An ISO file, also known as an ISO image, is a file that contains all the installation files for a single program. Certain software programs, especially large ones, are sometimes made available as ISO files, including Microsoft Office and the Windows operating system. How you install an application from its ISO file will depend on the version of Windows you’re running.
In Windows 10 or 8.1, you can mount the ISO file as a virtual drive and install the software from there. If you’re still running Windows 7 (you shouldn’t be), you will need to download a utility that can mount the ISO file for you. You can also burn the ISO file to a disc or copy it to a USB drive and install it from the CD or drive. If you download Windows 10 as an ISO file, you will need to burn it to a bootable DVD or copy it to a bootable USB drive to install it on your target computer. Here is how to install an ISO image in Windows.
Mount the ISO File in Windows 10 or 8.1
Download the ISO file, then open File Explorer and right-click on the file. From the pop-up menu, select the Mount command.
Sometimes a third-party program can disable the built-in Mount command so it doesn’t appear in the menu. If so, you’ll need to reset your default program to bring the command back. In Windows 10, go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps and scroll to the bottom of the page. Click the Set defaults by app link. From the list of apps, click the one for Windows Disc Image Burner and click Manage.
Click the name of the third-party program and change it to Windows Explorer.
Return to File Explorer and right-click the ISO file again. The Mount command should now appear in the menu. Running the Mount command opens a virtual drive that’s visible in the File Explorer sidebar, from which you can install the software. On that virtual drive, you should find a setup.exe file or a similar file for installing the program. Double-click that file to install it.
After the installation has finished, open the This PC folder in File Explorer so you can see all your disc drives. Right-click on the virtual drive. (It will likely have a drive letter of D or E, depending on your configuration). From the pop-up menu, click the Eject command. This removes the virtual drive, though your ISO file is still alive and well.
Mount the ISO File in Windows 7
The Mount command is available only in Windows 8, 8.1, and 10. If you’re running Windows 7, you can instead turn to a free virtual drive utility, such as Virtual CloneDrive. After installation, open Windows Explorer in Windows 7 and right-click the ISO file you wish to install. From the pop-up menu, click the Mount (Virtual CloneDrive) command.
The virtual drive is created. A small window pops up asking if you want to run the setup file or open the folder for the virtual drive. Choose the option to run the setup file.
The installation then proceeds. After the program has installed, right-click on the ISO file in Windows Explorer and click Unmount from the pop-up menu to remove the virtual drive.
Burn the ISO File to Disc
Another option for installing a program from an ISO file is to simply burn the file to a CD or DVD, or copy it to a USB drive and install it from there. This is a useful method if you wish to store the program on a disc that you can install in any version of Windows. You would also do this to install Windows from an ISO file onto a clean machine.
To burn the ISO file onto a disc, insert a blank CD or DVD in your PC’s disc drive. Open File Explorer or Windows Explorer and right-click on the ISO file. From the pop-up menu, select the Burn disc image command.
The Windows Disc Image Burner tool pops up and should point to your CD/DVD drive. Click the Burn button to proceed. The ISO file is burned to your CD or DVD. Your disc drive may then open so you can remove the disc.
Depending on your installation settings, you can then install your program from the disc automatically by placing it in the drive of a PC or by double-clicking the setup file as displayed in File Explorer or Windows Explorer.
Windows USB/DVD Download Tool
Another option that gives you the ability to burn the ISO to a disc or copy it to a USB is the Windows USB/DVD Download Tool, a free Microsoft utility. This tool copies the contents of the ISO file to a CD, DVD, or USB drive so you can then install the program from the disc or USB drive, which becomes bootable.
This is a good method if you want to install Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 on a clean computer or as part of a dual-boot setup. Microsoft no longer offers this utility on its website, but you can still find it at other sites, including FileHippo and Major Geeks.
After you download the Windows7-USB-DVD-Download-Tool-Installer.exe file, right-click on it and choose the Run as Administrator option. Once the installation is complete, launch the tool, then browse to and choose the ISO file you wish to burn. Click Next, then choose either a USB device or a DVD.
USB
If you choose USB, the next screen asks you to insert the USB media. If you have more than one USB drive plugged into your PC, make sure to choose the correct one. Click Begin copying to copy the file onto the drive.
If the USB drive still contains data, it will be erased. Click Erase USB Drive to make room for the Windows files. After the files have been copied, the tool will tell you that the Bootable USB device was created successfully. You can then use your USB device to install the program.
DVD
If you choose a DVD, insert a blank DVD into your drive and click Begin burning. The tool will inform you once the DVD has been successfully burned. You can now use your bootable DVD to install the program.
