copying pc games

Moved.

Backing up protected PC games isn't exactly a simple procedure. To make a working copy you need to use specialized software and use a burner that has the right burning characteristics. Here's a link to a thread that'll give you a rough idea of what's involved:

http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/117498


What make/model burner do you plan to use?


The first thing you can do is download A-Ray Scanner to identify the protections we'll be up against. The Clonny XXL that you're referring to is a protection scanner that hasn't been updated in a while so it's usefulness is quite diminished. Here's a link to A-Ray:

http://nephilim.ccsau.info/A-Ray2_Setup.exe


Post back with your make/model of drive and the protections we're dealing with and we'll go from there

 

There's definitely alot of jargon to learn isn't there?

Ok, we still need to get the exact make/model of your drive. Since you have Nero 6 it'll be easy. All you have to do is go into Nero Tool Kit from the Start Smart panel then run Nero Info Tool. The make/model of your drive will be listed in the drop down menu at the top as well as under the Configuration tab.

This is important because not all burners can make a working copy of protected games and the number of DVD burners that can do this is even smaller.


To give you a better understanding of what I'm talking about I'll explain a couple things. Unlike burning DVDs where the protection is stripped out, burning protected PC games involves having to read the protection then write it back to the disc - both of which need to be done very accurately. Not all burners are able to write the protections accurately enough to make a working copy......

When you try to run a protected game it needs to perform a "handshake" of sorts between the disc and the game on your hard drive to verify that the disc is legitimate. If the protection is written back to the disc accurately enough it'll pass the handshake and you have what's known as a "working" copy. If the copy is less than perfect the handshake will fail because the copy protection will detect that there's something fishy with the copy. In that case you can use emulation tools which basically help the disc pass the handshake process.


It's a bit of a challenge but with the right hardware, software and a little know-how you can get your copies to work one way or another

 

Ok, so we're dealing with an NEC-2500A. Unfortunately it's not an EFM capable drive so we're probably not going to be able to make a working copy. I belive we may be able to make a copy with Alcohol 120% with its emulation options enabled.

Here's a link to a thread where geestar20 posted some screenshots and instructions:

http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/133549


I'm not well versed in the workings of Alcohol 120% since I rerely use it but if we need more help with it let me know and I can pm both geestar20 and pollushon who both know the ins and outs of A120

 

The fact that the copy doesn't work on the other PC may have to do with the actual drive in the old PC. Some drives can't properly read an PC game backup. What make/model drive refused to read the backup?

 

Sure sounds to me like the drive in your older PC is having a tough time reading the copy especially since the copy works perfectly in your main PC.

At what speed did you read and write the copy?

 

Well, I always resommend reading and writing at 4X, especially the write. Have you tried reinstalling the game from the original then trying the copy again? What happens if you try to run the game with the original?