Hi Derek,
Yes ,I have played around a lot with this concept if nothing else than the fact that otherwise
you constantly have to be running the CD\DVD drive.
The idea is to copy the files from the CD and save them to your hard drive.
You could do this without "assistance", but the preferred way is to create an ISO ,save that to your hard drive
and then employ a virtual CD program that creates virtual CD or DVD drives.
(An "ISO " is an image file that contains all the necessary data to run an installation or program.)
For audio and video CDs or DVDs, you could do the same or use so-called "ripping" programs.
When the game or program asks for the CD (and drive) you direct it to the virtual CD.
In fact ,it's even better to install the game via the virtual CD drive, since later on it automatically "knows" that the "CD is already loaded".
and will select the correct drive.
(This is actually a registry value that indicates the "install source".
This does require that the virtual CD program is running as well
Programs that create an ISO from a disc or number of files" and Virtual CD/DVD drives
My own favorite is ImgBurn, but these days it comes with some bundled other software - nothing malicious,
but most of the time unwanted. You can bypass this by paying attention during setup. Choose CUSTOM and deselect the add-ons (2 x)
see description on Softpedia.
http://www.imgburn.com/#
http://www.imgburn.com/index.php?act=download
* http://www.softpedia.com/get/CD-DVD-Tools/Data-CD-DVD-Burning/ImgBurn.shtml
http://download.imgburn.com/SetupImgBurn_2.5.8.0.exe (straight from ImgBurn server)
CDBurnerXP Allows for creation of ISO as well as virtual CD drives
http://cdburnerxp.se/help/Intro/cdburnerxp
http://cdburnerxp.se/help/Data/createiso
Another one is Virtual CloneDrive Virtual CD/DVD Rom Also gets good reviews
http://www.slysoft.com/en/virtual-clonedrive.html
MagicISO - MagicDisc Virtual CD/DVD-ROM
http://www.magiciso.com/tutorials/miso-magicdisc-overview.htm
Then there's a Microsoft one.
Virtual CD-ROM Control Panel
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=38780
Here are some more similar programs as a list
http://www.freewarefiles.com/category_6_232.html
http://www.softpedia.com/get/CD-DVD-Tools/Virtual-CD-DVD-Rom/
http://www.softpedia.com/catList/101,0,2,0,1.html this link is organized as to rank -highest first. (ignore unrelated programs)
Obviously ,you're free to choose which one you want to use, but above are the ones I use ,with an edge to ImgBurn, CDBurnerXP
and Virtual Clone Drive.
Otners will have different resommendations. eg DaemonTools Lite ,but it's a much larger program..
Peter E.
PS, if you want to experiment, do this in a sandbox, like the one from Sandboxie, This way there's no uninstall - just empty the sandbox.
Anyway you've got a choice .....
Peter E.
--------------------------------------------------
From: "Derek Buchanan"
Sent: Friday, February 07, 2014 2:17 PM
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: [PCSOFT] Virtual Systems
Peter,
Thank you for information about the vritual systems. I have a
question for you and the rest of the list as well about software that
is virtual in nature but not for an entire OS situation. I have a lot
of old CD games for windows and I play them from time to time on an
older Windows 98 system. I will soon be inheriting an old Windows XP
system and will naturally move to that one for better graphic support.
Anyone have any experience using Virtual CD software? Supposedly,
you can create virtual files that you can install the game, then run
the game from there. I obviously want to cut down on the CD swapping.
(I killed two CD drives in the old Windows 98 system that way.) Any
suggestions are appreciated.
Thank you,
Derek Buchanan
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