Is it possible to read a PC CD-ROM on Mac?

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Victor46542 Posted messages 25 Status Membre -  
 orkael -
Hello,

I would like to know if it is possible, through some manipulation or software, to read CD-ROMs (WARNING these are commercially purchased CD-ROMs, they are CD-ROMs about art, not burned CD-ROMs)

I think the answer is no and that I have to read my PC CD on my virtual PC installed via VMware Fusion, but you never know, I prefer to ask!

Thank you in advance for your responses!
Configuration: Mac OS X Safari 528.16

6 réponses

Anonymous user
 
Hello,

The Mac can read all commercial CD-ROMs. It can even create a CD-ROM for PC. The problem, therefore, is not the reading of this CD-ROM, but its content.

Let's suppose the CD-ROM contains images in jpeg format: in this case, the Mac will have no difficulty displaying these images.
If the CD-ROM contains text files, in text format (.txt, .rtf, .doc, etc...), the Mac will also be able to read all these files.
If the CD-ROM contains videos in .avi, .mpeg, .mp4, etc. format, the Mac will again have no difficulty reading these files.

Now, if the CD-ROM contains an application (a software), designed only for Windows, a software whose suffix is therefore ".exe", in this case, the Mac will only be able to read it if it is a Mac with an Intel processor and if it has software allowing it to execute this type of software.

You have understood, the medium, in this case a CD-ROM, is not the problem. The question only arises regarding the content of the medium. Whether it be a CD-ROM, a DVD, or a hard drive, it’s the same.

In this message, there is a section named: Read .exe files on Mac and/or Install Windows on Mac , and in this section, you will find links that will lead you to messages explaining the available possibilities for this.

Best regards
--
Sanspseudo - Francis
iMac-G5 - 2ghz - 2Go - Mac OS 10.5.6
38
Victor46542
 
Thank you for your response!!!!!!

I will check the links

Thanks again
0
orkael Posted messages 2 Registration date   Status Membre Last intervention  
 
Hello
I am on Mac OS Snow Leopard
I have several CD-ROMs dating back a few years (since their price is still indicated in Francs!), particularly one about the Musée d'Orsay, and one about the Louvre. Since I've had a Mac (October 2007), I admit that I never took the time to look at these CD-ROMs.
I tried to read one. Two problems arose:
1) First, it didn't even appear in the Finder and thus impossible to eject. Before shutting down my computer, I searched through my files and suddenly, oh miracle, the characteristic sound of a disk being read. But alas
2) In the content of the CD-ROM, there is an image of a street with a cross over it, with the message, when I click on it "This disk cannot be read because the Classic environment is no longer supported."

What should I do? I haven't tried to read them with a PC yet
Are all my CD-ROMs destined for the trash? Will I have hope of selling them second-hand, and if so, to what type of user (more specifically, with what type of device)?
Thank you for your answers
0
Elitemoumoute Posted messages 443 Status Membre 91
 
http://wiki.winehq.org/MacOSX/Installing

Look at this, it's in English,
however, I can't help you much, I don't use Mac.
--
Configuration: Linux Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty Jackalope
Mozilla Firefox 3.0.10
5
Victor46542 Posted messages 25 Status Membre 1
 
Thank you, I will have a look!!

Thank you so much.
1
Anonymous user
 
Hello,

Your CDs or DVDs date back to the distant time when Macs ran on Mac OS 8, 9... but not yet on Mac OS 10. Since the first version of Mac OS 10, Apple incorporated into this system a software layer that allows for the emulation of older systems. This layer is called Classic. This was intended to enable the use of older software designed for Mac OS versions prior to 10.

But since Mac OS 10.5, and since Macs running on Intel processors, this software layer called Classic is no longer supported.

There is a solution that I haven't bothered to test yet, called SheepShaver.
This utility claims to be able to simulate an older version of Mac OS.

Otherwise, I myself have several CDs or DVDs of this type... (The Louvre, Tutankhamun, The Temples of Angkor, etc...), and these CDs or DVDs were all compatible with Mac and PC.
So there remains the possibility of trying to read them on a PC.
Back then, PCs were running on Windows 95 if I remember correctly, and I think XP or Vista should be able to read these CDs/DVDs, since there wasn't as sharp a break between Windows 95 and XP as there was between Mac OS 9 and versions 10. The very foundations of the versions of Mac OS are radically different between the versions before and after Mac OS 10.

If you test SheepShaver to continue reading these discs on Mac OS 10, and are satisfied with the results, be sure to let us know.

Best regards
--
Sanspseudo - Francis
iMac Intel Mac under OS 10.6 + iMac-G5 under Mac OS 10.5
1
orkael
 
Sanspseudo You're the best! THANK YOU!
Your answers are always quick, clear and detailed.
Tomorrow I will go test your solution and won't fail to keep you informed.
Until then
Best regards
Orkael
0
orkael
 
Hello Francis
I went to the SheepShaver website, but it says:
MacOS X as a guest is not supported.
MacOS X doesn't run under SheepShaver.

So I guess it's not worth downloading it???
0
Anonymous user
 
Good evening again,

Yes. It is important to understand the meaning of these phrases.
SheepShaver is an application that cannot run Mac OS 10 as a simulated OS, under Linux or Windows for example. That's not what it's intended for.

It is said: "MacOS X as a guest is not supported" => as a guest = as a host
or
"MacOS X doesn't run under SheepShaver" => under = sous SheepShaver, so it must be understood that Mac OS 10 in SheepShaver means Mac OS 10 is not supported in SheepShaver.

But the current need is the opposite...SheepShaver must run in Mac OS 10, and Mac OS 9, (or Classic), in SheepShaver..

The site says:
"Runs MacOS 7.5.2 thru 9.0.4" => runs Mac OS 7.5.2 up to Mac OS 9.04

The only question I haven’t looked into, as I can be lazy at times, is: do you need to have a version of Mac OS 9 for SheepShaver to be able to emulate it?
Explanations: when Mac OS 10 could emulate Mac OS 9, it needed a "System Folder" present at the root of the hard drive, and this "System Folder" had to contain the Mac OS 9.2 system with its associated files.

Strangely, SheepShaver not only does not mention Mac OS 9.2, and stops at Mac OS 9.04, but also accepts emulating Mac OS 7.5.2 up to 9.04, therefore including Mac OS 8 versions as well. So it's even more capable than Mac OS 10 itself which required the presence of Mac OS 9.2!
Good for that. It should be noted that Apple has made the complete versions of Mac OS 7.5 available for free download.
The question remains whether these CDs will suffice. Personally, I used them under Mac OS 8 and 9

--
Sanspseudo - Francis
iMac Intel Mac running OS 10.6 + iMac-G5 running Mac OS 10.5
1
orkael
 
Hello Sanspseudo
I've almost understood everything, wow!!!! But I'm far from having your knowledge, so I think I'll refrain from downloading SheepShaver. I'm perfectly bilingual in English, but not in computer language!
Is there anyone who has the time to try it and share their experience with us??????
In any case, thank you and have a great weekend!
0
Elitemoumoute Posted messages 443 Status Membre 91
 
Hello,

can you install WineHQ
https://www.winehq.org/
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Configuration: Linux Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty Jackalope
Mozilla Firefox 3.0.10
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Victor46542 Posted messages 25 Status Membre 1
 
Hello

thanks for your response but I'm sorry I can't see where the link is to download WineHQ on Mac? I tried the site on Clubic, it’s there but the download doesn't work, so if you could help me out, that would be great

thanks in advance
0