Simple Xiso Drive for Windows

Simple Xiso Drive is a lightweight utility that allows you to mount original Xbox ISO files (.iso, .xiso, .cso) and ZArchive (.zar) files as virtual drives or NTFS directory mount points. Built on the DokanNet library, it provides high-performance, read-only access to Xbox Disc Video File System (XDVDFS) contents directly from Windows Explorer.

The application is designed for extreme memory efficiency and now supports both Windows x64 and Windows ARM64 architectures.

Features

• Multi-Architecture Support: Native executables for win-x64 and win-arm64.
• Broad Format Support: Handles standard Xbox ISO dumps (Sector 32), rebuilt "XISO" formats (Sector 0), Dual-Layer/Hybrid discs (Game Partition offsets), and CISO-compressed images (.cso, including split .1.cso part sets).
• ZArchive Support: Mounts .zar archives directly — either the archived game tree or a single embedded XISO image — with on-demand zstd decompression (no extraction or temp files).
• Zero-Config Mounting: Drag-and-drop an ISO, CISO or ZAR onto the executable to automatically mount it to the first available drive letter (M: through R:).
• NTFS Integration: Mount ISOs as drive letters (e.g., Z:) or into empty NTFS folders.
• Automated Bug Reporting: Includes a built-in telemetry system that securely reports filesystem crashes to the developer via the PureLogic Code API.
• Update Checker: Automatically checks for newer versions on GitHub to ensure you have the latest compatibility fixes.
• Read-Only Safety: Ensures the source ISO or ZAR remains unmodified.

Prerequisites

1. .NET Runtime: Requires the .NET 10.0 Runtime (the base runtime; the Desktop Runtime is not required).
2. Dokan Library: You must install the Dokan user-mode file system library (version 2.x.x).
   • Download: https://github.com/dokan-dev/dokany/releases.

Documentation

Comprehensive documentation is available in the docs folder and mirrors the project wiki:

• Installation - requirements, Dokan setup, installing and upgrading.
• Getting Started - your first mount, drag-and-drop, unmounting.
• Command-Line Reference - arguments, options, exit codes.
• Architecture - components, mount lifecycle, threading.
• Building - build, test, and the CI/release workflow.
• What's New - release highlights.
• XDVDFS Format - on-disk structures and supported variants.
• Troubleshooting - every known error with causes and fixes.
• Privacy and Networking - telemetry, endpoints, offline use.

How to Use

1. Drag-and-Drop (Easiest)

• Drag your .iso, .xiso, .cso or .zar file and drop it onto SimpleXisoDrive.exe.
• The app will automatically find an available drive letter, mount the image, and open Windows Explorer.
• To Unmount: Return to the console window and press any key.

2. Command-Line

Run the application from a terminal for specific mount points:

SimpleXisoDrive.exe <PathToImageFile> <MountPoint> [options]

Arguments:

• <PathToImageFile>: Full path to the .iso, .xiso or .zar file.
• <MountPoint>: A drive letter (e.g., Z:) or a path to an empty NTFS folder.

Options:

• -l, --launch: Automatically opens Windows Explorer to the mount point.
• -d, --debug: Enables verbose Dokan debug output in the console.

Technical Details

• XDVDFS Parsing: Uses the XISOSharp library to traverse the Xbox-specific binary tree structure, including rebuilt sector-0 images.
• ZArchive Parsing: Mounts the ZArchive directory tree with on-demand zstd block decompression, and detects a single embedded XISO image automatically.
• Cycle Detection: Includes safety checks to prevent infinite loops in corrupted or malformed ISO images.
• Mount Sanitization: Automatically handles mount point strings (e.g., converts Z:\ to Z:) to satisfy Dokan driver requirements.
• Smart Permissions: Automatically adjusts Dokan options based on Administrator privileges to ensure the highest success rate for mounting.

Troubleshooting

• Administrator Privileges: While the tool attempts to mount in user-mode, mounting a global drive letter often requires Administrator rights. If the mount fails, right-click the .exe and select "Run as Administrator."
• Dokan Errors: If you see "Dokan driver not found," ensure you have restarted your computer after installing the Dokan library.
• Invalid Image: If the app reports that the file is not a valid Xbox ISO/XISO image, the file is likely a standard PC ISO or an encrypted Redump-style image that has not been processed for XISO compatibility. A .zar file that fails to open is reported as an invalid ZArchive instead.

Support the Project

If you find this tool useful, consider supporting development:

• Star the Repo: GitHub Repository
• Donate: https://purelogiccode.com/Donate

License

This project is licensed under GPL-3.0.

• DokanNet: MIT License.
• Dokan Library: LGPL/MIT.

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Developed by PureLogic Code.