Make a CD work like a USB drive

[mccready]

Are there any known hardware or software solutions (tweaks/programs/additions/etc.) to make a CD/DVD work like a USB key (thumb drive/pen drive/key/drive/flash drive/etc)?

On a USB I can load a bundle of software and it will play when the user clicks on the start icon (i.e. the needed .dlls are available to the system). On a rergular CD, our software has to be first copied onto the users hard-drive to play (i.e. only then are the .dlls are available to the system).

Best solution - there would be no need to copy content to the users system - some software would bridge the 'wall' between system and CD.

Second best - the data transfers to the system seemlessly or with the least bother to the user.

Thanks
Phil

 

[sminlal]

Both a USB key AND a CD/DVD will "autoplay" when inserted into the computer, as long as they contain an appropriate "Autorun.inf" file in the root directory and the system is configured to allow autoplay (which is a virus risk).

 

[mccready]

Both a USB key AND a CD/DVD will "autoplay" when inserted into the computer, as long as they contain an appropriate "Autorun.inf" file in the root directory and the system is configured to allow autoplay (which is a virus risk).

My knowledge of autorun is limited ... but there is a difference in this case. I will not be setting up/burning the final USB or CD (though I could provide the autorun instruction code). Also I don't actually want the contents of the CD moved to the PC.

Currently, I provide a file bundle that has to be able to play on the click of a .exe file. This works well on a USB (no special configuration or auto copy/download is needed and supporting .DDLs kick in fine).

On a CD some more complex autorun or bridging solution is needed, as the supporting .DDLs do not kick in. Can a CD be made to act as an extension of the hard-drive, the way that a USB can?

 

[sminlal]

If you have a program which doesn't need to have stuff entered into the Registry or system directories in order to run, you can run it from anywhere you want. It doesn't matter if it's on a hard disk, a USB flash drive, a CD/DVD drive, or even a floppy drive.

If the program has supporting DLLs, just put them into the same folder as the .exe file itself, since that's where system looks first to find DLLs.

If you want the program to run when the disc is inserted, just create an Autorun.inf file with Notepad, add the appropriate information to it, andput it into the root directory of the drive. Here's a page that describes some of the options: http://dailycupoftech.com/usb-drive-autoruninf-tweaking/

 

[moomooman]

A program called "InCD" allows Windows to treat a CD like a large floppy disk. Might help?

 

[jean_dedux]

If you want the program to run when the disc is inserted, just create an Autorun.inf file with Notepad, add the appropriate information to it, andput it into the root directory of the drive. Here's a page that describes some of the options: http://dailycupoftech.com/usb-drive-autoruninf-tweaking/

And a list of the most common Autorun.inf commands/entries is available here:
http://www.samlogic.net/articles/autorun-commands.htm

and here are some examples of how to use them:
http://www.samlogic.net/articles/autorun.htm

Other good page that describes Autorun.inf is this Microsoft page:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb776823(VS.85).aspx

If you know how to use Autorun.inf you can do a lot. This is true for both CD/DVD drives and USB flash drives.

 

[FrankMaviglia]

i Have been looking for the latest InCD program that runs on windows 7 from Nero for days without luck If you have any Ideaq where I can find it, I would appreciate it if you coould Email the address to me at FrankMaviglia@verizon.net

 

[rahulgupta8800]

Hi,

To use the file in my CD requires me to copy that file to USB drive. As it will work only on USB drive instead of CD.