Virtual CD-ROM Control Panel v2.0.1.1

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This free program for Windows XP lets you create a virtual CD drive on your hard disk. Some visitors to the site have confirmed that it works with Windows 2000 too (but this is not stated in Microsoft's official readme).

For anyone unfamiliar with the terms 'virtual CD' or 'CD emulator', they mean that you can copy the entire contents of a CD-ROM to your hard disk and run the programs or access the files without the need for the original CD. This can make files more accessible, faster and more convenient. Given the speed and size of today's hard drives, you could easily fit a number of CDs onto your hard drive without noticing the difference. Assuming you had 30 full CDs, these would take around 20GB on a hard drive and all will be accessible after a few clicks of a mouse.

Screenshot: >> Click here <<

Download: Virtual CD-ROM Control Panel v2.0.1.1

News source: softpedia.com

World of Warcraft will be available as a standard edtion for a suggested $49.99, and as a special collector's edition for $79.99. The special edition includes the game on both CD-ROM and DVD, a behind-the-scenes DVD, an exclusive in-game pet, a cloth map of the game world, a soundtrack CD, an Art of the World of Warcraft coffee table book, and a commemorative game manual signed by the development team. Both versions include a first month free. Pretty sweet.

"World of Warcraft has been our largest undertaking to date," said Mike Morhaime, president and co-founder of Blizzard Entertainment. "When we set out to create a massively multiplayer online game, our goal was to expand the scope of the Warcraft universe by offering an incredibly dynamic game experience. We're extremely proud of the game we've created, and we believe players will be very pleased when they see what we have in store for them."

Now, one of the only questions remaining -- apart from what your first character name will be -- is whether you can finish Half-Life 2 in time to pick up the next great PC release of the season. We think you can. We think this is going to be one very hot holiday.

(1 reply) #1 netizen on 06 Nov 2004 - 00:43

This looks pretty poor. I see no reason to even try this over Deamon Tools.

#1.1 Courage on 06 Nov 2004 - 06:20

Dont forget this is free even for bussiness use.
As far as i know this little program is the only one really FREE !

Some of us need to use ONLY legal programs on work.

#2 Chouzan on 06 Nov 2004 - 00:43

I had no idea they were still developing this small utility, features are rather limited but it gets the job done.

#3 ThunderRiver on 06 Nov 2004 - 01:14

I do not see why you guys have to complain about it.

That utility is not meant for public to use. It was meant for beta testers that beta test for MS. For each beta release (Service Packs, Windows beta and etc), they include vcd for testing purpose.

Microsoft has no reason to force beta testers to use Daemon Tools, and I am quite content that they wrote such a little program that does the right thing done without hassles.

#4 Winston on 06 Nov 2004 - 01:23

LOL Blah this tool was whipped by MS for BETA Testers, when they were testing the Windows Update Winter pack.

#5 Boogiman on 06 Nov 2004 - 02:11

Same as Deamon Tools

#6 nienor on 06 Nov 2004 - 06:05

I use Alcool 120% for this...

But it's cool to see a Free way to get it

#7 Hankyone on 06 Nov 2004 - 06:08

its lite and easy to use, that why i use it

(2 replies) #8 Mr Mialo on 06 Nov 2004 - 08:39

Can you use it for games? I know you can with Daemon Tools.

#8.1 BananaMan on 07 Nov 2004 - 02:36

Doubtful. This certaintly wouldn't bypass the copy protection that's burnt onto game CD's/DVD's, so unless you come across a game that has no copy protection but insists on having the CD in when playing (eg. a very very old game), this won't do anything for you.

#8.2 cappuchok on 08 Nov 2004 - 07:55

QUOTE

a game that has no copy protection but insists on having the CD in when playing (eg. a very very old game)

Some recent games which had no copy protection - some also allow full install to avoid using the CD alltogether:
Any game from LucasArts (may be protected in some countries, but LucasArts as a company are strongly vocal against copy protections as they believe it violates consumer rights and prevents their fans from preserving their games properly)
Colin McRae 2.0 - Sold Out Software release
1nsane - Sold Out Software release
No One Lives Forever - Game Of The Year Edition freeware release (magazine coverdisc)
Tribes 2 (freeware release from Fileplanet)
Hidden & Dangerous Deluxe (freeware release from Fileplanet)

If you want to use these from ISO files, MS Virtual CD-ROM will work just as well as any other virtual CD drive.

#9 dougkinzinger on 07 Nov 2004 - 04:37

1) This isn't all new, just a new version (version 1.0.0.1 came out December 2001; been available from MSDN since then).
2) Why is a Microsoft product's download link on Softpedia, not Microsoft?
3) Why is the credit given to Softpedia, not Microsoft?

Microsoft Download link here:
http://download.microsoft.com/download/7/b...rolpanel_21.exe

--DK

#10 cscheatsforyou on 08 Nov 2004 - 04:15

who cares i would still use Deamon Tools for bussiness use, i don't give a mac daddy about the ELuLA
or what ever that crapppee is called.

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