How to Mount a Torrent File

Mounting the disk image from a torrent lets it behave like any other CD or DVD.

Once you install a BitTorrent client and begin to download your first torrents, it can be exciting to see the downloading process finish. However, once you finish downloading a file or program via BitTorrent, you must "mount" the disk image you downloaded. Mounting a torrent file allows the virtual disk you downloaded to be loaded and handled in the same way as a physical CD or DVD. Mounting a disk image requires third-party software in Windows, while the capability is included in Mac OS X.

Instructions

In Microsoft Windows

1. Download and install a tool that allows mounting a disk image. In Windows Vista and Windows 7, Microsoft does not offer factory support for mounting images. However, Virtual CloneDrive and MagicDisk both offer free utilities for mounting torrent disk image files (see Resources section).

2. Restart your computer. After installing a tool like Virtual CloneDrive or MagicDisk, Windows may need to restart to finalize the installation of drivers for virtual disk drives that allow the mounting of disk images.

3. Locate the torrent file. Navigate to your "Downloads" folder, or the folder to which you download torrent files. Double-click on the torrent file, which is often a .iso disk image.

4. Open the disk image. After double-clicking on the file, the torrent file is mounted using a virtual drive. Click your desktop's "Start" menu and open the "Computer" or "My Computer" window, depending on your version of Windows, to find your torrent file mounted just like any other drive connected to your computer.

5. Install the software. Double-click on the virtual drive to show a folder with the contents of the disk image. You can copy files or run software installer programs contained in the torrent file.

In Mac OS X

1. Locate your torrent file. Find the file you downloaded with the BitTorrent client. Double-click on the file. Mac OS X automatically mounts disk images upon double-clicking.

2. Open the contents of the disk image. The mounted torrent file disk image is displayed just like other disks in Finder windows and on the desktop. Click the name of the disk image to view its contents.

3. Move files. While viewing the contents, you may double-click on any programs contained within the image to launch them, or you may drag them to your a folder on Macintosh HD.

4. Eject the disk image. When you are done moving files, simply click on the mounted virtual drive and drag it to the "Trash," located at the bottom of the screen.

References

• How-To Geek: Mount an ISO image in Windows 7 or Vista
• Mac Guides: Installing Applications in Mac OS X

Resources

• SlySoft: Virtual CloneDrive
• Magic ISO Maker: Virtual CD/DVD-ROM Overview