How to run a CD-based game from an ISO image?

I have version 1 of Age of Empires which I enjoy playing from time to time. Part of the game is installed on my Win10 PC, but it still requires the CD to be in the PC's optical drive. I run the game by clicking on the game’s icon in my start menu. Is there a way to get the game to access the ISO image I created of the disc (in WinISO) instead of accessing the physical CD in the drive? I've reached out to WinISO, but thought I'd check here for tips on any solutions that might be built into Win10. Thanks.

Samuria said:

There ar tons of work arounds on this Age of Empires - PC Game Trainer Cheat PlayFix No-CD No-DVD | GameCopyWorld

Thanks, but I was hoping for something that didn't require cracking the game.

- - - Updated - - -

Berton said:

One way I've seen work was to copy the entire contents of the disc onto a second partition or second drive then install from there after taking the disc out. The main thing is that the program knows where its file are.

Thanks, I'll give that a shot.

I have AOE working on my Laptop.

What I did was simply to make an ISO file (AOE.ISO) from the Disc using CDBurnerXP. (free).

Then use that. Just right click the ISO file > Mount. Then use my Desktop shortcut which has a couple of switches added.

Then no need to insert the disc.

It runs a bit squashed due to the aspect ratio of the Laptop screen.

The CD in my case had problems of damage caused by the printed on disc labelling, however by suitably slower reading, the ISO was made.
Attachment 341179

Helmut said:

Then use my Desktop shortcut which has a couple of switches added.

Thanks! Which switches?

Those are two standard AOE Startup switches after EMPIRES.EXE. removes starting video (NoStartup) and sets resolution (1024 x 768).

Just convenience for a particular laptop.

http://aoe.heavengames.com/academy/hotkeysandcommands/cmdline.shtml
https://jeffpar.github.io/kbarchive/kb/175/Q175347/

Got it. If I try what you suggest in #5 (and the CD removed), the game tells me to insert the CD. How did you install the game to get it to work without it?

RolandJS said:

Did you already do these steps precisely as Berton indicated?

Not yet. Helmut’s approach seemed easier so I thought I’d try his first.