Looking for a free CD emulation software

[gviper 922]

Hello, I'm in need of an emulation software so that I can stop booting SimCity 4 from the disc. it absolutely slows the game down. this way I won't have to insert the cd in to start the game anymore. thank you!
 

[Cyclone Boom 16,854]

Yes, this is possible indeed.

A while ago I made posts here and here which mentions how to do this using the CloneCD tool (which has a trial version I used). Then it makes an image copy of the disc, from where it can be virtually mounted as a drive on your computer.

Now this seems a bit of a grey area really. But since you're cloning your own discs as you own, it's for personal use only with the copy you have.

For this reason we see it as a permissible thing one can do, which avoids needing the disc inserted to start the game. Of course, this method only applies for older than Win 10 systems which can run the secdrv.sys driver. This is the SafeDisc component SC4 uses to validate its copy protection. We're not bypassing this, as the cloned files are merely a digital copy of one's physical game disc. The same can be done with Disc 1 too if wanting a backup to re-install the SC4 in future.

It has been several years ago since I did this on my old computer, but there are the 3 files you should have after using the CloneCD program.

Like this:

Then try right clicking the selected SC4DELUXE2.ccd file and it should say:
Mount (VirtualCloneDrive E:)

Choose this option, and it should make SC4 appear listed as a new drive inside the Computer listing like this:

Then all being well the game can be started as if the CD was in the drive.

Hope this helps.