I have about 1600 games in chessmaster format that I want to convert to *.pgn so I can load them into my database, create diagrams and such using scid and chessmaker. 

Chessmaster will convert these games one at a time, but that seems a little tedious. Plus any notes that I had will be lost.

Does anybody know of a little download that will convert each of these games for me all at once?

Not sure if you've considered this, but one thing you could do is import the games to your own personal CM database and then export the games as a PGN. Once you have the games in the CM database, the export is easy, but I think getting them there in the first place is a bit tedious. I believe you have to: (1) load the game in training mode; (2) click over to database mode; (3) go to the "copy game from training" function; (4) go to the "add game to database" function. 

However, there may be a way to create your own database and then import CM games directly. I know you can do this with a multi-game PGN file, so perhaps you could do it by Ctrl-clicking multiple CMG files.  If you haven't already, try checking the database options within CM, since exporting a PGN is easy once you have created a CM database.

Unfortunately, I do believe that adding the games to  your own database erases all the notes. Not sure what the heck was going through the developers' minds when they designed their database.

A final option may be asking on the Ubisoft CM forums. Someone there may have dealt with the same problem.

Hope this helps.

thanks, I'll have to experiment a little further.

a complication I neglected to mention originally was that the evil ex got the chessmaster install disk as part of the divorce. so without investing in a new copy, I'm pretty much stuck.

Did you try installing the three patches?  One of them (not sure which) allows you to play the game without the CD.  I'm not sure if you need the CD in the drive to install the patch though... 

unfortunately I don't have a working install or the install disk...divorces will do that.

I have only the saved games.