Using a Crack with AnyGameStarter
bowrain:
Just click on the AGS shortcuts. I use AGS all the time and I use no cd crack. Just make sure you have the no cd crack properly installed on the latest EP of the AGS setup.
Darby:
Tried that too, but it just asks me for the BV disc. Is the AGS AppFiles folder indeed proper place for the crack?
Edit: I've tried five combinations of setups for getting this damned thing to work, but still no go.
Combo 1: BV crack is in C:\Program Files\EA GAMES\The Sims 2 BonVoyage\TSBin and I click the BV crack shortcut to launch.
It tells me I'm running the wrong version and need to run Apartment Life instead. I assume this setup has no way of recognizing that I'm trying to launch an AnyGame as opposed to the full game.
Combo 2: BV crack remains in TSBin folder and I click the AGS shortcut to launch.
It tells me to insert the BV CD. Makes sense as the AGS shortcut is pointed to "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\My Documents\AnyGameStarter\AppFiles\hidcon.exe" Start_AnyGame1.bat -f -f -noparam - not the BV crack.
Combo 3: BV crack is now in "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\My Documents\AnyGameStarter\AppFiles\BVNOCD.exe.exe", which is the same folder the AGS shortcut points to. My thinking is that in an AnyGame, the "hidcon.exe" is analogous to the EP6 exe in the BV TSBin folder, so it seems to make sense that might be where the BV crack needs to go. But, I attempt to launch with the BV crack and that's when I get the red circle w/white "X" error.
Combo 4: Same as combo 3, except I try to launch with the AGS shortcut.
I get the same result as combo 2 wherein I'm told to insert the BV CD. So having the BV crack in the same folder as the hidcon.exe does not get AGS's attention.
One last thing I tried was to point the AGS shortcut to here: "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\My Documents\AnyGameStarter\AppFiles\BVNOCD.exe.exe". Got the red circle w/white "X" error again, as in combo 3.
I'm totally out of ideas. Again, halp? :'(
Mootilda:
Quote from: Darby on 2008 October 17, 16:01:29
Combo 1: BV crack is in C:\Program Files\EA GAMES\The Sims 2 BonVoyage\TSBin and I click the BV crack shortcut to launch.
It tells me I'm running the wrong version and need to run Apartment Life instead. I assume this setup has no way of recognizing that I'm trying to launch an AnyGame as opposed to the full game.
Combo 2: BV crack remains in TSBin folder and I click the AGS shortcut to launch.
It tells me to insert the BV CD. Makes sense as the AGS shortcut is pointed to "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\My Documents\AnyGameStarter\AppFiles\hidcon.exe" Start_AnyGame1.bat -f -f -noparam - not the BV crack.
Combo 3: BV crack is now in "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\My Documents\AnyGameStarter\AppFiles\BVNOCD.exe.exe", which is the same folder the AGS shortcut points to. My thinking is that in an AnyGame, the "hidcon.exe" is analogous to the EP6 exe in the BV TSBin folder, so it seems to make sense that might be where the BV crack needs to go. But, I attempt to launch with the BV crack and that's when I get the red circle w/white "X" error.
Combo 4: Same as combo 3, except I try to launch with the AGS shortcut.
I get the same result as combo 2 wherein I'm told to insert the BV CD. So having the BV crack in the same folder as the hidcon.exe does not get AGS's attention.
One last thing I tried was to point the AGS shortcut to here: "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\My Documents\AnyGameStarter\AppFiles\BVNOCD.exe.exe". Got the red circle w/white "X" error again, as in combo 3.
I'm totally out of ideas. Again, halp? :'(
I believe that you have two options:
1) Rename the original Sims2EP<x>.exe to Sims2EP<x>.SecuROM. Rename the no-cd to Sims2EP<x>.exe. Then run AGS as usual
2) Look though the AGS startup procedures until you find where it runs Sims2EP<x>.exe. Change that part of the procedure to run your oddly named no-cd instead.
I am using option #1 without any problems. However, I have also made changes to the AGS startup procedure to run forcecore. Hint: look for something like %GameEXE%...
More info:
hidcon.exe is just running an invisible command prompt... look through the BAT files instead. No access to my game machine at the moment, so I can't tell you the exact name. If you're still having problems, I'll get you more info later.
Oh, one other thing. If you actually ran a SecuROM exe during your attempts, you may have SecuROM on your system now. That's why I prefer to rename the original EXE to something useless and replace it entirely with the no-cd. I also like to rename the launcher to .SecuROM and replace it with FreeCell.
Darby:
Quote from: Mootilda on 2008 October 18, 23:29:33
I believe that you have two options:
1) Rename the original Sims2EP<x>.exe to Sims2EP<x>.SecuROM. Rename the no-cd to Sims2EP<x>.exe. Then run AGS as usual
Fanfuckingtastic, Mootilda - it worked!!! And made sense as soon as I read it! I kept feeling like I had all the pieces of the puzzle and just needed the right configuration, but I've been too sleep deprived to think straight. Thank you for helping this addled one. :D
Just for fun FYI: Although I'm pretty sure I succeeded in removing SecuROM as per Zazazu's instructions, I decided there were so many other piddly little issues built up in my machine that it was time to just learn how to reformat the damn thing and be done with it. Which I did. Since then, the game discs have only been used to reinstall (admin account) and I've got a lean, clean-running, SecuROM free machine here. ;D
Anyway, as much as I've recently learned about my computer, I'm glad your first idea worked as I don't think I'd have quite been up to tackling your other suggestions.
Thanks again, Mootilda! *Running off to play my apoc 'hood for the first time in AGES!*
Argon:
Quote from: Gwill on 2008 October 17, 07:30:11
Last I checked http://www.gamecopyworld.com had no-cd cracks for every EP with and without patch installed.
Actually that's not entirely true, University and the standalone version of Nightlife never got a crack and the base game never got a completely working crack because build mode never worked. (but you can probably use the deluxe cracks for the base game and NL) The only games that have any of the patched game cracks are Bon Voyage, Freetime, and Apartment Life.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page