Open mdf file. How to open MDF file. What program can open the mdf file

An MDF file (Media Disc Image File) is a data image of CD, DVD discs that is saved on HDD user computer special program, such as Alcohol 120, DAEMON Tools and so on. .mdf files have similar characteristics to an ISO disk image.

The features of this format include saving the disk image as MDF files, while most additional information such as titles, track names, and other data will be placed in the corresponding MDS file. Among most users, understanding what an MDF file is comes down to the ability to conveniently launch the desired program, movie or game without using original cd / dvd discs. For maximum benefit that the MDF extension can provide, it is recommended to use software utilities like Alcohol 120 or CyberLink PowerDVD. For example, the DAEMON Tools program, being an emulator of CD and DVD images, makes it possible not only to open an MDF file that is already on the owner's computer, but also to mount a disk image.

The MDF format containing movies or various applications with games is well suited for copying licensed discs. The MDF format is able to preserve the original structure of the original media, which means that by creating a virtual disk, the user receives a full-fledged duplicate of the original version with all the required databases, bypassing regular funds copy protection from the developer.
It is worth noting that MDF, MDS files will serve as images of any CD, as well as DVD discs.

From time immemorial, mankind has tried to capture its age-old knowledge for posterity, so that development never stops in one place, but only rapidly increases its speed. And in recent times we are very good at this, especially in the era of the invention of semiconductors and optical media.

Everyone already knows about the huge amount of information on the Internet, but how many people think about where optical discs have gone? Computers are no longer equipped with a disk drive, but we still use disk images from time to time. In this article, we will describe in detail how to open an MDF file at home. The article is recommended for novice users of the operating Windows systems.

What is MDF and why was it created

Initially, it is necessary to temporarily move to the beginning of the zero years - the era of optical media. When walking around the city, one could find many points selling films, games, series, programs and pirated OS exclusively on disks. But why? The whole point was their cheapness, unless, of course, we were talking about Blue-Ray disks with a volume of 50 or more gigabytes.

The manufacturer used an ordinary plastic circle as the basis for the manufacture of discs, on which a special film was glued. On it, in fact, the recording process took place. Those who opened the insides of the disk will understand.

When writing to a disk, the smallest indentations are created - if the surface is flat, then this is 0, if the indentation, then 1. This, by the way, explains this carrier such sensitivity to damage as well as greasy hands. Indeed, thanks to the above, either unknown data (chaotic bits) may appear, or the laser head simply cannot read anything due to fat, which will make it consider the area empty.

A special bootloader is created on the disk directly at the factory so that the disk drive perceives it. But one of the most important components of this carrier must be an image. When writing any information to a disk, it is automatically created by a burning program, so that later it can be easily and clearly pulled out - this is the MDF image, and in some cases ISO, when a special compression technology is required.

Here we figured out what it is. From the foregoing, one can guess that only specialized programs, or the one that burned the image, can open such a file. And then we will talk about just such a program, as well as how to open an MDF file. The software will be used for Windows, but if you have a different OS, then find analogues.

What program to open the MDF file

At the beginning of the 2000s, everyone remembers the Nero burning program used to burn discs, but few knew that it had a much more versatile and smart competitor on the market - Alcohol 120% or 52%.

The 52% version is absolutely free for non legal entities, as opposed to completely paid version - 120 %. This program 100% able to open MDF. And if you do not want this software product, then below we will show a way to make a virtual drive and run the image.

So, how to open an MDF file in Windows 7 using the Daemon Tools utility:

We go to the official website of the above application and download Lite version, it is completely free to use.
Install in any place convenient for you on your computer.
We launch, after which the program will ask you to allow you to install your own drivers. Agree.
When everything is ready, just drag or open the MDF image with the first icon. Then click the "Mount image" button.
In File Explorer, in place for disks will appear virtual drive, and your image will be inserted into it. You can turn off the image using the "Extract" button in context menu drive.

How to open MDF and MDS files with other programs

The previous paragraph made it clear to you that on this moment there are at least two programs capable of carrying out the plan. However, there are others, both paid and free, it's all about convenience.

List of programs to open MDF:

Ultra for complex work with disks.
PowerISO. Very good for creating MDF and ISO files.
powerdvd. From the same company as the applicant above, but more specialized in DVD burning.

Of these, you can choose absolutely any, if we are talking only about opening an image file. However, when choosing a program for burning, you should be careful and use the first or last option, because they have long proven themselves from the best side.

Warning

If you wondered how to open an MDF file, then you are probably trying to get the contents of some file, and, as a rule, pirated, because in the CIS they use given format. We strongly recommend that you do not download various software from torrents, and if you do this, then with the antivirus turned on to the fullest, since dishonest scammers can easily put a virus into the image, and the consequences can be very, very unpredictable, up to theft bank cards.

Finally

We hope that after reading this article, you understand how to open an MDF file. Although this skill is less and less required in modern world. In contrast, images sometimes take on a new life. For example, in flash drives, where they got along well. True, not all formats, but mainly ISO.

You may have often come across files with the .mdf or .mds extension. This is a special type of images that are burned from CDs as well as DVDs. As a rule, an MDS file goes along with MDF to create libraries, correct display tracklist titles and sequence. If you delete or simply lose the MDS file, then nothing terrible will happen: the MDF will still be successfully unpacked. But if you delete the MDF, then the second file will simply become unnecessary.

What opens MDF

The MDF format can be opened with common programs for unpacking and creating images. As a rule, choose the most common:

Daemon Tools;
Alcohol 120%;
Ultra ISO;
Nero.

All of them have their differences and features, in this article the Daemon Tools Lite utility will be used, since it is it that is distributed free of charge, easy to configure and easily copes with MDF reading. To download, refer to the official website https://www.daemon-tools.cc/rus/downloads

Click "Download". If you want to use the full licensed version, then click "Buy". Installing the utility is quite simple:

Open the Daemon Tools program installer after downloading;
Agree with the license agreement;
Select the installation directory. Preferably, this should not be a local drive;
Arrange labels and quick access to the program.

After that, you will be able to work with MDS and MDF files.

How to open MDF file

When getting started, remember that you must be in the administrative account. Otherwise, installing the program and reading MDF can be problematic.

You can now access Daemon Tools from the Start panel. Click on the program icon.

Once the utility opens, click on the “Quick Mount” icon. It is located separately from the others at the very bottom of the window on the left.

Find the MDF and MDS files on your computer in the window that opens. You can open the MDF file separately, then you won't be able to burn it to DVD and CD players in the correct order. If you open both MDF and MDS, then the video and tracks will play in a clear sequence, according to the settings in the MDS file.

If you can't mount the image, then you may have problems with the drive. Click on the "Add drive" line.

Now set the correct settings:

The virtual drive line must contain the value “DT”;
DVD region can be left at 1;
In the "Mount" section, put the letter that will match virtual drive. You can choose according to your preference.

Click "Add drive".

Now you can open MDF files directly from the folder. Just right-click on the file and select "Open With" and then "Daemon Tools Lite".

Do not forget to update the program in a timely manner so that it reads all popular formats and files properly.

The question of how to open an mdf file most often arises among those who have downloaded the game in a torrent and do not know how to install it and what this file is. As a rule, there are two files - one in MDF format, the other - MDS. In this manual, I will tell you in detail about how and how to open such files in different situations.

What is mdf file?

First of all, let's talk about what an mdf file is: files with the .mdf extension are CD and DVD images saved as a single file on a computer. As a rule, for correct operation image data, an MDS file containing service information is also saved - however, if given file no, it's okay - we will be able to open the image anyway.

What program can open the mdf file

There are many programs that can be downloaded for free that allow you to open files in the mdf format. It is worth noting that the “opening” of these files is not quite the same as opening other types of files: when you open a disk image, it is mounted in the system, i.e. It's like you have a new CD-ROM drive in your computer or laptop, where you have inserted a disc recorded in mdf.

Daemon Tools Lite

The free Daemon Tools Lite is one of the most commonly used programs for opening various types disk images, including in mdf format. The program can be downloaded for free from the official website of the developer http://www.daemon-tools.cc/rus/products/dtLite

After installing the program, a new CD-ROM drive, or, in other words, a virtual disk, will appear in the system. By launching Daemon Tools Lite, you can open the mdf file and mount it in the system, and then use the mdf file as a regular game or program disc.

Alcohol 120%

Another great program that allows you to open mdf files is Alcohol 120%. The program is paid, but you can download and free version this program from the manufacturer's website http://www.alcohol-soft.com/

Alcohol 120% works similarly to the previous described program and allows you to mount mdf images in the system. In addition, with the help of this software You can burn the mdf image to a physical CD. Windows 7 and Windows 8, 32-bit and 64-bit systems are supported.

UltraISO

With UltraISO, you can both open disc images in a variety of formats, including mdf, and burn them to discs, change the contents of images, extract it or convert disc images different types into standard ISO images, which, for example, can be mounted in Windows 8 without using any additional software. The program is also paid.

Magic ISO Maker

With this free program you can open mdf file and convert it to ISO. There is also the possibility of writing to disk, including the creation boot disk, changing the composition of the disk image and a number of other functions.

PowerISO

PowerISO is one of the most powerful programs for working with disk images, creating bootable flash drive and other purposes. Among other features - support for files in mdf format - you can open them, extract the contents, convert the file to an ISO image or burn to disk.

How to open MDF on Mac OS X

If you are using a MacBook or iMac, then in order to open the mdf file you will have to cheat a little:

Rename the file by changing the extension from mdf to iso
Mount the ISO image on the system using Disk Utility

Everything should go well and this will allow you to use the mdf image without installing any programs.

How to open MDF file on Android

It is quite possible that someday you will need to get the contents of an mdf file on an android tablet or phone. It's easy to do - just download free program ISO Extractor with Google Play https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=se.qzx.isoextractor and access all files stored in the disk image from your android device.

The mdf and mds file formats are used to save to certain time CD or DVD image on your PC. For example, you were given a disc with an interesting movie that you don't have. Of course, you'll want to make a copy for yourself as well, but you don't always have an empty disc handy. In such a situation, you will create a disk image, and after buying a blank disk, you will burn. As a result, you will receive a copy without effort.

How to open mdf file

Often this problem occurs for those who downloaded the game from a torrent, and now do not know how to install it on a computer with Windows 7. In such cases, 2 files appear on the PC - mdf and mds.

To open content stored in the mdf format in Windows 7, you need to have specialized software on your computer that can read this format and is designed to work with such files. You can use such programs to open: Daemon Tools, Alcohol 120%, Cyberlink, IsoBuster, UltraISO, MagicISO, etc.

Let's analyze the use of Daemon Tools in Windows 7

Of the above applications, I suggest that you consider using Daemon Tools, since this program is free (for home use), so you do not have to look for a version with a tablet.

Therefore, you can get the application distribution kit directly from the official website of the manufacturer without the risk of running into an infected product.

Download and install it on PC first. The installation sequence is standard, does not require special knowledge, and takes only a few minutes. At the appropriate stage, select the "License is free" item.

At the end of the process, a lightning logo will appear at the bottom of the screen on the right, this is Daemon Tools.

Working with Daemon Tools

In order to get started, you need:

Specify the file in mdf resolution that you want to open.

If you encounter any difficulties, you can additionally use the following video instruction:

After performing these manipulations desired file will open without problems. The sequence of work is the same for all Windows versions, including for Windows 7.

Working with UltraISO

With UltraISO you will also be able to open disk images stored in mdf and mds files. You can also burn images to discs, convert images different types into ordinary ISO images, which can be mounted in Windows without additional programs.

How to open mds file?

Always together with the mdf file. Without it, it does not make sense at all, these two files always "live" together. Actually, the purpose of the mds file is to store header information and it weighs little, while mdf contains the image itself, i.e. the information itself.