IDEA: Want to play a game without putting the CD in place

[manoamano]

I would appreciate a utility to fool my PC into thinking that A DRIVE NAME THAT I PROVIDE ( OR A MAPPED NETWORK DRIVE ) is actually my CD or DVD drive...

[Carol Haynes]

There are plenty of CD 'virtual' devices (eg. Nero's ImageDrive) where you can copy a CD to your hard disc (or network drive) and then mount the image so that it appears like a standard CD-ROM. I have used this effectively with programs that need the CD present - just make sure you install the software from the virtual CD so that it can easily find it in future.

There are a lot listed here http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=Virtual+CD-ROM some of which are free (though I haven't tried them).

[Carol Haynes]

This one looks particulalry good - and answers my request for a virtual burner !!

http://www.virtualcd-online.com/vcd/apps/overview/v8detail.cfm?lg=0

It does however cost 40 dollars/euro

[wr975]

I would appreciate a utility to fool my PC into thinking that A DRIVE NAME THAT I PROVIDE ( OR A MAPPED NETWORK DRIVE ) is actually my CD or DVD drive...

For games this won't work. You can't copy the CD/DVD protection on your HDD. You'd have to create a image of this game cd/dvd using a tool like Alcohol 120% and mount it, but most new games won't start if they detect a virtual cd emulator installed, no matter if you actually mounted an image or not.

If you own the game, you can go to GameCopyWorld and download a "patch". That's what I do, because I don't like to insert DVDs just to start a game.

[Eóin]

There's always Daemon Tools.

[nite_monkey]

ooh ooh ooh, pick me, pick me!! Go ter cd free gaming powered by game jackal and download that bad boy, then when u install it, just right click on a shortcut to your game on ur desktop, and click turn into gamejackal profile, stick in ur cd, and omfg I'm playin my game with out a cd as soon as it creates the image in like (insert time required to load ur game and exit it, and pull out your cd and do what ever with it)...ok ill stop now, but if u want a good prog. game jackal is your cd free gaming choice. its like woah check it out man im copying me cd with me achohol 120%(how do u spell it)...your copying ur cd..yeah, it makes it easyer than actualy puting in the cd and scratching it...shoot i dont do that...u use ur cd's?...lol, no...how are u doing it than?...I use me handy dandy game jackal...well forget this big ol' cd image gimmie that der game jackal...ok gamejackal.com...sweet...sorry still hyper.

[nudone]

gamejackal sounds great - will try with my next game. thanks for the link, nite_monkey.

[nite_monkey]

gamejackel is awsome, but you do have the problem wiht some games now working right, but a ton of games do

[Deozaan]

If GameJackal doesn't work, GameCopyWorld.com should.

[f0dder]

If GameJackal doesn't work, GameCopyWorld.com should.

Too bad you're then doing an illegal action in order to be able to play your games >_<
(I do that myself for the games I purchase, though - no way I'll allow starforce or securom drivers on my system).