No-CD crack

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A No-CD crack is a modified executable file or a special "byte patcher" program that removes built-in CD check mechanisms allowing the user to play computer software without having to insert the CD-ROM.

This act is a form of software cracking. No-CD cracks can be found on the Internet from various reverse engineering websites or file sharing networks. Although this is a circumvention of software laws, used to download full versions of programs and run them without the real disks, they have a legal use; one can use a No-CD crack to avoid the inconvenience of placing a CD-ROM into their computer every time they wish to use the software.

In addition to cracked executable files or byte patchers, CD protection can be bypassed by producing a disk image containing the complete contents of the software's CD-ROM. This image can then be mounted with a disk image emulator such as Daemon Tools to trick the user's computer into believing the disk image is the software's physical CD-ROM and it is in the drive.

When downloading No-CD cracks, it is highly recommended that users scan the file first with up to date anti-virus software before opening the crack as there is a possibility that a virus or trojan horse may be present. Cracking groups never pack viruses into their loaders or executables, but people on peer to peer networks often spread around malicious files in cracks made by other cracking groups.

Making cracked software .exes or patchers requires knowledge of assembly language. Problems with cracks and warez are that you run a high risk of being hit with a virus.