H2V on XP?

[Patrickssj6]

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/842/dibujori4.jpg
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r105/thegutie/Halo%20XP/halo6.jpg
http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/4540/halo23yc8.jpg

Someone on my MSN acquired some files (from an illegal source)...


Patrickssj6 says:
0.o
Patrickssj6 says:
estas jugando?
' says:
yes
I gave Korn the files...so he can check if this is fake or not...but it seems very plausible...

Discuss.

[Kornman00]

Um, in that second screen it says XP yet its using a vista theme....

[Phopojijo]

It would be very easy to fake using VirtualPC (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=04D26402-3199-48A3-AFA2-2DC0B40A73B6&displaylang=en) and a copy of XP running on Vista. Have the XP prompts be run through VirtualPC and run H2V on Vista.

Is it though?

[Patrickssj6]

In the first picture you see my name in MSN...the guy has no idea how to do anything with PCs so I doubt he faked it...

[bleach]

hmmm...i think H2V can be on XP because on wikipedia, i researched Halo 2 PC and it gave me this link. I'm going to find it.
EDIT: http://nikon.bungie.org/news.html?item=18626 http://www.fallingleafsystems.com/preorder/

[Sunray]

This guy posted a program/programs for it on GF:
http://forums.filefront.com/halo-problems-errors-help/316160-run-halo-2-xp-4.html
Apparently it works, but has problems. There are updates further on. Not convinced myself.

[Roostervier]

From what I understand it only lets you play SP, no MP.

[Phopojijo]

Hmm? The program labelled Wowloader implies it launches Windows-On-Windows... think a 32-bit emulator on XP-64 (I believe it was called WOW64 in that case). If its named aptly then -- sure it might be possible to emulate Vista on XP.

[megaxp]

http://img161.imageshack.us/my.php?image=12ag8.jpg

[Patrickssj6]

Hmm? The program labelled Wowloader implies it launches Windows-On-Windows... think a 32-bit emulator on XP-64 (I believe it was called WOW64 in that case). If its named aptly then -- sure it might be possible to emulate Vista on XP.
File being emulated:

dwmapi.dll, mf.dll, MFPlat.dll

[megaxp]

yeah I play halo 2 for vista on windows xp B)

[dg]

It indeed does work, for some. There was recently a scene release of a patcher that lets you install it on XP.

It is a scene release so it is bugged and is usable at your own risk.

[Patrickssj6]

Now we have to wait for Microsoft's next move....:rolleyes:

[CtrlAltDestroy]

I came across the same patch, I was also under the impression that it is indeed, real.

[megaxp]

Other Ask... Halo Thirdfov Work on halo 2 vista?

[InnerGoat]

Yeah, I just got done playing some H2V on XP. It wouldn't even load until I installed the latest DX9.C update that came out like two weeks ago. Played up until it asked me to activate it... Not gonna try until someone else does it. :-3

ps- plays great 1680x1050 on a 6800GT.

[Revord]

Yeah, Ive seen this, but until now, havent heard of anyone who has tried it. Not quite sure Im willing to go out on a limb and risk my computer and current configuration to try.
Revord

[InnerGoat]

Thats why I installed it on a second PC. My main rig has Vista/XP but I didn't want to mess it up by accident. ;)

[StankBacon]

people have said it activates just fine.

but noone has said anything about online play.

[megaxp]

good!!

[InnerGoat]

Huh, digging around on the net I've got Halo 2 running on XP, logged into Live and all, but can only play the first three sections before it tells me I must activate the game. I did put my key code in when I first logged into my Live account, but obviously that isn't enough and I"m at a loss as to find information on how to fully activate the game on XP if it can be done at all.

Quote from nV News. I asked him if online play works and am waiting for a reply.

Also, uploading some pics.

[Enigma]

They say that the live doesn't work with XP yet. I wouldn't see how it would work.

[DaneO'Roo]

lmfao, Microsoft got owned. So much for Vista exlusive.

[InnerGoat]

Someone wanted some framerates. This is on an AMD 64 s754 3200+, 1gb ram, 6800gt, at stock.

1024x768
http://xs216.xs.to/xs216/07250/WindowsXP.jpg.xs.jpg (http://xs.to/xs.php?h=xs216&d=07250&f=WindowsXP.jpg)



1680x1050
http://xs216.xs.to/xs216/07250/WindowsXP3.jpg.xs.jpg (http://xs.to/xs.php?h=xs216&d=07250&f=WindowsXP3.jpg)



low fps, but still feels smooth compared to playing it on Vista, with a faster card. Hacks.
http://xs216.xs.to/xs216/07250/WindowsXP2.jpg.xs.jpg (http://xs.to/xs.php?h=xs216&d=07250&f=WindowsXP2.jpg)

Also worth mentioning-

The mouse lag is totaly gone. Was nearly unplayable because of it in Vista. (using Razer Copperhead)

Some shadows don't seem to show up, and the ambient lighting of some of the cutscenes are really dark, where as they were bright on vista.

1GB ram still has some aweful stuttering in the cutscenes while its loading stuff, so it won't be any better in XP compared to Vista for those of you with 1GB. :(

Game is stable so far, changing resolutions and taking screenshots has not crashed it.

:D

[dg]

Like I said before, thank you.

[DaneO'Roo]

wtfh4x

Seems like this game SHOULD have been on XP. Would have sold more copies, tbh.

[InnerGoat]

wtfh4x

Seems like this game SHOULD have been on Vista. Would have sold more copies, tbh.

Lol, saving the quote before you edit. :D

[Terry]

Lets see. I wonder if I can pull off running it on low settings. I managed with fear...
Also, Dr, what settings are those?

[DaneO'Roo]

>:[ dangit Dr

[InnerGoat]

Lets see. I wonder if I can pull off running it on low settings. I managed with fear...
Also, Dr, what settings are those?Highest in game, just no AA. I havn't even tried AA yet, but if its like Vista at all, it will be like a 5-fps hit only.

Whats your specs?

[jahrain]

So much for all those morons arguing that complaining about h2v not being on xp is the same as complaining about halo 3 not being on xbox 1. This is fucking classic.

I knew it wouldn't take more than a month. I'm just going to wait until they get the editing kit fully working, and multiplayer up and running, and any performance problems sorted before I nuke this abomination of an operating system called vista whoring up my PC.

[Phopojijo]

low fps, but still feels smooth compared to playing it on Vista, with a faster card. Hacks.That is because a lot of the choppiness is drawn from it being an Xbox port. Since the Xbox version, like most Xbox games, appeared to be locked at 30FPS (like Gears of War) and thus is used for game speed. Thus if you have high yet unstable FPS, the game speed code gets all confused and speeds up/slows down the game sporadically. This speed up and slow down appears as hiccups to the end user and appears as if the framerate is lacking and/or the game is freezing as it streams content. Neither of which, of course, is the case (as mentioned... its the game speed)

Run it on higher framerates and see what happens.


I knew it wouldn't take more than a month. I'm just going to wait until they get the editing kit fully working, and multiplayer up and running, and any performance problems sorted before I nuke this abomination of an operating system called vista whoring up my PC.Remember, I said -- without emulation. This is still emulating (WoW) Vista files it seems. Hell you could technically run a copy of VirtualPC and get H2V running on XP... but it would just be Vista files getting piped through XP... like this is.

[jahrain]

Yay I can cap it at 60 fps in XP, not vista. I am also reading that many other users are experiencing large performance increases when compared to vista from the comments on the download.

[Choking Victim]

So much for all those morons arguing that complaining about h2v not being on xp is the same as complaining about halo 3 not being on xbox 1. This is fucking classic.

I knew it wouldn't take more than a month. I'm just going to wait until they get the editing kit fully working, and multiplayer up and running, and any performance problems sorted before I nuke this abomination of an operating system called vista whoring up my PC.
Keep in mind that anything these hackers cook up will most likely be buggier than the retail version running on the operating system it was meant for. Campaign-wise I see it running smoothly but you can probably bet there's gonna be a load of bugs in the live portion.

[Terry]

Well...

Intel GMA 950 (> . < )
2.8 ghz Intel Pentium D (dual core)
512 MB Ram

[Enigma]

The mouse lag is totaly gone. Was nearly unplayable because of it in Vista. (using Razer Copperhead)



I use a Copperhead also no problems with me.

[jahrain]

Keep in mind that anything these hackers cook up will most likely be buggier than the retail version running on the operating system it was meant for. Campaign-wise I see it running smoothly but you can probably bet there's gonna be a load of bugs in the live portion.Lol. Its buggy enough already on Vista. Running the game in XP will probably fix half the problems. At least who ever is hacking it to work for XP is caring more about the game than Microsoft might ever will. The only thing microsoft is concerned with the game is using it to sell vista , xbox controllers and xbl to pc users. And even if they can't get the crappy Live service to run, network play (which is better, and doesn't cost monthly fees) shouldn't be much of a hassle to work out.

[InnerGoat]

That is because a lot of the choppiness is drawn from it being an Xbox port. Since the Xbox version, like most Xbox games, appeared to be locked at 30FPS (like Gears of War) and thus is used for game speed. Thus if you have high yet unstable FPS, the game speed code gets all confused and speeds up/slows down the game sporadically. This speed up and slow down appears as hiccups to the end user and appears as if the framerate is lacking and/or the game is freezing as it streams content. Neither of which, of course, is the case (as mentioned... its the game speed)

Run it on higher framerates and see what happens.

Eh, what? I'm saying that 20 fps in XP feels totaly different then 20fps in Vista, as in i'm able to play the game still. Higher then 60 in XP and the mouse still works right, but in Vista it starts to skip alot. I'll also mention that the stutter isin't there in XP.

[jahrain]

^ So basically your saying, over all, the game works better in XP?

[Aerowyn]

From what I understand it only lets you play SP, no MP.

It works on SP and MP. I played a game against my dad on his XP computer earlier today.

Edit: LOL, this is Lightning.

[jahrain]

Can anyone confirm if Sapien works as well?

[InnerGoat]

^ So basically your saying, over all, the game works better in XP?

From what i've messed with so far, yeah. Havn't activated though, so no online so far.


It works on SP and MP. I played a game against my dad on his XP computer earlier today.Go on Liveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee :D

[Con]

the editing kit works on XP

[Roostervier]

the editing kit works on XP
IIRC, Guerilla did, Sapien didn't.

[Aerowyn]

It should, I'll test it when I get home.

(Lightning, again. Kbi.)

[InnerGoat]

It should, I'll test it when I get home.

(Lightning, again. Kbi.)

Thanks. :)

[Aeron]

good news if it (live) works with xp , ive got some buddys who want it but wont get vista for it

[phase]

Halo 2 vista converted to xp already?
Woo I mite be able to get my map done sooner then I thought.

[Xetsuei]

Finally I don't have to play it on this complete resource hog of an OS.

[Lightning]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v370/-Lightning/H2EKonXP.jpg

sup. Just gotta load it through the loader like the main game.

[InnerGoat]

Xetsuei™;87853']Finally I don't have to play it on this complete resource hog of an OS.
Are you serious? You've got more speed to throw around then anyone here. :sigh:

[Xetsuei]

Are you serious? You've got more speed to throw around then anyone here. :sigh:

Ultimate takes up around 1gig out of 2 of my ram. D:

[the1]

Um, in that second screen it says XP yet its using a vista theme....
windows blinds.
i think its obvious it isn't vista because vista has a nice circle. with its logo in it. thats cut off quiet suddenly. like a poorly made windows blinds skin...
i could be speculating but WB seems like the only logical answer there.

as for it actually installing on xp. WTF?:XD:

[solofortne]

I tried this and it does work, however I haven't been able to find a way to activate it.

[dg]

I doubt the LIVE! service would work on XP. I don't have a sources to back this up with, but I was under the impression that it used LIVE Anywhere service that is specifically made for Vista.

[Patrickssj6]

I doubt the LIVE! service would work on XP. I don't have a sources to back this up with, but I was under the impression that it used LIVE Anywhere service that is specifically made for Vista.

Windows Live Messenger?

But yeah someone would need to approve this. :)

[megaxp]

http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/2746/dibujoix6.jpg
yeah!

[solofortne]

Live does work, you just have to run the installer from the DVD. The problem is that there doesn't seem to be any way to run the activation.

[dg]

Windows Live Messenger?

But yeah someone would need to approve this. :)

No, I was talking about the LIVE Anywhere (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LIVE_Anywhere)service. Microsoft introduced it into the Vista in part with their "Games for Windows" marketing. It allows for you to have LIVE on a "wide variety of platforms and devices" such as the computer, your 360, and even a mobile phone.

XP and Vista are two different platforms, but XP is not supported.

[Patrickssj6]

...different platforms...

ohh the irony :D

[megaxp]

eh.. Hot Notices Halo 2 for XP cmon on July
Work 100&#37; live, Dedicated Server and HEK2

[the1]

ohh the irony :D
its redish goldish and its inexpensive...
yeah i know bad puns >_>

[megaxp]

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/842/dibujori4.jpg

My Desk ;D!

[legionaire45]

heh, thats interesting. So something about Vista is causing the mouse lag then. I already have Vista, but I may go ahead and see if this will work on my second PC with XP on it. The whole mouse lag thing would probably piss me off very rapidly =P.

[DaneO'Roo]

lmfao, this is getting better by the hour. I predict within a month, its fully enabled on xp.


Guess, I WILL be getting h2v. Cya soon fellas ;D


Fuck it, lets just call it Halo 2 PC now. Considering it runs on both xp and Vista.


Oh, and it can run on mac if you have bootcamp :awesome:

[Love De Lux]

http://www.enregistrersous.com/images/210531168220070624101434.jpg

Hey guyz

[Lightning]

I tried this and it does work, however I haven't been able to find a way to activate it.

Ingame, hit home to bring up the blade, and "Join" XBL.

There are other ways, namely finding a certain patched MF.dll, placing THAT one inside the H2V install folder, and the loader's mf.dll into the windows/system32 folder, and away you go.

Live does work.

Reason the installer looks lame = Install IE7. It uses PNG transparency.

[tweak]

I found a nice release, which let you play Halo 2 on Windows XP.
Here is a little tutorial how to install it on XP.
Installation Instructions:
1a) download these files on rapidshare:
http://rapidshare.com/files/38746999/Halo.2.XP.Patch-NoGrp.rar
1b) Extract the archive.
2) Insert the Halo 2 DVD
3) Run Startup.exe on the Halo 2 DVD using the included Loader.exe
Ie.: Loader.exe D:\Startup.exe
4) Install the game.
5) Install XLiveRedist1.0.6027.msi and vcredist.msi from the \redists dir on the Halo 2 DVD.
6) Copy the following files into the directory you installed Halo 2:
dwmapi.dll, mf.dll, MFPlat.dll
7) Finished. To play the game, run halo2.exe using the included Loader.exe
Ie.: Loader.exe "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Halo 2\halo2.exe"
Notes:
You need to be logged in with an administrator account for Loader.exe to work, since it uses privileged API's.
Currently the code for playing the intro and credits movies is unimplemented,
so if you want to see them you'll have to play them yourself (they're located in \movie).
I haven't tested the online functionality of the game, it will probably need more attention.
Have fun playing :)

[Limited]

[PICTURE HERE :O]
Hey guyz

Yah thats kinda fake, seeing as its impossible to get h2sapien to work on xp due to DX issues.

[DaneO'Roo]

Limited, your wrong. Look at lightnings post back a page or so. He also has it working.

[Limited]

Limited, your wrong. Look at lightnings post back a page or so. He also has it working.Oh snap, dano's right :D:D

Bloody hell takes ages to load example.scenerio

[klange]

Intel GMA 950 (> . < )
Won't even run it on Vista. Fails to load the rasterizer because it doesn't support DXDFMT_R32F (which, if I'm not mistaken, is 32 bit floating decimal point red channel? I may be way off, I don't work much with DirectX texture formats)


This is great, I'm going to slap this on my desktop so I can get the game >_>
I'll try it out with the editing kit for now, as all I have is Sapien (which of course, doesn't run on my GMA 950 for reasons mentioned above)

EDIT:
So Live should, theoretically, be able to work, if you do everything correctly? That's good to hear.
I may yet be able to join the H2PC community >_>

EDIT:
Holy crap, no way, H2 Sapien gets further along on f***ing Linux than it does on Vista
lmao
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a77/gruntmaps/th_rofl_sapien.png (http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a77/gruntmaps/rofl_sapien.png)
Too bad my gfx card doesn't work with it...
Hmm...

[Roostervier]

Oh snap, dano's right :D:D

Bloody hell takes ages to load example.scenerio
It takes that long for all scenarios. D:

[InnerGoat]

I made another account on XP - nude002 :awesome:

Too bad Live is still unselectable though. :gonk:

[Patrickssj6]

I found a nice release, which let you play Halo 2 on Windows XP.
Here is a little tutorial how to install it on XP.
Installation Instructions:
1a) download these files on rapidshare:
http://rapidshare.com/files/38746999/Halo.2.XP.Patch-NoGrp.rar (http://rapidshare.com/files/38746999/Halo.2.XP.Patch-NoGrp.rar)
1b) Extract the archive.
2) Insert the Halo 2 DVD
3) Run Startup.exe on the Halo 2 DVD using the included Loader.exe
Ie.: Loader.exe D:\Startup.exe
4) Install the game.
5) Install XLiveRedist1.0.6027.msi and vcredist.msi from the \redists dir on the Halo 2 DVD.
6) Copy the following files into the directory you installed Halo 2:
dwmapi.dll, mf.dll, MFPlat.dll
7) Finished. To play the game, run halo2.exe using the included Loader.exe
Ie.: Loader.exe "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Halo 2\halo2.exe"
Notes:
You need to be logged in with an administrator account for Loader.exe to work, since it uses privileged API's.
Currently the code for playing the intro and credits movies is unimplemented,
so if you want to see them you'll have to play them yourself (they're located in \movie).
I haven't tested the online functionality of the game, it will probably need more attention.
Have fun playing :)

DOH!

Those are the instruction for the WoW loader XD

[Syuusuke]

Hamachi anyone?

Aww It won't load the campaign for me...it's stuck on that screen..

[thehoodedsmack]

So.... is this only through the wow loader?

[InnerGoat]

Hamachi anyone?
I can't use network either. They didn't open up after I gave it a CD key...

[Chronos]

Too bad Live is still unselectable though. :gonk:
http://rapidshare.com/files/39080987/Halo.2.XP.Patch_NoGrp.rar.html
Download this version of Wowloader.. the MF.dll file in there can get you into the lobby.. But I can't join any games for some reason..

[InnerGoat]

Now it won't even load the game... lmao.

edit- the mf.dll I had was 32KB. This one is 4KB, and crashes loading. :sigh:

[tweak]

Yah thats kinda fake, seeing as its impossible to get h2sapien to work on xp due to DX issues.


H2V is DX 9 jack ass

[Patrickssj6]

H2V is DX 9 jack ass
*SIGH*

Vista and XP run on DirectX9 right?So it's the same right?

WRONG!

Vista's DirectX version has specific Functions/APIs that only work/exist on/for Vista. These Functions/APIs are required to run Sapien.

You have to emulate H2V/Sapien in order to run it on XP.

[Limited]

H2V is DX 9 jack ass
No shit.

However vista incorporates DX9 and DX10. I think DX9 on vista has been edited a bit too.

[Lightning]

Actually, H2V installs those missing files in XP. Go check the redists folder :P

Dr, try deleting the WMV files in the movie folder.

[InnerGoat]

That didn't work. :(

[korori]

Well i uploaded some files to help install and run halo 2 nothing special. Just few bat files but it makes it easier. So :)

http://kororigaming.com/h2vista/wow_files.zip

Just place them in your wow folder. Note i did not include the actual wow files. So you will have to find them your self. Of coarse you will also need to follow the other tutorial. But this will allow you to skip Command prompt.

Good luck

[Terry]

Now it won't even load the game... lmao.

edit- the mf.dll I had was 32KB. This one is 4KB, and crashes loading. :sigh:


1) Extract the archive.
2) Insert the Halo 2 DVD or mount the image to a virtual drive.
3) Make a shortcut of Loader.exe to ure desktop and modify its target by adding space ONCE then X:\startup.exe so it will look something likethis: "X:\Documents and Settings\User\Desktop\Halo 2 XP Loader patch\Loader.exe" X:\startup.exe
X means the letter that corresponds to ure DVD drive or virtual drive.
4) Launch the shortcut for launcher and install the game.
5) Install XLiveRedist1.0.6027.msi and vcredist.msi from the \redists dir on the Halo 2 DVD.
6) Copy the following files dwmapi.dll and MFPlat.dll from the archive into the directory where you installed Halo 2
7) Copy mf.dll from archive to Windows\sys32 dir
8) Place the Razors 1911 MF.dll to halo 2 install dir

If u noticed the mf.dll from archive is 32KB and the Razors one is 4KB

9) Finished. To play the game, run halo2.exe using the included Loader.exe by modifying it the same way as we did in step 3.

[InnerGoat]

Uh, thanks? Point is it is not loading the game. Lights is helping me get it right though :-3

There was something wrong with the 4KB version I had. Got another one and its all happy now. Live works, SP opened up, etc. Gonna go kill some noobs.

[Kornman00]

H2V is DX 9 jack ass
No, H2V is Halo 2 Vista, and DX9 is DirectX 9 jackass :-3

Two totally different things kthx

[dg]

I would not be posting links to anything here. Razor 1911 is a scene group and using their crack is illegal.

[JoeBlack]

cant get to activate or play on line:mad:

[Mr Buckshot]

My desktop has Vista, so I won't bother with this, but I might try it on my laptop (no Vista for it yet) and see if my Geforce Go 6600 can push this game well enough.

Despite the activation crap, I will be able to install H2V a second time right?


I would not be posting links to anything here. Razor 1911 is a scene group and using their crack is illegal.

If you bought the game legally it's ok. E.g. for my laptop I use cracked EXEs to run all games installed there without having to insert the disc because 1. the drive takes up battery and 2. the drive is slow - only 8x DVD and 24x CD. However I legally bought all the games installed on that laptop so I did nothing illegal.

as long as the "cracked" stuff is specifically for a game you legally own no one can stop you from downloading it.

[Patrickssj6]

No...I think it states that if you "crack" a program you are not allowed to release any part of it...or something like that :eyesroll:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_cracking

Legality

The distribution and use of cracked copies is illegal in almost every developed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_development) country. There have been many lawsuits (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawsuit) over cracking software, but most have been to do with the distribution of the duplicated product rather than the process of defeating the protection, due to the difficulty of constructing legally sound proof of individual guilt in the latter instance. In the United States (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States), the passing of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Millennium_Copyright_Act) (DMCA) legislation made software cracking, as well as the distribution of information which enables software cracking, illegal. However, the law has hardly been tested in the U.S. judiciary (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judiciary) in cases of reverse engineering (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_engineering) for personal use only. The European Union (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union) passed the European Union Copyright Directive (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EU_Copyright_Directive) in May 2001, making software copyright infringement illegal in member states once national legislation has been enacted pursuant to the directive.

[wannabeapilot]

very nice! :D

[Roostervier]

No...I think it states that if you "crack" a program you are not allowed to release any part of it...or something like that :eyesroll:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_cracking
I found somewhere else that cracks are legal only if you use them to allow yourself the ease of plying a game you bought or insuring that you can play (i.e., you lose your CD which is required). That is the only legit reason... or from what I remember reading. Of course, it was probably wrong.

[StankBacon]

you guys are arguing over nothing.

[Mr Buckshot]

ok, back on topic:

This also proves that a program designed specifically for Vista doesn't possess some uber scripting that won't work on XP no matter what.

[Flapjack]

OMG, on the loading screen the white bar goes across the Halo 2 letters and it stops on the "A" and then crashes to my desktop leaving my resolution at 800x600!!!! Any tips?

[klange]

1. Who really cares about whether it's legal at this point? Microsoft isn't going to bring the almighty sue-hammer out just to squash a couple of people who payed for the game anyway.
2. I'm going to try and see if Sapien runs with the files I have (I don't have the game yet, but I will buy it if I have some sort of guarantee it'll run)
3. The fact that Linux gets just as far as Vista may mean that Wine will run Halo 2. That would be pwntacular in ever way possible, but I'm not putting any money down yet. (Keep in mind that my laptop won't even start Sapien through Vista, and since Linux fails at the same time, and because my terminal is spitting out "failed to create object" errors, I almost guarantee it's the same problem - failure of a graphics card)
4. I'm also going to clean up my hard drive on my desktop and slap Ubuntu on there to see if it does run. As another note, Linux doesn't require any of the special cracks, but may require some DLLs and other things. And I may have to install DirectX again (or copy DLLs from Vista >_>)


Ooh, and before I forget:
My XP desktop came out with the whole "This machine isn't vista!" error and quit before even showing the scenario open dialog. My Lin-top had no such problem.

[vreynauld]

This also proves that a program designed specifically for Vista doesn't possess some uber scripting that won't work on XP no matter what.

ROFL, you couldn't be more wrong.

While Halo 2 for Vista uses DX9 to run, all Microsoft has to do is patch the DLL files being used to do a deeply embedded version check on DirectX. If DirectX 10 is found, they'll continue processing. If DirectX9 is found, it'll tell the executable to run a stop call. Since XP will never have a legitimate version of DX10, a patch of this type would stop this mod dead in its tracks.

And I'm going to laugh at everyone in this thread when such a patch happens. Microsoft has taken a very aggressive stance on modifications when it impacts their Live service. Everyone here will be foolish to believe they won't do the same when it comes to Windows Live.

When that day comes, anyone on XP who tries to connect to multiplayer will find a nice little present that will stop the mod (and the ability to play the game) dead in its tracks. When word hits the internet and people avoid the patch, they'll have a Halo 2 that can only play single player.

[klange]

InnerGoat, would you be so kind as to post some pics of it in Windowed mode, showing off the crap that is the Luna theme? I needz moor pix

Ooh, and for proof purposes (not for me, for a non-believer), on top of the table in front of the inhibitor on the first SP map, facing the the gun rack in the back of the room. kthxbye

[Flapjack]

This is so frikking annoying! Why won't it run in XP?!?! It always crashes on the first loading screen!! I hate Vista and everything about it, Vista runs like crap, Halo 2 runs like crap...and everything else on Vista runs like crap. I wish I could figure out how to make this run on XP!!!! But it always crashes! :(

[StankBacon]

This is 100% useless, it does work but halo 2 is all about the mulitplayer and they have been grayed out so you cannot select them.


well, if you weren't a warez whore, and actually payed for the game, those options would not be greyed out.

fool.

[~ZMT~Trace]

This is just pure awesomeness. Now I am going to buy Halo 2.

Also, I agree with Dane on calling this Halo 2 PC, since its working on linux, Mac, XP, and Vista.


well, if you weren't a warez whore, and actually payed for the game, those options would not be greyed out.

fool.
Lawl.

[Lightning]

for me i give it a C- for random lags on a very good pc. the little green pixels at the top and no movies and the worst No mulitplayer (not even over network). Welp thats why i own both os (duelbooted laptop, pc needs nother hdd to duelboot)

ITS CALLED A FUCKING BETA. THERE'S BOUND TO BE ISSUES.

Don't even get me started, this is doing what Microsoft claimed to be impossible. You're getting the ability to do it.

Also, Pirating is lame.

[InnerGoat]

InnerGoat, would you be so kind as to post some pics of it in Windowed mode, showing off the crap that is the Luna theme? I needz moor pix

Ooh, and for proof purposes (not for me, for a non-believer), on top of the table in front of the inhibitor on the first SP map, facing the the gun rack in the back of the room. kthxbyeI'll get around to it tomorrow.. and luna theme? I'm missing something, or am tired and foregetting...
Also as a note to myself, open Rivatuner and check the video memory usage, as it doesn't work in Vista for whatever reason. :-3

[megaxp]

hmm okay... halo 2 for XP on july -.-

[jahrain]

W00t!? So sapien works as well!? This is fucking epictacular. Nuking lame ass vista ASAP! Now my computer will actually run good again with a semi descent OS and I can play Halo 2 on my PC. Plus most of my applications will work again. Sweet.

[Lightning]

W00t!? So sapien works as well!? This is fucking epictacular. Nuking lame ass vista ASAP! Now my computer will actually run good again with a semi descent OS and I can play Halo 2 on my PC. Plus most of my applications will work again. Sweet.

..eh? All of my apps work in vista no problem.. oo;

Yeah, Sapien and the works..work.

[YCH]

I can't seem to locate the saved games folder for my XP-patched version of Halo 2. I'm trying to copy my Vista saved games (conveniently found in User/Saved Games) but since I'm unable to see where the patched game stores this information I'm unable to replace it. Anyone found where saved games go?

[Veegie]

Game freezes during initial launch/loading.
lewl

[Nick]

..eh? All of my apps work in vista no problem.. oo;Oh my dear Lightning, of course the applications work just fine. You should read up on cognitive dissonance. In short, it is the theory that if new information is introduced that conflicts with information already believed to be true, the brain will seek out ways to resolve the "dissonance" between them, typically resulting in the newer information being nullified or modified to comfort the individual with the knowledge that they were not wrong.

You see, jahrain spent so much time telling everyone how slow, incompatible, and generally bad Windows Vista would be, that when it finally came out and proved to be the opposite of those defamations, his little brain just couldn't handle the disconfirmed expectancy. He was forced to deny or ignore all new information disproving his prior beliefs, thus strengthening his resolve to the point of relaying untrue information to others, so that he may not only take comfort in the "knowledge" that he was "right" all along, but so he may also feel validated by attempting to deceive others into his false ideas.

It is all okay though, Lightning. While there is nothing that can be done to help the individual (or rather, it is not our place to assume he wants help), we can deny his false claims whenever he chooses to propagate them, so that others will not face the mental discomfort of cognitive dissonance in the future.

Nick

[DaneO'Roo]

Well, Nick, your forgetting the pure fact that Halo 2 Vista runs better on XP, despite a computer with Vista having much better hardware.

(see Dr's post a page or so back)

*edit* http://www.h2vista.net/forums/showpost.php?p=87750&postcount=24

Now what exactly is that saying about the Vista OS?

[Kornman00]

Well, Nick, your forgetting the pure fact that Halo 2 Vista runs better on XP
No, hes "forgetting" that a part of H2V runs "better" on XP with emulated methods to get it to even run on XP. Yet it is also buggier thanks to said facts...

I think you people are just afraid of change, there is nothing drastically wrong with Vista. Nothing that can't be turned off at least. Maybe you all are just buying the wrong edition of Vista, like Ultimate, which is going to add TONS of overhead to your daily computing because a lot of those functionalities none of you need or use hardly at all.

with all that aside, that "fact" wouldn't be "pure".



*edit* http://www.h2vista.net/forums/showpost.php?p=87750&postcount=24

Now what exactly is that saying about the Vista OS?
that the goat needs a better setup

[Mantis]

I don't suppose anybody knows how to *uninstall* Halo 2 on XP?

I forgot to select full install, so I'm left with a botched copy I can't do anything with really.

The uninstall in add/remove doesn't do anything, and although I manually removed all registry keys related to H2 I could find, I'm not able to access the install options menu.

Damnit, maybe I should have stuck to playing on Vista! ;)

Any help is appreciated! :)

[jahrain]

..eh? All of my apps work in vista no problem.. oo;Um... Ignore nick, he has no idea wtf he is talking about. My nero 6 won't work, partition magic 8 wont work, visual studio 2005 won't work (says it requires a +450 mb download, fuck that), Alcohol 120 wont work, mathcad won't work, 3ds max gives problems (even with opengl viewport rendering) and AutoCAD won't work. I can list various other software that gives problems, but I have found ways to ignore them. And I don't plan on buying new versions of the listed software any time soon.

[Kornman00]

Nero and VS05 (even without the service pack) work just fine on my machine, and you probably didn't pirate get the partition magic optimized for Vista.

[jahrain]

Nero and VS05 (even without the service pack) work just fine on my machine :O Your using nero 6 right? What did you do? I tried installing the 6.6.x update for nero, and It still won't work. It installs, but keeps crashing for some random reason when I try to start a new project. As for visual studio, I been just too lazy to leave my laptop on for so long to finish a +400 mb download. How did you get it to work without it?

[Mr Buckshot]

eh, just tried it on my laptop. Too bad it doesn't support the WXGA 1280x800 resolution, but it looks just like the xbox version at 1024x768 on low, 40 fps. I don't need to use windowed mode because Nvidia cards have a "maintain aspect ratio" setting if an image is stretched on a widescreen monitor.

Sadly I've been using the touch pad of the laptop for the first round through (shut up I only have one mouse and my desktop uses that) but I didn't really feel any lag.

[klange]

I'll get around to it tomorrow.. and luna theme? I'm missing something, or am tired and foregetting...
Also as a note to myself, open Rivatuner and check the video memory usage, as it doesn't work in Vista for whatever reason. :-3
The Luna theme is the standard blue "XP theme" that I personally believe looks like crap. Royale / Zune will do as well if you have them.
Though, actually, I sent said "non-believer" the files and he ran it.
He's been one of the few people that got worse performance on XP.
I can't wait to do it myself, but I need the game first.

[Lightning]

Nero and VS05 (even without the service pack) work just fine on my machine, and you probably didn't pirate get the partition magic optimized for Vista.

...exact same here, well, sans Nero.

I use ISOburn :P, Way to lazy too get Nero.

Nero 7 is also made for Vista.

[JoeBlack]

I can't seem to locate the saved games folder for my XP-patched version of Halo 2. I'm trying to copy my Vista saved games (conveniently found in User/Saved Games) but since I'm unable to see where the patched game stores this information I'm unable to replace it. Anyone found where saved games go?
i think in My Games folder, hey are you the same YCH from FM forums??:)

[Flapjack]

What's all this crap about different Windows themes like Luna and stuff?? I must be behind too, because I don't know what the big deal is.

[Nick]

And I don't plan on buying new versions of the listed software any time soon.Or owning legal copies in the first place.

Just about everything you listed has a free update (at the very least, for paying customers) that assists in Vista compatibility; if you choose not to or cannot find the means to download the updates, that is your fault. However, the only application I ever had friction with was Nero; all the rest I could install without updating, though they did not all work perfectly due to poor development practices (that are typically corrected via ... the updates).

So yeah jahrain, keep resolving that dissonance, but keep it to yourself. No need to spread lies around the forums just because you are mentally incapable of making something work that works fine for numerous other people.

Nick

[StankBacon]

die.

[Kornman00]

no you first

http://www.knight-rider.org/anderson/pancake_bunny.jpg

[Patrickssj6]

EAX!

How about you JMP out of my life

and leave my pancake title alone you NOP

or else I'm going to POP something

I wish I would be a mod so I could PUSH you away :lol:

[PlasbianX]

Hmm.. did someone change the thread title?

[InnerGoat]

The Luna theme is the standard blue "XP theme" that I personally believe looks like crap. Royale / Zune will do as well if you have them.
Though, actually, I sent said "non-believer" the files and he ran it.
He's been one of the few people that got worse performance on XP.
I can't wait to do it myself, but I need the game first.Oh. I use the Zune theme where I can, but thats good to hear. I'm going to install it to my main PC now and see what its like.


Well, Nick, your forgetting the pure fact that Halo 2 Vista runs better on XP, despite a computer with Vista having much better hardware.

(see Dr's post a page or so back)

*edit* http://www.h2vista.net/forums/showpost.php?p=87750&postcount=24

Now what exactly is that saying about the Vista OS?Oh, no, lol. My vista rig blows the shit out of the second pc. I'm just surprised to see it playing so well is all. I'll do a better comparision with my main PC's XP install to its Vista install later, as its the same hardware this time. :D

[Con]

mmm, pancakes

you guys remember when ennui switched all those word filters around at GBX?

[PlasbianX]

mmm, pancakes

you guys remember when ennui switched all those word filters around at GBX?

Thats what i thought was happening. I just had posted 'XP' to see if it had changed and nothing happened so i edited my post :X

[teh lag]

mmm, pancakes

you guys remember when ennui switched all those word filters around at GBX?

I totally remember that. Those were good times.

Dude, there's errors pineapples in my map pancake!

[Con]

I totally remember that. Those were good times.

Dude, there's errors pineapples in my map pancake!
lol, tpineappleists

[klange]

Oh, no, lol. My vista rig blows the shit out of the second pc. I'm just surprised to see it playing so well is all. I'll do a better comparision with my main PC's XP install to its Vista install later, as its the same hardware this time. :D
I'm rootin' for XP, but Vista's amazed me before (when I installed 3ds Max and it worked, for example)

Hmm..
We have H2 working on XP... Pancakes may be the next step...
I'm gonna make some pancakes and see if I can get run Sapien on them... Might need some new syrup compatibility files though...

[FRain]

Is it just me, or did that post above just make me laugh? I think someone switched word filters again.

[klange]

Is it just me, or did that post above just make me laugh? I think someone switched word filters again.
No, someone just changed the topic title to "H2V on Pancakes", no one changed the word filters.

[megaxp]

What?? H2V on Pancakes O_o!!!

[Hotrod]

I like pancakes, and Halo 2. Maybe we should try to make a Pancake emulator for Vista.

[Dr Nick]

We'll call it H2P!!!
And you'll be able to shoot syrup out of the Gauss hog!

[InnerGoat]

http://www.h2vista.net/innergoat/stuff/dr/no&#37;20u/H2V_XP_vs_Vista.png
http://www.h2vista.net/innergoat/stuff/dr/no%20u/H2V_XP_vs_Vista.png
http://www.h2vista.net/innergoat/stuff/dr/no%20u/hatesmal.gif

That's from the first cutscenes on cairo station, trying to start and stop it as close as possible (which I did).

Also, H2V averages around 288 megs worth of video memory when at 1680x1050 on high. Turn on 4xAA, 322mb. Peak I saw was loading the next map's cutscene, over 420mb.
Do those of you with 256mb cards get stutter in the cutscenes? Might be the reason...

[Mantis]

I don't suppose anybody knows how to *uninstall* Halo 2 on XP?

I forgot to select full install, so I'm left with a botched copy I can't do anything with really.

The uninstall in add/remove doesn't do anything, and although I manually removed all registry keys related to H2 I could find, I'm not able to access the install options menu.

Damnit, maybe I should have stuck to playing on Vista! ;)

Any help is appreciated! :)

Well, after reinstalling SP2 several times trying to sort things out (I didn't have SP2 previous to this, and it's required) I can't even access the install menu (files may be missing or damaged or whatever), I've given up.

24 hours of trying and not getting past the first menu, and now not being able to launch the installer.

Epic fail. =(

*deletes SP2*

[Cortexian]

Those pics have Photoshop CS2 tags in them (open them in notepad and skim through the code). This makes me extremely doubtful.

[DaneO'Roo]

because he photoshopped the 2 images together.....

[Nick]

Those pics have Photoshop CS2 tags in them (open them in notepad and skim through the code). This makes me extremely doubtful.Yeah, it totally makes sense to Photoshop some Excel documents to trick you ... instead of just modifying the Excel document directly before taking a screenshot.

Wow.

Nick

[InnerGoat]

because he photoshopped the 2 images together.....

I opened two documents and put one under the other and printscreen'd. D:
FRAPS spits out its results into Excel files. Surely you knew that, Freelancer.

[Lightning]

Those pics have Photoshop CS2 tags in them (open them in notepad and skim through the code). This makes me extremely doubtful.

....yeah.

because it has SO much meaning to photoshop...an XML screencap.

[the1]

rofl its faster to run h2v in vista than xp.
dam emulators.

[Nick]

rofl its faster to run h2v in vista than xp.
dam emulators.NaW DAwG, Ain'T CHU HERD? WiNBl0wZ Vi$$$Ta lAGs, iT SUx. XP IS Da B0mB, CePT dAT $h1Ty M$$$ mAkE IT.

[Kornman00]

:lmao:

wow, you got Nick to actually spend time thinking out how to write that when he could have been working on Prom.

[SuperSunny]

:lmao:

wow, you got Nick to actually spend time thinking out how to write that when he could have been working on Prom.

True

[Nick]

Yeah, I have to admit, I spent ten minutes trying to write that last post.

Damn.

Nick

[UXB]

Yeah, I have to admit, I spent ten minutes trying to write that last post.
I am no expert but I think your syntax was off a bit :) I used the Leet Speak translator (http://www.brenz.net/l337Maker.asp) and got something different. Never go gaming without it.

[klange]

I am no expert but I think your syntax was off a bit :) I used the Leet Speak translator (http://www.brenz.net/l337Maker.asp) and got something different. Never go gaming without it.
I prefer Leet Key as it is an extension for Firefox. Not only does it enable one to understand noobs and prepubescent forum-goers, but will also aid in the translating of more complex encryptions, such as standard binary and hex.

[Pooky]

I can read that shit without needing a decryption key, and almost as fast as I read standard English :saddowns:


rofl its faster to run h2v in vista than xp.
dam emulators.

Oh also, all the cool people run highly demanding modern games through OS emulation, because that doesn't lag so bad you want to stab your eyes out.

[InnerGoat]

http://www.h2vista.net/innergoat/stuff/dr/no%20u/H2V_XP_vs_Vista.png
http://www.h2vista.net/innergoat/stuff/dr/no%20u/hatesmal.gif

That's from the first cutscenes on cairo station, trying to start and stop it as close as possible (which I did).

Also, H2V averages around 288 megs worth of video memory when at 1680x1050 on high. Turn on 4xAA, 322mb. Peak I saw was loading the next map's cutscene, over 420mb.
Do those of you with 256mb cards get stutter in the cutscenes? Might be the reason...

Small update on XP.

Went through the same level again at 1920x1200 with 4xAA trying to see how much video memory I can use up. Used up the 512MB on the card, and 60MB or so overflowed into system memory. Oh and it was definatly faster than Vista this time. I'm talking more then "barely playable". :D

[WindScar]

Seems to me it is not illegal in any way to install the game you legally bought on a computer. If you manage to hack it into running on XP... and you own a copy, people have been doing this for years on linux and mac... and in IT industry "patching together" legacy apps to run on new OS, funny how people who don't understand it seem to make a stink about it.

Anyhow... I tried out the current loader and it works fine for single player .... just can not seem to get to the spot where it will allow activation. I recall the developer saying this was an issue in another post but reading this I've seen people who claim to have it activated legally for live play... if so, how ?

Installed it on my workstation, Opty 170 @ 2.4 2gb ram, ATI X850XT no OC ... and I'm getting better performance @ 1024x768 on XP with setting high than on my gaming rig (E6600 @ 3.0ghz, 2gb ddr1066, ati 1900xt) on vista.... did not want to try the load on my main sys hehe. Anyway this screen to help convince any more naysayers and its running windowed mode 800x600 just to fit in the screenshot.

http://binaryfly.com/halo2onxp.PNG

[Patrickssj6]

I said from an illegal source...want to have a direct link from a site full of warez?

and you are kinda behind since the developer has already posted his "progress" on this site.

[Nick]

Fact: It is not illegal to make software you purchased and retain a valid license for run on an device or operating system that is also rightfully yours to use. Such effort (called interoperability) is covered under Fair Use, within international and U.S. copyright law.

Fact: It is illegal to distribute copyrighted binaries (modified or not) without the permission of the copyright holder.

What does that boil down to? Yeah, you can modify the game however you please, as long as you're the one who modifies the files to make it work. You do not have the inherent right to obtain pre-modified files that will achieve that goal. The workaround to that is for someone to create a program that will modify or patch the original files that reside on your machine, then you run the application on them and you're legally in the clear.

Oh and you can expect to probably never play multiplayer that requires you log into LIVE from XP. Besides the fact that Microsoft could check the OS and reject authentication if they wished to (it is their legal right), the fact that you are modifying files to make Halo 2 run on XP means that the digital signatures of those files are rendered invalid and the LIVE service checks those signatures upon every connection.

Nick

[et_cg]

Hey Nick,

I was just wondering, would it be illegal to share the knowledge of this software that runs H2V on XP if just the knowledge and a bit of how to was shared? Such as giving source code references.

I mean, if you own Vista and it's material, and you have code that was created by a friend that doesn't contain illegally redsitributed software. Then does that mean you can have a legal way of using H2V on XP?

Well, basically:

If you own XP, H2V and Vista; then you create the program to run H2V on XP yourself, is that illegal?

[Nick]

People can distribute the information on how to achieve compatibility, as long as it does not contain copyrighted material. So, an application that patched the binaries on your machine, along with instructions on how to use the problem, is fine; being sent the actual binaries (modified or not) is not fine.

To be honest, though, this is all really just technicalities - almost never acted on, but can be acted on if the copyright holder gets angry enough over what is being done. Technically, putting up a Halo 1 Xbox mod is copyright infringement, because people are distributing copyrighted material (tags for Bungie assets) as part of their own work; however, Microsoft never has and probably never will act on this, because they allow map creation on the PC.

Nick