How to Create Virtual CD-ROM Drives using Microsoft Virtual CD-ROM Control Panel

This is a Microsoft utility that enables users to mount ISO disk image files as virtual CD-ROM drives. Mounting ISOs are only previously available through third-party applications such as Alcohol 120 or Daemon Tools. Though published by Microsoft, they clearly state that they don’t support the tool and advise users to use it at their own risk.

It is also stated that Windows 8 users don’t need to use this tool since Windows 8 natively supports ISO files. In Windows 8, users can simply open an ISO and Windows will automatically assign a drive letter and read the ISO as a virtual drive.

Downloading and Installation

Download

Download Link
File Name: winxpvirtualcdcontrolpanel_21.exe
System Requirements: Windows 7, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Vista, Windows XP

Installation

1. Run winxpvirtualcdcontrolpanel_21.exe and it will ask you where to dump the files.






2. Find the folder where you dumped the files and locate VCdRom.sys


3. Copy VCdRom.sys to your %systemroot%\system32\drivers folder. If you’re not sure where your root folder is, just copy and paste “%systemroot%\system32\drivers” without the quotes.






4. Next, go back where you extracted the files earlier and run VCdControlTool.exe. Click "Driver control"






5. If the "Install Driver" button is available, click it. It will open another window then just select VCdRom.sys then Open. Click Start afterward to install the driver.

How to Use

How to Mount an ISO

1. Launch VCdControlTool.exe


2. Click "Add Drive" to add a drive to the drive list. Keep clicking “Add Drive” to show all unused drive letter assignments. Be careful not to use up all drive letters. If you get a message that says “Add Failed” that means all available drive letters was already exhausted and this may cause problems. Added drives will appear in Windows Explorer or My Computer as separate drives as shown below:






3. Make sure that the drive added is not a local drive. If it is, continue to click "Add Drive" until an unused drive letter is available. Select an unused drive letter from the drive list and click "Mount".



4. Find the image file, select it, and click "OK". Set any checkbox in the Special Mount Options that will appear if you need to. You should not use UNC naming conventions; however mapped network drives should be OK.






5. You may now use the drive letter as if it were a local CD-ROM device. When you are finished you may unmount, stop, and remove the driver from memory using the driver control.

How to Unmount

1. Launch VCdControlTool.exe


2. Select the mounted drive then select Remove Drive

How to Stop and Remove the Driver

To save on resources, you may want to stop the virtual drive drivers.

1. Launch VCdControlTool.exe


2. Click Driver Control then select Stop. Just Start the driver again if you need to use Virtual Drive.

References:
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