Help! How do I open a .CUE file?

From the reader mailbag: “Marc, I downloaded a computer game off the Internet and when I unzipped the package it left two files on my hard drive: .CUE and .BIN. How do I get these to work?”

Good question, and it’s one I’ve received a few times over the years.

Essentially, these are image files you must burn to a recordable CD or DVD in order to install (and play) the game. You might also see .ISO files instead of .CUE and .BIN

The first thing you need is a software such as one of the Nero products (e.g. Back It Up & Burn, Nero 9 or the older Nero Burning ROM), which are paid programs, but each one comes with a free trial. Or a variant of these might already be bundled with your computer.

Next, insert a recordable CD or DVD, open up the software and click something like “Burn Image.” You’ll now see the software copied over to the blank media.

When it’s done, you’ll notice the CD or DVD has familiar files in its root directory, such as Setup.exe. Double click this to initiate the installation process on your hard drive. You may or may not need the disc to run the game. As always, only download from a trusted source and be sure you’re running good anti-virus software before double-clicking an executable file.

That’s it!

Filed Under: Computers & Software > Utilities
Tags: bin, burn, cd, cue, dvd, game, help, how, install, nero, record, to