How to run a mdf/mds game?

[COMPANION❤CUBE]

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[Mahjik]

They are disk images. You mount them like they are an ISO.

[COMPANION❤CUBE]

Publicado originalmente por Mahjik:

They are disk images. You mount them like they are an ISO.

Okay go on, which program and how?

[Noi Tani Gami]

Good question. I feel with you.
There are programs for Arch Linux to solve this task.
But with my latest stand of knowledge, which is more than a year ago, i'm afraid to say that the only way for installing such kind of cd-emulator is to use the terminal and then run a program called 'pakman' for installing a cd-emulator which can read mdf/mds-images in Steam Deck / Steam OS. Therefore you will also need to create a user password and deactivate the read-only-rule of steam-os.

Pakman is similiar to Synaptics on Ubuntu. You can install lots of stuff with it, but i highly suggest not to use 'pakman'. I did it two times. As soon as you run 'pakman' you will change/break your whole steam-os, because pakman is converting steam-os into a full arch-linux-distribution. This will break lots of things and your steam deck will also use/need significant more more power/current from battery.

But yes, i would also like to know about a less intrusive way, to install such kind of cd-emulator in steam deck too.

who ever knows howto, please tell us :).

[Mahjik]

Try this thread:

https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/1ejz7to/mounting_an_iso_disc_image_file/

[WarnerCK]

Publicado originalmente por Noi Tani Gami:

Thx, @Mahjik,,
But its about mdf/mds files, not simple iso-files. Iso's are more ore less just some kind of easy zip-files.
In my understanding and experience , opening mdf/mds need a driver, which needs to be installed deep into os. Steam-OS doesn't allow this ...
I'm no expert, please correct me if i'm wrong.

ISO files are just images of optical discs (ISO 9660). MDF files are proprietary (Alcohol 120%) images of optical discs.

PowerISO (available on Flathub, so installable through Discover) might be able to manipulate them.

[WarnerCK]

Publicado originalmente por Noi Tani Gami:

@WarnerCK
About the ISO-File stuff, you just repeated me. They are kinda zipped CD-ROMs

They aren't zipped. They don't need a driver.

PowerISO and mdf/mds-files ... show us how.
WE WANT SOLUTIONS:

If you have an MDF file to try, just try it. I don't, and I have no interest in getting one or using one.

[Noi Tani Gami]

"They aren't zipped. They don't need a driver."

I used this Metapher for easier understanding, and you know it.

"If you have an MDF file to try, just try it. I don't, and I have no interest in getting one or using one."

That's helping a lot.

[Mahjik]

As WarnerCK pointed out, ISO and MDF are the same thing just in different formats. Most programs that will mount a ISO, will also mount a MDF.

[Mahjik]

https://www.poweriso.com/tutorials/features.htm

[COMPANION❤CUBE]

Publicado originalmente por Mahjik:

Try this thread:

https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/1ejz7to/mounting_an_iso_disc_image_file/

this doesn't works for a few reasons. First is that the exact program they use in video is no longer on Discover and secondly, the alternative program i used doesn't recognize it as thus has no mount option and not even PowerIso manages to do something with it.

[COMPANION❤CUBE]

Publicado originalmente por Mahjik:

https://www.poweriso.com/tutorials/features.htm

although the link says it's a tutorial, i fail to find one explaining how it PowerIso can be used for mdf/mds. Trying to open the mdf just closes/crashes the program, trying to extract it says i need to save it first? Whatever that means

[Mahjik]

Publicado originalmente por COMPANION❤CUBE:

Publicado originalmente por Mahjik:

Try this thread:

https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/1ejz7to/mounting_an_iso_disc_image_file/

this doesn't works for a few reasons. First is that the exact program they use in video is no longer on Discover and secondly, the alternative program i used doesn't recognize it as thus has no mount option and not even PowerIso manages to do something with it.

PowerISO can extract MDF. You can extract it and build it as an ISO (which is a more useful format).

[Noi Tani Gami]

Seems like we had a lot funny talk about howto totally clearly without a doubt of howto convert mdf/mds-files into a folder.

That's excactly what COMPANION❤CUBE was asking for.
-_-

He for sure didn't wanted to know, how to create a virtual cd-drive in Steam Deck and how to load mdf/mds files into this drive.
Edit: That last sentence was sarcasm

[Mahjik]

Most links are going to tell you to convert the MDF to ISO, then use current ISO tooling. There is a reason MDF is not longer used. However, go at it anyway you want.

[COMPANION❤CUBE]

my... PowerIso crashes when trying to open the converted to Iso file. I don't know if it's a problem with this specific file or with the program but i'll try other mdf later