Hello and Thank You.

JackBauer · #1 17-02-2003, 15:45

Hello.

I've browsed this forum a couple of times over the past year or so in 'lurker' mode, and you've been helpful source of no-cds for the one or two PC games I've purchased in that time: AOM, Links 2003 and so on. Recently having bought C&C Generals (don't worry this isn't another Generals request thread I can see there's plenty of those already!!) I downloaded the relevant .exe files etc and was blissfully happy when they worked. Not quite so when they were countered by the update, but hey such is life.

Realising that the only way I was going to be able to circumvent the 'Cd requirement' in order to play multiplayer games here at home, I decided to try and make sense of all this cloning business. However I'm not in the slightest technically minded when it comes to things like this, even changing graphics cards etc results in me having a panic attack that I'm not 'earthed' properly, so confident I wasn't.... And yet.... I think I've done it (so far) all at the first attempt and thanks to the knowledge gleaned from various threads on this site - the Vlukas FAQ in particular.

I've made a perfect 1:1 copy of Generals1, which is fully working as far as I can tell, so far. I installed my copied Disc1 on the houses 2nd PC (used the original disc 2 to complete the installation) and I've not had any problems with the couple of multiplayer games that I've tried up to now, that includes via the EA site.

Was it meant to be that easy? Am I completely naive, and the 'error of my ways' will soon come back and bite me on the ass big time? Having completed the first part of what I set out to do, I have just a few quick queries, well you didn't think I posted this just to sing your praises did you?

1. Will the 'virtual DVD drive' now on my computer always be there from now on? Are there any ramifications if it is?

2. I unmounted the image from the 'virtual drive' as I assumed this would be the only way of knowing whether the PC was actually running the game from my newly created CDR. Is that the right thing to do?

3. I haven't copied Disc 2 as yet, but as I don't think it's ever required from now on, can I just keep the originally safely tucked up in it's box, or would you recommend that I back that up to? Is that as trouble free as the first disc?

4. And lastly why do people say they've made several 'coasters' (I get the joke.

) when they've attempted to clone/copy cds. Don't people try out on a CD-RW beforehand, or will my copy not be as reliable because it's a CD-RW?

I think that that's it really. As you've guessed I do waffle a bit and so it's probably best for all of us if I just go back to lurking, but once again:

Thank you for all the knowledge and help amassed on this one site.

You've been great.

ash2dust2 · #2 17-02-2003, 16:06

My opinions:

1. Its just one more driver loaded into the system. Not much worse than a driver loaded for a real DVD drive. Uninstall it if you think its causing problems. Game developers could try blacklisting the driver, just get an update.

2. Its a good test. Some older games would look at a specific drive letter that it was installed from.

3. If its a favorite game, I'd keep a copy of the CD2 also. Otherwise you could have down time getting a new copy from the manufacturer.

4. I've been told CDR are longer lasting than CDRW. Not to mention cost difference or sun/heat bleaching. Some people dont even burn, they make an image and leave it on the HDD.

JackBauer · #3 17-02-2003, 16:17

Quote:

Originally posted by ash2dust2
4. Some people dont even burn, they make an image and leave it on the HDD.

So I could create various images or whatever and mount it to the virtual drive as and when I wanted? Cool.

RincewindTheWiz · #4 17-02-2003, 16:26

Quote:

Originally posted by JackBauer
So I could create various images or whatever and mount it to the virtual drive as and when I wanted? Cool.

Good thing to see SOMEONE who thinks this is cool. It keeps amazing me how many people come on this board an whinge because they cannot find a crack or cannot copy their cd exactly with their writer, yet absolutely refuse to use the one method that almost always works, with any patch. Yep, I'm a big believer and prophet of the cd emulator

I prefer to use either CloneCD and Daemon Tools, or even better Alcohol120%. Sometimes these are the ONLY way to get something to run from the hard disk if there's no crack, or if the cracks don't work online. I keep on telling people to use these wonderful programs, but only some listen to me. And it ain't even like they can claim Alcohol120%/Dameon Tools is difficult to use, they're both very easy. I myself for example have usually images of about all the games I play on my hard disk, it saves me hunting for cracks if there's a new patch out.

Anyway, if there's anything you want to know about Daemon Tools, ask away... There are a bunch of other emulators out there, but IMHO Daemon Tools and Alcohol120% are the best.

JackBauer · #5 17-02-2003, 17:47

Seems I might have spoke to soon after all.

Tried to connect to a friends game via Direct IP connection, and depending who's hosting we both get a message along the lines of:

'Mismatch in configuration. You might want to consider putting this user on your ignore list.'

I've played a couple of online games via EA's site, and I've not had any of the exploding buildings problems etc etc, but I can't seem to chat to my opponents.... though that could be down to my incompetence.

Could my PC / his PC / whoevers PC deter that I was trying to run an online game from a clonedcd install?

Surely if I've made a 1:1 copy of disc1 (and continued the install with original disc2) there wouldn't be any difference in the two? I guess I'll have to try and run an online game from the downstairs PC with the complete original install.

I knew it wouldn't be that easy.

ash2dust2 · #6 17-02-2003, 20:13

Can you and your friend play together online? Both of you have the same version? (1.02).

Possibly firewall issue. Also, seems alot of people are having issues getting direct ip to work going thru their router. Check CCG forums for technical help in getting direct ip to work. People with router issues have had some success in getting it to work when they VPN.

krondike · #7 18-02-2003, 00:22

It's look like U have done very much copies of that game

, but if u own original CD for all the copies U have maid. you are forgiven.

Contact the EA games tech support. It's seams to me that is a bug or a problem in the game.

And I hope U already know that U can't have same CD-key.

JackBauer · #8 18-02-2003, 01:07

Quote:

Originally posted by krondike
It's look like U have done very much copies of that game , but if u own original CD for all the copies U have maid. you are forgiven.

I've made one copy of disc1 that's all.

I'll check out the CCG forums cheers.

Special Agent · #9 18-02-2003, 05:47

RincewindTheWiz,

Thanks for your help...

Thinking here that I will be trying that DT and 120 way of doing things.

Have plenty of space on the network here (300 plus gig or so, so why not. I will see if the Network use of the image will work as you mentioned in another thread.

Thanks again,

-=SA=-

PS. It is people like you that keep me coming here everyday... just to see what ya have to say!