Running Monopoly without a CD:

Playing Monopoly® CD-ROM without the CD-ROM

DOCUMENT PURPOSE

This document explains the procedure for playing the Monopoly® CD-ROM game without actually having the CD-ROM in your PC. This procedure is described for those who actually own a copy of the Monopoly® CD-ROM and who are tired of constantly tying up their CD-ROM drive with the game. Note that this procedure also allows one to effectively steal the Monopoly® CD game by making a copy of a friends CD-ROM (although we vehemently oppose software theft and strongly recommend against it).

REQUIREMENTS

1 - You must have at least two hard disk drive letters (e.g.: C, D). Note that if you have only one hard disk drive you can change the hard disk partitions to create two or more logical drives using a program such as Powerquest's PQMagic.
2 - You must have sufficient space on the D drive to make a copy of the Monopoly® CD ROM.
3 - This procedure is complicated and should not be attempted by mere mortals
4 - This will work under Windows 95/98 on a PC. I am currently working on a solution for Windows ME.

BENEFITS

1 - You never need use the Monopoly® CD-ROM to play the game again. This effectively frees up your CD-ROM drive (particularly if you are addicted to playing Monopoly®).
2 - Game reliability is greatly enhanced. Your game will never freeze because your Monopoly® CD is dirty.
3 - Game speed is also greatly enhanced. Since hard disks operate thousands of times faster than CD-ROMs you will notice a marked improvement in game performance. The simulated CD-ROM drive created is actually a directory on your hard disk.
4 - You can play Monopoly® on a PC that has no CD-ROM drive, such as a laptop.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR WIN95/98 USERS:

1 - Get a copy of the fakecd program and place the fakecd.exe file into your C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND directory.
2 - Copy the entire Monopoly® CD-Rom into a folder called D:\MonopCD . If you do not have a CD-ROM drive you can copy the CD-ROM from another PC that does have one utilizing laplink, direct cable connection or a network. If you have a sufficiently fast internet connection this can even be done via the web via icq or e-mail.
3- Modify your C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT file. (This can be done using Notepad or the MS-DOS edit programs.) Add the line "C:\windows\command\fakecd.exe d:\monopcd /L:Q"
4 - Use the Windows control panel system settings to change the drive letters of all of your physical CD-ROM drives. Make your CD-ROM drive letters start at R. So if you have two CD-ROMs change their drive letters to R and S. When changing the drive letters the start and end letters should be the same for each CD-ROM. That is: the first cd-rom should be start letter:R, end letter:R. The second CD-ROM should be start letter:S, end letter:S. And so forth. You may be required to reboot your PC after this step.
5- Reboot your PC if you did not have to do so in step 4
6 - At this point you should have a simulated Monopoly® CD-ROM as drive Q. All of your other CD-ROM drive letters should be higher than Q (R,S, etc). If you haven't achieved this than go no further. Go back and make sure you followed all of the steps carefully and also the you have met all the requirements.
7 - Run the Monopoly® setup program on drive Q. Install Monopoly® using the Q drive's setup program to your C drive. Use the minimal install option.
8 - That's it! - You will not need the CD again unless there is some sort of catastrophe in which case you should repeat this entire procedure.

TROUBLES:

Windows 95/98 users: if you have a problem with this let me know. I will try to help you if possible. Contact DrLechter at DrLechter
Windows ME users should contact Sweetshel at [email protected]

Monopoly®, the distinctive design of the game board, the four corner squares, as well as each of the distinctive elements of the board and the playing pieces are trademarks of Hasbro, Inc. for its real estate trading game and game equipment. ©1935, 1936, 1947, 1951, 1952, 1954, 1961, 1973, 1984, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 Hasbro, Inc.