Tip: Run CD app from hard drive. Icons for Explorer.

[Guv]

I use Partition Magic to make a new partition for each CD application I run from a hard disk. I do not know if this is necessary, but it seems like a good idea.

Some CD applications will run from a hard disk partition with no trouble at all. Others will not. I have discovered the following three situations.

• My Rnd McNally World Atlas (one CD) runs with no problem. I copied the CD to a partition and ran the install program from that partition rather than from the CD.
  
• My Britannica Encyclopedia (2 CD’s) required install from CD. After that I copied the two CD’s to folders in a partition. I then edited a file (BCD.ini), replacing some references. For example: cd1: was replaced by G:\disc1 I did not hack this by myself. Britannica Tech Support told me what to do. I intend to check for *.ini files for other CD applications to see if a similar Hack can be used.
  
• My American Heritage Talking Dictionary will not run from a hard disk partition. I tried both of the above two ideas. Neither worked.

BTW: Did you know that you can cause Icons to appear in the Windows Explorer Partition list? Do the following.

In the root directory of the partition, create a file called Autorun.inf containing the following.

[autorun]
ICON=X:\IconFolder\MyIcon.ico

I am not certain that [autorun] is necessary. The next time you start your system, the Icon will appear in the Windows Explorer Partition List.

[JungleMan]

Interesting concept-- also a good idea for games like Max Payne which if you "obtain" will not fit on 700 meg CDs...

[Gandalf_Grey_]

??? i got it to fit on a 700meg CD fine. er YOU CAN'T PROVE ANYTHING

[Martin Wilson]

Is American Heritage Talking Dictionary already installed?

[Martin Wilson]

Your could try this . It's called Virtual CDRom, it basically creates an image of a CD and produces a virtual CDRom drive that can be accessed as normal. This only works on Win 9x though.

[scoutt]

that sounds like a lot of work when you can get software to imulate a drive. cdClone and virtual cd are some good ones.

waste of time if you ask me. takes to long to add and remove a partition jsut for a game.

[JungleMan]

Originally posted by Gandalf_Grey_
??? i got it to fit on a 700meg CD fine. er YOU CAN'T PROVE ANYTHING

My copy is 800 megs...and you can't exacly overburn 100 megs...

[markman]

I installed it from the hard drive fine. Then I compressed and burned.

except that was just for educational purpses and I immediately deleted it

[HAVocINCARNATE29]

So is the problem you cant get My American Heritage Talking Dictionary working?

I did some partitioning myself, and i found what i had to do was search the registry. many programs add a key to the reg when they install that says: "The CD drive's letter is D, so that's the only place i'll look for the files i need that are on the cd" and then thats why they dont work after a partition.

good luck and tell me if changing the letter works.

[dis1411]

lord man get a cd-rom emulator

try alcohol 52/120%