Are you worried that the CD / DVD of your favorite video game could get scratched or damaged? Making a disk backup is the answer you are looking for. Unfortunately, even if rightly and for the sole purpose of fighting the scourge of piracy, the companies that produce video games make the process of copying the data present on the CD / DVD of their video games difficult. If you want to create a backup copy of your video games then you need to get a special software and have some free time. Let's see together how to proceed.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Extracting Data from the Drive
Step 1. Install a program that can extract the data on the disk in question
This process, in technical jargon, is called ripping. In order to create an identical copy of a CD or DVD, the first step is to obtain a special program capable of transferring all the data on the disc to the computer, ie capable of ripping the disc. Such programs exist in both free and paid form, although everyone should be able to do their job properly. Here are the most popular programs:
- Alcohol 120%
- CloneDVD
- ImgBurn
- Nero Burning Rom
Step 2. Identify the copy protection system protecting the disc
The type of copy protection system is essential information to have before starting the data extraction process. The best free utility for this purpose is Protection ID. It is a program that can detect any copy protection system present on the disk in question.
This step is only necessary if you are using the Alcohol 120% software, as this program lets you select the anti-copy system in use on the disc before ripping it. By using CloneDVD or ImgBurn, you will not need to identify the copy protection system used
Step 3. Install the AnyDVD program
This software is able to bypass the data encryption systems found on DVDs, allowing you to create a perfectly identical copy of a disc. Not all ripping programs require the use of AnyDVD, but using it increases the chances of success of the whole process. AnyDVD is a paid program, but in your case you can use the demo version of the product.
- If you use the Alcohol 120% ripping program, you don't need to use AnyDVD as well. In this case you will need to locate the copy protection system as explained in the previous steps.
- AnyDVD is a program that runs in the background, so you don't have to do anything for it to work properly.
Step 4. Check your burner
In order to create a backup copy of a video game that does not require modification of the original data, the burner used must be able to read and write in RAW DAO and SUB (Subchannel Data) modes. Most modern recorders support these modes, but you may run into problems using an older computer.
- Philips, Lite-On and Plextor burners are best for ripping video game CDs / DVDs, and virtually all models support RAW DAO mode.
- If your burner does not support this mode of operation, you will need to install an update later in order to play the copied game.
Step 5. Begin the ripping process
Start the data extraction program you have chosen to use. If you are using CloneDVD, ImgBurn or Nero Burning Rom, make sure AnyDVD is running in the background before starting. If you are using Alcohol 120% instead, make sure you have determined without a doubt the copy protection system used to protect the video game you want to copy.
- Insert the disc into the optical drive and select the Create Disc Image item (or similar option depending on your software), then select the correct burning drive via the ripping program menu.
- Set the folder in which to store the image created by the program. After the disc is ripped, an image file is created which must be saved to the hard drive. This file will be the same size as the contents of the copied disk, so make sure you have enough free hard disk space.
- If you are using Alcohol 120%, select the correct copy protection system from the Datatype menu.
- Decrease the reading speed of the optical drive. The process of copying a video game equipped with an anti-piracy protection system is quite delicate and using a too high data extraction speed can cause errors. Set a reading speed of 4X or lower to make sure there are no errors in the data extracted from the ripping process.
Step 6. Wait for the ripping process to finish
After setting the configuration options of the ripping process, you will only have to wait for the data extraction from disc to finish. Depending on the reading speed set and the size of the disk, the whole procedure may also take a considerable amount of time.
Part 2 of 4: Use a Virtual Unit
Step 1. Install an optical drive virtualization program
After creating the image file, you can choose to burn it to disc or use it using a virtual optical player, as if it were physical optical media. The Alcohol 120% program is equipped with a virtual optical reader. Alternatively you can use Daemon Tools.
- Do not use the native functionality of the operating system you are using to mount the ISO image from the game disc. Programs such as Alcohol 120% and Daemon Tools come with software that help bypass copy protections, if any.
- If you used a burner that does not support RAW DAO mode to rip the disc, you will need to use the Daemon Tools program to mount the image file. This way you will be able to access the data contained in the image file, even if the copy protection system is still active.
Step 2. Mount the ISO image
Start the optical drive virtualization program. Select the image file on your computer to mount it. The virtualization software will create a new optical drive that will read the selected image file as if it were a physical disk. After the image is successfully mounted, it will appear as if you have inserted optical media into your computer's CD / DVD drive.
Step 3. Use the disc as usual
After mounting it, the image file can be used just like any other optical media inserted in a physical reader. For most video games the main menu will be displayed, from where you can choose, as usual, whether to install or start the game.
Part 3 of 4: Burn the Image File
Step 1. Launch the burning program
If you want to create a physical disc of the image file, you need to use a burning program. Many of the ripping programs come with a burning feature, such as Alcohol 120%, ImgBurn and Nero.
Step 2. Upload the image file
After starting the burning program, load the file for the ISO image in question. Most burning software supports all popular image file formats.
Step 3. Insert a blank disc into the burner
Make sure you have a blank disc of the same type as the original game disc in your burner. For example, if you have created a CD image, you must use a CD-R. If you have created a DVD image instead, you must use a DVD-R.
- Do not use CD-RW / DVD-RW optical media. These are rewritable discs that often cause errors during the process of burning an image file.
- The best brands of optical media are Memorex, Verbatim and Sony. These media cause a minimal number of errors when burning.
Step 4. Start the burning process
Decrease the write speed to avoid the potential generation of errors when writing data to disk. As with the process of extracting data from the original disk, a slower read and write speed ensures a more reliable end product. When the burning process is completed, the resulting disc will be identical in all respects to the original disc.
Part 4 of 4: Install a Crack
Step 1. Locate the crack for the game in question
If you want to play the game without owning the original disc or backup copy, you need to install a modification to the game's executable file, usually called No-CD crack. It is a program whose job is to fool the game into believing that the original disc is inserted into the computer's optical drive. This type of software is available on the internet, on various websites.
- This step is only to circumvent the copy protection systems. If you decide to use the game image file without creating a physical disc, you need to go through the check system that checks for the presence of the original disc in the optical drive.
- Cracks also allow you to take advantage of the online modes present in the video game, even if you do not have a valid activation code or license.
Step 2. Scan the crack for viruses
Since the market for computer software piracy is very large, this type of file has become an excellent means of spreading viruses. Make sure that the downloaded file does not contain viruses and, as always, download files from the internet using only reliable and safe sources.
Step 3. Install the crack
The process of installing these updates varies from game to game. Some cracks come with an installation wizard, like most programs on the market. Others, on the other hand, are simple executable files that will replace the original executable file of the video game itself. In this case you will have to copy the crack in the video game installation directory on your computer.
Almost all cracks come with README files, which explain in detail how to install the program correctly
Step 4. Start the game
After installing the crack, or running the modified executable file, depending on the type used, you can use the game as usual. The execution of the game should appear completely normal, although some cracks display different initial loading screens or sequences.
