Download Virtual Drive: What, Why and How
If you want to use disc images such as ISO, BIN, IMG, or VHD files on your computer without burning them to a physical disc, you need a virtual drive. A virtual drive is a software that emulates a real disc drive and allows you to access the data stored in disc image files. In this article, we will explain what a virtual drive is, why you should use it, and how to download and install one of the best virtual drive software for Windows 10.
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What is a virtual drive?
A virtual drive is a disk image file that acts like a physical drive
A disk image file is a file that contains the entire contents of a disc, such as a CD, DVD, or Blu-ray. It can store any files, including documents, pictures, videos, boot files, and even an entire operating system. The most common disk image file format is ISO, but there are also other formats such as BIN, IMG, VHD, and VHDX.
A virtual drive is a software that can mount disk image files as virtual disc drives on your computer. It can create a logical partition on your hard drive or use an existing one to store the disk image file. When you mount a disk image file using a virtual drive software, it will appear as a new drive letter in Windows Explorer. You can then access the data in the disk image file as if it were a real disc inserted in your physical disc drive.
Types of virtual drives
There are different types of virtual drives depending on the format and size of the disk image file. Here are some of the most common ones:
Fixed virtual hard disk
A fixed virtual hard disk (VHD) is a disk image file that has a fixed size and consumes the same amount of space on the host machine hard disk. It supports fast processing speeds and constant fragmentation. It can be used to install an operating system or store data on a virtual machine.
Dynamic virtual hard disk
A dynamic virtual hard disk (VHDX) is a disk image file that has a varying size and grows as data is added to it. It has a maximum size of 64 TB and features resiliency against power failure and better performance. It can be used to add extra storage to a virtual machine or create a dual-boot system without modifying an existing partition.
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Differencing virtual hard disk
A differencing virtual hard disk (DVHD) is a disk image file that is used to create a copy of an existing disk. It uses two VHDs: a parent and a child. The parent VHD contains the original data and the child VHD contains the changes made to it. This way, you can modify the parent VHD without altering it directly.
Why use a virtual drive?
Benefits of using a virtual drive
Using a virtual drive has many advantages over using physical discs or storing data on your hard drive. Here are some of them:
Easy deployment
A virtual drive allows you to use pre-built and standard configurations in the VHD files for working on specific operating system environments, which simplifies deployment. You can also easily transfer or share your VHD files with other users or devices without the need of physical media.
Efficient backup and restore
A virtual drive allows you to create snapshots of your VHD files and save them as backup copies. You can also restore your VHD files from the snapshots in case of data loss or corruption. This way, you can protect your data and recover it quickly and easily.
Swift replication
A virtual drive allows you to clone your VHD files and create multiple copies of them. You can also merge the changes made to the cloned VHD files with the original ones. This way, you can replicate your data and keep it updated and consistent.
Storage optimization
A virtual drive allows you to compress your VHD files and reduce their size. You can also split your large VHD files into smaller ones and store them on different locations. This way, you can optimize your storage space and improve your performance.
Security and privacy
A virtual drive allows you to encrypt your VHD files and protect them with passwords. You can also hide your VHD files from unauthorized access or detection. This way, you can secure your data and maintain your privacy.
How to download a virtual drive?
Best virtual drive software for Windows 10
There are many virtual drive software available for Windows 10, but not all of them are reliable and user-friendly. Here are some of the best ones that you can download and use for free:
DAEMON Tools Lite 10
DAEMON Tools Lite 10 is one of the most popular and versatile virtual drive software for Windows 10. It can create and mount up to 4 virtual drives from various disk image formats, such as ISO, BIN, MDS, MDF, NRG, VHD, and more. It also supports creating bootable USB drives, burning discs, creating audio CDs, and editing images. You can download DAEMON Tools Lite 10 from .
DVDFab Virtual Drive
DVDFab Virtual Drive is a simple and lightweight virtual drive software for Windows 10. It can create and mount up to 18 virtual drives from ISO, MINISO, NRG, CCD, CUE, IMG, DVD, UDF, MDS, MDF, and more. It also supports emulating DVD and Blu-ray discs with various protections. You can download DVDFab Virtual Drive from .
WinCDEmu
WinCDEmu is an open-source and easy-to-use virtual drive software for Windows 10. It can create and mount unlimited number of virtual drives from ISO, CUE, NRG, MDS/MDF, CCD, IMG formats. It also supports creating ISO images from physical discs or folders. You can download WinCDEmu from .
Virtual CloneDrive
Virtual CloneDrive is a simple and reliable virtual drive software for Windows 10. It can create and mount up to 15 virtual drives from ISO, BIN, CCD formats. It also supports emulating CD/DVD/Blu-ray drives with various features. You can download Virtual CloneDrive from .
gBurner Virtual Drive
gBurner Virtual Drive is a powerful and multifunctional virtual drive software for Windows 10. It can create and mount up to 16 virtual drives from ISO, GBI/GBP, DAA, BIN/CUE, UIF/NRG/MDF/MDS/IMG/CCD formats. It also supports creating bootable USB drives, burning discs, creating audio CDs/DVDs/Blu-rays, converting images, extracting files, and more. You can download gBurner Virtual Drive from .
Steps to create and mount a virtual drive using DAEMON Tools Lite 10
To create and mount a virtual drive using DAEMON Tools Lite 10, follow these steps:
Download and install DAEMON Tools Lite 10 from .
Launch the program and click on the "Add Image" button on the main window.
Browse and select the disk image file that you want to mount.
The disk image file will appear on the "Images" tab on the left panel.
Right-click on the disk image file and select "Mount" from the context menu.A new virtual drive will be created and assigned a drive letter on your computer.
You can access the data in the disk image file by opening the virtual drive in Windows Explorer.
To unmount the disk image file, right-click on the virtual drive and select "Eject" from the context menu.
To delete the disk image file from the program, right-click on it and select "Remove" from the context menu.
Conclusion
A virtual drive is a useful tool that can help you use disc image files without burning them to a physical disc. It can also offer you many benefits such as easy deployment, efficient backup and restore, swift replication, storage optimization, and security and privacy. There are many virtual drive software available for Windows 10, but we recommend DAEMON Tools Lite 10 as one of the best ones. It can create and mount up to 4 virtual drives from various disk image formats and also supports other features such as creating bootable USB drives, burning discs, creating audio CDs, and editing images. You can download and install DAEMON Tools Lite 10 from and follow the steps above to create and mount a virtual drive on your computer.
FAQs
Here are some of the frequently asked questions about virtual drives:
What is the difference between a virtual drive and a virtual machine?
A virtual drive is a software that emulates a real disc drive and allows you to access the data stored in disc image files. A virtual machine is a software that emulates a real computer and allows you to run an operating system or an application on it.
Can I create more than 4 virtual drives using DAEMON Tools Lite 10?
Yes, you can create more than 4 virtual drives using DAEMON Tools Lite 10 if you upgrade to the paid version. The paid version can create up to 32 virtual drives from various disk image formats.
Can I use a virtual drive on other operating systems besides Windows 10?
Yes, you can use a virtual drive on other operating systems besides Windows 10. There are different virtual drive software available for different operating systems, such as Mac OS X, Linux, Android, iOS, etc.
Can I mount more than one disk image file on a single virtual drive?
No, you cannot mount more than one disk image file on a single virtual drive. You can only mount one disk image file at a time on a single virtual drive. If you want to mount another disk image file, you need to unmount the previous one first or use another virtual drive.
Can I edit the data in the disk image file using a virtual drive?
No, you cannot edit the data in the disk image file using a virtual drive. A virtual drive only allows you to read the data in the disk image file. If you want to edit the data in the disk image file, you need to use an image editor software such as DAEMON Tools Lite 10 or extract the data to your hard drive first.
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