A DMG disk image file is Apple's container format for capturing entire drives or disks, similar to ISO for other platforms like Windows. It consists of data blocks that represent a physical disc. If you're on a Windows machine, you're limited in what you can do with DMG files. That's why you need third-party utilities to create a bootable DVD from DMG on Windows. This article explains two different methods to burn DMG files to amake bootable macOS installation DVD in Windows.
Method 1: How to Create Bootable DVD from DMG (Command Prompt)
This approach utilizes a tool called DMG2IMG, which converts DMG file into ISO, the universally more compatible archive format. This ISO file is then burned using a command line execution in Command Prompt. You don't really need any experience with disk images or command line work, but it will certainly help should something go wrong. If you're not comfortable with any of this, you can skip to Method 2, which showcases a powerful but user-friendly tool that does it all for you. But first, let's see how the Command Prompt method of creating a bootable DVD from DMG works.
Note: The older version of DMG2IMG is called DMG2ISO. Although the download is available in the link provided in Step 1 below, it is recommended that you use DMG2IMG instead. The utility has the ability to convert DMG into both ISO and IMG, based on your needs.
Step 1. Install DMG2IMG on a Windows PC after downloading the zipped win32 binary from this website. Unzip the file and run the .exe to install the program. You can also download DMG2ISO, but DMG2IMG is the recommended software to use.
Step 2. Open Command Prompt on your PC and execute the following command to convert your DMG into ISO. Be sure to change the file names as appropriate, and include the whole file path from the main directory:
dmg2img.exe c:downloadsexample.dmg c:downloadsexampleconverted.iso
Jun 11, 2019 Right click the DMG file in Windows Explorer and select Extract. Extract the file somewhere safe. It may take your computer a while to perform this action as the file may be enormous. A DMG file, like ISO, can be used to install macOS operating system or Mac apps. If the Mac computer was broken or crashed and couln't get into the system, but you only have access to a Windows PC, there's still a way to make a bootable macOS install USB on Windows.
Step 3. Now that your ISO file is ready, you can use the Windows ISO burning utility or a free application like FreeISOBurner to create a bootable DVD.
This DVD can be used to install macOS in virtual Windows environments with tools like Virtualbox. You can't use ISO files to install software in Mac, so if this is intended for a computer running Mac OS X or macOS, you will need to convert it back to DMG before you can install the program in question. If you're not confident that you can carry out the steps properly, then continue to Method 2.
Method 2: How to Make a Bootable DVD for Mac on Windows (DMGGeeker)
Conversion processes aren't always accurate and success rate is low for the first method. Many DVD are not able to be used to install macOS due to boot errors. Although DMG2IMG is a great tool, you may find that your resulting ISO file is corrupted and therefore useless. That means doing it all over again. Instead, you can try using DMGGeeker, which allows you to directly burn DMG to a DVD in Windows without having to convert the file. Such a disk can be used to boot a Mac computer.
DMGGeeker is an emerging star in the world of disk image file management software. It allows you to edit, add files to, delete content from, rename and do a lot more with DMG files on Windows without any conversion necessary. If you've been searching for the ideal DMG handling tool for Windows, your search has just ended. Let's see how the process works for creating a bootable media from DMG in Windows. It works with all recent versions of Windows.
Step 1Prepare for Installation
You can download it from the official site here. And then install DMGGeeker on a Windows PC.
Step 2Open DMGGeeker in Windows
Launch the application and click on the 'Burn' option. You'll see the other tools available for DMG files.
Step 3Create Bootable USB from macOS Install Image
Click 'Load DMG' to import your DMG file into the program. Insert a blank DVD and click Burn against the DVD option to write the DMG to the disk.
In three simple steps, your bootable DVD is ready. You won't find that many tools that are so easy to operate. DMGGeeker also has one of the highest burn success rates in its class, which means no wasted DVDs and no wasted time.
Summary
How to choose the rignt tool depends on what the purpose is. If you want to use a DMG file in Windows to mount a version of Mac OS X, then Method 1 will work. However, most of the time, you'll need a DMG to install an OS version on a Mac computer. In those cases, if all you have to work with is a Windows PC, DMGGeeker is the perfect application. It's simple enough for a novice yet robust enough for a professional, it contains all the tools you need to manage DMG files, and it's a life-saver if you only have a Windows PC to work with.
Related Articles & Tips
To create a bootable USB drive from a DMG file on Windows, you will need to have the right utility. That's because DMG is not native on Windows. It is the Mac equivalent of an ISO file that has been in use since Apple transitioned from the IMG format with Mac OS X. A DMG file, like ISO, can be used to install macOS operating system or Mac apps. If the Mac computer was broken or crashed and couln't get into the system, but you only have access to a Windows PC, there's still a way to make a bootable macOS install USB on Windows.
Windows Dmg To Iso
This article looks at three applications that you can use to create a bootable USB drive from a DMG file in Windows. All of them have their advantages and disadvantages, which we have highlighted. You can make the best choice for you based on the information provided below. They are in no particular order of preference.
TransMac - Make DMG File Bootable USB on Windows
This is a fairly robust application for creating bootable USB on Windows from a DMG file. However, there's a preparatory step to be executed before you can create the bootable USB drive. The typical disk partition used is MBR, but you will need to do a partition with GPT for this to work. You can do so by executing the diskpart command in Windows CMD. Alternatively, you can do it from within TransMac, as shown in the instructions shown below the next paragraph.
Once this is done, you can download TransMac and use the two-week free trial period to get the job done free of cost. You can always upgrade if you like the utility and want to keep using it after the trial period has ended. Once you download and install the application, insert your formatted USB drive and follow the instructions below:
Step 1: If you haven't formatted the USB, right-click on your USB drive in the left panel and select Format Disk for Mac from the contextual menu.
Step 2: Right-click again on the drive in the left panel and this time select Restore with Disk Image.
Step 3 : Select the DMG file and click on Open. Once the process is complete, you can eject the drive and use it on a Mac. To boot from this media, hold down the Option key and fire up your Mac.
Convert DMG to ISO and Create macOS Boot USB from Windows
Since ISO is a better format for Windows, you can also convert the DMG to the ISO format and then use the ISO disk image to create the bootable USB. Please note that you can't boot your Mac from bootable USB made from an ISO file, which means you'll have to convert it back to DMG prior to that. Still, it's an effective way to create bootable media for a Mac computer. Here's how it works:
Step 1: Once you have the macOS install DMG file on a Windows PC, click on Windows + R to open the run dialog box, and type in CMD, then hit Enter. When the Command Prompt opens up, use the following command to convert the file to ISO:
hdiutil convert /path/sourceimagefile.dmg -format UDTO -o /path/targetmage.iso
Step 2: Download and install UUByte ISO Editor on your PC, insert the USB drive and launch the application.
Step 3: Click Burn button on the main screen and point to the converted ISO file. The drive will be automatically detected and click on Burn icon to burn the ISO to the USB drive.
Once the ISO is burned to the file, you can insert it into a Mac and convert it back into the DMG format. Since you're converting the file twice, there's a chance that the file could get corrupted in the process. If that happens repeatedly, then try this next method.
PowerISO: Make Bootable Mac Install USB on Windows 10/8/7
This Windows utility allows you do create bootable USB from DMG on a PC. You can also edit the DMG or extract the contents, and there's also an option to copy it to a disk. For this particular exercise, we'll show you how to use PowerISO to create a bootable USB drive on Windows without having to convert the disk image into another format like ISO.
Step 1: Download and install the application on your PC.
Open Dmg In Windows 10
Step 2: Insert your USB drive and launch PowerISO.
Step 3: In the Tools menu, select 'Create Bootable USB Drive… '. You will need to give admin privileges to the software. Alternatively, you can run the program as admin when you launch it.
Step 4: Select the USB drive in the section called Destination USB Drive.
File Extension Dmg Windows Xp
Step 5: Leave all other default as they are and click on 'Start' to burn DMG to the USB drive.
File Extension Dmg Windows Vista
You should be able to see the progress, and a new popup will appear when the bootable media is ready. You can now eject the media and use it to run the DMG on a Mac computer.
Conclusion:
Convert Iso To Dmg Windows
All of these methods are workable, so select the right one for you based on your level of knowledge and your preference.