Sun Mar 3 21:01:40 2002

EA sez that Win2K isn't supported, and the game won't even install -- it just barfs up a warning message saying you can't use 2K!  I've sent her instructions on how to install the APCOMPAT program from the Win2K CD, but I'm not sure if it'll help her; it seems to be geared to apps that are already installed.

So, I'm looking for suggestions on any possibility of getting the game installed and running.  I know that other EA games (as well as from others) can be successfully installed in 2K, despite their supposed incompatibility.  I've done some searching at places like ntcompatible.com but haven't found the answer yet.  I implore the denizens of OSY for a solution!

Oh, and my gawd is EA's site amazingly sloooow...

Sun Mar 3 21:22:00 2002

So, the solution is:

a) ream EA managers with 12" rough wooden poles repeatedly

b) Pirate all EA games, never pay any money for an EA product ever, and

c) install CD cracks on any EA games you already own.

Simple!

Sun Mar 3 21:30:10 2002

Though your solution step #1 will be carried out regardless of the outcome.

Strangely enough, Microsoft's Golf 2001 works just fine under Windows 2000.  Imagine that.

Sun Mar 3 21:42:46 2002

My fondest wish would be that Sega decimates EA in the sports game arena, now that they are developing for all platforms.

Mon Mar 4 02:28:43 2002

Agreed re: Sega.

All hail 3DO and their [url=http://www.3do.com/highheat/2003/main.html]new version of High Heat Baseball![/url]

Suck on it, EA!

Mon Mar 4 02:53:12 2002

They might was well make DOS Only software.

Mon Mar 4 02:55:59 2002

OR, run VMWare so she can play the game.

OR, take it back.

OR install 98.

OR tell her to quit playing shit games.

Mon Mar 4 03:22:43 2002

from DeAthe posted at 9:55 pm on Mar. 3, 2002

If it's using safedisc, then get a generic safedisc unwrapper to install the game. Most likely it's using a broken CD format of intentional bad spots on the cd to check for installation. Get a crack, OR install it on your box, burn the install to a new CD, copy installed files to her HD, add the registry entries, and then use a nocd crack on it.

I appreciate the recommendation, but the original problem is that the game's installer won't run because it detects the version of Windows that's installed and, when it detects Windows 2000, stops you dead in your tracks as if you just told your SO that you have herpes right in the middle of intercourse.

OR, run VMWare so she can play the game.

Hadn't considered that, mainly cuz I haven't used it myself.  Is it a free app?  Cuz if it ain't, she probably won't go for it.

OR, take it back.

I'd recommend that, but the game's not hers and I don't know how long ago (or where) it was purchased.

OR install 98.

<Sgt. Schultz>Hah, jolly joker.</Sgt. Schultz>

That's not even an option.  Not only because I don't want to field the inevitable support questions (as happens being "the computer guy" in the family), but mostly because she's in France and I'm in the US.

OR tell her to quit playing shit games.

Ain't her game, just her computer.

Tue Mar 5 07:35:30 2002

Tue Mar 5 15:12:37 2002

On another damn-EA note, I was helping a family last night with WinXP.  Seems all their games installed OK except for Need for Speed: High Stakes from (you guessed it) EA.  Where's the :shakeshead: emoticon when you need it?  (I'm gonna search for possible solutions, just didn't have time last night.)

Tue Mar 5 15:18:21 2002

Tue Mar 5 18:55:18 2002

Woo!

Tue Mar 5 20:20:46 2002

from Riso posted at 10:18 am on Mar. 5, 2002

There's a safedisc fix by msft.

For which issue, and how does it resolve the problem?  (I'm curious, since you didn't really elaborate on it. ;))

My SIL's problem is that the game won't install cuz it detects Win2K immediately.  The other issue is that NFS:HS installs OK, but when you run it, it says "please insert game CD" even though the CD has never left the *%#@ drive.  :mad:

For the latter, I'm going to look for a no-CD fix.  For the former, I might just get her MS Links 2001.

Tue Mar 5 22:11:25 2002

Sid Meier can't go wrong, except for unpatched Civ 3.

Wed Mar 6 08:12:37 2002

Bought the new version, then returned it, when I found out it didn't work with 2k.

Call it 2001, and then in fine print, doesn't work with 2k...
go figure...
gs

Wed Mar 6 08:21:15 2002

The other issue is that NFS:HS installs OK, but when you run it, it says "please insert game CD" even though the CD has never left the *%#@ drive.  

Yea, that's the fix he was talking about.... Safedisc wasn't compatible with Win2k/XP ( that version anyway ).
A nocd would be easiest.

Did she have any luck with appcompat? That *should* work, xp made it truely easy. And it should work with the 'setup.exe' from the install CD.

Wed Mar 6 14:50:09 2002

I haven't heard back from her yet; I expect that it'll be a few days because generally she doesn't get to the cybercafe until the weekend.  I sent her some links and docs on how to use apcompat, and one of her coworkers seems more computer-proficient (at least when we spoke on the phone) so I'm hoping that between them a solution will be enabled.

But I saw Links 2001  for $20 at GameStop, so I might send that with her parents when they visit next month.  It says it works in Win2K, so I'd expect it to work in XP.