Question bordering piracy

[Chris_Redfield]

So I have a problem. Dug up my BF2 DVD and it was horribly scratched. Installation unsuccessful. So I went and downloaded a pirated copy of BF2, installed using my CD key. At BF2 1.0, doubleclicking on the icon creates and error. Using DT to mount any kind of image, with any kind of anti-blacklisting tool doesnt help a bit. Using a ***** key fixed .exe file brought success. I got to play all 1.0 servers just fine.

Updated to patch 1.41. Fixed the problem with the serial key in registry. What happens is, doubleclicking on the icon results in no result. The mouse icon flashes the sandclock for a splitsecond and thats it. No kind of DVD image mounting with any kind of anti-blacklisting tool isnt helping. Using a 1.41 ***** fixed .exe brought success. I got to play all 1.41 servers just fine, but heres a kicker. After playing about 3-5 minutes on any server, PB kicks me for a corrupt file. Obviously a ***** exe file check.

The question is simple- even with an original and legit CD key, can you install BF2 without the original CD/DVD?

I understand that this question really borders piracy, so if you delete/lock it, I wont object. But Ive been google searching for the last 2 hours, aswell as trying a whole lot of solutions. No result.

[Metal Knight]

hey chris,

i think unfortunately you will have to buy a new copy, and retrieve your account from there, i cant seem to think of anything you can do - as you seemed to have already tried what i would have suggested, sorry.

Good luck in finding an answer, hopefully someone else can be more helpful.

[Chris_Redfield]

Well, I guess Im fvkced then.

[Metal Knight]

can i ask, how it got so scratched? is it constant use?

i suppose i planned ahead as im using a mounted image to run the game, thus protecting my valuable DVD.

if *only* it could install, then you'd be fine, but EA as you probably know always insist spending their time on security over game quality.

for example in Battle for Middle-earth - there was this big problem i remember reading about when using a backup cd to run the game, the game would run fine but then at exactly 3 minutes and 30 seconds all your units would die and bulidings destroyed, so you lose.

they could have used that effort, time and money to sort out the many bugs in their game(s). not to mention they have stopped supporting Bf2

in the words of jeremy teh_pwnerer: "...EA sucks my balls..i think thats like what im saying pretty much, E is sucking this one ball and then the A is sucking the other ball, so the E and the A are just like sucking both my balls"

;D

[Chris_Redfield]

I havent used the disk in like almost a year, it did get moved around a lot, its been with me in many different places. Today, opening it, gave me a nasty surprise. The disk is pretty much totaled as it wont even read it in. Theres a deep scratch through one entire side. I was just hoping, that its the CD key that is the most important part. It turns out, that youre really not just "buying a licence to use the software"...

Ive heard about the Battle For Middle Earth, they had something like that at the 10th minute aswell, where the enemy forces would just wipe you out. Part of the copy protection, they say. The game sucked *** anyway though :P

I wouldnt be half as worried, but none of my close friends has BF2 so Im pretty much fvcked. Getting in touch with EA about the problem has resulted in negative feedback for many people and I wont buy a new CD/DVD. Especially when I got the game half-free in exchange for another one.

Ive heard that people sell legit CD keys through E-bay, how the hell do they install theur games?

[camper.]

You need to download the MDF/MDS version. You probably downloaded images that weren't *EXACT* clones of the DVD. Use a mini-image: http://files.filefront.com/bf2mini+s.../fileinfo.html

[reynolddog]

I havent used the disk in like almost a year, it did get moved around a lot, its been with me in many different places. Today, opening it, gave me a nasty surprise. The disk is pretty much totaled as it wont even read it in. Theres a deep scratch through one entire side. I was just hoping, that its the CD key that is the most important part. It turns out, that youre really not just "buying a licence to use the software"...

Ive heard about the Battle For Middle Earth, they had something like that at the 10th minute aswell, where the enemy forces would just wipe you out. Part of the copy protection, they say. The game sucked *** anyway though :P

I wouldnt be half as worried, but none of my close friends has BF2 so Im pretty much fvcked. Getting in touch with EA about the problem has resulted in negative feedback for many people and I wont buy a new CD/DVD. Especially when I got the game half-free in exchange for another one.

Ive heard that people sell legit CD keys through E-bay, how the hell do they install theur games?

Go to a Movie rental place and ask them if they have a disk resurfacer (they have to... or else they must be renting lots of crappy movies) and ask if they can resurface your install disk. It should be free or a small fee of $2.

[Chris_Redfield]

You need to download the MDF/MDS version. You probably downloaded images that weren't *EXACT* clones of the DVD. Use a mini-image: http://files.filefront.com/bf2mini+s.../fileinfo.html

Used it. No result.

Ive done quite a lot of research into the matter, and the final verdict is- its impossible. At least upon installation, you still need the original copy, of at least either the first CD, or the DVD. Theres also the method of copying the CDs with Securom 2/3 settings enabled. Anyway, I have one last ghetto method to try out (will try to outsmart PB), if that wont work, then Ill be contacting EA for a 13 dollar replacement disk, or just find someone I can loan the disk from.



Dog, I doubt theres such things around here.

[reynolddog]

Used it. No result.

Ive done quite a lot of research into the matter, and the final verdict is- its impossible. At least upon installation, you still need the original copy, of at least either the first CD, or the DVD. Theres also the method of copying the CDs with Securom 2/3 settings enabled. Anyway, I have one last ghetto method to try out (will try to outsmart PB), if that wont work, then Ill be contacting EA for a 13 dollar replacement disk, or just find someone I can loan the disk from.



Dog, I doubt theres such things around here.

Serious? No blockbusters,movie gallery? You HAVE to have a Movie rental place somewhere.

[camper.]

Used it. No result.

Ive done quite a lot of research into the matter, and the final verdict is- its impossible. At least upon installation, you still need the original copy, of at least either the first CD, or the DVD. Theres also the method of copying the CDs with Securom 2/3 settings enabled. Anyway, I have one last ghetto method to try out (will try to outsmart PB), if that wont work, then Ill be contacting EA for a 13 dollar replacement disk, or just find someone I can loan the disk from.



Dog, I doubt theres such things around here.

Uh, something is wrong on your end because I've been using that image the past year and half. You might try the image off gamecopyworld (same name) which is the original. I just freshly installed Windows and Daemon Tools and it works fine.

[Chris_Redfield]

Serious? No blockbusters,movie gallery? You HAVE to have a Movie rental place somewhere.

No. Meaning- we dont have such services around here. Our DVD rentals are just that, DVD rentals. Nothing fancy. Theres probably some shops that I can have a look-see at.

Camper. You dont understand. Ive only got the legit CD key. The DVD is busted. Gone. I cant install using a pirated DVD, even though Ive got a legal key. It installs fine, but will not run unless I replace the .exe file with a ***** exe file, which is detected by PB and will kick for it. Using a mounted image file will result in nothing since the very installation is "bad".

Pretty much the things I havent tried yet.

- Installation from a pirated 3 CD set
- Using someone elses .exe file

If these two are exhausted, Ive officially tried every means possible there is, to install BF2 with an original key but without original media carrier.

[Verzili]

chris i use a a special forces iso (mounted with deamon tools) to play bf2 and SF

never need my disk,only for installs..

but i use copy of that to with my original key.

tip dont use *****/dvd.exe cracks ever!!

always use a iso or mini image.

my tip you you would be unistall bf2

1.install bf2 from a iso(disk image) DVD image not cdx3 set!!!

2.use youre original key.

3.unmount the the bf2 iso(dont use a mini image to install the game)

4.patch to 1.4(unless you have SF then install that 1st

5.mount a SF mini image (gamecopy world ect)

6.after reboots some versions of demon tools dont have the image loaded,so check you virtual drives are loaded 1st.

7.play the game :)


a full iso of of bf2 is about 2gb,but a mini image download is a few hundred kb,but when extracted it's the same size on disk (fake 2gb if you like)

i have lots of space so i just leave a full iso of SF mounted for bf2.

hope this helps m8

[Chris_Redfield]

chris i use a a special forces iso (mounted with deamon tools) to play bf2 and SF

never need my disk,only for installs..

but i use copy of that to with my original key.

tip dont use *****/dvd.exe cracks ever!!

always use a iso or mini image.

my tip you you would be unistall bf2

1.install bf2 from a iso(disk image) DVD image not cdx3 set!!!

2.use youre original key.

3.unmount the the bf2 iso(dont use a mini image to install the game)

4.patch to 1.4(unless you have SF then install that 1st

5.mount a SF mini image (gamecopy world ect)

6.after reboots some versions of demon tools dont have the image loaded,so check you virtual drives are loaded 1st.

7.play the game :)


a full iso of of bf2 is about 2gb,but a mini image download is a few hundred kb,but when extracted it's the same size on disk (fake 2gb if you like)

i have lots of space so i just leave a full iso of SF mounted for bf2.

hope this helps m8

But heres the thing. Have you tried installing with the copy of your DVD, or have you only ever installed with the original DVD?

[Metal Knight]

hey again chris,

sorry for late reply. mmhm only "cheap" way i can think of, is buying one secondhand off ebay and using ur cd key to install/play it.

because basically what u need is to install it right? the problem isnt playing, i understand that.

i really cant think of another free way to do it, apart from downloading it and then using that copy to install the game...but you've already done that.

hmmm =/

[Chris_Redfield]

Verzili has give his hand in help and opened up a few extra options. I just amassed a group of BF2 downloads to try them out. From what I gather up, my problem was using ISO file as an installation file. ISO files dont have the data errors, which is what SafeDisk is using. Ill go through them first.