How to make a SafeDisc mini-image

How A Mini-Image Works

Ok, basically SafeDisc checks the start of a disc for "bad sectors". If they are there then the game is thought to be authentic and the game will start. When you read a full image you are reading the "bad sectors" at the start as well as all the other data. The problem is that all the install data etc that takes up over 99% of the space, this data is not needed to start the game, only to install it. It isn’t convenient for most people to have loads of 700mb images on there hard drive just so they can play a game without the disc in the drive.

What a mini-image does is keep only the data at the start that is used too authenticate the original disc. This is made up of the "bad sectors and the "table or contents", the "table of contents" is just a list of all the files on the disc and how big they are, (this is why they still show up as the correct size
on a mini-image even when they are empty) The mini image discards all the other data as shown in the diagram below:

A mini-image is normally 1-5mb, which is a much more practical size.
How To Make A Mini-Image
1. Launch Alcohol 120% 1.9.2.1705 (or higher version) with the original SafeDisc game's play disc in the drive you want to read from.

2. Start the "Image Making Wizard".

3. Select the drive that the disc is in from the "CD/DVD Device:" option. Then set the read speed to "1x (150KB/Sec)". Then make sure all the other options are UNchecked, except for "Skip reading errors", this should be checked. Then click "Next".

4. You can then select the location that the mini-image will be created, I have selected the desktop, and have left the mini-image the same name as the volume label, but with "Mini_Image" on the end. Then click "Next".

5. It will start reading wait a few seconds.

6. After a few read errors have come up (2 or 3 is ideal) have come up click "Cancel". It will then ask if you are sure, click "Yes".

7. It will then ask you if you want to delete the uncompleted image files, click "No"

8. Then click "Finish"

9. You will now be back on the Alcohol 120% main window, close down Alcohol.

10. Now check the image file is there where you set it to be saved.

How To Mount A Mini-Image
11. Right click the Daemon Tools 3.47 (or higher version) icon in the tray.

12. Go to "Virtual CD/DVD-ROM"> "Set number of devices..." and set it to 1.

13. Then go to "Virtual CD/DVD-ROM"> "Device 0: [letter] No media"> "Mount image".

14. Then browse for the mini-image you made and open the .mds file

15. It should then AutoRun the disc, simply by showing the contents of the disc. There will be no icons for the files, and none of them contain any data, however they will still be there original file size.

16. You can now launch the game from the start menu shortcut! (You cant start it from the disc like before as the AutoPlay data will have been removed)

This method has been tested from SafeDisc 2.9 to 4.000, make sure you make the mini-image from the original disc or it may not work. You do not need to have any emulation (ATIP hider etc.) enabled for the mini-image to work.
Guide copyright belongs to bcn_246, CD Freaks

 

Way ta go!!!! This saves alot of space for me on my notebook.

 

Well don't thank me for the guide, thank the author I can verify the Alcohol 120% mini image works as I had to create one for The Sims 2 University(Safedisc 4). My Plexy just couldn't make a 1:1 backup

 

Thanks for bringing this guide here and thanks to the author -bcn_246-

I just tried this Mini_Image on "Call of Duty" and "United Offensive" and it worked.

I used Alcohol's Virtual Drives to mount the Mini_Image's and was successful, But this may not be the case with all Safedisc games.

 

I've read at a very reliable forum that the Plex Premium can easily defeat Safedisc 4.0. Many used Alcohol 120% using the Safedisc 2/3 profile, reading and writing the protected game at 4x. I also read the Lite-ON (52\32\52x), Asus 52\32\52x and Lite-ON Combo (52\32\52x)(16x DVD-ROM) also had great success making 1:1 backups I believe I recommended the Plex Premium to you a long time ago and you purchased? Grins...

 

Well so far Alcohol 120% mini image has conquered the latest Safedisc cd protection

 

Thanks for the props Neph Have you had a chance to try and make a 1:1 backup of Safedisc 4.0? (The Sims University) with your Plex Premium? Still have your Plex PX-708? oh, I have a recommended dvd burner if you wan't to upgrade and it's NOT a Plexy. It's the BenQ DW1460 Bad to the bone dvd burner, great write quality!
BenQ DW1640 hardware review (1st look)
http://www.cdfreaks.com/article/193

 

Nephilim you mentioned using BW 4.57 with the Plex 708-a what are you refering to by BW4.57? I have the 708-a and would like to try it.

Thanks in advance

 

-Nephilim- is refering to a version of Blindwrite.

You can download it here

http://www.vso-software.fr/download.htm#

 

Excellent guide, thanks! Would this work with Nero as well, or does it have to be alcohol?

Also, does this only work on Safedisk, or are there other CD-protections that work the same way?

Thanks,
-T

(Also, I'm new, hi!)

 

Hi Shoey
Thanx for the guidance, but... I'm trying to backup another disk and need to use the data itself. Tried the disk after burning it with Alcohol 120% but using it, it gives me "disk not compatable"in my system (car navigational system). PLZ HELP.

PS I haven't tried the mini disk greation as yet but think one would have to combine the data with the mini disk

 

well!i tried to create a safedisc mini image but it didn`t work!no errors appeared!I cancelled the process anyway and tried!but it didn`t work!can you tell me why?I followed all those steps!

 

yeah I followed the steps too and it didnt give me any errors... i still cancled it after about 5 mbs and mounted it but it didnt work.

 

Well the obvious first question is "Are you sure that the disc is safedisc protected?" If you're not sure, go look it up on www.gamecopyworld.com .

 

yeah I have now a mini image but it still doesn't work.something like tis appears when I insert the mini-image:CD/DVD emulation software detected!please remove any emulation software and restart the game!is there something else i could try to make it work?

 

Ah...well that's an entirely different problem. That's using a different copy protection, which scans for blacklisted software (like Daemon tools), and won't let you play if you ahve it installed, on the off chance that you're pirating the software. Which of course none of us would ever do. We all just use cracked copies of games we own because we get tired of switching CDs all the time.

<_< >_> <_< >_>

^_^

 

oops!sorry then!i have no excuse for that...silly me!arrest me PLEASE!!! ( I DEESURF IT!