Ways to Convert ISO to ISO 9660 – Conversion Guide
Overview: Are you looking to convert ISO to ISO 9660 file type. Then, you don’t need to go anywhere else. In this blog page, we will show you various manual & professional steps to manage ISO files efficiently. Before we move further, let’s discuss what are the points which make both these files different from each other.
To understand in a simple way, ISO image files is an archived file that contains all the data that is associated with an optical disc, such as a CD or DVD. Like, all the ISO files are not the same as it is based on the file system standard. ISO 9660 file system is an international standard specifically for reading disc images when using many legacy systems, embedded devices, bootable devices, and some older operating systems.
TOC:
Why Export ISO to ISO 9660?
There are various reasons why users want to convert ISO to ISO 9660 file system:
- ISO 9660 is still supported by older operating systems and BIOS-level
- To make bootable CDs/DVDs for old systems
- Ensures maximum cross-platform compatibility
- Prevent reading errors on devices with no UDF or Joliet support
- For device updates, hardware systems and saving the data for long term
- Simplifies disc structure which allows for faster access by optical media
Convert ISO to ISO 9660 File System – Free Methods
We are going to explain three methods to export your ISO files. Use this solution for small conversion tasks.
#1. Re-Create ISO 9660 Through Command Line
If you are a Mac user, then use these commands like amkisofs or genisoimages to convert ISO to ISO-9660 format.
- Firstly, you need to mount the original ISO file
- Next, unzip that file to a directory
- Then, use kisofs command with ISO 9660 standard
- Now, just generate a new ISO file
Pros:
- Full control over file system
- It is free and is accessible to all users
- Suitable for technical person
Cons:
- Need to have command-line knowledge
- There is a risk of entering wrong data
- Takes a lot of your time handling large ISO files
#2. Convert ISO Files Using Virtual Drive & Rebuild Method
Follow these free steps to convert ISO to ISO 9660. You can do this to manually re-create iso, but still compatible with ISO 9660 standard.
- First, we would need a virtual drive tool to mount the?ISO image file
- If not, then add an ISO file to your PC.
- Copy the entire contents of the mounted drive to a safe location.
- Launch any online ISO creation which supports 9660 ISO format.
- Create a new ISO, add the files you’ve copied over.
- Finally, choose ISO 9660 as the format, then save it.
Drawbacks:
- You cannot change or filter the data
- Boot information will be lost
- Not recommend for bootable ISO files
Convert ISO to ISO 9660 – Expert Approach
Following manual options might not fulfill your requirement as you want. So, you can go with SysTools ISO File Converter which is a safe, fast, and effective solution to export ISO files into the ISO 9660 format without doing it all manually. It runs very smoothly with big ISO files and even minimizes possibilities of error in conversion. It is the best method to deal with standard ISO files.
Key Features:
- Quick and easy steps to complete the conversion process
- Maintains the folder structure and provides file details
- No technical skills or command line knowledge are required
- Simple and user-friendly interface
- Supports all major Windows & mac OS versions
Follow Tool Steps to Convert ISO Files Easily
1. Download & Install our application on your computer.

2. To load .iso files, click on the Add File(s) button.

3. You may also select more than one ISO at a time. When you reach the correct folder, click on the Open button.

4. Just, click Next to move further in the process.

5. Next, it will provide you with different export options & ISO types. Select ISO in export & ISO-9660 in the other one.

6. Pick the path to save your files. Then, hit Convert to start the steps to convert ISO to ISO 9660.

7. Now, your ISO file is converted to ISO 9660 format. Just, hit OK.

8. Click on View Report to have an even more specific report of your ISO files.

9. In the last step, you can proceed to your destination folder and check the data in Excel.

Manual vs Professional Method – Quick Comparison
It is very important to know the difference of these two options regarding their accuracy, efforts and reliability. The below data will allow you to immediately find out which method most suits your technical needs.
| Aspect | Manual Methods | Professional Way |
| Technical Knowledge | Required | Not required |
| Accuracy | Medium | High |
| Time Consumption | High | Low |
| Risk of Errors | Yes | No |
| Large File Support | Limited | Fully supported |
End Words
I hope coming to the last section, you have understood about both ISO files and followed various methods to convert ISO to ISO 9660. The manual one is not that suitable, as it is a very time taking task. Following professional steps will ensure that your ISO file is well managed. It gives you various options to convert your ISO files to disk image formats or even to ISO format. Go with the right method according to your work.
