PowerISO 5.3

Overview

PowerISO is a popular disk image super utility that can be used to open, edit, mount, emulate, create, encrypt, burn, rip, and compress CD/DVD/BD image files. Whether youre trying to mount a virtual drive, create a bootable disk, or generate floppy/CD images, this software has all the features you could ask for and more.

Installation

The installation process is incredibly fast, and can be completed with literally three clicks. After clicking the install button, the software will take about 3 to 10 seconds to install (depending on the speed of your computer), and then youll be asked to choose file associations (check the box next to the file types you would like to have PowerISO open automatically). The system requirements are nominal – 64MB of RAM, 10 MB hard disk space, Intel Pentium 166 MHz or above, and Windows 98 or above.

Interface

The PowerISO user interface is surprisingly simple, with most of the features being accessible via conveniently located buttons at the top of the main window. Simply click the Add button and an Explorer window will appear that allows you to select which files youd like PowerISO to import. Once the files are displayed in the main window, you can choose to copy, compress, burn, mount or extract them using the buttons at the top. If you want PowerISO two automatically open certain file types, you can change file associations by clicking the Options menu and selecting Configuration.

Pros

• Supports a plethora of image formats, including IMG, ISO, BIN, NRG, DAA, CDI and almost all other files created by popular disk burning applications like CloneCD, Nero, and Alcohol 120%

• Lets you rip an audio CD to various formats including MP3, APE, WMA, BIN, or FLAC

• You can create an ISO or BIN file using a Blu-ray, DVD, or CD disc

• Lets you edit ISO image files quickly and easily

• Supports 32-bit and 64-bit Windows operating systems

• Extract ISO files with one click

• Lets you put a bootable image on a USB drive. This is useful for installing operating systems using a USB disk.

• Add, delete, rename, and modify files within an iso image

• Supports multisession image files

• Lets you extract and/or run individual files from an ISO image.

• Provides 2 deletion modes - Quick Erase and Full Erase.

• Lets you mount up to 23 virtual drives simultaneously

• Quickly access features through the context menu by right clicking compatible image files

Cons

• The extensive number of features can make it slightly confusing to novice software users.

Alternatives

While PowerISO is not the only disk image software, it is one of the most feature-rich available. Notable alternatives include DAEMON Tools, ImgBurn,Virtual CloneDrive, and CDBurnerXP.

Conclusion

PowerISO is a powerhouse application that gives you the ability to do just about anything youd like with a CD, DVD, Blu-ray disc, or any type of image file. If youre tired of downloading individual software to perform different tasks, PowerISO can accommodate all of your needs in a centralized, user-friendly, all-inclusive interface.