I cannot take full credit for this. In fact, I'm just validating some
information that was posted here earlier today.
It works!
I offer this ONLY to those that have purchased the CD, and want a more
realistic way of managing their CD's, and for those that are caught up in
the stupid Copy-Protection bugs in N4. If you are a sleezy warezer, go
away.
Here's what you need to do.
I assume you have a ton of hard drive space available. If not, sorry...
1. Download Daemon Tools 2.47a and Install.
2. Download CloneCD 2.8.4.3 and install. RESTART.
Note - A new-device dialog will show up. Just use the default method, and
UNCHECK all four of the search options. Just next-click your way through
and it will find the drivers it needs.
At this point, you will see a new CD-ROM Drive in My Computer. Cool :)
It's a phony, but that's what your Image will be attached to.
3. Create a Folder where you want to put your CD image(s).
4. Using CloneCD, create an ISO image of the N4 CD. Do NOT CHANGE ANY
OPTIONS! Use it exactly as installed. When I did this, I wasn't prompted
for a file name. CloneCD just created it in my c\windows\temp directory.
When done REMOVE THE N4 CD from your CD-ROM Drive.
5. Move the image to the folder you determined to be your Image Storage
Folder.
6. Rename the Image "Nascar4.ISO"
7. Forget about the Daemon Shortcut on the desktop. It doesn't do
anything, and I have no idea why it gets put there.
8. Use the Daemon Tools system-tray icon (right-click) and set the
emulation to "securom".
9. Use the Daemon Tools system-tray icon (right click) and set the
VirtualCD-ROM option to point to your Nascar4.ISO Image.
At this point the N4 'Image' will mount as though you put the CD in the
drive.
10. Install N4 as normal.
11. Run N4 as normal.
Each time you restart, you will need to re-attach the image to the virtual
CD drive, but it's easier the next time around as it's already pointed to.
There might be a way to auto-load images into drive letters, but I haven't
got that far yet.
After you attach the image, take a look in My Computer. The Virtual CD will
have the N4 Icon and everything.
I just did all this, and it works! I installed, ran offline AND ONLINE with
the original CD safely tucked away in it's box and never had a moments
trouble :)
If you have enough drive space, you can literally do this with all your
games. You can set Daemon-Tools to emulate as many CD-ROM drives as you
want, and I'm sure there is an option to auto-mount at startup. I'm going
to look for it when I have more time.
Enjoy!
-Larry