Alternative to using a DVD drive

[Ducky]

Hi there,

I have a lovely PC, but the DVD drive has gone 'ka-fut'. It can still read CD's but it makes a load groan before failing to read the disc. This was tolerable since discs have pretty much become obsolete to me for PC, however it is always nice to have a physical copy of my games. The drive was no issue with Left 4 Dead 2, since I could register the CD-Key on Steam and download it from there.

But now I have both Mass Effect 2 and Bioshock 2 which I want to play on my PC. I was wondering if it would be possible to back up all the necessary discs, with my old PC that has a working DVD drive, into .iso's and then use a virtual drive along with my own legitimate CD-Key's to install and play the games, or is there some sort of protection on the discs that prevents that from being possible?

I'd like to send the DVD drive back and get a replacement, but I don't want to wait until then to play the games. I also have an older computer upstairs with a working DVD drive but the DELL casing has screws that I cannot reach to unmount the DVD drive.

Also, if it is possible, then what program would you recommend to back up the discs?

Thank you kindly,
Ducky

[Jayson]

There is usually some sort of protection that either prevents the disc for being successfully ripped or prevents you from having a virtual drive on the PC running while playing the game.

Imgburn is a free and easy to use to tool to create .ISOs and Daemon tools is the best virtual drive around still I think.

I have had to download a cracked version of a game before to circumvent the copy protection that was screwing up my PC (securom bullshit), so you have that option to you as well if you cant get the disc check to work with your virtual drive.

Sad that you may have to do that, and I'm not advocating "piracy", but sometimes its the only way.

[Anapan]

Working with ISOs can give you speed improvements and there's always a way. There are a few games that require some extra software emulation that can only be done with Blindwrite's software, but most will run happily with Daemon Tools. Alternatively, you can usually find the fixes you need to run the games without having the disc or iso present (full installation or copy the necessary files into the game directory) at gamecopyworld, gameburnworld, or megagames.

[BigTinz]

Both of those games have HEAVY copy protection. You'll need to download proper cracks and new .exes

[arion]

Yeah getting a Nocd exe is the quickest and simplest solution.

[gtmtnbiker]

Probably the easiest thing to do is to salvage a dvd drive from an old PC. If you have a Freecycle mailing list in your area, you could post a wanted request and I'm sure you would get some offers. You probably could get one from Craigslist for $5. You can get a new DVD/burner for $20 on newegg.com.

[Niode]

Why don't you just buy another drive? Over here I can get a DVD drive for about £10. That's nothing, for a do-it-all CD/DVD burning device. I'm sure you lot can probably get one for the price of a big mac or something.

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

Why don't you just buy another drive? Over here I can get a DVD drive for about £10. That's nothing, for a do-it-all CD/DVD burning device. I'm sure you lot can probably get one for the price of a big mac or something.

Well actually a do-it-all DVD drive is still like $50-$70 (Depending on quality) for one here in the States.

[gtmtnbiker]

Well actually a do-it-all DVD drive is still like $50-$70 (Depending on quality) for one here in the States.

I don't know where you're looking for prices but they're only $20-$30 at newegg.com.

[fastbilly1]

Ive seen DVDroms (not burners) for as low as $10 shipped. But you might aswell pay the 18-20 for a lowend dvdburner from Newegg. If you have to buy local from a big box, itll cost you in that $50-70 range.

For disc imaging, Daemon Tools is the best. Alcohol120 might be all in one, but Dtools has never failed me. Three of my pcs dont even have optical drives since most of my games are ripped to isos and configured so they dont need the disc (however that may be).