How a fun game turned into a big headache

[BlinkOk]

try thids one, it's free;
http://www.grisoft.com

[quinox]

You could always try to change your discs for new ones :shrug:

[FloydBishop]

Originally posted by quinox
You could always try to change your discs for new ones :shrug:

The problem is that there are a lot of people having this same problem. There's nothing wrong with the CD's, as I was able to successfully copy their contents over to my hard drive.

Super frustrating!!

[imashination]

1) You should have bought the DVD version ;-)

2) The DVD version installed on my machine first time, but on the girlfriends it did exactly as you described, failing at a certain point even though its a new drive and new disc. We ended up mounting the virtual drive over the network and installing it that way. She then downloaded the no CD crack.

[CgFX]

Originally posted by imashination
We ended up mounting the virtual drive over the network and installing it that way. She then downloaded the no CD crack.
Do you pirate your content creation applications too?

[stephen2002]

Originally posted by CgFX
Do you pirate your content creation applications too?

That was not necessary. It sounds like he had bought the software, the install disk wouldn't work, so he found a way around it.

If you had a legit copy of something but wanted to install it on a computer with no optical drive what would you do?? Probably something similar.

[FloydBishop]

Originally posted by imashination
1) You should have bought the DVD version ;-)

2) The DVD version installed on my machine first time, but on the girlfriends it did exactly as you described, failing at a certain point even though its a new drive and new disc. We ended up mounting the virtual drive over the network and installing it that way. She then downloaded the no CD crack.

In my continuing search for a solution, it sounds like the DVD is causing the same problem for some people. Kind of hit or miss it seems.

Too bad for such a high profile game.

[Rabid pitbull]

Well to make you feel better, when the game came out I bought two copies one for myself and one for my son. I had no problem installing on my machine, but on our 2nd pc I also got some strange errors. After several attempts with major errors causing the machine to shut off, it did install. I actually used my set of disks and his serial number since the last disk seemed defective. Was able to play for several days with some strange errors occuring then one day it would not boot up! Turns out the hard drive of only 3 months was cooked.

I had no problems with western digital getting the hd replaced, and then again installed the game with my set of disks. Game runs fine no problems at all and lucky me the game disk is fine. Wasn't too fun to have to rebuild the system over a game though.

Still not sure what exactly happend, but I would never put these disks into any computer again! :rolleyes:

[raz-0]

there's a simple solution to this. If you see any employee of macrovision.... kill them.

that simple. Macrovision keeps making buggier and buggier versions of their copy protection that just doesn't work. Not one game or application sporting any of their product has prevented it from being pirated. Their answer is to make it less and less usable for anyone, and by making it work on fewer computers period, claiming victory.

for some god-awful reason, the software companies go along with this.

[CgFX]

Originally posted by stephen2002
That was not necessary. It sounds like he had bought the software, the install disk wouldn't work, so he found a way around it.
Hopefully I am wrong (and I will certainly apologize) but read it again. He has it installed and running on two computers.

[CgFX]

[ooops]

[MCronin]

Originally posted by CgFX
Hopefully I am wrong (and I will certainly apologize) but read it again. He has it installed and running on two computers.

So what? If I buy a DVD I expect it to run on more than one DVD player.

[paultheplumber]

Clearly, the solution is to give up on Unreal Tournament and play ThinkTanks.... :p

[Valkyrien]

Originally posted by paultheplumber
Clearly, the solution is to give up on Unreal Tournament and play ThinkTanks.... :p

um....how about no? :p

[FloydBishop]

So, other than choosing a different game, are there any suggestions? I'm really at a loss, and the Atari tech support is taking it's good old time.

[AB09]

Maybe one of the solutions offered in these threads will work for you.

http://www.ataricommunity.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=357295&perpage=30&highlight=install&pagenumber=1
http://www.ataricommunity.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=357804

[CgFX]

Originally posted by MCronin
So what? If I buy a DVD I expect it to run on more than one DVD player.
Not at the same time.

[ivanisavich]

It's the copy protection conflicting with your hardware.

Happened to me a couple of years ago when I rented MechCommander 2. Stupid thing would only run with errors no matter what. Turns out my particular cd drive was one of the ones that the creators of the game labeled as being buggy with the copy protection. It's a shame I returned it before I found out.


Not at the same time.


Then I guess any electronics store that uses a single DVD player to display a movie on several TVs at the same time is technically breaking the law.

[Valkyrien]

Originally posted by ivanisavich

Then I guess any electronics store that uses a single DVD player to display a movie on several TVs at the same time is technically breaking the law.

well...not exactly...:surprised

[FloydBishop]

OK, the latest attempt to get the thing going was to start up using the "Selective Start-up" procedure. Basically, you tell the machine not to load any startup items, and then reboot.

I did this, and made it to the third CD... then the installer failed just as before with the same errors as before.

At this point, this had better be the best game ever.

[Schwinnz]

Have you tried installing it on a Lunix distro if you have one installed ?

Maybe do you have any WindowsUpdate to do ? :shrug:

[elvis]

Originally posted by imashination
2) The DVD version installed on my machine first time, but on the girlfriends it did exactly as you described, failing at a certain point even though its a new drive and new disc. We ended up mounting the virtual drive over the network and installing it that way. She then downloaded the no CD crack.

I know quite a number of people lately who have had such frustration with legitimately installing software that they have resorted to "cracking" their own legal copies of software just to make them work as advertised.

I think software companies need to understand that by employing rediculous licensing techniques they are hurting their own loyal customers more than any pirating group who will have a crack out and working within days of release anyway.

This doesn't just apply to games either. Online/telephone licensing techniques used by Microsoft, Adobe, Discreet, etc are becoming so incredibly painful. I've even known a local Discreet reseller to suggest to his own clients that they crack their legitimate copies of software to make them work, after having had enough time wasted dealing direct with Discreet support trying to license Max6 properly.

Unfortunately as long as software pirates prosper from their actions, there's little we legitimate folk can do if we need this software to make a living.

[heavyness]

i would take the disc's back and try a new set. or swap cd-roms with someone and see if it's your cd-rom. also, try installing in SAFE MODE. works for these people....

http://www.ataricommunity.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=357295&highlight=install


when you get online, add me to your buddylist. the name is...

kole

good luck.

[Vushvush]

It is not uncommon practice for facilities to purchase software, just to turn around and crack it due to licensing issues wasting DAYS.

What happened to trying and make the process as easy as possible for the customer? I mean, it's not like these programs are not being cracked. It would be one thing if everyone suffered a little for the sake of preventing pirating alltogether. Sadly, it is stupid that we must endure days of trying to get a working license when my 13 year old cousin could get it to work "his way" in 5 minutes :(

[colintheys]

My biggest complaint game has to be Black and White. :argh: I rarely buy games, but I was really excited to play this one so I went and got it brand new for something ridiculous like 50 dollars. It wouldn 't install on my machine "because I had a Matrox card." So, I tried my sisters machine, witha gforce 2. It wouldn't work there either. No explanantion this time. I tried my dad's computer. STILL won't run. He apparently, had an incompatible sound card. ?? On my mom's machine, it just crashed (can you tell we have a computer business at home?) So before leaving for college, several years later, I got a new computer, a laptop. I see the Black and White disc lying around and I say to myself "damnit, I am going to play this game if it kills me." So I install it on my new computer and guess what: DOESN'T RUN UNDER XP. ahhhhh!!! I hate that game, but I STILL haven't played it.

[FloydBishop]

Over the last few days, I've tried safe mode, copying all the disc over to the hard drive, using a different drive, etc etc etc.

No luck so far. Today, the Atari tech guy suggested taking the game back for a different copy.

If that copy doesn't install on the first try, I'm going to use the store credit to get a REAL game (as in one that will install).

[mayakindaguy]

What kind of rig do you have? Is it a Dell, Gateway or custom built? Also what kind of optical drive are you using?

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