Microtest VIRTUAL CD v3 User manual

Manual
Network Edition

2Foreword
Thank you for choosing Virtual CD network edition. We have incorporated
some new features in this third version of our award-winning program, and
are sure it will live up to the expectations of our users. Many of the new fun-
ctions we have integrated were inspired by suggestions that users have
made - we'd like to thank you all for your input!
This manual provides you with an introduction to Virtual CD, but does not
contain a full description of the software. For detailed information, please
refer to the on-line Help.
Important note:
If you use VCD3 with CD-ROMs that are under license and you create multiple virtual images of
such CDs, or if you use a physical CD and a virtual version of the same CD simultaneously on
different computers, you may be in violation of the software licensing agreement that applies to
a given CD. Make sure you read the licensing agreements supplied with your original CDs for
detailed information.
Copyright 2000 by Microtest GmbH. All rights reserved.
Copyrights on the software, the Virtual CD trademark and all corresponding documentation are
owned by Microtest GmbH. In the US, Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of
Microsoft Corporation. The names of products mentioned in this manual are used for identification
purposes and may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their manufacturers.

Contents
Foreword...........................................................................................................................................2
You don't read manuals?...................................................................................................................4
What is Virtual CD? ...........................................................................................................................4
New Features in Version 3.................................................................................................................5
System Requirements .......................................................................................................................5
Installation ........................................................................................................................................6
First Steps.........................................................................................................................................7
Creating a Virtual CD ..................................................................................................................7
Inserting a Virtual CD................................................................................................................13
Using the Virtual CD Management Program.....................................................................................13
Starting the Virtual CD Management Program...........................................................................13
Deleting Virtual CDs..................................................................................................................14
Adding Existing Virtual CDs to the Management Program .........................................................15
Creating a Customized Virtual CD .............................................................................................15
Global Virtual CD Settings .........................................................................................................17
Customer Support ...........................................................................................................................18
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You don't read manuals?
Are you one of those people whom never bother reading the operating instructions?
No problem! Experienced PC users will find no surprises in the installation procedure that sets up
Virtual CD. Not only that - the Help program starts automatically the first time you run the new
installation.
Just for you impatient types, we have developed the following 3-part 'Instant User's
Guide':
1. Install the software and restart your computer.
2. Insert a CD from which you wish to create a virtual image.
3. Double click on the Virtual CD icon on your Desktop. The Virtual CD Wizard takes over from there,
guiding you through the program from creation, to use of a virtual CD.
That's it! Once you've finished, your new virtual CD can be used just like a real CD.
What is Virtual CD?
Virtual CD makes your CD-ROM applications faster, more portable, and more convenient to use. This
is because it stores CDs on hard disks, using highly efficient data compression techniques.
The first step is to create virtual CDs from your original CDs. These are stored on your hard disk in
container files, also called "images". Then you simply load a virtual CD in a virtual CD drive. You can
add virtual CDs to your collection at any time, or delete them whenever you like, for example if you
need to free up space on your hard disk.
Virtual CD...
• significantly speeds up your CD-based applications, because they now run from your hard disk
rather than from the much slower CD drive.
• saves you the trouble of hunting for your CDs and constantly inserting and removing them from
your computer.
• lets you use your CDs on computers that don't even have physical CD drives.
• lets you use multiple CDs simultaneously. This saves you having to buy an expensive CD changer.
• protects your valuable original CDs from getting lost or damaged.
• conserves precious battery power in your notebook or laptop, because you don't need to use the
energy-hogging CD drive.
• makes for a quieter workplace, because you rarely use the noisy CD-ROM drive.
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New Features in Version 3
The new version is a completely reworked software suite, with an improved user interface and
many new features and functions:
• Compatible with Windows 95/98/2000 and NT 4
• Lets you customise your virtual CDs using the Virtual CD Editor
• Improved compression for data CDs
• Easier to use thanks to the improved user interface, including new Wizards
• Expanded CD-reading operations using special digital mastering technology
• Direct access to CDDB server for music CD information (download artist name, album and track
titles)
• System tray Icon for quick access to the main functions
• Hotkeys for quick loading of virtual CDs
• Expanded autostart function
System Requirements
Virtual CD generally works on all systems that run Windows, since it is a Windows device driver that
requires few resources.
Your system should meet the following minimum specifications:
• Windows 95 with Microsoft DirectX V.3 (or later) and at least 32 MB RAM or
- Windows 98 with at least 32 MB RAM or
- Windows NT4 Workstation with Service Pack 5 and at least 64 MB RAM or
- Windows 2000 Professional with at least 64 MB RAM
• Pentium 200 MHz (or faster) processor
• Approximately 10 MB hard disk space for the Virtual CD 3 software
• DirectSound-compatible sound card
• Optional: Internet access (to download music CD information from CDDB)
You will also need disk space for each virtual CD you create. A virtual CD takes up anywhere from 1
to 700 MB of space, depending on the content of the original CD and on the type of data compres-
sion selected.
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Installation
If you have an earlier version of Virtual CD, you need to uninstall it and restart your computer befo-
re installing VIRTUAL CD. You can still use the virtual CDs created with the older program.
Insert the Virtual CD program CD in the CD drive and wait a moment for Windows to detect the CD.
If the autostart function is active, installation should start automatically.
If this is not the case, double-click on "My Computer" in your Explorer and
then on the symbol for the drive where you inserted the Virtual CD program CD.
Now you should see the contents of the program CD. Double-click on the
"SETUP" files to start installation.
Follow the instructions as the Wizard guides you through the installation procedure.
To make the new virtual CD drives available in your system, you have to restart the computer.
After restart, you will see the virtual drives in Explorer:
In this example, drives F: through I: are virtual drives and drive E: is the physical drive.
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First Steps
To work with the Virtual CD program, you need to begin by creating a virtual CD. Then you will insert
this new virtual CD into a virtual CD drive.
"All roads lead to Rome..."
There are a number of ways to start Virtual CD, which means you can customise your use according
to your personal preferences. When you want to create or insert a virtual CD, you can begin by run-
ning either the Start Wizard or the Management program, by clicking on the quick-start icon in the
system tray, or by selecting a VCD program from a context-sensitive menu in Explorer.
The examples given here use only one method each time a particular function is described. See the
on-line Help for detailed descriptions of the other choices.
Creating a Virtual CD
Insert the original CD from which you want to create a virtual image into your CD drive. Make sure
the CD is not scratched or dirty.
Wait a few seconds for Windows to detect the CD.
Note: Make sure the CD is not accessed by any other program while you are making the virtual
CD. Close the programs – such as the Windows CD Player – in your Autostart group.
(The first time you start Virtual CD, by clicking on its icon on your desktop, a Wizard starts that
offers to help you create a virtual CD. See below for details about selecting a source CD.)
Double-click on the "My Computer" symbol on your desktop to view a list of
the available drives.
Right-click on the physical CD drive that contains your source CD :
This opens a context-sensitive menu, to which Virtual CD has added the command Create a virtual
CD. Select this option to start the Image Wizard, which guides you step by step through the creation
of a virtual CD. Click on Next to select the source CD:
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Select the source drive from the list box. In this example, we chose the physical drive E:
In some cases, Virtual CD cannot correctly determine the amount of data on the source CD.
Unfortunately, you will not notice the mistake until after the virtual CD has been created. A Virtual
CD may also become stuck in a loop trying to find the end of a CD. In such cases, it may help to
(start over and) select the option to Use binary search to determine CD size.
Click on Next to continue:
Virtual CD creates an exact copy of the CD in the source drive, and stores it in an "image" file on
your hard disk. In order to do this, Virtual CD has to know which directory to store the new image
file in, and under what name. Virtual CD will suggest a path (which is actually a default you can
configure in the Virtual CD Management program, under "View > Settings"). You must enter a filen-
ame for the virtual CD.
The default path in the input field usually has a blue background, meaning it is selected. When you
type a name, this path disappears. This is not a problem: Virtual CD uses the default path, and adds
the .FCD file extension, automatically.
The Space on hard disk section has a list box containing the hard drives on your system. The
space available on the selected hard disk is shown so you can see whether there is enough room
for the new virtual CD. If the available space is insufficient, the number is shown in red.
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The option to Automatically create a directory for the new image helps you keep your virtual CD
data organised. This is particularly useful for music CDs, because these have separate files for each
song (track). If you collect a lot of virtual music CDs, it can be difficult to keep track of which file
belongs to which CD. This is why we recommend leaving this option selected at all times. You can
even configure your default Virtual CD settings so that this option is automatically selected for
music CDs, so you won't have to worry about it again.
Click on Next to continue:
In this window you can select the tracks from the source CD to be included on the virtual CD. This
window also shows technical data pertaining to the source CD.
In most cases you will probably want to include the entire CD - to do this, just click on Next.
The next window only opens if the source CD is a data CD. If the source is purely a music CD, this
window is not shown, so you can skip to the next window, also shown in these instructions.
Here you can choose from options for creating the data tracks of a virtual CD.
Some CDs are manufactured using special digital mastering technology. These CDs do not work
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with the Standard copy method used by Virtual CD. This is why we have introduced 2 new options,
called Correction 1 and Correction 2. In most cases, one of these copy methods will be able to
create your virtual CD. Unfortunately, there is no way to know ahead of time which method you
need to use; only trial and error will tell you. Theoretically, "Correction 2" is the most advanced
method, but it also has its disadvantages.
Overview of copy methods:
To save space on your hard disk, select a Data compression method to reduce the size of your vir-
tual CD. It is difficult to say exactly how much space can be saved in a given case; Virtual CD gives
you a rough estimate when you select a compression method. When you use the Correction 2 copy
method, data cannot be compressed and this option is automatically deactivated.
With Correction 1, data compression may actually result in the data volume being enlarged rather
reduced, so we recommend de-activating the compression for this copy method as well.
If the estimate given indicates only a slight reduction in data volume, it's best not to use data com-
pression at all (select None). This is because data compression uses up processor capacity not only
when you create the virtual CD but also every time you access it, which can slow things down con-
siderably, especially in older systems with processors that operate at <150 MHz or slower.
The option to Ignore defective sectors is useful if your source CD was created with defective sec-
tors. This option should only be activated if attempts to create a virtual CD without this option have
already failed. With the Correction 1 and Correction 2 copy methods, this option has no effect and is
automatically de-activated.
Click on Next to continue.
The next window only opens if the source CD contains audio data. If the source is purely a data CD,
this and the next window are not shown, so you can skip the next page or two of these instructions.
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• Fastest method
• Data can be compressed
• Relatively fast
• Data may be compressible
Can copy almost any CD
Does not work with all CDs
CD may not work
• Relatively slow
• Data cannot be compressed
• Not compatible with all CD drives
• Not supported in Windows 2000
Standard
Correction 1
Correction 2
Method Advantages Disadvantages

This window shows all the songs, or audio tracks, that are on the source CD. If you click on Next
now, all tracks are included on the virtual CD.
You can exclude certain titles by selecting them from the list and clicking on the button.
If you change your mind and want to include a title you have excluded, simply select it and click
on . You can also use the arrow buttons to change the order of the audio tracks.
Click on Next to continue:
This window, too, only opens if the source CD contains audio tracks.
Almost all of today's CD-ROM drives (from about "8 x" upward) offer you the option of reading the
audio tracks digitally. We recommend using this option whenever possible, as it provides the best
possible sound quality. In some cases, however, you may still hear interference. If this happens, try
the analog option. With this option, the CD is played and then recorded from the computer's sound
card. Use the Test recording... function to check the volume settings.
Click on Change audio format if you want to change the settings shown. The default configuration
provides an exact replica of the source, in CD quality (PCM, 44.100Hz, 16-bit, stereo).
"The better the sound quality, the bigger the file"
Keep this basic rule in mind when selecting the audio format. Naturally you want the best possible
sound quality, but the better the quality, the more disk space is used up. The "MS ADPCM" CODEC
(audio compression/decompression module) that comes with the Windows operating system repre-
sents a reasonable compromise between high sound quality and low number of bytes. The best
CODECs, of course, come from other manufacturers: MP3 and VQF are two examples. These combi-
ne high compression with a quality of sound approaching that of an original CD.
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Click on Next; the following is the second-to-last page of the Image Wizard:
The description you enter here is the name that will be used internally for the CD. If the CD contains
a telephone directory, for example, we'd recommend calling the virtual CD "Telephone Directory" for
the sake of clarity.
If you select the option to Load the image automatically into drive, the virtual CD is automatically
loaded in the drive you define here as soon as the CD has been created. In our example here, we'll
leave this option de-selected and have you load the CD "manually" when it's finished. The "Start
program" option is described in detail in the on-line Help program.
Click on Finish to begin the actual copying procedure. The length of time this takes depends on the
volume of data on the source CD and the data compression and/or compressed audio formats sel-
ected; it could take anywhere from a just a few minutes to around three quarters of an hour. If you
selected Correction 1 or Correction 2 as copy method, it may take slightly longer.. And of course, the
overall time it takes is also influenced by your processor speed.
When the process has been completed, the following information window opens:
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Click on Exit to close this window—the virtual CD is now finished. Once this point has been rea-
ched, the virtual CD is now ready to be inserted into a virtual drive…
Inserting a virtual CD
Double click on the "My Computer" symbol in your Windows Explorer. Right-
click on the virtual CD drive in which you want to insert the virtual CD.
This opens a context-sensitive menu, to which Virtual CD has added the command Load a virtual
CD:
When you select this com-
mand, a list of all your vir-
tual CDs is shown. The one
you choose here is loaded
into the virtual CD drive
selected. Now you can
work with your virtual CD
as though it was a real CD.
Using the Virtual CD Management Program
The Virtual CD Management program is, the "main" program module of Virtual CD, and should be
quite familiar to users of earlier VCD versions. Pretty much all of the program functions and all set-
tings can be accessed and configured in the Management program.
Starting the Virtual CD Management Program
One way to start the Virtual CD Management program is from the Windows Start menu:
Select Start -> Programs -> Virtual CD 3 -> Virtual CD 3.
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This starts the main program:
The main window has 3 sections. The pane on the left shows the virtual drives; the upper right-
hand window pane shows the virtual CDs registered in the Management program, and in the lower
right pane are the contents of the selected virtual CD.
Deleting Virtual CDs
Virtual CDs are stored on the hard disk in what we call image files, which of course take up some
amount of disk space. If you have a virtual CD that you no longer need, you can delete it using the
Virtual CD Management program:
Select the virtual CD you want to delete in the upper right-hand window pane and
click on the Delete button. The following dialog asks you to confirm that you really
want to delete the virtual CD:
The "Delete" function removes a virtual CD from your Management program—in other words, the
CD is no longer registered in the VCD program. However, It will not be deleted from your actual hard
disk, unless you select the option to Delete the image from the hard disk. In either case, click on
OK when you're ready.
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Adding Existing Virtual CDs to the Management Program
You might have image files on your hard disk or other data media that are not currently registered
in your Virtual CD Management program; for example, after you re-install VCD or install a new VCD
version.
These must be added to, or 'registered' in, your Management program before you can use them.
If you know exactly where the image files are stored, you can tell the Management program where
to look. Otherwise, you can run a search for existing image files. The latter option is described
below.
Click on the Search button; the following dialog box opens:
Enter the directory that the
Manager should Search in
and click on Start searching.
The image files found are
listed in the lower half of the
dialog box. Select the image
files you wish to add and
click on Add selected ima-
ges, or simply click on Add
all images.
Creating a customized Virtual CD
This powerful new function lets you combine tracks from different source CDs to create customized
virtual CDs.
The procedure is quite simple. You start by creating a "definition file" in the Virtual CD Editor
(file name extension: VCX) that is basically a "blueprint" for your customized virtual CD.
One way to start the Virtual CD Editor is by clicking on the Editor button in the
Virtual CD Management program.
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The Virtual CD Editor is actually a separate program. Its main window looks like this:
Start by clicking on Add, and then choose the type of element (file, directory or
audio track) you want to add to your custom CD.
Each option opens a dialog box for selecting specific element(s). In the example below, an audio
track is added:
When you select a physical drive that contains a
music CD, the CD contents are shown here.
Select the desired track(s).
The option to Store audio tracks in buffer is
very useful if, for example, you want to create a
virtual CD with tracks from different source CDs.
With this function selected, the desired tracks
are stored in buffer and you won't have to insert
the source CD again when it comes time to
actually write the virtual CD.
In the next dialog, you have to enter a name for the source CD:
This is essential so that the Editor knows which source CD
is used at a given point in the writing process when crea-
ting the custom CD.
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Once you have entered all the contents for your custom CD, click on Create to
start the "Image Writer". This module completes the process for generating the
new virtual CD.
Global Virtual CD Settings
To configure your VCD program, select View -> Virtual CD settings... in the Management program:
The Default image folder defines which directory on your disk is automatically used for image
files. When you enter only a file name in the Image Wizard, without a path, the new image file is
stored here.
If you activate the option to Close Image Writer automatically, the Image Writer closes as soon as
a new custom virtual CD has been written - unless an error occurs during writing, in which case the
Image Writer remains open and an error message is displayed.
The option to Retrieve audio CD information from CDDB server enables Virtual CD to download
album and track titles as well as artists' names from the CDDB Service. If your computer does not
have Internet access, you should deactivate this option.
When you make a virtual CD, the Image Wizard offers to Automatically create a directory for the
new image file. This is especially practical for music CDs, since the image file will contain separate
files for each audio track. The VCD global settings give you the option of having this function activa-
ted automatically for all audio CDs.
If the Start Wizard is active when you start VCD, a window opens listing the main programs and fun-
ctions so you can choose where to begin. The global setting lets you define whether this Wizard is
active or not.
The option to Show Quick Start icon in System Tray lets you define whether this icon is added to
your system tray. By the way, the Quick Start module is also responsible for the hotkey functions
that automatically load virtual CDs, so if you suppress it in the system tray, these hotkeys will not
work.
The Priority referred to in the last of the global settings defines how much processor time VCD is
allowed to occupy while creating virtual CDs.
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Customer Support
If you have any problems with Virtual CD 3, we'd like to ask that you check the manual (yes, the
manual!), the on-line Help and the continuously updated read me file (under Start -> Programs ->
Virtual CD 3 -> read me) for assistance.
Up-to-date information about the program is posted our Web site, at www.virtualcd-online.com,
where you can also download any Service Packs we offer to update the software.
If you still have questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. See the read me file for details on
how to reach us.
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