For more information, check out How to create ISO files from your software disks. If you download Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, or Windows 11 from Microsoft, you will get the option of downloading an ISO file.īut once you download the ISO file, what can you do with it? If you are running Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, or Windows 11, you have three ( 3) options mount it as a virtual optical drive, burn it to a disk or create a bootable USB drive.

They have a set standard ( ISO 9660) for the file system used for optical disks ( CD, DVD, BD, etc.).Įven Microsoft is now using ISO files for distributing Windows. Now really quick, ISO stands for International Organization for Standardization. You commonly see them used to deliver bootable software. ISO files are just an image of a CD or DVD. Nowadays, it seems like everyone is starting to use ISO files for distributing software. Here is what you can do with an ISO file.

Have you ever downloaded an ISO file and did not know what to do with it? More and more software companies are now distributing their software using ISO files.

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