2 Quick Questions: No CD & Window Running

mimi · December 11, 2003, 08:44

I want to take my conquests game to work for those boring lunch hours - I'm currently playing with PTW at work, but it's very disappointing to see you have ivory on your shores then remember that it doesn't matter in PTW. I don't, however, want to lug my game CD back and forth 'cause I'll end up leaving it at work some weekend and will have nothing to play at home. So, how do I play conquests without a CD? Please be as simple as you can in your explanation...

And, for those times that I may or may not want to spark up a game while I'm really supposed to be working... how do I run civ in a window (or if I can't do that, how do I quickly shrink it back down?) I've been using the Windows key then selecting another open application, but the game hangs on the screen for a sec so I need a faster option... I'm pretty sure there's a key combo that shrinks it but I can't seem to figure it out.

{gee, boss, that's just my new desktop color - It *does* look like a game, doesn't it, isn't that odd??}

hehehehehe.... glad none of you know who I *really* am or I could lose my job!

vmxa1 · December 11, 2003, 13:28

I use to rename the entry on the task bar in Win98 so it did not say the name of my current game.

In XP you have no means other than what you are doing to toggle to the desktop.

Make a "safety" copy of the CD and store the backup at the office.
You can see how that could work.

I hope you company does not use any scanning tools to see if anyone has any forbidden software on their drive.

gunkulator · December 11, 2003, 13:58

Legally, there are no versions of Civ3 that run without the CD. This board frowns on posting hacks or links to hack sites.

Because Civ3 uses DirectX, you can't run it in a window. This invariably means a delay when you try to iconize it or bring something in front of it.

I'll second the warning about scanning tools. Most of them run in some sort of stealth mode so you don't even see them in the task manager. Although your boss could use them to check if you are goofing off, many companies run them simply to avoid lawsuits, i.e. they want to be able to show a license for each and every application on each and every computer. In addition, many companies ban unapproved software out of fear of virus infection.

Snotty · December 11, 2003, 14:07

Alt - Tab will get you out of it. In XP, if you have something else open then it will cover the civ3 screen. The screen is still forced into civ3 resolution though.

vee4473 · December 11, 2003, 15:13

alt tab is the way, except i don't remember civ3 resolution being forced onto the other apps.

also, you can use the auto hde setting for the taskbar

Alex · December 11, 2003, 17:04

Quote:

Originally posted by mimi

hehehehehe.... glad none of you know who I *really* am or I could lose my job!

Condoleeza Rice?

mimi · December 12, 2003, 08:43

Hmmm... that's MS Rice to you!

Heheheheheh... I'll just have to listen more closely for when people approach my cube and hope I'm not in the middle of the AI turn 'cause that takes even longer to switch out of. Or not play during work hours... naw, that's a silly plan... just listen better.

I do have the taskbar hidden, how do you rename the application on the taskbar (XP)?

Anyway, I'm pretty sure they won't care about a commercial game software (virus free and I own the game so no copyright issue)... so even if there is scanning software I'm not too worried about it. And I can just restrict myself to play at lunch time I guess. Sigh...

ICBM · December 14, 2003, 23:16

Quote:

Originally posted by vmxa1

Make a "safety" copy of the CD and store the backup at the office.
You can see how that could work.
.

I've tried to make a backup copy of the CD for PTW before, and it never worked for me, probably because of copy protection, but that's another issue...

Theseus · December 15, 2003, 00:31

Quote:

Originally posted by Alex
Condoleeza Rice?

That would explain *many* things...

Condie: "FINALLY, we busted Hammy, uh, I mean Saddam."

Press: "Excuse me, Ms. Rice... 'Hammy'?"

Condie: "We suspected a Persian Army, a clear WMD."

Press: "Uh, what?"

Rummy: "Attack SIX, you idiot! Thank God we have the Pentagon and West Point! This press conference is OVER."

Dis · December 15, 2003, 04:39

lucky stiffs. I don't even have a computer at work. I can't even post at poly while I'm at work.

pauli · December 15, 2003, 07:17

a: use clonecd and daemon tools - rip the cd, mount the image. bingo, happy game. how you read the eula is your affair; pragmatically, there's no judge out there who'd have a problem with a single user playing the game exclusively on one computer at a time.

this obviates the need for any nocd crack - you're running the stock executable, with for all intents and purposes, the real cd in the drive.

best parts are not risking the cd itself, and not waiting for the anti-privacy measures on startup.

b: if you want to run the game in a window, install virtualpc. of course, that won't do anything positive for civ3's already stellar (ahem) performance

ICBM · December 15, 2003, 12:17

Quote:

Originally posted by pauli
a: use clonecd and daemon tools - rip the cd, mount the image. bingo, happy game.

Didn't work.

Ming · December 15, 2003, 13:19

Again... This site does not condone or support the illegal use of software. Unless the publisher of the game supports the use of a no cd crack, it's illegal to use one. If there is copy protection on the CD, it is also illegal to get around it to make a copy. This site does no allow discussions on how to get around it.