I was disappointed to find that the program will only run with DVD1 in the DVD drive. As we are well aware. DVDs are easily scratched or damaged, and then become unreadable. So what happens then? The whole game becomes unplayable. And why don’t they mention this in the handbook?
To make matters worse, DVD1 is not easily copyable.
Is it possible to make a useable USB dongle using DVD1, to replace the fragile and irreplaceable original?
Genuinely can’t believe what i’ve just read. You’re complaining that you bought a physical disc and that it could get damaged? Well obviously? What did you expect? It’s been this way since the Playstation 1. You bought a disc and then complain that you received a disc? I’m lost.
Plenty of PC software ships on CD and doesnt require the disk to be present in the drive once installed so his complaint is actually perfectly reasonable. Many people buy software on CD so they dont have to rely on downloads and have a hard copy as a backup. The answer to the OP is to create an iso from disk one then mount the ISO on your PC. FS will then use that instead of disk one when booting up and you can safely store your CD somewhere safe.
Nice to see someone helpfully and politely giving someone a solution. Amazing that such help is not given by people who want to have a Tech Alpha insider Title. I use the same solution (with the Virtual CloneDrive’ freeware app for my x-plane DVD1.
Thanks for this reply - that was exactly the information I needed.
Thank you for taking the trouble to answer my query, even though you couldn’t understand the problem.
Please see the helpful answers below.
I created an image using IMGBurn software then mounted and is working fine. CD1 now safely tucked away in the box 
Thanks VOP
Thank you. The ISO works a treat.