Playing old Videogames without CDs

[broccoli27]

Hey everyone,

I'm currently on my Need for Speed nostalgia trip, playing games from Underground to Carbon.

 

 

This is my current setup. DVD Drive on my desk, no side panel, seperate power supply with a paper clip.

 

 

 

I dont want to download random cracked NoCD exes from shady websites. Is there anyway to do a NoCD exe myself? any other ideas maybe?

My next uni semester starts soon and I dont want this setup to be permanent LMAO

Thanks in advance

[emosun]

You ISO the disks and mount them

[broccoli27]

17 minutes ago, emosun said:

You ISO the disks and mount them

Didnt think about, thanks!
Ill try that

[Montana One-Six]

1 hour ago, emosun said:

You ISO the disks and mount them

Would probably do the same. Used Deamon tools back in the day (don't know if thats still around).

 

Fun fact: You can even play local multiplayer that way with only one original copy of the game. We did that back in the day with Battlefield Vietnam with a few friends. Some didn't have the game so we gave those the ISO and we all could play against each other locally. For real multiplayer they checked your games serial number so only one copy could play online at the same time.

[broccoli27]

Creating an ISO worked out flawlessly.

But after testing the ISOs NFS Most Wanted was still prompting me to insert the correct disc
I'll retry creating the ISO, I'll update later

[Montana One-Six]

6 minutes ago, broccoli27 said:

Creating an ISO worked out flawlessly.

But after testing the ISOs NFS Most Wanted was still prompting me to insert the correct disc
I'll retry creating the ISO, I'll update later

It's been a while but I think you also need to install from the ISO for it to work.

So I would try uninstalling the current game and reinstall using the ISO.

[LogicalDrm]

There are some games where "just mount ISO" method doesn't work. That's early DRM in work.

[broccoli27]

I tried installing the game from the ISO but it still wants the CD to start the game.

[Montana One-Six]

6 hours ago, broccoli27 said:

I tried installing the game from the ISO but it still wants the CD to start the game.

Then it's probably what @LogicalDrm said.

 

Since its an EA game you could also try adding it to your origin library by entering your copies code. That should give you a downloadable version of it which doesn't need the CD to run.

[LogicalDrm]

6 hours ago, broccoli27 said:

I tried installing the game from the ISO but it still wants the CD to start the game.

Depends on the game a bit. But for example BF2 got nocd mod as official patch.

[Snail Jerky]

Was thinking of reinstalling NFS:MW this past year.  But digging into a big box to find the game box, then mucking around with a DVD. Ehhh, just a little much out of the way for me to do it.

 

 

This thread did give me the idea into looking at external drives in the future. 

I've have never used one, so need to learn about the durability/reliability of one. Most importantly, compatibility with cd/dvd/etc and with the new OS coming out.

(I run Win7, but there's a good chance I'll jump to Win11 because a new PC is likely a year or two away.)

[emosun]

On 9/5/2021 at 8:54 AM, LogicalDrm said:

There are some games where "just mount ISO" method doesn't work. That's early DRM in work.

also cd audio on old games which is a hardware level function. The computer doesn't even know what it's doing in those days it's just playing some cd in the drive with something on it lol