How do I play a virtual drive?

[Joel]

Hmmm - I don't see that Alcohol creates an ISO image - just .mds and
.ccd. Is that so?
Jethro

Alcohol 120% supports many different ISO formats including its own, and
most ISO formats are pretty much similar to each other except different
program uses different extention to make it's more special than other.

Also, "ISO" is the universal name for .BIN, ISO, IMG, and all others. So
the answer is YES Alcohol 120% can generate its own and many other ISO
formats.

Or "ISO" is different than ".ISO"

- "ISO" = International Standard Originally. Universal name for *ALL* ISO
formats (extentions)

- ".ISO" = an ISO Image with .ISO extention. One of many ISP formats

And YES, you can use Nero to burn BIN/CUE, and .CCD/.MDS, .IMG and many
other as well as .ISO and .NRG (or .NGR which is Nero own extention).

 

[Jethro]

Hmmm - I don't see that Alcohol creates an ISO image - just .mds and
.ccd. Is that so?
Jethro

I am going to try all this again, but first -

My Computer now shows two virtual 'things'. I have a 'DVD drive' as
f: and a 'Virtual drive' as g:. I want to get rid of both to get back
to base point. I have tried, but have not found a way to delete them
that works. They surely resulted from my experimenting with Virtual
Drive Creator V2.1.4 by J.A. Associates and/or Virtual Drive Manager
by Farstone and/or Virtual DAEMON Tools V4.10 by DT Soft Ltd. So my
first request is for help to get rid of f: and g: drives.

Secondly, I used Roxio to create a .ccd image in a HDD folder from the
VCD disk that I had created, but can't get to auto play (auto run).
Then, I extracted all the folders/files from that image to another
hard disk folder. Next, I changed a few files in the hope of
correcting the problem.

At this point. I want to test the result. That is, I want to make
what now have into something hopefully playable (runnable). I could
create a new VCD disk with this and test that, but right now I don't
have any RW disks. I figure I have to make a new image on a virtual
drive (or is it virtual CD?) which can then act like a real
drive/disk. So - how do I accomplish this? That is, how many steps
are involved, and what are they?

Thanks much

Jethro

 

[kony]

If it requires to reboot (something isn't right) then I would suggest to
use another virtualCD program instead.

There is no reason to think there is a problem, sometimes
low level stuff does require a reboot. VirtualCD is not as
powerful as Daemon Tools, at least the last time I compared
the two it was not, but that has been over a year ago.

I am using Alcohol 120% which is not
only virtualCD/DVD but it's also ISO burner (which supports just about all
popular ISO formats). Or if reboot is required then I don't think I can get
much done as I often either converting, authoring, downloading or in middle
of something.

I think you misunderstand. The system may need rebooted one
time only, after the virtualized CD program is installed.
Never again will it need rebooted to mount or unmount a disc
image.

IOW, a normal VirtualCD should let you Mound/UnMound anytime you want, and
shouldn't require rebooting.

As does Daemon Tools, which is free for the basic version
(just dont install the adware by unchecking the box during
installation).

 

[Joel]

I am going to try all this again, but first -

My Computer now shows two virtual 'things'. I have a 'DVD drive' as
f: and a 'Virtual drive' as g:. I want to get rid of both to get back
to base point. I have tried, but have not found a way to delete them
that works. They surely resulted from my experimenting with Virtual
Drive Creator V2.1.4 by J.A. Associates and/or Virtual Drive Manager
by Farstone and/or Virtual DAEMON Tools V4.10 by DT Soft Ltd. So my
first request is for help to get rid of f: and g: drives.

I don't use what you use, but in general if you want to get rid of the
virtualCD then one of the best ways is to rmove the program.

And I don't use any above to know much about them, but with Alcohol 120% I
can create multiple virtualCD if I want, and I have 2 virtualCDs

Secondly, I used Roxio to create a .ccd image in a HDD folder from the
VCD disk that I had created, but can't get to auto play (auto run).
Then, I extracted all the folders/files from that image to another
hard disk folder. Next, I changed a few files in the hope of
correcting the problem.

I think you still have problem understanding the whole thing. Lets see if
I can break the whole problem into smaller pieces hoping you may get some
idea.

- ISO imaged is the *exact* copy of the original (imaged = mirrored =
identical = exact etc..) or you will get the exact image of the *original*

- *If* the *original* auto-play then 99.99% chance that the ISO image will
auto-play

- *if* the original DOES NOT auto-play then ZERO chance for the ISO image to
play.

- *If* the original auto-play but ISO image won't play then 90-99.9% chance
that something is wrong with either your CD/DVD player or setting. *not*
the CD itself.

At this point. I want to test the result. That is, I want to make
what now have into something hopefully playable (runnable). I could
create a new VCD disk with this and test that, but right now I don't
have any RW disks. I figure I have to make a new image on a virtual
drive (or is it virtual CD?) which can then act like a real
drive/disk. So - how do I accomplish this? That is, how many steps
are involved, and what are they?

What playable? the CD? the VCD (video?). I read you say "VCD" which I
assume it's VCD disc (video), but I haven't heard what you try to play with.

- Do you try to play with stand-alone DVD player? Does it support VCD or
CD-R? or exactly what does it say?

- Do you try to play from computer? what program you try to play? how do
you play?

- If you burn to CD-RW then how do you play? stand-alone DVD player or PC?
and again what program? how you play?

Sure, you can make ISO from many different CDR program like Roxio, many
virtualCD, Nero, Alcohol 120 etc.. and sure you can mount and play from
VirtualCD. But again, how you play and what program you try to play? Do
you have your computer set-up to auto-play?

It's hard for other to give you the right answer when you are the one who
have all the answers.

 

[Jethro]

I don't use what you use, but in general if you want to get rid of the
virtualCD then one of the best ways is to rmove the program.

I didn't want to remove the program virtualcd itself. In fact I don't
have that program. I didn't realize there was a program by that name.
Anyway I want to delete what apparently was created by my other
programs, namely what MyComputer now shows as 'DVD drive' as
f: and a 'Virtual drive' as g:

And I don't use any above to know much about them, but with Alcohol 120% I
can create multiple virtualCD if I want, and I have 2 virtualCDs

I haven't yet tried to actually make a virtual CD - I'll look at that.

I think you still have problem understanding the whole thing. Lets see if
I can break the whole problem into smaller pieces hoping you may get some
idea.

- ISO imaged is the *exact* copy of the original (imaged = mirrored =
identical = exact etc..) or you will get the exact image of the *original*

- *If* the *original* auto-play then 99.99% chance that the ISO image will
auto-play

- *if* the original DOES NOT auto-play then ZERO chance for the ISO image to
play.

I thought it might - if I re-created an ISO with a correction made to
the extraction I made to the first ISO. Which I did,

- *If* the original auto-play but ISO image won't play then 90-99.9% chance
that something is wrong with either your CD/DVD player or setting. *not*
the CD itself.


What playable? the CD? the VCD (video?). I read you say "VCD" which I
assume it's VCD disc (video), but I haven't heard what you try to play with.

I believe I said 'VCD disk'. I would want to play same by (1) Windows
Media Player, (2-4) my three stand-alone disk players in the family
room.

- Do you try to play with stand-alone DVD player? Does it support VCD or
CD-R? or exactly what does it say?

Nothing - the original disk loads, but stops there, and will not play.

- Do you try to play from computer? what program you try to play? how do
you play?
Answered above.
- If you burn to CD-RW then how do you play?

I said I did not have any RW's right now.

stand-alone DVD player or PC?
both

and again what program? how you play?

Windows Media Player on PC.

 

[Joel]

I didn't want to remove the program virtualcd itself. In fact I don't
have that program. I didn't realize there was a program by that name.
Anyway I want to delete what apparently was created by my other
programs, namely what MyComputer now shows as 'DVD drive' as
f: and a 'Virtual drive' as g:

No. VirtualCD is the universal_name *not* the name of any program (who
knows there may be one with that name). Or "name" is the word to call

I haven't yet tried to actually make a virtual CD - I'll look at that.

Alcohol will create (reserve one drive letter for 1 virtualCD) ONE
VirtualCD no matter if you create or not. And that VirtualVD will be
actived when you MOUNT the ISO.

I thought it might - if I re-created an ISO with a correction made to
the extraction I made to the first ISO. Which I did,

You have me confused here. This is what I think I understand what you say

- You extracted an ISO to hard drive (lets say ISO #1)

- Re-created an ISO from the extracted ISO (lets say ISO #2)

.. if so, you will get the exact same *original* ISO #1, and you will have
the *exact* problem ISO #1 has.

I believe I said 'VCD disk'. I would want to play same by (1) Windows
Media Player, (2-4) my three stand-alone disk players in the family
room.

*If* it's VCD disc then it should auto-play by any stand-alone DVD player
supports VCD and CD-R. You don't need to do anything, because that is what
VCD does. If you try on PC then it's another story, because it will depend
on the program and setup.

I believe some version of MS MediaPlayer will auto-play *if* you have it
setup to auto-play.

Nothing - the original disk loads, but stops there, and will not play.

Then.

- It's possible that the CD is damaged. This you can check using your
computer

- It's possible that your stand-alone DVD player doesn't support the format,
CD-R

- It's possible that the CD you believe it's VCD isn't VCD.

I said I did not have any RW's right now.

Windows Media Player on PC.

What does MS MediaPlayer say? Do you know how to play other video file?
If you do then just forget the VCD thing but try to play any other video
format. lets say it's "AVI", "MPG", "WMV", "MOV"

What I am trying to say that.

- *IF* it doesn't auto-play then why don't you maunally select the file see
if it's video file.

- *If* it doesn't auto-play then why don't you use Windows Explorer to see
what on the CD.

... or you need to find out what's wrong with the CD first before you can
make it auto-play. Who knows it may not be the VCD? Also, you said you
copied, extracted to hard drive (??) what did you see? did you try to play
it from hard drive?

 

[Joel]

I think you misunderstand. The system may need rebooted one
time only, after the virtualized CD program is installed.
Never again will it need rebooted to mount or unmount a disc
image.

Reboot after installed then it's possible and I can understand that, and I
thought it has to reboot everytime it mounts the ISO

 

[Jethro]

No. VirtualCD is the universal_name *not* the name of any program (who
knows there may be one with that name). Or "name" is the word to call


Alcohol will create (reserve one drive letter for 1 virtualCD) ONE
VirtualCD no matter if you create or not. And that VirtualVD will be
actived when you MOUNT the ISO.


You have me confused here. This is what I think I understand what you say

- You extracted an ISO to hard drive (lets say ISO #1)

Yes



- Re-created an ISO from the extracted ISO (lets say ISO #2)

No



.. if so, you will get the exact same *original* ISO #1, and you will have
the *exact* problem ISO #1 has.

If I did that - I would agree.

The original would NOT auto play. But I could and can play it fine by
opening Media Player and selecting the disk as input directly. It
also plays on my stand-alone players fine. But I want it to auto play
on my computer. Hence I thought if could un compress the ISO image
(#1), which I did, add auto run.inf and vcd.asx, re-make the VCD disk
- that then maybe I could get a disk that not only still plays on my
stand alone Players, but would now auto play on my computer as well.

*If* it's VCD disc then it should auto-play by any stand-alone DVD player
supports VCD and CD-R. You don't need to do anything, because that is what
VCD does. If you try on PC then it's another story, because it will depend
on the program and setup.

That's what it does, but I wanted to make it auto play on the PC.

I believe some version of MS MediaPlayer will auto-play *if* you have it
setup to auto-play.

I guess I mis-stated here. Sorry. The modified disk (with auto
run.inf and vcd .asx files added) loads and stops. The original plays
on the stand-alone DVD player fine.

 

[kony]

No. VirtualCD is the universal_name *not* the name of any program (who
knows there may be one with that name).

No, "virtual CD" is a universal name. "VirtualCD" is the
name of a specific program _only_.

 

[~misfit~]

<SNIP>

This is a software issue, why are we still talking about it in
alt.comp.HARDWARE?

Somebody give the OP directions to the right group please. Simply by dint of
the fact that he's posted here in the first place it seems he might not be
very capable.

 

[Jethro]

<SNIP>

This is a software issue, why are we still talking about it in
alt.comp.HARDWARE?

Somebody give the OP directions to the right group please. Simply by dint of
the fact that he's posted here in the first place it seems he might not be
very capable.

No I'm stupid. Cya

 

[Joel]

The original would NOT auto play. But I could and can play it fine by
opening Media Player and selecting the disk as input directly. It
also plays on my stand-alone players fine. But I want it to auto play
on my computer. Hence I thought if could un compress the ISO image
(#1), which I did, add auto run.inf and vcd.asx, re-make the VCD disk
- that then maybe I could get a disk that not only still plays on my
stand alone Players, but would now auto play on my computer as well.

Thank goodness! it's getting somewhere <bg>

- If it auto-play on stand-alone DVD player then it's a perfect working VCD,
it doesn't need to do anything else to it.

- No, unlike computer VIDEO has its own requirement and .INF or .ASX isn't
part of it, so it won't even see it. Also, if you want to create an
auto-run for computer program then you will need to tell the .INF what
program to load else it wouldn't do anything either.

- And as I have mentioned several times before, *if* the working VCD doesn't
auto-play on your PC then there must be some SETTING on your computer to
tell the CD-ROM to auto-play when it detects the CD/DVD.

But it still won't auto-play because it will need to know which program to
auto-play the video. So you will need a working combination of Hardware &
Software for it to work.

If you don't get the above setup correctly then burning to CD-RW or
mounting to VirtualCD won't do anything, because there is no communication
between hardware and software.

That's what it does, but I wanted to make it auto play on the PC.

And that's what we need to know before we can be able to figure out
something else. And I have repeated the similar questions several times but

I guess I mis-stated here. Sorry. The modified disk (with auto
run.inf and vcd .asx files added) loads and stops. The original plays
on the stand-alone DVD player fine.

As I mentioned above adding anything else to the VCD or DVD won't do
anything because the CD/DVD designed to read only specific extention.

I dunno, if you want to mess with the computer auto-run then I guess it
probably possible if you can add the command to the .INF to

1. Auto-load the MS MediaPlayer

2. Then tell it to load whatever video file from whatever folder.

-NOTE- I don't know the command, but I can give you an example

run c:\windows\msplayer.exe d:\video\Jethro.mpg

-To tell the computer to load MSPlayer.exe from C:\Windows. If you have
MSPlayer.exe on other drive/folder then it won't work

- Then tell MSPlayer.exe to load Jetho.mpg from D:\Video. And it won't work
if your CD is other drive letter instead of D:

... then you may modify the above for better command line like.

Run MSPlayer.exe \video\JeThro.mpg

- This you may need to copt the MSPlayer.exe to the CD and hope it will
understand \video\ is the folder of current drive.

 

[Joel]

No, "virtual CD" is a universal name. "VirtualCD" is the
name of a specific program _only_.

And just like I said "who knows may be one with that name".

 

[Joel]

<SNIP>

This is a software issue, why are we still talking about it in
alt.comp.HARDWARE?

Somebody give the OP directions to the right group please. Simply by dint of
the fact that he's posted here in the first place it seems he might not be
very capable.

We are waiting for you to give the right direction. And I am pretty sure
CD-ROM or DVD drive is hardware not software (but I may be wrong) <bg>

 

[~misfit~]

We are waiting for you to give the right direction. And I am pretty
sure CD-ROM or DVD drive is hardware not software (but I may be
wrong) <bg>

Sure, if we were talking about a physical drive. However, the word "virtual"
is a bit of a give-away.

 

[Joel]

Sure, if we were talking about a physical drive. However, the word "virtual"
is a bit of a give-away.

VirtualCD and ActualCD are 2 different things, the guy has problem with
his DVD to auto-play his VCD disc (it's hardware too) so he talks about
VirtualCD, CD-RW, .INF, directly from hard drive and what else I can't
remember.

And we were shooting around for awhile to find out that the VCD itself is
working fine (with his stand-alone DVD player .. finally!), but he wants to
auto-play on his PC which I tried to give as much information as possible,
but he doesn't seem to get the picture.

IOW, it the combination of his hardware and software/OS setup.

 

[kony]

VirtualCD and ActualCD are 2 different things, the guy has problem with
his DVD to auto-play his VCD disc (it's hardware too) so he talks about
VirtualCD, CD-RW, .INF, directly from hard drive and what else I can't
remember.

And we were shooting around for awhile to find out that the VCD itself is
working fine (with his stand-alone DVD player .. finally!), but he wants to
auto-play on his PC which I tried to give as much information as possible,
but he doesn't seem to get the picture.

IOW, it the combination of his hardware and software/OS setup.

Please refrain from using the term "VirtualCD" if it is not
the specific application named "VirtualCD". That is a
trademark name reserved for one application and cannot
reasonably be used to describe it's functionality when
"virtual CD" or "CD emulator" terms exist. It only creates
confusion to use a term reserved for one application to
describe using a competing application instead.

 

[Ken Maltby]

And just like I said "who knows may be one with that name".

They are on version 9 of "VirtualCD", now. I have version 8
and as one of the early players in this area, it can do a lot with
both its own image files and many others. (I got version 3 a
number of years ago, to play CD intensive games at ~200X
hardware CD speeds.)

But the OP is tilting at windmills, he wants a modified
VCD file structure that can work in both standalone VCD
capable players and autoplay in XP. It appears that adding
the features needed to have XP autoplay or autorun the CD
makes it unacceptable to the standalone players. (At least
adding them in the manner he has so far.)

Luck;
Ken

 

[Joel]

They are on version 9 of "VirtualCD", now. I have version 8
and as one of the early players in this area, it can do a lot with
both its own image files and many others. (I got version 3 a
number of years ago, to play CD intensive games at ~200X
hardware CD speeds.)

But the OP is tilting at windmills, he wants a modified
VCD file structure that can work in both standalone VCD
capable players and autoplay in XP. It appears that adding
the features needed to have XP autoplay or autorun the CD
makes it unacceptable to the standalone players. (At least
adding them in the manner he has so far.)

I don't think adding extra data to the VCD will cause any problem with
stand-alone DVD player as it should ignore anything it isn't designed to
recognize. Example, years ago when I was creating photo presentation I
often created a folder to store the original (modified) photos for clients
or friends.

But trying to modify the VCD to make it auto-play on PC is unnecessary,
because the VCD itself should auto-play *if* the system has
hardware/software setup to auto-detect and play VCD. So, if it isn't
auto-play or auto-detect then the OP should try to figure out how to setup
his/her system to auto-detect and auto-play instead of ither way around.

And the .INF is probably more than just click and run (I have only looked
at the INF or similar many many years ago to remember much about it).

 

[Guest]

Thank goodness! it's getting somewhere <bg>

- If it auto-play on stand-alone DVD player then it's a perfect working VCD,
it doesn't need to do anything else to it.

I intended to drop my part of this thread, and take my marbles and go
home, but here I am again, looking for help. To use your terms, yes,
the original disk I made plays and I guess you could say 'auto-plays'
on stand-alone DVD player.

- No, unlike computer VIDEO has its own requirement and .INF or .ASX isn't
part of it, so it won't even see it. Also, if you want to create an
auto-run for computer program then you will need to tell the .INF what
program to load else it wouldn't do anything either.

Yes I know computer VIDEO has its own requirements. It should react
to its 'auto play or the something in the content of the disk itself.
Since I can't get the VCD disk to auto play on itself I know enough
that I must add logic to cause the computer to play the disk. Hence
my auto run.asf file should execute metafile vsx.asf and contains:

[autorun]
ShellExecute=VCD.ASX

which, in turn, contains the following to hopefully start the playing:

<ASX Version = "3.0">
<Title>TEST TITLE</Title>

<Entry>
<Title>My Video Clip #1</Title>
<Ref href = "MPEGAV\AVSEQ01.DAT" />
</Entry>

<Entry>
<Title>My Video Clip #2</Title>
<Ref href = "MPEGAV\AVSEQ02.DAT" />
</Entry>

</ASX>

Naturally, avseq01.dat and avseq02.dat are in folder mgegav on the
original disk.

- And as I have mentioned several times before, *if* the working VCD doesn't
auto-play on your PC then there must be some SETTING on your computer to
tell the CD-ROM to auto-play when it detects the CD/DVD.

Starting the VCD disk in my PC does not invoke auto play - but from
what I read on web sites, VCD disks are 'not auto playable on PCs
anyway. So no wonder then.

But it still won't auto-play because it will need to know which program to
auto-play the video. So you will need a working combination of Hardware &
Software for it to work.

If you don't get the above setup correctly then burning to CD-RW or
mounting to VirtualCD won't do anything, because there is no communication
between hardware and software.

Oh I agree whole heatedly - I thought though at least a RW disk would
not waste disks as I try different things.

And that's what we need to know before we can be able to figure out
something else. And I have repeated the similar questions several times but



As I mentioned above adding anything else to the VCD or DVD won't do
anything because the CD/DVD designed to read only specific extention.

I dunno, if you want to mess with the computer auto-run then I guess it
probably possible if you can add the command to the .INF to

1. Auto-load the MS MediaPlayer

2. Then tell it to load whatever video file from whatever folder.

-NOTE- I don't know the command, but I can give you an example

run c:\windows\msplayer.exe d:\video\Jethro.mpg

-To tell the computer to load MSPlayer.exe from C:\Windows. If you have
MSPlayer.exe on other drive/folder then it won't work

- Then tell MSPlayer.exe to load Jetho.mpg from D:\Video. And it won't work
if your CD is other drive letter instead of D:

... then you may modify the above for better command line like.

Run MSPlayer.exe \video\JeThro.mpg

- This you may need to copt the MSPlayer.exe to the CD and hope it will
understand \video\ is the folder of current drive.

I think all this could (should) cause my PC to auto play the disk, if
done right. But when I tried that, I found the additions of logic to
do that also caused the disk to NO LONGER play in my stand-alone
player! So that's no good either.

Thanks for continued informative responses. I appreciate them.
My goal here is to:
(1) make a VCD disk that will play in my stand-alone player, and auto
play on my PC.
(2) send this disk to my relatives who can then auto play the disk on
THEIR PC and/or on their stand-alone player (their choice).

Jethro