01 / How do I open a hospital scan CD?

How do I open a hospital scan CD?#

02 / First: what's actually on the disc?

First: what's actually on the disc?#

  • A folder (often DICOM, IMAGES, or patient-named) containing hundreds of small files with names like IM00001, IM00002, or 1.dcm. These are your scan slices.
  • A DICOMDIR file (no extension) — the disc's index.
  • A Windows .exe launcher, usually with a generic name. Often old, often broken on modern Windows, never needed. Skip it.
  • Sometimes a PDF of the radiology report.
03 / Step 1 — Get the disc into the computer

Step 1 — Get the disc into the computer#

  • Has a CD drive? Just insert it.
  • No CD drive (most modern laptops)? Options in rough order of cheapness: (a) borrow a friend's desktop; (b) get a $10–20 USB CD drive from any electronics shop; (c) ask the hospital's medical-records desk for a USB copy or a download link — most can email a portal link for free if you ask.
  • Disc doesn't mount at all? Try it on another computer. If two computers can't read it, ask for a replacement. Clinics re-burn copies routinely.
04 / Step 2 — Copy, don't open in place

Step 2 — Copy, don't open in place#

Drag the DICOM folder from the disc to your Desktop. Reading files from a CD is slow (minutes, not seconds) and the drive may give up. Copying once to hard-disk is faster and more reliable.

05 / Step 3 — Open OpenMyScan

Step 3 — Open OpenMyScan#

https://openmyscan.com in Chrome, Safari, Edge, or Firefox. The page prompts you to drop a folder.

06 / Step 4 — Drop it in

Step 4 — Drop it in#

Drag the Desktop copy of the DICOM folder onto the drop zone. Wait while it reads; large studies can take 30–90 seconds.

07 / Step 5 — Browse

Step 5 — Browse#

You'll see a list of "series" (T1, T2, axial, coronal for an MRI; different orientations and contrasts for CT). Click each to page through slices. The free DICOM viewer handles every modality your hospital might burn to a disc — MRI, CT, X-ray, ultrasound — using the same drop-and-browse flow.

08 / How do I keep a backup of the disc?

How do I keep a backup of the disc?#

Discs scratch, drawers shuffle. Copy the folder once to a cloud service you already use (Dropbox, OneDrive, iCloud) or to a USB stick you'll remember. Name it clearly: 2026-04-17 brain MRI.zip. This isn't required to use OpenMyScan, but years from now when you want to compare to a new scan, you'll thank yourself.

09 / Should I worry about losing my scan?

Should I worry about losing my scan?#

Am I uploading this to you when I drop it?
No. OpenMyScan runs entirely in your browser; your files never leave the computer. You can even unplug your WiFi after the page loads and the viewer keeps working.
Is your privacy protected?
You're viewing your own scan on your own computer; no third party (including us) gets a copy. OpenMyScan's servers never see your data.
What if I want a doctor to look too?
Two options. (1) Give them the original CD. (2) Create a share-package ZIP in OpenMyScan — one file your GP can email to a specialist. Either way the decision to share is yours.
// open your scan Ready

Open your scan right now

OpenMyScan runs in your browser. Your files stay on your computer while you review them.

Open viewer
11 / Common questions

Common questions#

The CD came with a launcher. Am I supposed to use it?

No. It's a Windows-only convenience and usually out of date. OpenMyScan replaces it.

Do I need a special computer?

Any modern laptop. No GPU, no medical software license, no dongle.

What if I have multiple CDs from different hospitals?

Open each folder in OpenMyScan one at a time. Each keeps the original hospital's metadata.

What if my hospital CD has an installer (.exe / .app)?

Ignore it. Those launchers are often broken on modern computers. Copy the DICOM folder off the disc and open that folder in OpenMyScan instead.

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