Quote Originally Posted by pezhetairoi
Which was why I asked my initial question, because this question is a little suspicious.

Still, for people who have reasons, and who do own the disc, I don't see why not. I used to use a cd image even though I own the game discs (two sets, in fact, one with BI) because I kept my Diablo II play disc in the drive since that one, I couldn't find an image for, and I draw the line at cracking the .exe outright. Then I finished D2, so now the RTW Gold DVD is in my drive all the time now.

Nevertheless, to put my neck on the line because I don't like to leave questions unanswered, to Domitio, you do not need the disc to start the process. The computer has all the files required to start the process in the hard disk, it only checks for the presence of the CD to ensure that you actually own the thing and are not doing an act of piracy. Hence the concern about why you would need to know that information, since between piracy and my solution, there's only your honesty. So, with the virtual disc the computer would sense the presence of an RTW disc, and give the go-ahead to start the program.

Now perhaps you can explain why you needed to know that? And more importantly, do you own a copy of RTW yourself? It would forestall any possible recriminations about piracy etc from the other less tolerant members of the forum when they see this thread.
Well, I do appreciate the benefit of the doubt man - I seldom post in the internet so I am not up to speed in what "shouldn't" I ask about. My naive question (wondering) was absolutely innocent. I bought RTW and BI at a "Fry's electronics" store and I also purchased the AE over the internet - like I ALWAYS DO. I asked my question out of interest in possibly speeding the load up process and possibly the game itself (my CPU is below my desk and I can't easily see how often the CD is accessed). I never thought about the game checking the CD to ensure that I "actually own the thing..." - You see, Half-Life 2 (Which I also bought like I ALWAYS DO ) does not check for a CD when I play - STEAM might, yet I play offline half of the time...

Look, I might as well take the opportunity to say something I have been wanting to say for a while: I LOVE EB ! I also think that the vast majority of people posting here are alright - I have read some really cool and helpful posts - I really love reading about the 1000BC - 1000AD period on my own. My current Romani campaign is an "experiment" of sorts: I extended the peak roman empire in the east to a border between the caspian sea and persian gulf - in the north east to a border from the vistula to the black sea. The north west, all Britain and Ireland - The south west, all Morocco. Finally, an imaginary "not so Great Wall of Rome" from the bug river east of Moldavia securing lines of communication with the possesions of Crimea and the caucasus. I say an experiment because upon achieving this territory I shifted my attention to minimizing expenses and maximizing military effectiveness without bulk - It is also "imaginary" because this empire would be more of a United States of the mediterranean: Kelts, Germans, North Africans, Mesopotamians and the rest of the bunch would have equal rights (no slavery/serfdom) in goverment, military, religion, etc... - The capital would be rotated through the 8 superstates, etc... Yeah, I know - idealist dreams - It would have been a lot nicer and durable than what actually happened though, in my opinion Anyway, I did not intend to ramble off in a tangent...

Going back to the original concerns: I hope that my naive questions do not arouse any more "little suspicious" feelings among the "less tolerant members of the forum" or anyone else - my honesty should be obvious and... I do appreciate Pezhetairoi and the Persian Cataphract for putting their "neck on the line" - I really do.

Peace and Love, brothers and sisters, Peace and Love