Creating and mounting images

This is a little off topic, but I really like the support and advice you folks offer, so maybe you could offer your 2 cents on this stuff

A friend sent me the .mdf and .mds files for Warcraft III a long while ago so I can keep my CDs safe in their cases. The 2 files are 77 and 22 Kb respectively.

I used Alcohol 120% to create image files of Unreal Tournament (original version) today, but what I got was a 746 MB .mdf file and a 3 Kb .mds file.

Obviously the .mdf file of my creation is occupying ~1 GB of space.. how do I make a really small version of it?

Thanks

 

You cannot compress a 1 gb game into 10kb mdf file. MDF and MDS files are usually used to illegally distribute games or programs; the mdf file contains all the information, while the mds file imitates the original CD/DVD info as if the original disk is in the drive. If you do not have the large mdf file, you cannot play your game - the mds file will load the image of the original cd/dvd but it will be hollow with no data and will not run.
If you have the full game installed on the HDD, however, mounting the MDS file will work without the MDF file. Try using only the MDS file if you have a full install..

 

Part of that is true, the other is not......You can sort of compress a 1gb game to a small 500kb MDF file.....This can be done by installing the game and then using the original disk to create a mini image..... i dont condone piracy however if and only if you are using this for a legit purpose you should check out www.gamecopyworld.com for a mini-image maker

 

The point is, you will have to have that large amount of data somewhere, whether on a CD, in an image file or in a directory on your hard drive. Usually, you just do a full install of the game and then use a NO-CD crack to run it without the CD. But now with Starforce, it's not always possible. There are workarounds, that involve these MDF and MDS files, but that's already uncharted territory for me.

 

I failed to read that the game was starforce protected.....therefore i am going to say that if you installed your copy of any starforce protected game, it should allow you to play without the CD/DVD in the drive right after it sends the info out on the internet.....please correct me if i am wrong, but i am pretty sure thats what i have to do with my starforce games!

 

The mini-image alone won't let you play the game...that's what I meant.
As for starforce...there are ways around it (yet, not always) but I don't think Unreal Tournament is so protected... I don't know.
Anyways, you will still need about 750mb on the HDD (full install or image) if you want to keep your CDs in the cases.