How To Check If Windows 10 ISO File Is Bootable

So, you have created a bootable Windows 10/8/7 DVD disc by burning the ISO file that you have downloaded only to find that your Windows 10/8/7 DVD isn’t booting when connected to a PC even after necessary changes to BIOS/UEFI to boot from DVD.

There are plenty of tools out there to help you create bootable USB or DVD from an ISO file but there are very few tools out there that help you determine if the ISO is bootable or not. While it’s possible to test the ISO file using popular virtualization software like VMware Player or VirtualBox, novice users who haven’t used these software before might find it a little hard.

In this guide, we will show you how to easily test if your Windows 10/8/7 ISO is bootable with the help of two little programs.

Method 1 of 3

Test the bootable ISO using MobaLiveCD free

Step 1: Head over to this page and download MobaLiveCD software. The download size of MobaLiveCD is just 1.2 MB in size and is compatible with all recent versions of Windows.

Step 2: MobaLiveCD is a portable tool, meaning that you don’t need to install it and can run the downloaded executable to launch the program.

Step 3: Right-click on the downloaded MobaLiveCD executable and click Run as administrator to launch the tool with admin rights. Click Yes button when you see the UAC prompt. Once the application is launched, click the Run the LiveCD button next to Start directly a CD-ROM ISO image file option to browse to your Windows 7/8/8.1 ISO image file that you want to test.

Browse to the ISO file, select it and then click Open button. Click No button when you see the following dialog:

If the ISO isn’t corrupted and bootable, a QEMU window will launch with Press any key to boot from CD/DVD and Windows setup should start upon pressing a key.

That’s it. Good luck!

NOTE 1: If you’re getting “Setup cannot copy the file kqemu.sys” error, it’s because you haven’t launched the program as administrator.

NOTE 2: You can use this MobaLiveCD to test if a USB is bootable as well. When the application is running, click on the third button titled Run the LiveUSB, select your bootable Windows USB drive, and then click OK button to test the USB drive.

Method 2 of 3

Test the ISO file using MagicISO software

Step 1: Download MagicISO software from here and install the same. Note that MagicISO is a paid software but the trial copy is perfectly fine to test the ISO file.

Step 2: Launch MagicISO software. Click File menu, click Open and browse to your Windows ISO file and click Open button.

Step 3: Once the ISO file is loaded, you should see Bootable entry in the toolbar of MagicISO if the ISO is bootable (see picture).

That’s it! Tools like Image Master (free) and PowerISO (paid) can also be used to determine if an ISO file is bootable without having to burn the ISO image.

Method 3 of 3

Use QEMU Simple Boot to test bootable ISO

There is a free software called QEMU Simple Boot which also enables you to check if an ISO image file is bootable or not. Like other programs mentioned here, QEMU Simple Boot is also easy to use.

Download QEMU Simple Boot