File extension DMG stands for a type of virtual files designed to work with an Apple PC. DMG is actually a disk image which is used to distribute files and applications among Apple PCs. There is a variety of software you can obtain to access files using a Windows-based PC. It acts as a storage section similar to a CD or DVD hard disk except that DMG does not utilize a physical storage device.
DMG files include images, software applications, documents and other files and can be written to a hard drive, transmitted over the Internet, or burned to an external disk.
How to Open DMG Files
If you want to open a DMG file using Mac OS X, all you have to do is double click on the file and allow your PC to automatically find the default program to open it. In the case of a Mac PC, once you double click the file, the operating system will automatically load the disk image which is also referred to as “mounting” the DMG file. Once the disk image is loaded, the operating system will place an icon on the desktop that looks similar to a drive which has been added to your PC, such as when you connect a peripheral to one of your USB ports.
The DMG icon typically appears on the sidebar and will contain the name of the DMG file you double clicked on. The sidebar is known as the Finder and you can open the DMG file to view the contents by clicking the icon on the Finder.
Once you have completed working with the DMG file contents, you should return to the Finder sidebar and click the Eject image to remove the DMG file from your system.
If you are using Windows operating system, it is necessary to Google applications which open DMG files. Programs, such as MagicISO, allow you to convert files with the DMG extension to an ISO image.
Depending upon what application you choose for a Windows PC, the process for running the program and opening DMG files will vary. To provide you with the idea of how this works, we can use MagicISO as an example. You can download the program from the Internet and install it on your Windows PC. Then you open MagicISO, click the folder icon to choose the DMG file you want to open and then click the check mark icon to access Properties.
Under the ISO tab in the Properties window remove the check mark next to Apple HFS and Apple HFS+ and add a check mark next to ISO 9660, Joliet Secondary Volume Descriptor and directories using Unicode, and UDF Universal Disk Format. Click OK and proceed to save the DMG file as an ISO image.
