abandonware” (software that is no longer supported) also violates copyright laws because they are not released for free.

Steps

Install from ISO file on Windows 8 and later

Install from ISO file on Windows 7 and earlier

Prepare ISO file

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