How to play without discs??

Its been a long time since ive been into pc gaming and since im back I want to learn how to make ISOs of my own DVDs so I dont have to put in each individual game. If someone has a nice package they'd like to share or simple instructions that would be great. Im pretty tech savvy so no worries there im looking to keep it on the simple side. Thanks in advance.

 

Use STEAM...

 

You don't need to make full ISOs of your game CD/DVDs, all you need to create is "Mini-Image", i.e. Mini-DVD, Mini-CD.
Read more here:
Mini Image - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Here's a nice guide that helps you through the process of creating and mounting mini-image files to virtual drive, it was written back in 2005, so be prepared for changes:
How to make a SafeDisc mini-image *updated* - Club MyCE

Here's a much more detailed guide:
How to create a mini-image?

-------- Gray area on the topic of No-DVD Fix ---------
Easiest way to play games without DVD/CDs is to use what's so called "No-DVD/CD Fix/Crack". Beyond that I would not say anything else, as it's not tolerated by the forum rules. So Google is your best friend.
See here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/gaming-software-graphics-cards/499172-gaming-w-o-optical-drive.html

 

The problem with this whole train of thought is that inserting the disc is a form of DRM(Digital Rights Management). Granted most games nowadays do not require you to do this, but the occasional one does. For those semi older games that do chances are there is a patch that removes the requirement. But most disc wont run of an ISO copy. They will install fine but will not validate when trying to load up a game. This is where the "grey area" of .exe cracks come in that remove this authentication. But since most or written for more nefarious reasons people look down on these no cd cracks.

 

ya its just a pain in the rump to have to plop in a disc run then on we go, and im pretty sure it will run quicker without a disc no ?

 

You might be surprised how many official NOCD patches have been stealthily introduced at some point throughout official patches from the developers. They are sometimes buried deep in the change list.

 

IBTL...*

You can try SlySoft's Game Jackal which is completely safe yet may fall in the 'grey market' area in certain countries. But it is a relatively legit route to take.


(*)- Usually any topic here discussing the circumventing of game disc copy protection results in a thread closure. The point is, 'nocd' options are easily available. Just google it. Be wary of questionable sites to avoid trojan-ladened .exe crack files.

 

Ya I hear ya, the game I patched last night was Transformers war for cybertron, scanned the file with a virus scanner no viruses and it works so im happy. Just fustrating when disc isnt needed. Is there an official patch for the game or no?

 

All the blizzard games are no-cd now.

 

usually not necessary anymore.

or- buy games from steam.

 

Ya im thinking steam from now on, but some games require online mode, which is pretty lame, like I cant play half life loast coast without being online. And the reason I bought the disc version was they were really cheap, a buddy got me a deal on it.

 

Did you try the offline mode?

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?p_faqid=213

If you use Steam, make sure to look out for deals. We have a thread here(look at first and last couple of pages.

 

I tried offline mode with HL Lost Coast said I needed to play in online mode, I think part of the reason for online mode was because it was a free download because of my ati card .

And im aware of steam deals, when I say I got it for cheap I mean dirty cheap.

 

I really much prefer no discs. Thats why I use steam.

 

Well, i think it requires you to be online so steam can gather data about how the game is running.
As far as i know it was only designed as a test to see how your pc is cooping with it as it has only 1 level and no mp option...
But ofcourse it might be possible that i missed something

 

That sounds about right, and steam will definitely be more pc platform of choice to dl games, my internet connection isnt too horrible, so shouldnt take too long to dl a game. I just dont wanna get stuck with online mode only games

 

Don't forget the only problem with Steam is that if it does not work (crashes) then you have no access to any of your games. I mentioned this some time ago. I used to love Steam until I realised this and it is not something I thought about until it happened.

 

well for what its worth ive never had problems with steam or any of the games ive ever owned on it dating back to the release of half life 2. (ever tried decrypting a game that large on dial up... takes awhile)

every game ive ever tried on it worked fine with offline mode for me including that lost coast. i find the easiest way to prepare your list of games for offline mode is to be online launch the game at least once and then just tell it to go into offline mode while you still have net access. with this procedure ive always been able to play all my games offline. (dunno about those ubisoft games that require you to be online though)

 

Those of you who want to discuss this legally seem to be in luck, as it was just ruled today (or yesterday, I'm not sure) by a U.S. court that bypassing DRM in order to perform a function you are otherwise legally entitled to do (such as playing disc-based games on a computer without an optical drive) is not a violation of the DMCA.

Full text of court decision.

 

Pretty sure its fine to use no-CD cracks if youre using it for your own games that youve bought.

 

Reading through the ruling though gives me pause - I'm not entirely sure it sets a precedent for fair use under the DMCA. The heart of the case was regarding a device did not seem to use DRM schemes similar to what consumers have to put up with, and the ruling basically says the software was not protected by copyright measures therefore the DMCA could not possibly be invoked in the previous lawsuit. IANAL but from the looks of it it doesn't help us.

Technically yes. But the common use for it is for pirated games and as such all discussion on the matter is closed. Not to mention the security risks associated with downloading a modified file that may or may not have malware embedded within.

 

Seems to me (and IANAL) that they're saying that if the DRM prevents you from actually using a copyrighted work (and in the US all works are automatically copyrighted from the moment they're created unless the maker says otherwise, which I highly doubt this company did), you can bypass it. The obvious extension of this would be that all fair use is protected (since it would seem to imply that the anti-circumvention clause only applies in cases where you're already trying to do something illegal), but there was no direct ruling on that part. I suppose we'll have to wait 'til someone else gets sued for a definitive answer on that, but the odds are that no one will.