MobaLiveCD - Portable Live CD Emulator

MobaLiveCD is a Free Portable Live CD Emulator that utilizes a software front end for Qemu to enable you to (Run Linux on Windows). Run your Linux Live CDs and other ISO files portably from within Windows without rebooting. Moreover, all of this can be stored and run directly from a portable USB device.

Portable Live CD Emulator MobaLiveCD

MobaLiveCD - Portable Live CD Emulator

What is MobaLiveCD and How is it useful?

MobaLiveCD is a free and portable software tool that allows users to run Linux live CDs from ISO files on their Windows computer without the need to reboot or install Linux on the system hard drive. A live CD or Live USB is a bootable CD or USB containing an operating system that can be run directly from external media. This operating system emulator works much like a portable Virtual Box to Run Linux on Windows. Enabling users to test and experiment with running various Linux distributions from their source ISO files without installing to a hard disk.

Here are some of its most notable features and benefits:

  • No Installation Required: Doesn't require any installation on your Windows system. You can run the emulator directly from the executable file.
  • Run Linux Live CDs from ISO files: It enables you to boot and run Linux live CDs (ISO files) on your Windows machine without actually installing Linux. This is useful for testing Linux distributions, troubleshooting, or simply exploring different Linux environments.
  • Linux Testing and Evaluation without Installation: This tool is commonly used by individuals who want to try out different Linux distributions before deciding which one to install on their system. It's also valuable for IT professionals and developers for testing and development purposes.
  • Convenience: The utility makes it convenient to run Linux live environments on Windows machines without having to go through the process of burning CDs or creating bootable USB drives.

To use this free emulation software, simply store the MobaLive.exe along with your Linux Live CDs or other bootable ISOs on your USB drive. Then, start MobaLiveCD, select the ISO you wish to boot and watch as the alternate operating system or system program launches while your still running in Windows. Another great way to try Linux or test those bootable ISO files without burning them to a disk and then rebooting from them.

Drawbacks I noticed are that the Kqemu accelerator is not included and the Qemu launcher settings are non adjustable. This can cause some ISOs to run really slow or fail to load entirely. Virtualbox or even Proxmox might make for a better choice if you want close to native hardware performance.

  • Authors Website: Project Page
  • Developer: Mobatek
  • License: Open Source
  • Supported OS: Windows
  • Downloading: You can find this operating system emulation software here:
    MobaLiveCD Download