To launch directly, simply double-click the StarCraft.exe . You will bypass the CD check if you have the proper .mpq files.

: Many classic mods and custom maps are only compatible with version 1.16.1 and do not work on newer patches. Setting Up a Portable Install Issues activating direct play - Microsoft Q&A

: Features an "Enable CPU Throttling" option to prevent the game from consuming excessive CPU cycles on modern systems.

StarCraft: Brood War v1.161 in portable form is a modern convenience—it is a time capsule of robust, offline-first LAN gaming. While Remastered offers graphical polish and integrated matchmaking, the DirectPlay-based v1.161 portable install remains the only truly self-contained, no-internet, no-installation method to launch a 4v4 fastest map on a dozen laptops in under 10 minutes.

You run the .exe , and you are immediately looking at the classic 1998 menu: Single Player, Multiplayer, Options, Exit.