In 2008, most PC games used physical media for verification. The game files were installed on the hard drive, but the disc had to remain in the tray to act as a "key". Players sought No-CD cracks for several practical reasons:
To prevent wear and tear on original discs, which were prone to scratching. Nhl 09 No Cd Crack
To avoid manually swapping discs when switching between different games. In 2008, most PC games used physical media for verification
Unlike the "next-gen" versions for Xbox 360 and PS3, the PC version was based on the older PlayStation 2 engine, which made it highly accessible for lower-end hardware of the era. Why "No CD" Patches Exist Nhl 09 No Cd Crack