Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

iso file extension

Dec 1, 2003 1:50AM PST

I recently downloaded a file and my computer doesn't recognize the file extension. the file extension is ***.iso. What kind of file is iso and how do I get my computer to recognize the file. I run windows 98 second edition.

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Re:iso file extension. A FAQ about such.
Dec 1, 2003 2:10AM PST

If you download an ISO, such can be an IMAGE of an OS such as linux you see at http://www.linuxiso.org/ The danger here is that if you use your CD creation software to create the CD and then run that software, you may wipe out your current OS.

The ISO image FAQ will explain what these are.

Bob

- Collapse -
Re:iso file extension
Dec 1, 2003 2:14AM PST

*.ISO is an image of the CD file. You can use any of the CD Writer software (ex. Nero, EasyCD, WinISO...) to burn it into the CD which will readable when insert into the CD drive.

Regards,

- Collapse -
Winrar will also 'look inside' the file to see all the individual files
Dec 1, 2003 7:38AM PST

or extract them to a place of your choice. An ISO file is just a way to throw a bunch of files together and send them as 1 file. Sort of like a zip file. Like was said in earlier posts, cd burning software can expand them also and put them on a cd.

- Collapse -
Re:Winrar will also 'look inside' the file to see all the individual files
Dec 2, 2003 12:35PM PST

is there any way to install the file without using cd burner software. i ask this because i don't have any cd burner software

- Collapse -
Re:Re:Winrar will also 'look inside' the file to see all the individual files
Dec 2, 2003 3:09PM PST

As said from previous post, go to http://www.rarlab.com/download.htm to download WinRAR (Trialware) 3.20 which can read the *.iso file as Windows Explorer. From there you can extract to any temporaly folder to install it.

Let us know.

Good luck!