[P1] Using a CD on the desktop

[Angus Wallace]

I don't have an in-depth knowledge of this, but what I do know is that 
this can potentially be a can-of-worms.

Some software makers use the cd as a form of copy protection, the idea 
being that the user must have the cd to be able to use the software. 
When coupled with copy protection on the cd, this makes piracy quite 
difficult. Of course, the it is restrictive to the user who has 
actually paid for the software also...

Often this involves low level checks for the presence of the CD in the 
drive along with manufacturing-specific idiosyncrasies (read: 
deliberately introduced errors) on the cd to 'ensure' authenticity. cd 
burners typically find it difficult to replicate these errors.

Not all software incorporates this, and this may not be the case with 
the software you're trying to run.

If it is the case, however, then your best bet is probably to try to 
patch the software. These are generally produced by reverse engineering 
the software, and disabling the low-level hardware check that 
authenticates to the CD. My understanding is that these work with 
varying success.

I'm not sure on the legality of applying these sort of patches, 
especially in the USA where copyright laws are particularly draconian.

Hope this helps,
-Angus

On 19/05/2004, at 3:31 PM, J.C. Webber III wrote:

> Brian Pearce wrote:
>>> I would like to take some proprietary CD's that normally require me 
>>> to
>>> install user software and then have the cd in the drive, to copy them
>>> on the hard drive and have them run directly from my iBook without
>>> having the cd in the drive. Does anyone know how that could be done?
>>
>> I think the best way to do this would be to create a Disk Image of the
>> CD (using Disk Utility), and mount the CD from that image, instead.
>> (The only caveat is that you'd need enough free space to recreate the
>> CD.)
>
> I don't get it.  I've tried this (once) and couldn't get it to work.
> I created a disk image and them I mounted it.  Then I tried running
> the application.  It still complained about the missing CD.
>
> So, the question is, exactly how do you 'mount the CD from that image'
> so that it looks like the CD is mounted from the CDROM drive?
>
> -- 
> J.C. Webber III
> Technical Lead, Unix System Administrator
> jcw at kingoblio.com       www.kingoblio.com
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Angus Wallace              o__     o__     o__     o__     o__
Flinders University        ,>/'_   ,>/'_   ,>/'_   ,>/'_   ,>/'_
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