yes,

the install disc puts all the data onto your PC hard drive, so its physically loaded onto the computer already, all it needs the disc for when you double click the icon, is to make sure that you have the disc (i.e. bought the game yourself)

to stop people loading it onto their mates machines for free.

cos when i start my other games, like GTA San Andreas, it spins the disc up for about 30secs, and once i am into the game and about to start, the disc spins down and stops in the drive.

so its not actually reading any game data (data needed for the game to physcially run) just a piracy check basically

i have played cracked games in the past, where you have to move the .exe file into another location....

just cant remember the exact details, which is the problem