Playing without the disc in the drive

[simcityer73 1]

At least the program I used, called Virtual Drive, version 9 couldn't make a virtual disc of simcity 4 deluxe, that is- disc 2, the play disc. I just want to be able to make one so I can put the disc in my disc holder/book, so I won't have to worry about damaging it. Does anyone know a free program which can do so?

[cogeo 960]

For Win7 try MagicDisc/MagicISO, for WinXP Paragon CD Emulator.

[Cockatoo 2,256]

I used CloneCD to make mine. Once you've made your disk image, I'd recommend using Virtual Clone Drive to mount it whenever you want to play SC4. It's a great little piece of freeware IMO.

[Mister Giggles 310]

The rules changed on making copies of the game for personal use, did they?

[AcmeSigns 97]

There must be a way to play without the disc. I have a digital download version...needless to say, I don't have a disc to plop in.

  Edited July 24, 2012 by AcmeSigns  

[jdenm8 362]

The rules changed on making copies of the game for personal use, did they?

We are discussing a topic that is legal, we do have the right to create backups (However partial they are). Using those backups aren't illegal either.

What we aren't allowed to do is distribute them.

  Edited July 24, 2012 by jdenm8  

[Cockatoo 2,256]

The rules changed on making copies of the game for personal use, did they?

We are discussing a topic that is legal, we do have the right to create backups (However partial they are). Using those backups aren't illegal either.

What we aren't allowed to do is distribute them.

What he said. Creating digital backups of your data is just common sense.

You still need to mount the virtual disk in order to play the game, and you still need to enter a valid serial to install from it: all DRM/ anti-piracy measures remain in place. Using virtual disks just takes all this from being an external to an internal (and much more efficient/ reliable) process.

[nukeu123 307]

i could think of 2 ways

i use this, created a MDS out of my sc4 disk 2 and mounted it with daemon tools lite... works great and loading speed is increased!

second way and is not wisest (yes illegal) [Then it won't be discussed. -CaptCity]

good luck!

  Edited July 26, 2012 by CaptCity  

[Mister Giggles 310]

What he said. Creating digital backups of your data is just common sense.

You still need to mount the virtual disk in order to play the game, and you still need to enter a valid serial to install from it: all DRM/ anti-piracy measures remain in place. Using virtual disks just takes all this from being an external to an internal (and much more efficient/ reliable) process.

Hmm. I must have remembered incorrectly. I could have sworn there used to be a (In my opinion) drakonian rule against discussing backups. Oh well.

On topic: I use Daemon Tools Lite, myself, for mounting purposes. Alcohol 120%/52% will make the copies well enough.

[jdenm8 362]

The only thing that's not allowed to be discussed are hacked EXEs (The fabled No-CD Crack/Patch) becase it requires decompilation and chances are, you've broken the law just by downloading it.

MDSes and such (Which are what I use for nearly all of my disc-based games) are perfectly legal as long as you made them yourself.

  Edited July 24, 2012 by jdenm8  

[Cockatoo 2,256]

To clarify, the site rules prohibit any discussion relating to no-CD cracks, illegally modifying the game, acquiring the game (or any piece of software for that matter) through non-legal means, copying and distributing game files or sharing serials.

Backups for personal use only are, from my interpertation of the rules, perfectly okay to discuss. Just please remember: do not steer this conversation towards any of the issues I've mentioned above.

Here's the offical line:

Prohibited Actions.

It is strictly and expressly prohibited to post or upload:

Anything referring to CD keys or no CD cracks;

Anything relating to the pirating, or copying, of any software game title;

Thanks.

[GMT 389]

so how do I do this illegal no cd thing?

...

lol j/k

well, you can also play without the disc by only using it for the game to start and take it out once the game is running. not quite as comfortable as using a virtual copy of the disc but ... yeah just thought I'd share

[lhrob 213]

.......

well, you can also play without the disc by only using it for the game to start and take it out once the game is running. not quite as comfortable as using a virtual copy of the disc but ... yeah just thought I'd share

Does that actually work? If I could remove the disk from my drive after starting the game, it would save wear & tear on the disk AND the drive, not to mention make it a little quieter while playing (since I hate the sound of a constantly running disk drive).

Sorry to bump a somewhat old thread, but my question isn't being answered in the General Discussion thread.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

You didn't wait long enough. Try a little patience. This is an international board, and it sometimes takes a couple of days for the person who knows your answer to access the question.

[lhrob 213]

I am patient, Nonny, and I realize it's an international board. But I've been a little tired and frazzed, and thought I posted that question yesterday morning, not THIS morning. Sorry - I must have entered a temporal loop or something, because I distinctly remember logging on this morning to see if the question had been answered, and I noticed it hadn't. But I guess I must have been thinking about something else.

MODS: Delete my previous comment. I'll try not to screw up again.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Ah fuggedaboudit. I see you've learned to check posting dates.