Free imaging and mounting application
DAEMON Tools Lite is a free imaging program that lets you create copies of CDs and DVDs to store on your Microsoft Windows PC device. DAEMON-Tools is a virtual disc drive that can make images on your PC of physical discs. You can mount images, create files, and organise archives within the intuitively designed user interface.
Is DAEMON Tools Lite free?
The DAEMON Tools download is free to install on Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows XP, and Windows Vista 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems. You can get the cross-platform solution on your Windows PC or Mac OS.
While the free version contains adware from third-party partners, the paid editions are advertisement free: DAEMON Tools Lite Personal, DAEMON Tools Pro, and DAEMON Tools Ultra. You will get limited technical help with the free program and 24/7 tech support with the paid services.
While you cannot create bootable devices with the Lite versions, you can boot drives with the Ultra and Pro DAEMON disc tools: hard disks, USB sticks, etc. DAEMON allows you to create VHD and TrueCrypt archives with all of the platforms except the freeware.
If you want to add a RAM disk, then you will need either the Personal or Ultra. There is a ‘Burn’ option that is only available for Personal, Pro, and Ultra DAEMON apps that lets you burn data, images, and discs. If you need to manage images by creating, converting, and editing files, then you will need to buy a software package.
The Personal and Ultra packs let you share files from the PC program to a mobile device app with a local wireless network connection. While the advanced features will be shown in the DAEMON Tools Lite classic interface, the buttons will be locked.
What is the use of the Daemon Tool?
You can access a large variety of disc image types. DAEMON Tools Free lets you mount your VHD and TrueCrypt container. You can create MDS, MDX, and ISO files. If you grab images from optical discs, then you can save the virtual images in the organised catalog. The free service will let you mount 4 DT, HDD, or SCSI devices at the same time.
You can see which devices are currently mounted in the bottom portion of the UI next to the ‘Quick Mount’ option. The command prompts are in the main part of the window. The ‘Catalog’ icon will let you create disc image files and iSCSI Targets. You can access the iSCSI interface to connect to different devices using a local network or Internet connection.
‘Drives’ lets you add and alter mount guidelines and virtual drives. If you want to customise the user experience, then you can click on ‘Settings’. You can adjust the theme by changing the colours from light to dark. If you want to upgrade to the premium offers, then you can press the ‘License’ button to check subscription preferences.
Only the paid packages deliver IDE emulation, bootable images, etc. While DAEMON Tools Lite can be considered safe to use, there are concerns around a service called MountSpace that the developers introduced to capture user data.
Alternative virtual drives
Alcohol 120, PowerISO, UltraISO, and Virtual CloneDrive are similar virtual CD and DVD drives that let you mount images and rip disks. You can use both PowerISO and UltraISO to create bootable devices: disks, drives, etc. All of the applications let you burn ISO images to CDs, DVDs, and Blue-Ray disks. The apps can deliver virtual backups of your media: data archives, physical discs, etc.
While Virtual CloneDrive is a freeware that is accessible to you without a subscription, Alcohol 120, PowerISO, and UltraISO are trialware that can only be used for a limited amount of time before you will need to pay for the virtual devices. You can download and install all of the utilities on the Microsoft Windows OS.
Simple optical media emulation application
DAEMON Tools Lite is a popular emulator that can make virtual copies of physical discs for you to keep on your PC computer or laptop. DAEMON lets you manage your emulated files directly in the UI. You can mount various image formats: ISO, etc. The developers at DAEMON have several additional programs that you can download: Catch, reWASD, etc.
The paid subscriptions will give you lifetime updates for multiple PCs. You can still update the free version with the latest software release. The developers deliver new software updates regularly to enhance the user experience.
