- Home
- Virtual Drive Software
- ImDisk
ImDisk
What it is
ImDisk is a free virtual disk driver for Windows that creates virtual hard disk partitions, floppy drives, or CD/DVD drives from image files or system memory. Its installer includes the imdisk.exe console control program and a Control Panel applet, and adds an Explorer context-menu option for mounting a file as a virtual disk. The driver can forward I/O requests to third-party image handlers or services on other computers over a network. It supports raw disk images and formats including VHD, VDI, VMDK, NRG, SDI, and BIN. ImDisk emulates volumes rather than complete disks: mountvol and Disk Management cannot manage its drive letters or mount points, and shadow copies cannot be created or accessed on its drives. Physical-memory RAM disks require the separate AWEAlloc driver, which has not been included in the setup package since the May 2026 release. The current installer works on 32-bit and 64-bit Windows. The maintainer says ImDisk receives maintenance fixes, has no new features planned, and its legacy design is not recommended for recent Windows versions. It is free to download and use; voluntary usage fees are welcome.
For and against
For
- Mounts raw, VHD, VDI, VMDK, NRG, SDI, and BIN images.
- Explorer context menu can mount files as virtual disks.
- Can forward I/O requests to network services.
- Current installer works on 32-bit and 64-bit Windows.
Against
- Emulates volumes, not complete disks.
- Disk Management and mountvol cannot manage its mount points.
- Shadow copies are unavailable on its drives.
- AWEAlloc is not included in the setup package.
The verdict
ImDisk offers virtual volume mounting and several control methods at no charge. Its volume-management limits and lack of planned new features matter, particularly for users on recent Windows versions.
Who it suits
ImDisk suits Windows users who need to mount supported image files as virtual volumes or use its control program and API. Users considering recent Windows versions should note the maintainer’s warning about its legacy design.
Plans and prices
ImDisk Virtual Disk Driver
Free to download and use · voluntary usage fee welcome · alternative commercial licensing available on request
Read 2 Oct 2026 · ltr-data.se
On the record
- APIs
- API functions are available to C/C++, COM, and .NET clients, with wrapper libraries published on NuGet.ltr-data.se · read 2 Oct 2026
- Compatibility limit
- ImDisk emulates disk volumes rather than complete disks, so it does not support managing its drive letters or mount points through mountvol or Disk Management, and shadow copies cannot be created or accessed on its drives.ltr-data.se · read 2 Oct 2026
- Controls
- The installer includes the imdisk.exe console control program and a Control Panel applet, and adds an Explorer context-menu item for mounting a file as a virtual disk.ltr-data.se · read 2 Oct 2026
- Driver signing
- The driver files are digitally signed with a certificate trusted by Microsoft, though the maker notes that signing does not ensure compatibility with every Windows version or security configuration.ltr-data.se · read 2 Oct 2026
- Maintenance
- The maker says ImDisk receives maintenance fixes but has no new features planned and does not recommend its legacy design for recent Windows versions.ltr-data.se · read 2 Oct 2026
- Privacy and safety
- The maker says its software has no hidden usage or private-information reporting and does not make hidden system changes without the user requesting them.ltr-data.se · read 2 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- ImDisk is a virtual disk driver for Windows that creates virtual hard disk partitions, floppy drives, or CD/DVD drives using image files or system memory.ltr-data.se · read 2 Oct 2026
- RAM disks
- Physical-memory RAM disks use the separate AWEAlloc driver, which has not been included in the ImDisk setup package since the May 2026 release.ltr-data.se · read 2 Oct 2026
- Remote I/O
- The driver can forward I/O requests to third-party image format handlers or services on other computers over a network.ltr-data.se · read 2 Oct 2026
- Source and license
- The source code is available on GitHub; ImDisk includes GPL-licensed floppy-emulation code, and alternative commercial licensing for a version without that code is available on request.ltr-data.se · read 2 Oct 2026
- Support
- The maintainer offers contact by email, phone, Signal, or WhatsApp and says he speaks Swedish and English.ltr-data.se · read 2 Oct 2026
- Supported systems
- The current installer works on 32-bit and 64-bit Windows; listed CPU architectures include x86, ia64, x64, arm32, and arm64.ltr-data.se · read 2 Oct 2026
