.dmg file extension ? A detailed description
Two instances of the .dmg file extension are recorded and both of them are discussed below.
File Type #1 – Apple Mac OS X disk image file
A .dmg file is a mountable disk image file created in Mac OS X; these files are Mac-Specific and are not meant for use on Windows computers. .dmg files can be burnt to a CD or mounted as normal volume on Apple computers with Mac OS X.
Typically, .dmg files are used for Mac OS software installers. By opening the .dmg file, you can mount a virtual disk on the desktop. .dmg files can be understood as the Apple version of.exe files used in Windows.
.dmg files are disk files and the Mime type is application/x-apple-diskimage.
Are .dmg files compatible with Mac OS 9 and earlier versions?
No, they are not. It is important to understand that the DMG format has replaced the older .IMG format that was used in MS OS Classic.
Can a .dmg file be opened on a Windows computer?
Yes, but you will need to convert the .dmg files into a compatible format. Tools are available that you can use to convert a .dmg file to a more compatible format, say an ISO image file. You can then burn the ISO file to a CD or use an ISO reader to read the file.
Tools are also available, such as Daemon Tools that let you mount virtual drives from some .dmg image files on Windows.
How to open a .dmg file
If you use Windows, you may use the following programs to open a .dmg file:
- DMG2IMG
- DMG2ISO
- Acute Systems TransMac
If you use a Mac Operating System, you may use the following programs to open a .dmg file:
- Apple Disk Utility
- Dare to be Creative iArchiver
- Roxio Toast 10 Titanium
File Type #2 – Oracle binary format dump file
Though less common, the .dmg file extension is also known to be associated with the ORACLE Export utility and Import utility.
What should one do when a file type error occurs while opening a file in Windows?
The best approach in such cases is to use a reliable file repair program. The reason being, file type errors typically occur due to damaged or corrupt file openers on a Windows system. A reliable file repair program fixes the file openers and facilitates easy access to the file.