Playing PC games without CD's in cd bay?

[mrracer]

Do you guys know how I can keep from having to load the CD's every time I want to play a PC game? Is there any way to hack the .exe to keep it from wanting the CD in the cd bay. Or maybe load the entire cd to the hard drive and trick it into thinking the CD is in the cd bay? Thanks again.

[Ed_McCarron]

Google "Daemon Tools"

Create an .iso on your harddrive and point Daemon Tools at it - creates a virtual CD rom.

[MKChamp]

www.megagames.com

[RayB]

I use special patches from www.megagames.com
(They are called "noCD" patches)

[lemoe]

yeh, no-cd patches are your best bet. They tend to be relatively small (in comparion to an iso), usually a replacement exe, so easy to apply. Also in some cases they help the game run faster (since the computer doesnt have to read from the cd drive)

[Silverwind]

Google "Daemon Tools"

Create an .iso on your harddrive and point Daemon Tools at it - creates a virtual CD rom.

That is what I use.  I use nero to create a cd-image and then use Daemon Tools to mount the image.   This is even superior to having the cd in the drive, as your hard drive is much faster than a cd-rom.  (and quieter too, no loud spin up)

ISO images work well, but I prefer .BIN/.CUE files...

[SirPoonga]

FYI, with many games a nocd patch goes against the eula.

Now, running a virtual cd drive is probably fine as you are running the game from a backup copy.

[grueinthebox]

Alcohol 120% will also allow you to establish virtual drives...  Handy for creating and burning a variety of disc image formats as well.

[AceTKK]

www.gamecopyworld.com is a good source for No-CD patches too (there aren't actually any game copies on that site, so I hope it's ok to post).

[traknfieldSUPAstar]

another issue with using a nocd patch or replacement .exe is you have to download a new one everytime another update for you game came out (you also had to keep a backup of the original .exe file in order to update your game in the first place)

[jcroach]

Alcohol 120% will also allow you to establish virtual drives...

[RayB]

FYI, with many games a nocd patch goes against the eula.

PFFFFFFFFFT!!

By the way, this talk that running off a harddrive is faster than CDrom. I don't know of any [modern] games anymore that don't install themselves completely to the harddrive. The ONLY reason they need to access the CD is to make sure you are running a purchased copy. So all this ISO and mounting a virtual CD drive is a big waste of time.

[mrracer]

Yeah your right they only need the CD to make sure you purchased the game itself, I rather get an NoCD Patch.exe any other web sites out there I can check?

[ultramagnus]

some games will detect cd emulation software, funnily enough i had that problem with sonic heros even though i diddent even have any cd emulation software installed 

[[derek]]

Daemon is absolutely marvelous softeware. I use it for my kids ridiculous games.  Most of them are a little older (carmen sandiego et cetera) and constantly access the cdrom.

However, there is a more important reason:
Kids and cd's generally don't mix; even thouh my kids are dilligent about treating them with respect, kids are magnets for abrasive materials.  Just watch a kid walk outside, in a fit of parents fury, sand is attracted to their hands.  This sand then lies in wait until it can be readily dispatched to the fragile bottom of a CD.

This is where daemon comes in handy, I have a folder of all their silly games isos, most of which are small, 300 megs and under.  Five minutes later and they know how to mount them.

We use it at thee office for software distribution for students too. Basically mount a bunch of cds then share them out.

- derek

[Silverwind]

PFFFFFFFFFT!!

By the way, this talk that running off a harddrive is faster than CDrom. I don't know of any games anymore that don't install themselves completely to the harddrive. The ONLY reason they need to access the CD is to make sure you are running a purchased copy. So all this ISO and mounting a virtual CD drive is a big waste of time.

I suppose the nicest thing about it is not having to physically change CD's.  Great if your cd-rom is inside of a cab or some such.  You can store away your originals and never have to mess with a cd-wallet or waste time looking for a certain disc.

[RayB]

I suppose the nicest thing about it is not having to physically change CD's.

[Silverwind]

I suppose the nicest thing about it is not having to physically change CD's.

[Kremmit]

Many versions of Nero also come with a Daemon-like, virtual CD-Rom program that will mount your .iso and .nrg files.  It's called Nero ImageDrive.  You may already have this on your system!

[Ed_McCarron]

FYI, with many games a nocd patch goes against the eula.

Now, running a virtual cd drive is probably fine as you are running the game from a backup copy.

Thats what I figured.  I needed the original to create the ISO, and it runs wicked fast compared to the CD.

Diablo II's transitions between scenes is lightning fast.

EDit:  Then again, thats about the newest game I play.  Still stuck in the past.

[ften]

Daemon is absolutely marvelous softeware. I use it for my kids ridiculous games.

[Mooshoo111]

www.gameburnworld.com is another...