Retail Games without the disc

[luksla]

Say I have a retail PC game but don't want to insert the disc every time I play. After installing the game how would I be able to play it without having the disc in? I'm assuming there will be a way to do this.

 

[Ash]

You'll need the crack.
An executable file that you place in the installed games' folder, replacing the old exe file.
I don't know if they're illegal though.

 

[Wozza63]

what game is this? most games ive bought the disc for no longer require the disc, it just basically has the files you download from the internet otherwise

 

[Xoil]

Some retail games can be redeemed on steam. Apart from that i dont think its legally possible?

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7480-wusf-3601

 

[luksla]

It should be legally possible since I bought the game. I guess i'll just experiment a bit when I get my PC.

 

[Kalisnoir]

Goto ************** no doubt there will be a noCD crack on there, it's not illegal to do provided you have purchased the game.

 

[Gishank]

It's not strictly illegal, but it does violate the EULA of the game.. Which is near enough the same thing given banks and corporations control the government. lol

 

[adahil]

Its definately possible, I used to have a crack for an old Football manager game which always used to need the disk. As ashhol says, it just replaces the old exe file, but I'm fairly certain its not strictly legal.

 

[marbla592]

Install through Steam, works for me

 

[Frenchy]

It is possible, but it is Illegal. The reason for having to put the disc in is to prove that you own the game still. With games on steam/ origin etc theres no way for the game to be sold on and so the disc is not needed. With a non steam retail only game it would be impossible to tell if the game had been sold unless you require the disc to be inserted each time.

 

[vanthus]

Game Jackal is a PC application developed by SlySoft that allows users to play PC game titles without the need for the game's media to be in the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive. The program functions similar to a virtual drive; however, instead of making use of large disc images, Game Jackal uses a proprietary format which takes up considerable less storage space by working to only capture data the game requires to run.
The legality of the usage of Game Jackal is still being debated,well it was last time I looked,I dont know if any new developments have transpired on the issue. Its authors claim that the program is completely within legal boundaries because:
The profiles are designed to be created from original copies of game CDs.
The profiles can not be publicly distributed.
The program does not modify any of the game's contents or data.

 

[marbla592]

Hi Frenchy are you aware that if you have Steam installed you can install any game through steam and not just games bought or downloaded from steam?

 

[Tumbo]

Would mouting an ISO of the disk on a virtual drive using a programme like Demon Tools work? It seems to be a bit hit and miss whether it works but it does avoid having to have a disk in the drive.

 

[Wozza63]

Hi Frenchy are you aware that if you have Steam installed you can install any game through steam and not just games bought or downloaded from steam?

you cant install any game via steam, if it wasnt designed for steam then it wont be available, of course you can add games not linked to steam to your library to play them easier but on loadup, it will ask for the disc if its a game that needs it

 

[NilSatis]

Tumbo has the best idea if you dont want to use cracks. Just download a program called Daemon tools, make a back up of the game dvd in .iso format; then use Daemon toolds to mount the iso in a "virtual drive".
Then you dont have to have a physical dvd in the drive but just the iso file mounted in Daemon tools. The problem here is that hd space is being wasted by needing to keep the iso on the hd to mount it every time.

Therefore, if you have an external drive you should put the iso on there, and direct Daemon tools to the iso on the external; better that wasted than your internal hd! There are guides available online on how to use Daemon tools, but it is pretty easy. Alternatively cracking the game to use a no-cd/dvd .exe file is your best bet if you dont mind the legality factor.

I like collecting boxes with physical dvds if I can, so for me putting in the dvd is not a problem; but I have used Daemon tools for various things, and it is a great little program.