You're looking for information on a no-CD patch for Age of Empires 2: The Conquerors, specifically patch 10c, and possibly a free version. Here's what I can put together for you:

These modern versions offer:

CD in the drive to play single-player or host games was a constant hurdle. The "no-CD" patch—a modified executable ( age2_x1.exe )—emerged as a vital tool for players.

without the hassle of original discs, securing the alongside a no-CD executable is the standard way to modernize the experience. Essential Files for Setup