dear lord will someone please help me with the sims

[duopp]

I am new at this so please spare some of the tecnical terms.......I have been at my comp for an entire day with the sole intent of making a backup cd of the sims so I don't need to use my original cd.....I've tried several ways dozens of times...nothing is working....I must be doing something wrong.....please tell me what to do to....I want the US version and I want it where I don't need the original cd.....on a comp with windows/me......PLEASE HELP BEFORE I KILL SOMEONE