This requirement persists even if you are upgrading to a newer version, like FineCut 9. As noted in an official upgrade notice, the software will request an older version of the Mimaki FineCut CD-ROM during installation. Without it, you are locked out, even if you have a serial number.
Modified files can cause random software crashes midway through a complex vinyl-cutting job, wasting expensive media. mimaki finecut 8 cd-rom iso
Unlike standard software updates, full installations of older FineCut versions often required the original system CD-ROM to be inserted during setup to prove ownership. This requirement persists even if you are upgrading