[SOLVED] Help with ISO images

Hi,i'm new to using a forum. I'm running W7. I have and old ProOne 5 disk electronics program that uses w95. I can make it run in compatibility mode fine, but what I,m trying to do is make it run as an ISO image so I don't have to have the disks in the dvd drive. I've tried DAEMON light,ImageBurn,VCDcontrol . when I do get it to work it still wants to install like normal,can't get it to work like in VR. If you understand this problem thank you for your help!

Russ, welcome to the forum! What version of Windows 7 do you have? The reason that I ask, is that if you have Pro or Ultimate, then you can download Windows Virtual PC w/XP Mode for free. This is a XP Pro SP3 OS that will allow you to run older apps that won't run in 7.

Getting programs that is written for Win 95 & 98 to run properly in 7 is a challenge, to say the least. Having a VM that has XP (or Win 2K, if you have a copy) running in it will be your friend, if you're running older programs/hardware.

I really wish that I could give you a better (or easier) answer, but that's the best that I can scrape up. If you want backwards compatibility (esp 15 years), then you'll need to learn how to run VM's. It's no longer the future of computing, it's today's technology in action by many home/business users.

Best of Luck,
Cat

An ISO is just a DVD image so it must act and behave as it would from a CD/DVD once it's created.

If a programs function is to install then that is what the program will do whether you run it from the CD/DVD or an ISO. What you would need is to run the install program and then create an ISO of the actual program file folder which the install program creates and then expands its' files. This folder would have the actual executable you run rather than the installation exe.

W95 Programs also often wrote files to their install directory when used (.ini files etc) which would be a problem - this is prevented by W7 security on a real install (unless you disable it) and it is impossible in an iso (read-only). I doubt a W95 program would need it but more recent programs may also require registry settings that would not exist if you took the ISO to a machine the program was not actually installed on.

You might try installing PowerISO program. It does have a virtual disk feature where you should be able to run the ISO in the virtual disc.

It has a feature where you can mount ISO file with internal virtual drive. You don't need install any other virtual drive software.

It has a 14 day trial feature so you can test it out before purchase.

Get it here: http://www.poweriso.com/download.htm

Thanks guys, I'm trying PowerISO but it looks like the disk is to big for the trial version. Also in the bottom corner it says non-bootable image. I'll buy the program if you think it would be a very good program to put all my dvd's on hard drive and I'll try to get it to work with the ProOne program. I'm running w7home premium. This is just a project I'm working on to learn more and make my system more like I want. There's still the compatability issue between w95 and w7. Perhaps I should try Dos Box or something like it. I'm open to suggestions. Can't hurt to try. Thanks.

Most data DVDs ARE non-bootable - a bootable DVD means it has the OS on it (example: the Windows 7 DVD is bootable so they work with an empty harddrive - the computer takes it's commands from the DVD).

When you say put all your DVDs to harddrive ... movie DVDs are encrypted and most games include security features that will prevent successful copy to an iso or the execution of the game if running from an iso. Also DVDs that simply install programs to your harddrive are basically worthless to convert to an iso; you still need to install it and once installed you no longer need the DVD (or ISO) so why not just pop in the DVD, install it, and put the DVD away.

Thanks TrainableMan, I understand what your saying. When I say dvd's, I mean movies which I have not tried to do. I can install the ProOne program under w7 compatibility and it runs fine, but you have to have the disk in the dvd drive to work, it doesn't install as a stand-alone like my games. What I'm asking the Forum is how, if possible, I can make it run stand-alone (without the disk in the drive). That's why I was trying these ISO programs. Thank you.

Hey catilley1092, How can I obtain a VM with XP like you said?

Movies are different - they require special DVDRippers because of the encryption and decrypting the movies is illegal in many countries including the USA, even if you own the original.

As for games and other software that need to "see" the DVD in the drive, you may be able to create an image of the DVD but PowerISO does not have security settings to hide that it is an iso. You might look at a product called Daemon Tools (The Free version is all you really need). It does use some drivers that may cause BSODs on some machines though I have never experienced problems myself.

I don't play that many games but I have read some of the security algorithms are quite nasty and you may find it near impossible to use an ISO. Your might check out the website AfterDawn; they often post patches for your games to bypass the CD check.

For a VM, check out the Virtualization section of our Freeware DB.

Note: for all but Virtual PC-XP mode you need to own your own XP disks/license. If you have W7 Pro/Ult/Enterprise then Virtual PC - XP mode is free, but not for Home Premium.