Author Topic: FF8 (PC) Copying *.pak Files to HD for Faster Loading (Read 3768 times)

delta · « **on:** 2004-04-04 17:59:58 »

Would this actually work? I have done a full install of the game, but I still note fractions of a second delays when playing FMV's, new sound effects, etc.

This shouldn't normally happen, as I have a very high-end machine, so I suspected that it is the drive loading the files from the CD. Sure enough, it was.

I have read about 70% of all posts in this forum, but none seems to address my question. If it has been asked before, then can someone point me there? Thanks.

Also, some screenshots of FF8 given here had quite a high amount of aliasing. This was my problem also on my old desktop as well, but now (on my laptop with an ATI Mobility Radeon 9000, Pentium 4 3.2GHz with HT) everything looks real nice, well at least nicer.

Anyway, yah. Can anyone help me? I really hope this can be done. I tried copying it to various directories within the FF8 installation folder, but none seems to work (of course I may have missed something, or it actually worked but I was just too frustrated to notice). Thanks again!

Edit 1: Fixed typos.

Aaron · « **Reply #1 on:** 2004-04-04 18:07:24 »

I don't think you can just copy the files (because of copy protection), but you could make images of the CDs and use some kind of virtual drive software (i.e. CloneCD, Alcohol 120%) to get the movies to run off of your hard drive.

delta · « **Reply #2 on:** 2004-04-04 18:10:42 »

Hm. It doesn't really seem as if there is copy protection. I attempted to copy it (via Windows Explorer), no errors. I also tried making a backup of the CD with CloneCD and it didn't give me any bad sectors (which is a good sign of copy protection).

Or am I mistaken?

Aaron · « **Reply #3 on:** 2004-04-04 18:23:13 »

Well by "copy protection," I meant more that it's not just gonna play the movies from wherever you put them, it wants them on the CD. With older games, you could copy them to the hard drive and install them from there and the game would be perfectly happy to run. With FF7, you can copy the movies to your hard drive and change the movie path in the registry and the movies will play. But with FF8, I think you're gonna need to use virtual CDs to get it to work off of your hard drive.

delta · « **Reply #4 on:** 2004-04-04 18:26:56 »

I see. Actually, that is the method I have been using. But I wanted to believe there was an easier method; swapping images when I need new discs ain't exactly difficult but it's a hassle. Anyway, thank you. I'll still continue to search if the easier method is possible.

Edit 1: Fixed typo