The program and its read settings can make a difference, but BIN + CUE just doesn't replicate advanced copy protection schemes such as Safedisc past a certain version. DT 3.47 supports the CloneCD (CCD + IMG + SUB) and Alcohol 120% (MDF + MDS v1) image formats that were the most popular for replicating all such discs.

Thanks, firage, for the info. I got the Alcohol 120% 2.0 from Phil's Computer Lab, installed it on my main win7 PC, and ripped the 2 CDs for MW4. After transferring the new images to the Win98 PC DaemonTools can't read them.
I quickly found that the last Alcohol for Win98 is a 1.9.5.x, so I found a copy and put it on the Win98 PC, but the PC froze in the middle of ripping. I think that's a separate issue related to usb and/or the mobo.
I might try using a PCem virtual machine but that will take a while. Is there a way to create a backward compatible image with recent software? Would a CloneCD imge be more backward compatible?

I was able to put the Win98se disk in my Win98fe machine as a slave and do the rips with Alcohol. Back on the Win98se machine, it works! Thanks again, firage.

The other option is to find No CD cracks. I do this with the majority of my games so I don't need to load up the iso at all.

Thanks, chinny22. I thought of that and I've used no-cd cracks in the past for games that only use the CD for verification or music. I only use them as a last resort now, especially for multi-disc games (ex: Myst II and III) since those usually involve dumping the CD files on the hard drive. With a lot of games that can get messy, and with a small hard drive it can get full fast.

Dracolich wrote on 2021-11-22, 01:07:

Thanks, firage, for the info. I got the Alcohol 120% 2.0 from Phil's Computer Lab, installed it on my main win7 PC, and ripped the 2 CDs for MW4. After transferring the new images to the Win98 PC DaemonTools can't read them.
I quickly found that the last Alcohol for Win98 is a 1.9.5.x, so I found a copy and put it on the Win98 PC, but the PC froze in the middle of ripping. I think that's a separate issue related to usb and/or the mobo.
I might try using a PCem virtual machine but that will take a while. Is there a way to create a backward compatible image with recent software? Would a CloneCD imge be more backward compatible?

The MDF/MDS specification changed with Alcohol 120% version 1.9.6 1.9.7, which was way back in 2006 2008, unfortunately. The last version before that was 1.9.5.4521 1.9.6.5429, and indeed the final version supporting 98/ME is 1.9.5.3105. It can be a bit of a PITA.

Thanks for the info. I'll keep both versions. The later will be nice if I need it for xp-7 era stuff, and the older will be essential in case I run into this with any other 9x games.

virtual clone drive can read newer mdf/mds files

Seems promising. Virtual CloneDrive might be a freeware alternative to DT if you're creating images on modern systems. Appears they dropped pre-XP support in 5.5.1.0? Will have to check out how it works sometime.

These are the versions for the last time I tested. Currently in the process of setting up VMs for all Windows OS for testing like this since all my VMs are old.

95 - SetupVirtualCloneDrive5440
98-ME-NT4 - SetupVirtualCloneDrive5450
Windows 2000 - SetupVCD5500

Can't provide any input on emulating copy protection since I was disgusted with it in 2003 or so said to hell with it and went crack only.

Thanks, very good to know!

I've tested more builds of Alcohol 120% today and it seems I have to correct myself on where it lost compatibility with DT 3.47. Version 1.9.6.5429 still works (under XP). The first version producing MDS files that wouldn't mount was 1.9.7.