cloned CD vs no CD patch?

[thehandler]

Hey that is wonderful. Thanks much. So I assume now that I download this ClonyXXL 2.1.0.1 from this or another site and it sits on my hd and I access it from windows as I would any other progrma dn insturct it to examine the CD that is in a porticualr drive and it gives me a report as to what kind of copy protection program is begin used. ok that seems failry straight forward.
Question is, once you have this info, what do you do then? I assume there is a different downloadable utilty from this site that deals with each different copy protection program?
Also, what are your thoughts on the issue of cloning at all vs just installing the no CD software. I've never done either and I don't want to make a huge mistake. I'd like to use a cloned CD to run my games and keep the original safe and secure in it's case so it doesn't get damaged taking it in and out. MIke