Disk image emulator
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A disk image emulator is computer software designed to emulate a disk image, usually of a CD or DVD, on a local hard drive. The emulation is usually done by creating a virtual drive on the system, that to the operating system looks like an ordinary disk drive.
In short, it puts a permanent copy of a disc on a hard drive, making the disc accessible when the disc isn't in the computer.
Some operating systems such as Mac OS X and Linux have this functionality built-in (although OS X's built-in Disk Copy software can not fool the OS into believing that the mounted image is a real drive,) while others such as Microsoft Windows require additional steps.
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[edit] Uses
- Enables users to avoid constantly switching out discs, which can be a nuisance.
- Helps prevent scratching, which can cause permanent damage to a disc.
- Speeds up access times as hard drives are faster than optical drives.
- Provides a backup copy of a disc, in case the original becomes damaged, lost, or stolen.
- Enables users to carry large disc libraries without the physical burden of the discs.
- Emulates multiple disks, which is useful for installing or using software that shipped on multiple disks.
- Can make a disc accessible to users on a network, which is very practical when it is impossible to distribute the discs to all of the users on a network.
- Allows programs that can normally only work with optical discs (like some DVD-Video applications) to access data on a hard drive.
- For often-used CD and DVD discs, where simply copying the disc to a hard drive won't work.
- A CD/DVD master used to burn physical discs.
[edit] Copyright infringement of software
While this kind of software does have legitimate uses, some use it to aid copyright infringement of software by simply distributing the disc images over the Internet. However since the software itself does not usually promote copyright infringement, it is typically immune to legislation such as the DMCA.
[edit] Disk image emulator software
- Alcohol 120%
- CDemu (a Linux Kernel inspired by Daemon Tools)
- DAEMON Tools (Freeware, but contains Adware)
- DiskImageMounter (Mac only)
- MagicDISC (Freeware)
- Nero ImageDrive
- PowerISO
- UltraISO
- Virtual CD-ROM Control Panel - A Virtual CD Control Panel by Microsoft (A Very Basic Application) download
