How to Open .MDF (and .MDS) Image Files for Free

This article descries what a .MDF is and how you can download and open DVD or CD image files on your computer using free or cheap software such as Magic ISO.

What are .MDF Files?

.MDF files can mean several things. The .MDF file extension can often mean a type of Microsoft MS SQL file. In this article, we are instead talking about the .MDF image file extension. .MDF is similar to .MDS files and are often image copies of DVDs or CDs (popular among pirating enthusiasts and torrent networks).

How do I open .MDF files on my computer?

If you download torrents or are involved in pirating, or if you simply utilize this sort of imaging technology, you will come across a .mdf file sooner or later. Such a file is an "image" of a CD or DVD, meaning your computer will treat it as if the CD or DVD were in your computer's CD drive.

Specific, special software are required to open .mdf files, making them harder to examine. However, there are several free and paid software that can help you open a .mdf file on a Mac or a Windows PC easily!

- Instructions to open a .mdf file on a Windows PC

Alocohol Software makes a program called Alcohol 120%, which it dubs as a "powerful Windows CD and DVD burning software." You can download it at http://www.alcohol-soft.com/. Keep in mind that this is trial-ware. This means that, after the trial period, you will be asked to pay for Alcohol 120%. If it serves its purpose, you might as well buy it.

However, if you're looking for a free alternative to open the .mdf or .mds file on your computer, keep reading! Daemon Tools is a freeware program, meaning it is completely free. Daemon Tools can open .mdf files as well as open .mds image files. It dubs itself as "an advanced application for Microsoft Windows which provides THE best optical media emulation in the industry." You can download Daemon Tools for free at http://www.daemon-tools.cc/dtcc/download.php.

Finally, you can try Magic ISO at http://www.magiciso.com/tutorials/miso-features.htm. It promises to be able to create ISO files, edit ISO files, and extract, mount and burn any ISO file you may have (including .mdf ISO image files).

In all of these ISO programs, you will follow essentially the same instructions. Open the program that you have decided to use and run it. Then, mount the .mdf file (for example, in Magic ISO you will click "Mount" and select your .mdf file). Then, click on "Extract." Simply follow the dialogue boxes to extract all the data from the .mdf file.

- Instructions to open a .mdf file on a Mac

The instructions for opening a .mdf file on a Mac requires one extra step. That is, you will need to run Windows software. Therefore, you have several options which encompass running emulation software (such as VMWare Fusion or Parallels) or booting your Mac up in Windows (using Apple's Bootcamp feautre in Mac OSX).

Sources:
http://www.alcohol-soft.com/
http://www.daemon-tools.cc/dtcc/