Backing up games

[tomster2300]

Hopefully this doesn't violate forum rules.

Is there a legit way to backup copies of games and play them straight from your hd without having to use the cd / dvd? This is for legitimate purposes only - I'm sick of having to go to my gaming shelf to pull a dvd just to play an installed game.

I know newer games only use the dvd for verification purposes and few actually load data off the disk while playing, so I know this should be possible. Is there a legit way to do this? If not, then I understand.

[vtfanmv5]

What you're looking for is a No-CD Crack or a No-DVD Crack, and although they're generally used to aid in game pirating, I believe it is perfectly legal to do if you own the game. You would first have to make an .iso of your game and then mount it using Daemon tools or the like.

There are several sites dedicated to this purpose, but I can't access them at work. Googling the phrase "no cd crack" should give you some of them.

See the below excerpt from United States Copyright Law in regards to computer software.

§ 117. Limitations on exclusive rights: Computer programs (a) Making of Additional Copy or Adaptation by Owner of Copy. — Notwithstanding the provisions of section 106, it is not an infringement for the owner of a copy of a computer program to make or authorize the making of another copy or adaptation of that computer program provided: (1) that such a new copy or adaptation is created as an essential step in the utilization of the computer program in conjunction with a machine and that it is used in no other manner, or (2) that such new copy or adaptation is for archival purposes only and that all archival copies are destroyed in the event that continued possession of the computer program should cease to be rightful.

Meh, I don't think the mods are going to allow this even if it is for legal purposes. My apologies if so.

[pam123]

Actually we do allow links for a no CD crack, provided you own the game and are willing to take the unaviodable risks that come with downloading and installing a no CD crack (scan the download before you run it.).
What we don't allow are warez and instructions on getting pirated games running.

So a search of this forum will turn up the information tomster needs.

[LeftyAce]

It sounds silly, but I second the recommendation to scan the download first. I've had many no-cd "cracks" that I use for this very purpose, with great success. Then there's the one I didn't scan, double-clicked, and ended up having to wipe the harddrive to get all the crap off of it...