Using CD images from the hard-drive

[JonathanGennick]

I'm looking for software that will let me load a CD image to the hard-drive on my X30, and that will then let me mount that image and access its contents as if the physical CD were actually present. Can anyone make some recommendations?

My motivation here is that I've passed my old X30 to my young son. He's interested in playing one of his CD-based games on it. Specifically, he wants to play Freelancer, which we've confirmed will actually run on the machine (or at least the demo version runs fine on it). Now he needs a way to run the game without using the physical CD, because I don't have a CD drive for that laptop.

[Ken Fox]

I'm looking for software that will let me load a CD image to the hard-drive on my X30, and that will then let me mount that image and access its contents as if the physical CD were actually present. Can anyone make some recommendations?

My motivation here is that I've passed my old X30 to my young son. He's interested in playing one of his CD-based games on it. Specifically, he wants to play Freelancer, which we've confirmed will actually run on the machine (or at least the demo version runs fine on it). Now he needs a way to run the game without using the physical CD, because I don't have a CD drive for that laptop.

Depending on the disk and its contents, you *may* be able to make a directory with the name of the CD on it, then copy the entire contents of the CD into that directory, then click on the executable file that starts the disk. I have done this with a couple of disks in the past and it worked, but also had disks where this would not work. There used to be a program called something to the effect of "Virtual CD" and it had the function of enabling the copying of a CD onto a hard disk and accessing it later. You could google for "virtual cd" or "virtual dvd" and see what you pick up.

ken

[smvp6459]

Nero has an image mounting program.

The second post on this topic has some info about a MS utility for Windows:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=33998

[dfumento]

Daemon tools:
http://www.daemon-tools.cc/dtcc/announcements.php

[JonathanGennick]

Thanks guys! I appreciate the links. They'll help.

Now, if I can just get through the day without too much badgering from my son. He'll want me to drop everything for a few hours and finish figuring all this out. He's on a tear to play his game again .

[dfumento]

My motivation here is that I've passed my old X30 to my young son.

Well he is very fortunate.

[JonathanGennick]

Guys, I have a follow-up question. I've downloaded Microsoft's Virtual CD Control Panel. Now I realize I don't know how to take a CD and turn it into an ISO image. Is there software that will do that for me?

[scoot1212]

I use Daemon tools to mount ISO files and I use LC Iso Creator to create them. LC is a great freeware tool. If you use Daemon tools don't install the toolbar. http://www.lucersoft.com/freeware.php
Good luck,
Scott