How to Open .MDF Files
Image File Types Got You Confused?
Required Tools
1) Magic Iso - get it for free at http://www.magiciso.com/download.htm
Instructions
1) Download Magic Iso and install it.
2) Load up Magic Iso.
3) At this point, you have the option of buying the full version of Magic Iso if you want to use it indefinitely for a later usage, or click "Try It!" for a trial run. For this tutorial, we're going to go ahead with the trail, so click that option.
4) Click the "Tools" tab on top and go to the third option that says "Virtual CD/DVD Drive"
5) In the window that pops up next to it, hover your mouse cursor over the first option until another window appears and choose "Change Driver Letter"
6) Click on "Change Drive Letter" and choose which drive you want Magic Iso to emulate. For this tutorial, let's pick (M:)
7) Go back to "Virtual CD/DVD Drive" > "M: No Media" > and now click "Mount"
8) In the explorer window, browse for the .MDF file you want to emulate and select it. Press "Open".
9) In the Magic Iso browser, your file should now be emulated, with a full list of files of the .MDF image.
10) Right click the main directory of the emulated drive on the lefthand list of the browser.
11) Choose "Extract"
12) A explorer window should now have sprung up, asking you where you want to extract the files to. Extract the file to wherever you want.
Congratulations, you have just opened a .MDF file and extracted all the data within! Remember these tips for the next time you run across one of these types!
Stay tuned for more tutorials on how to do miscellaneous computer tasks.
Published by Eric Yu
simple teenager, creative mind, seeking outlet View profile
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108 Comments
Post a Commentuseless. it didnt work.
Thanks! It worked for me on Windows 7 fine. It said I had to install Magic Disc freeware when I went to step 4. It wouldn't download from their website, so I googled, setup_magicdisc106.exe, and found this link which worked http://www.mediafire.com/?wyg15zxz4z8gggo
Cheers,
http://mn8multimedia.com
my file is in a MagicISOdoument format but i cannot open they say can't find the file or the file is not in a CD format . Is my file corrupted or what ??
I don´t understand why people choose to save things in such wierd formats. It didn´t work for me.
@RG
there is a "convert" option in the "Tools" menu, I converted the file into ISO, then I could open it (with TugZip for example)
Well this would help if they hadn't changed the MagicISO software, Kolt is right, there is now a step instead of "Change Driver Letter" you get "Install MagicDisc Virtual CD/DVD Manager (Freeware)" - yay! And MagicISO won't do files over 300mb in the free version.
opps Almost forgot, thanks so much to the poster.. Eric Yu.
Kolt you just got to watch the video 20 times more than most people here. That's all. Instructions worked perfectly for me after cracking my head for a day on how to open the MDF files.. PS Kolt maybe, and just maybe, you are using a program "possibly an alcohol version" not compatible with win 7. I am using win 7 ultimate, and worked as a charm
these comments below are fake..program is not compatable with windows 7..keeps crashing...and you have to install a freeware program before step 5 in the instructions
This was the most helpful explanation of how to use this software. Thanks so much! After trying 10 times finally got it right