Create a virtual drive from a ZIP or ISO file
Since most of my computer purchases these days don’t include an optical drive, I’m always on the lookout virtual drive tools. These software applications simulate the use of a physical DVD or CD drive. For years, I’ve used the free Microsoft Virtual CD-ROM Control Panel on Tablet PCs and UMPCs, but Pismo File Mount offers an additional function: it mounts .ISO files and .ZIP files. Now I’m still trying to think about the last time I had a big, honking .ZIP file on a physical CD… fact is, I can’t ever remember that scenario, but I tend to follow the Boy Scout approach to mobile tech: "Be Prepared".
As sure as I’m sitting here, I know if I don’t install this freeware application I’ll be sure to quickly run into a situation where it would be handy. I’ll have to dig through the stack of optical disks in the home office. There just HAS to be an old game on CD-ROM that I’ve been missing out on because it requires the CD to be in a drive. 
(via Download Squad)
Good find, I’ve been looking for another good iso mounter that works with vista. Daemon Tools seems to be adding a lot of junk to their installer.
Back in the “old days” when netbooks were sub-notebooks and I had a Japanese import without internal drive, I ripped DVD isos and mounted them via Daemon Tools to watch on the plane.
I used to use Daemon Tools, too. But recently, I switched to Virtual CloneDrive on Vista. I got the idea from a How-To Geek post:
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/mount-an-iso-image-in-windows-vista/
Virtual CloneDrive is free:
http://www.slysoft.com/en/virtual-clonedrive.html
I second @Dave’s suggestion of Virtual Clone drive. Works great.
Kevin, if you need game CD emulation, give Game Jackal a try. I’ve been using it for years on many games and it works great with my laptop.