The fools proof way to make backups
 

Hello??????? people..............??? All you ever need to do is view all files in win explorer. Then copy them to a folder on your HDD. Then select all the files from that folder and burn to cd. You will need the no cd patch though on most safedisk2 games, but you will have all you need to do the installation at least. Subchannel data!! ha! Who gives a rat's ass?

Wow! What would we have done without you!

Of course you realize, with many newer games it will be extra trouble to update with patches with your method. Also, your 'fool-proof' way doesn't account for the fact that there could be dummy files on the disc, making the files seem much larger than 650 or 700 MBs, again making it harder than it should be to back up.

Simplest and best method: Get a good burner and use CloneCD.

i have a lite on 24X cdrw. it is pretty good. i had problems burning max payne even with clone cd, except by the method i mentioned. the direct cd copy i made would auto load to the game menu, but would fail on the installer. let me know what other methods to try in clone cd please. do you even need the no cd crack with the clone cd copy, or does your copy function as the game cd? although i like the patch anyway... very easy loading is much better than finding the darn cd. Thanks and peace...

You can play a CloneCD backup CD just fine without a crack, but personally I still use No-CD cracks on my software after making a back-up just because I hate digging out the CD for each game I want to play. I back up everything using CloneCD with only Fast Error Skip ticked for 95% of the games I have. (U.S. versions) The other 5% I have to tick the Subchannel reading and writing as well. There doesn't seem to be that many U.S. games that use subchannel protection. Or maybe it's just that I'm buying a lot of games using Safedisc 1 & 2.

Let me also suggest that you check and see if any firmware upgrades are available for your CD burner and also use the latest version of CloneCD, as it just gets better and better all the time.

And remember, in newer games such as Max Payne and other newer Safedisc 2 protected games, you will have to play them from a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM and NOT from a CD recorder.** Unless you do what it says below.

In the latest CloneCD, you can also tick Amplify Weak Sectors and Hide CD-R media. The AWS lets almost any recorder copy the SD2 protection correctly and the Hide CD-R option allows you to play a backup from a CD burner.

Lastly, make sure that you have no programs running that have may have been blacklisted by newer versions of Safedisc 2. Programs such as, Playbackup, older versions of Daemon-Tools, etc...

Hope that helps!

--Lil Half Swell

Thanks!!