Troubles Creating Virtual DVD/CD-Rom On Windows 10 Pro

For several days I have been trying to create a virtual DVD/CD-Rom that is active/visible 24/7 in windows explorer even if there isn't anything mounted to it, the same way I have done for years... up until the dreaded move from Windows 7 to Windows 10 (Pro). Nothing works. I've tried several programs including Daemon Tools (won't run on 10), WinCDEmu & Microsoft Virtual CD ROM control panel. I know all about mounting ISOs, creating ISOs and converting to and from ISOs, that's not what I'm trying to do.

I just activated Hyper-V for some other reasons and haven't looked into that. Is there the ability to do this there?

Anyone?

ryevick said:

For several days I have been trying to create a virtual DVD/CD-Rom that is active/visible 24/7 in windows explorer even if there isn't anything mounted to it, the same way I have done for years... up until the dreaded move from Windows 7 to Windows 10 (Pro). Nothing works. I've tried several programs including Daemon Tools (won't run on 10), WinCDEmu & Microsoft Virtual CD ROM control panel. I know all about mounting ISOs, creating ISOs and converting to and from ISOs, that's not what I'm trying to do.

I just activated Hyper-V for some other reasons and haven't looked into that. Is there the ability to do this there?

Anyone?

Hi there
@ryevick

Not sure I understand the question

1) Do you want to access a physical DVD / CD on Windows 10
2) Do you want to access a physical DVD /CD in a Virtual Machine
3) Do you just need the contents accessible --i.e as an ISO on Windows 10
4) Do you just need the contents accessible as an ISO in a Virtual Machine.

As far as Windows 10 is concerned any ISO will simply mount in File explorer and be seen as a DVD drive -- and will remain until you "eject it" -- just double click the ISO -- no need to mount it via a mount command.

In a VM - Windows VM will see an ISO as a DVD device if in the virtual machine configuration points to the iso file - or as a physical device if the device is attached in the hardware to the VM.

On a Linux VM the DVD will be seen as /dev/srX where X is the number of the device -- can have as many DVD's mounted as you want. Doesn't matter whether ISO image or physical.

So could you please explain your problem as I'm totally lost as to what you are trying to do.

(If you need WRITE access to a "Virtual DVD" then you'll need either some DVD authoring software or for simple data access such as normal directories and files then you need to use the UDF format).

Cheers
jimbo