O.k. so I'm usually a console gamer, I just recently picked up a new PC and decided that I would see what this machine can do.  So I run to the local Target pick up a copy of NBA 2k10 on clearance for only $5 and installed it.  Now the game is installed but I'm noticing it doesn't seem to give me the option to not use the actual DVD disc, seems like SecureRom wants the disc.  The machine has a lot of memory in it and I would rather just install the whole disc and toss it to the side and not have to use it while playing.  Is there a way to do this?  Should I have to do anything special?  I know I could have picked up the game on Steam for $20 and not had to worry about having a disc, so I would imagine that installing all the contents from the disc should be possible.

O.k. so I was able to get steam to make a short cut but I still need the disc to play it because its just a short cut.  If I knew how to get the product key from the Disc I can just put it in steam and that should work, but again I don't have a clue on how to get the product key.  I have look in the instruction booklet, on the disc. in the disc and all over the case, but there doesn't seem to be any at least from where i'm looking. 
 
I would think there is a way to get the product key, I have heard and just recently tried a program called 
Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder v2.0.1  but it did not seem to be able to help me on this.
 
 If anyone else has any helpful info I would really appreciate it.

That's cute. I would advise you to get a NoCD crack, but then you'll stumble upon dozens of sites that will infect your PC with the most wondrous stuff.
 

" @Meowayne:  It seems odd to me that PC Disc users would have to go to such extremes to play games with out a Disc.  Now is this with all DVD disc games?  Or is it only with some DVD disc games?  And if it is just with some disc games is there anyway of finding out which disc games only allow disc to be in machine play and which ones allow no disc.  At this point it seems to me that Steam has a bit of a advantage over the retail stores. "

Almost all PC games nowadays require you to have the disc in the drive as a form of piracy protection. This has been done a lot of different ways since the early days of PC gaming (requiring players to refer to printed code wheels, find words on specific pages of the printed manual, etc). Ubisoft now even requires players to be online to be able to play Assassin's Creed 2 for the PC, and will stop the game if you have network connection issues etc.

Thanks everyone for the information.  I guess next time I'll do a little research before hand.  But either way it was only $5 so i don't mind to much.
 
@sgt_match:  I don't usually play sports games and besides the clearance price really sold it for me.  With that said the game isn't that bad.

It's an early form of drm, before all this securerom stuff, it's how developers protect their games from pirates. Obviously it didn't work, however it doesn't read anything from the disc, only uses it to check that you do have the game, it's all streamed from the hardrive usually.  
 
I wouldn't throw anything away, you need the cd key. I lost one of them, I can't play unreal tournment 3 anymore until I find my instruction booklet, so don't throw anything away.

" @agentboolen:  http://m0007.gamecopyworld.com/games/pc_nba_2010.shtml Boom! "

" @agentboolen:  http://m0007.gamecopyworld.com/games/pc_nba_2010.shtml Boom! "

" That's cute. I would advise you to get a NoCD crack, but then you'll stumble upon dozens of sites that will infect your PC with the most wondrous stuff.   "

I use no-cd patches, fuck what people say, I bought the game fair and square and now I want to play it without constantly swapping disks in and out of my DVD drive.
 
Oh and by the way, the whole game does install onto your harddrive, having the cd in the computer while you start up the game is for security reasons, it doesnt load any game data off the disk.

" I use no-cd patches, fuck what people say, I bought the game fair and square and now I want to play it without constantly swapping disks in and out of my DVD drive.  Oh and by the way, the whole game does install onto your harddrive, having the cd in the computer while you start up the game is for security reasons, it doesnt load any game data off the disk. "

" @Black_Raven said:

" I use no-cd patches, fuck what people say, I bought the game fair and square and now I want to play it without constantly swapping disks in and out of my DVD drive.  Oh and by the way, the whole game does install onto your harddrive, having the cd in the computer while you start up the game is for security reasons, it doesnt load any game data off the disk. "

Just be careful, no-cd patches can contain viruses.  Steam has NBA 2k10, so perhaps you can activate it through it? "

Buy your games from Steam in the future. No CD necesary.

You're best bet for NO-CD cracks would be a private tracker like Demonoid. If you're interested I could get you a invite. I have an extremely noisy DVD drive which makes playing games while the disk is in a very bad idea.