How to install software from Microsoft Imagine using ISO files.

How do I install software from Microsoft Imagine using ISO files?

An ISO file, also called an ISO image, is a single file that’s a perfect representation of an entire CD or DVD. The entire contents of a disc have been precisely duplicated in a single ISO file. By allowing you to download an ISO file (usually denoted by a file with an extension of .iso) instead of having a disk shipped to your location, you can have immediate access to the software.

Microsoft provides .iso files for the software orders you place through the Imagine/Kivuto web page. This .iso file is the media that you will download by clicking on the URL link in the email order receipt you received from Imagine/Kivuto after placing your order.

Downloading the .iso file does not automatically install the software to your device. Files with an .iso extension must first be unpacked or extracted. The operating system of your computer will determine just how you will unpack these files. One option is that the .iso file may be burned to a CD/DVD if you have access to a CD/DVD burner. For newer operating systems, the .iso file can be “mounted” or opened using Internet Explorer. For older versions of operating systems, e.g., Windows XP or Windows 7, Microsoft provides a free download entitled, “Virtual CD-ROM Control Panel,” that will enable you to mount .iso disk image files as virtual CD-ROM drives. The download can be accessed at the URL cited below in the “Windows XP/Windows 7” section of this document. You may copy the link into your browser. This download pertains to Windows XP and Windows 7 operating systems only. Separate instructions are provided for the Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 operating systems. For additional instructions regarding the “Virtual CD-ROM Control Panel”, please search the Microsoft Knowledgebase.

Important note: The “Virtual CD-ROM Control Panel” utility is not supported by Microsoft or the organization supplying this FAQ and is provided to you solely as a courtesy. By using this tool, you assume all liability – use it at your own risk.

Windows XP / Windows 7 Instructions

The Virtual CD-ROM Control Panel utility enables users of Windows XP, Vista, and 7 to mount ISO disk image files as virtual CD-ROM drives. This can be highly useful for reading disk images to install software or recover backup files. Notes: This tool is not supported by Microsoft or the organization supplying this FAQ; use at your own risk. Windows 8 and Windows 10 users do NOT need this tool – see instructions below for those operating systems. You can download the Virtual CD-ROM Control Panel utility at the following URL:

Windows 8.0 / Windows 8.1 Instructions

Windows 8.0/8.1 natively supports .iso files. To open an .iso file in Windows 8.0 or Windows 8.1, open the file as you would normally and Windows will automatically create a drive letter as a virtual drive. A virtual drive is a component that imitates an actual drive, e.g., optical disk drive, floppy disk drive or hard disk drive. This drive behaves as though it is a real drive on the physical device. This virtual drive will appear alongside your other disk drives in Windows Explorer. Once the drive has been created, you can proceed with your software installation. Proceed to run setup. If your file does not automatically load and launch, right click on .iso file and choose to “Open With” Windows Explorer. Once loaded you will see that the file appears as a drive (see graphic below).

Windows 10 Instructions

Windows 10 allows you to automatically “mount” an .iso file. From Windows Explorer, right-click on the .iso file. The following menu appears:

Choose “mount” and the product will load to the drive. You are now ready to run the set up routine. Click on the virtual drive that was just created by mounting the ISO file. It should appear similar to the image below:

Proceed with your software installation, as you normally would. If you received an installation key in your email from Imagine/Kivuto, be certain to have it handy and provide it when prompted.

How to Burn an .iso file to a USB Drive

If you need to create a “bootable” .iso using a USB flash drive or you do not have a CD/DVD burner, you may want to use a utility called “Rufus”. This tool is particularly useful for operating system installations. For normal software installations, the afore-described methods of mounting in the native OS is preferred over burning the .iso to a CD or DVD. You can download “Rufus” at the following URL:

Important note: The “Rufus” utility is not supported by the organization supplying this FAQ and is provided to you solely as a courtesy. By using this tool, you assume all liability – use it at your own risk.

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