Using a modern computer

[Mosey]

I recently upgraded from a Dell 486SX running Windows 3.1 to a HP Pavilion with a Celeron processor and a 40 Gig hard drive running Windows XP. That’s a pretty big jump (skipped Windows 95, 98, and 2000). I’m accustomed to using Windows NT at work, but never do anything with a CD-ROM at work (all software is loaded via the network). My old Dell didn’t even have a CD-ROM. We’ve bought a few things for the kids, some games and some things that are hopefully educational. I went though the installation on each one. But, it didn’t put an icon on the screen and the only way I can see to start the game is to put the CD in the drive and let it auto start. Is that how it’s supposed to work? Is there a way to install it on the hard drive so we don’t have to put the CD in the drive every time we want to run it? Is how all software is done now, for example if I go buy a copy of Print Shop or something will I always have to load the CD whenever I want to run it?

 

[Mrwurm]

Some programs give you an option to install a few crucial files and run from a cd or install the entire cd. I don't know if this will work if you simply copy the entire cd to a directory before you install. I am certain that some brainy person here will have the answer /w3tcompact/icons/clever.gif

 

[MossRoad]

Some of my kids' games run off of the hard drive, but most run from the CD. I think it is that way because there is just too much information on the CD. For example, some of our games have about 500Meg of info on the CD. One game has 3 CDs! It is an interactive game that occasionally asks for the other CDs. Loading several games to the hard drive could put a serious dent in your space.

You can tell if a game will run without the CD by going to the start button. Under Programs you should see the folder for the software company that made the game and under that folder you should see the shortcut to the game. Click it and see if it will run. If it does /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif. If it doesn't, it should ask you to insert the CD.

That's quite a leap from 3.1 to XP. You skipped most of the BS that the rest of us had to go through /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[RoyJackson]

"Is how all software is done now, for example if I go buy a copy of Print Shop or something will I always have to load the CD whenever I want to run it?"

Most Games require the CD. However, most, not all...but most applications load completely on to the hard drive. Since you're relatively new to the "newer" computers, I suggest you do the default installations.
Some will put an icon on the desktop. Others won't, so you go to START, PROGRAMS and look down that list to execute the application.

OR, if you know whichj directory the application was installed in, you can drag the <font color=red>.exe</font color=red> to the desktop, which should create a shortcut icon (or, select the <font color=red>.exe</font color=red>, right click and select (on the pop up menu) Send To (submenu) Desktop.

 

[BillG_in_TX]

I think it's that way on the games as an attempt to keep kids (or parents?) from loading one purchase onto multiple computers.

I just bought a Magic School Bus program for my grandson, and my wife called me back to the computer to fix it so that it would run without the cd. No luck. They used to work that way, but I couldn't find a work-around at all, so now we have to keep up with the cd.

 

[b8200hst4wd]

What I do is "burn a cd" using the old disc to copy thw info off of it. Then if the burnt copy gets trashed i can make another copy.

Then you can give the cd to a friend or another computer

 

[RoyJackson]

"I just bought a Magic School Bus program for my grandson, and my wife called me back to the computer to fix it so that it would run without the cd. No luck. They used to work that way, but I couldn't find a work-around at all, so now we have to keep up with the cd. "

Sometimes this works:
Copy the entire CD into a directory on your hard drive. Then, run the Setup from the hard drive. It may create the appropriate paths on your hard drive. Then again, it may still create paths to the CD-ROM drive.

Another thing is look for any <font color=red>.ini</font color=red> or <font color=red>.cfg</font color=red> files in the game directory (once installed). Look for any paths that require your CD drive and change that to your hard drive (you'll have to copy the files that were referenced in the original path). This would be changing the D:\[filename] to c:\[filename]. This method can create problems, however. If you're a novice user, I don't suggest the second method.

If you search for any online forums for a game, you may find tips on how to run the game sans CD-ROM. These tips will be from other users, so there'll be no gaurantee that they'll work.

I've used both methods above (based upon tips I'd read on the forums).

 

[BillG_in_TX]

Roy,

Whew! I could try all that /w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif - but I just told my wife and grandson to keep up with the cd (and they were ok with that)./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Thanks anyway.

 

[JohnMiller3]

<font color=blue>...I recently upgraded from a Dell 486SX running Windows 3.1 to a HP Pavilion with a Celeron processor and a 40 Gig hard drive running Windows XP...</font color=blue>

Hi Danny...

Whew... that is a one super upgrade... /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

You do know, Ronald Reagan isn't our President any longer, don't ya... /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

...and leaving work's NT and going home to Win 3.1 is a stretch... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Enjoy your new speed demon... look at all the money you saved yourself the past 20+ years on software upgrades... you never had to do... /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

 

[Hank]

"...and leaving work's NT and going home to Win 3.1 is a stretch... "

Unless work's NT was v. 3.51, which still had Program Manager /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif