Help a noob with backing up and testing tips

[backerupper]

Ok, so I read the FAQ here: http://www.fileforums.com/showthread...mmonCrackSites

and this backup guide here: http://www.fileforums.com/showthread.php?t=53246

Great info! But after reading these and searching over the past few days, I still haven't found CRYSTAL CLEAR info on a few of the things I'm wondering. Most things have been answered already, but I'm still unsure about other issues.

background info: I haven't got any software yet because I'm still unsure how to do this and how well it will work. I'm getting a beasty laptop soon and want to be as mobile as possible (job requirement) having an esata external harddrive with .iso images of ALL my computer games (along with patches, .pdf manuals, etc.). Then, have an image mounting tool so I can play them from the harddrive, without needed to take anything but that harddrive and laptop with me. No discs, no worrying about losing things...total AWESOMENESS!

All my games consist of the oldies, like Baldur's Gate, Icewind Dale, Planescape, Arcanum, Neverwinter Nights, Quake, Doom, Age of Empires, Starcraft, Diablo I and II, etc. etc. etc. The newest games from the past several years I have are: Neverwinter Nights 2 + both expansions, Command and Conquer 1st Decade, Command and conquer 3 Tiberium Wars + Expansion, Orange Box, Oblivion, and Dragonage + Expansion. I did buy the recently released fallout trilogy, which stuck Fallout, Fallout 2, and Fallout Tactics onto one disc, but I doubt this has any copy protection?? Old games, but a new release.

From here, I'm guessing that turning most of these into ISO images won't be difficult since most of them are old. I have NO desire to actually burn these onto CD's or DVD's (although, that would be a nice option in the future), and only wish to have them in a digital file format to haul around with me.

Now, my debate, which I could use some expertise on:

I have two options: Download all of these games from the Internet somewhere or convert them myself to .iso images. I would rather convert them myself so I know what I'm getting, no viruses, no wierd files added, etc. I would also still like to be able to use my old CD keys so I can play online (Diablo 2, Starcraft, NWN 2, Command and Conquer 3, etc.) with these files...cracked things you find online might not allow this, but backing them up myself might allow me to? Especially if I use my own serial keys? I'm not sure on all of this.

From what I gather from the readme and FAQ, I need to get ProtectionID Scanner, which is free, and scan my games. Then, buy Alcohol 120%. In the drop down box put the type of protection that the ProtectionID Scanner found and "create Image." Then use Daemontools as an IDE virtual drive (get past the SCSI issues with some protections?) to mount the images and install the games. Use my old CD keys to install. And it works!?!?!?

I'm trying to figure this out before buying programs I might not need or that might not work. Or, should I just try to find the .iso files online somewhere? Will there be any downsides like the concerns I listed above by doing this? I OWN the games already, and can still use my old serial keys for online play? I'm just worried about getting something with added files that I don't want or could mess up the possibility of online play.

Then, it comes to testing the game. How do I know if it works? Do I have to play through the ENTIRE game to test it, or simply if the game will install correctly and launch? Will some of these older games work on Virtual Machines in this manner (got Windows 7), or should I just stick with XP?

Sorry for the noobness, and all the questions. These are the ones I couldn't find clear cut answers from though so far.

[Joe Forster/STA]

Don't discuss the possibility of downloading games as it's against the forum rules. I would recommend downloading the appropriate cracks from GCW instead because then you don't need Alcohol 120% and complicated CD/DVD images, just plain ISO's and e.g. Daemon Tools to mount them into: the copy protection has been stripped off of the game entirely. As for crystal clear infos, sorry, we assume some basic knowledge about games, copy protections, CD/DVD emulation etc.

[backerupper]

Yeah, sorry if the original message was a bit long and/or confusing, but thank you for the reply.

One other question: I heard of DRM that either currently exists or will soon (can't find information on it now), about if the game is a backed up copy, it will slowly degrade the game overtime while it's running until it's unplayable. That's where my question came in about testing a backed up game. If this DRM exists, I guess I have to play through the entire game to figure out of the backup is any good or not. If it doesn't exist though, and the backup copy installs and launches properly, does that mean everything is OK?

[Cowsheep]

This is a fairytale spread out by Codemasters in 2001 or so.

[TippeX]

called FADE, was based on the serial.. bad / warez serial = strange things happen... did actually exist though

[ShadowDuke]

Yeah, Operation Flashpoint had it :P And another bunch of Games, but cant remeber them.

[[Psych]]

Originally Posted by Cowsheep

This is a fairytale spread out by Codemasters in 2001 or so.

Yeah, this certainly was NOT BS. Arma II had it not so long ago. I know that for a fact, because I was experiencing weird crap like doors not opening, choppy gameplay, scripted events not starting etc, which I always suspected was the FADE. AFAIK, the disc protection is no longer a problem as of the latest update, but the FADE is still in-place.

[backerupper]

Well, I have all the original games and serial keys, so if FADE works off of bad serials only, that shouldn't be a problem for me.

As far as other games, as long as FADE isn't an issue, as long as they start up and run well for a few minutes I can cross them off my list as being backed up? I want to do all my games at once over the next few weeks or so and don't feel like playing each one all the way through at this moment to test them.

[Cowsheep]

Originally Posted by TippeX

called FADE, was based on the serial.. bad / warez serial = strange things happen... did actually exist though

Yes, but not in the way he described it. Settlers 3 had also some sort of Fade, the iron melter produced pigs if playing with cracked exe.

[ShadowDuke]

Originally Posted by Cowsheep

Settlers 3 had also some sort of Fade, the iron melter produced pigs if playing with cracked exe.

Yeah, lol, i read about that back then.