Ditching the cd...

[gviper 922]

Alright, I have got to know; is there a way I can avoid having to insert my "Rush Hour" game cd into my pc to get the game to start up?  Right now it won't launch the game unless I do, and it would be really nice If I could direct launch from the hard drive. 

[cogeo 960]

You can use some "Virtual CD" or else "CD Emulator" program to "mount" a RH CD image. No need for it if you are using Windows 8 or 8.1 (you double-click on the .iso file and it mounts the CD/DVD image automatically). You still need to create the image though.

 

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

OR you can simplify your life by repurchasing the game from an authorized download site such as GOG.com, GamersGate or Amazon which will get you version 1,1,641 which is fully patched and diskless.

[rsc204 21,805]

I don't understand the logic of paying a second time for a game when I have a perfectly usable disk hanging around, for me that's a waste of money. Installing two patches is hardly a huge negative either. I think I've managed to have only two or three original disks ever develop problems. I've some very early audio CDs that still work, the lifespan on these things if taken care of is pretty good. In fact, given what I've seen of DRM, CD's are for life, not just for as long as the DRM server allows you to install that game you "rented" when you thought you were buying it.

 

I have been avoiding using the disks themselves since I started playing games on PC, I mean it's not like other fully installed programs ask you to do this sort of nonsense, could you imagine having to insert the Office disk every time you wanted to run your word processor, it would be ridiculous?

[Cyclone Boom 16,846]

The links cogeo posted above should help get you started.

 

There are a few tools that can successfully create the image, and mount the disk as a virtual drive. To clarify, this works by adding a new temporary / artificial drive that the PC recognises, not affecting any physical drives. Once it's active, the drive allows any disk image to be loaded, and run just like a normal CD would. The created image file (e.g. iso, img) will be quite large in size, seeing as it's a direct copy of the CD. You can store this anywhere that the program has access to.

 

These programs also include options to manage the virtual drives. For example, to add / remove them or change drive letters.

[gviper 922]

The links cogeo posted above should help get you started.

 

There are a few tools that can successfully create the image, and mount the disk as a virtual drive. To clarify, this works by adding a new temporary / artificial drive that the PC recognises, not affecting any physical drives. Once it's active, the drive allows any disk image to be loaded, and run just like a normal CD would. The created image file (e.g. iso, img) will be quite large in size, seeing as it's a direct copy of the CD. You can store this anywhere that the program has access to.

 

These programs also include options to manage the virtual drives. For example, to add / remove them or change drive letters.

It sure did! Used a program and now booting off the cd is bye bye! Thanks to all for the info!

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

I don't understand the logic of paying a second time for a game when I have a perfectly usable disk hanging around, for me that's a waste of money. Installing two patches is hardly a huge negative either. I think I've managed to have only two or three original disks ever develop problems. I've some very early audio CDs that still work, the lifespan on these things if taken care of is pretty good. In fact, given what I've seen of DRM, CD's are for life, not just for as long as the DRM server allows you to install that game you "rented" when you thought you were buying it.

 

<snip>

The newer versions are fully patched and diskless.  I purchased mine when my SC4 original install disks could no longer be read for a reinstall.  This version installs in about five minutes or less on my machine (I saved the install directory) as I often make new wine prefixes.  Not having the pesky CDs around is getting pretty standard on some more recent machines unless you specify an optical drive.

 

An install from CD takes several minutes even if you have the deluxe edition, and then you have to apply two patches.

 

If you watch the sales on the distribution sites you can get the new version for under $10.

[rsc204 21,805]

But that's my point, I should spend $10 to buy something I already own to save me the inconvenience of installing it and two patches, all of 15m work, which I've done maybe 2-3 times in 2 years? Sure if you don't have a disk, or the disk is broken it makes more sense to download a copy (from a DRM free site), but if you have the disk, why on earth would that be the best way to go?

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

^ convenience.  CDs are anything but archival and can easily be destroyed as were mine simply by leaving them in a sunny window for a while.