using FFvT3R with a virtual CD drive ?

[stumpy]

Does anyone know of a virtual CD program that will allow me to grab a CD image from the FFvT3R CDs and mount that image to a virtual CD drive and run the game from that, instead of from the actual CD in a real CD drive? I bought 7 Tools Virtual CD Emulator a few years back and that works for the original game, but it doesn't seem to work for FFvT3R. I also downloaded the trial version of Daemon Tools Pro 4.3, but, while that seems to create the images successfully and allows me to mount them and even install from the virtual drive, the game still won't launch without the physical CD in a drive. It's possible that DT Pro will still work, but I haven't twiddled with it after that initial try (creating the image with the "old SecuROM" setting). I'd be happy if anyone who has it working can tell me what settings they used or any tricks that helped.

I have heard of Alcohol 120%, but I don't know if anyone has it working. If someone has it (or another CD emulator program) actually working with FFvT3R, please clue me in.

BTW, to be absolutely clear: I have legally purchased the game (several times, in fact) and am not looking to make illegal copies. This is just to save wear and tear on my CDs and drives and have the game load faster. I am also not looking for a "cracked" version of the game. If I can't get a CD emulator to work, then I will stick with the physical CDs or look into the Steam versions.

[GogglesPizanno]

I went through this years ago when I was paranoid about ruining my disks (ironically Ive only destroyed one game disk so knock on wood). While Daemon Tools is really good about emulating some of the Protection schemes, I rarely have been able to make a virtual disk truly recognized as a real disk for verification purposes.... back in the old days, I seem to remember manufacturers actually used to put purposely defective sectors on the discs that when made into a disk image would be missing and hence could tell it wasn't legit. I tried the Alcohol demo once, and it seems really complete and technical, but I also felt it was rather invasive in my system, so I uninstalled and never really pursued it further.

Anyway in my experience, you either use the real disk or you use a no-cd crack. Those are really your only two options that I know of that work.

[Tomato]

a little bit of a bump I guess (only just saw it putzing around) but I've always just used Alcohol 120% and it works fine, never really had problems with it. Short of the more ridiculous encryption types, it'll pretty much ISO everything

[stumpy]

Thanks, Tomato. 

I am still a little shy about spending $60 for a CD emulator (that's more than an actual extra CD ROM would cost ) for something I only would use for FF and FFvT3R, but at least I know it's a viable option.