[TippeX]

well if the prot uses sector crc checking then yep a mini/maxi image is out of the question...

modification of the image is possible, but you MUST be cautious, and if the above thing about sector checking crc's is also evident you're screwed...

you can possibly change some of the file contents by opening the mds file (whatever one if the largest is the iso image ... yup, effectively an iso)... and doing inject/modification on the sectors using poweriso or something similar..

of course, if sector checking is in this range, then the change will mess up a crc.. thats practically guaranteed...

your best option might be to make your own 'home brew' installer disk and use that to install etc,then use the image to bypass the protection check... or using a no-cd exe if thats available too...