Some software programs come with an installer that performs a full install of the program from the CD, after which, you can then store the CD for safekeeping. (One program in our catalog, Life of Christ CD, requires both an installation of certain files, and the presence of the CD in the drive in order to run.)
Other programs do not have installers, but were designed to run from the CD without installing anything. You put the CD in the tray and the program starts up on its own. However, in MANY cases, you can legally COPY all the CD’s contents to a folder on your harddrive, and then put away the CD for safekeeping, and run the program from the harddrive folder, instead of from the CD. In fact, many of Sunday Software’s CDs can be copied just like that.
There are several advantages to manually installing the contents of your CD to your harddrive and running it from the installed copy rather than the CD:
- The program runs faster from the harddrive than the CD drive.
- You don’t have to worry about losing or scratching the CD.
LEGAL REMINDER:
It is important to remember that it ILLEGAL to copy one CD to several computers, UNLESS:
- you own copies of the CD for each of the computers you are copying it to,
=OR= - you have purchased a “site license” from Sunday Software which gives you the right to make your own installations/copies on up to X number of computers.
The following describes how to legally copy the CD to a folder and create a desktop shortcut to the start up file so you don’t need the CD in the drive to run the program…
Jesus in Space CD
In a sentence: copy all the CD’s contents into a new folder at c:\Programs(86x) and create a desktop shortcut to the startup file.
Step by Step:
1. Place the CD in the CD drive. If it attempts to play, exit the program.
2. Open up Windows Explorer, navigate to the CD’s files and highlight ALL of the files and folders, then select COPY. This puts all the contents of the CD on your invisible Windows clipboard.
3. Next, navigate to the C:\Programs (86x) folder in Windows.
4. Create a “new folder” within the Programs(86x) folder and give it the name of your software.
5. Open your new folder, and right click an empty area select PASTE to paste all the contents of the CD into your new folder.
6. Lastly, look in your new folder for the new program’s executable startup file (often named “something.exe” or “START”)
- RIGHT click that startup file and select “Send to“ and select the option “Desktop (to create shortcut)”
You now have a startup icon shortcut on your desktop. You can rename that shortcut to anything you want.
