Simviation Forums

Y'all know what I mean; that constant shuffling of CDs when you're playing games.  What I was wondering, would it even be feasible to perhaps hodge-podge some files together so that you could perhaps combine all your CDs in one, so that you don't have to change disks?  What exactly does a game look for on the CD when it's starting?  Perhaps it could be done by burning multiple .ISOs onto a DVD, or just taking certain files?  Seems like an interesting concept.

Complicated question!

First of all games are of course made by different companies and they each use different methods of disc checking. One of the most common, for example, is Safedisc 2/3, which works by protecting a single file on the game disc. The installed .exe on the PC then looks for the protected file and if the CD is inserted and it can locate the file, the game runs. The advantage of this system is that the protected file on the CD is an integral part of the game, so the user cannot remove the disc whilst playing - the game will quit. In addition there is another available system that prevents files being copied or removed from a CD.

Therefore it might be possible to make a "bulk disc" for all your games, but most likely it won't.

Frankly I suggest Googling for No-CD patches for all your games. I do it to all of mine, 1) It saves rumaging for a disc every time you want to play a game, and 2) you can keep the disc away in a safe place and it's not going to get all scratched

This website has hundreds of No-CD patches - I daresay you'll find one for all your games.

Cheers and good luck!

Jon

And just for legal clarification.

No-cd are NOT illegal, provided you only install the game once on a single computer. No-cd's are essentially mods if you think about it.

BTW, gamecopyworld.com also has planty of no-cd. Sometimes, they also have stripped cd-images, which have just the files the game .exe is looking for. Just use alcohol 120% or the like to 'mount' the image.

What your suggesting with putting several cd images on dvd is possible, but not with games. I've done it before with install CD's for visual studio .net 2003, adobe CS2 (this thing comes on 7 CD's), etc.

Here's guide on how you do it:
http://www.overclockers.com/tips1212/
If you know what your doing, you can do it to any install progam. This does not work for games due to aforementioned protection schemes.

Drats.  I preferred the CD because there are some games that I like to play online. (If Battlefield 2 counts as multiple games ) I guess I'll just go with the no-CD patches.  When you can make your life simpler, do it!  I was a bit worried about the legality too.  You just have to know when to sit down and shut up!