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Post by sniper297 on Feb 21, 2008 11:53:35 GMT -5
Well, being a meek and mild law abiding citizen I wouldn't know anything about no DVD cracks, but I would speculate; www.wiretarget.com/games/pc_rail_simulator.shtmlThat the 1.1 here is for after the Upgrade mark 1. I would further speculate (again, how could I possibly know about anything other than the exact wording of the Fifth Amendment?) that this works for railsim.exe but not railsimeditor.exe, so to make standard scenarios someone needs to make a replacement for railsimeditor.exe. If I had actually tested this (who, me?), I would probably find it's unrelated, the upgrade finds the "unofficial" railsim.exe and halts the installation, replace the unofficial railsim.exe with the official fatware (with just over four megabytes of copyguard crap in it) railsim.exe, and the installation runs fine, the game runs fine afterwards. Only thing I've found to be screwed up is the tracklaying in the editor, they "enhanced" the sensitivity and now they need to unenhance it cuz it runs like a scared rabbit on many systems, including mine. One other item is possible, if you had the previous dev tools installed, UNinstall them first, reinstall railsim, install the patch, then download the latest dev tools and install those. As for no DVD cracks (which I wouldn't know anything about), I have an autistic son, and always look for any alternative to the Holy Sacred Key Disk since those make life difficult for any parent, but especially parents of special needs children. One LEGAL and safe alternative is Direct to Drive, and if you look in the EAgames store they do have a download version that don't require a Holy Sacred Key Disk to run.
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Post by Keith on Feb 21, 2008 13:59:33 GMT -5
Nothing wrong with a no cd "patch" as long as you own the software. Beta teams use them all the time and I see nothing wrong with wanting to run the software I paid for the way I want to. Anyway, a no cd patch is only a fraction of the total software and will not work without the full copy being installed anyway. With that said, there is still a bug (for me anyway) because I cant run the update even with a clean install and the original .exe so I guess I have to wait for another update or learn another language. I don't have time to learn German so I guess I wait for another update.
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Post by bhk on Feb 22, 2008 0:16:12 GMT -5
Nothing wrong with a no cd "patch" as long as you own the software. Beta teams use them all the time and I see nothing wrong with wanting to run the software I paid for the way I want to. Anyway, a no cd patch is only a fraction of the total software and will not work without the full copy being installed anyway. .... My sentiments exactly, Keith. To fork out what can often be a large wad of hard-earned, and then to be told how one can use that piece of software on one's own equipment peeves me to the fullest extent. The software industry is the only industry where the customers are assumed to have criminal intentions when buying the product. Even after the anti-theft security tags have been removed and the package is handed over to us, we are seen as potential thieves. Bruce
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Post by Wrongway on Feb 22, 2008 13:13:14 GMT -5
They probably consider it to be protecting their investment Bruce, but it could only work if they were willing to freely replace any DVD's that got damaged during normal use. Since they do not, it's our right to protect our investment in their product and take a proactive approach, which is why NoCD and NoDVD patches are created to begin with I suppose. On the other hand seeing ISO image files and CodeCreate patches online can only be described as piracy. Fortunately, for every parasitic petri-dish pirate sliming their way across the skin of our planet there are thousands of honest people who wouldn't even consider using a product without purchasing it first. I would say that 'honest people' describes everyone here, whether they use any greyware patches or not. Keith, you might want to try a really clean uninstall. Uninstall both Rail Simulator and the PhysX graphics engine. Now take regedit (not for the faint-hearted ) and open up HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE. Delete the AGEIA Technologies folder and the Rail Simulator folder and those alone. Restart your computer. Install Rail Simulator and the 1.1 upgrade without starting RailSim at any time. Restart your computer. The next part is optional. Add any packs or extra routes etc. Umm...maybe restart again. Create a folder in the main RS folder called Original and cut or copy your RailSim.exe file into it, you'll need it if you want to use the RSDev Tools. Now you can put the 1.1 NoDVD patch in if you're so inclined. The original 1.0 will work but you'll get scrambled lettering in the countdown screen. If you're not comfortable mucking about in the registry, don't. I don't think I have to explain what can happen if any mistakes are made while you're in there do I? Rgds: Jeff
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Post by Keith on Feb 22, 2008 13:50:11 GMT -5
Keith, you might want to try a really clean uninstall. Uninstall both Rail Simulator and the PhysX graphics engine. Now take regedit (not for the faint-hearted ) and open up HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE. Delete the AGEIA Technologies folder and the Rail Simulator folder and those alone. Restart your computer. Install Rail Simulator and the 1.1 upgrade without starting RailSim at any time. Restart your computer. The next part is optional. Add any packs or extra routes etc. Umm...maybe restart again. Create a folder in the main RS folder called Original and cut or copy your RailSim.exe file into it, you'll need it if you want to use the RSDev Tools. Now you can put the 1.1 NoDVD patch in if you're so inclined. The original 1.0 will work but you'll get scrambled lettering in the countdown screen. If you're not comfortable mucking about in the registry, don't. I don't think I have to explain what can happen if any mistakes are made while you're in there do I? Rgds: Jeff Jeff, I think I will do that. I know my way around the registry fairly well and since I clone my disks on a regular basis (like before I do somethingin the registry ) I should be ok with it. Thanks for the tip. I do want to get the update installed so I can get RailDriver when the drivers are ready.
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Post by kbr on Feb 22, 2008 16:05:04 GMT -5
I have to say that I agree with Keith and Bruce. I'm on my third disc drive in the last two years. If it wasn't for the copy protection that forces me to keep changing discs, I'd probably still be on the first drive.
Determined criminals will always find their way around copy protection, so really companies are just throwing their money away on copy protection and making things difficult for honest consumers like us. (rather like the metaphor of 'biting the hand that feeds you.')
Though I know a lot of people put over the internet validation down I have to admit that I liked the way that once I validated FSX, I no longer had to put the disc in the drive.
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davel
Flightsimmer
Posts: 3
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Post by davel on Feb 23, 2008 10:26:51 GMT -5
Hi Guys & Gals, I would very grateful if someone would please give me detailed instructions on how to install that 'no CD' patch for Rail Sim. I have installed the MK1 update and all works correctly. DaveL FYI....I just found this site today because of this file; www.theoldhangar.net/AlaskaRailwayRoutes.ppsWhoops......I guess I let the cat out of the bag......sorry. Dave
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Post by Keith on Feb 23, 2008 14:51:28 GMT -5
Davel,
Well, first you download it from someplace. I don't know if Tom like us to give links out for No CD patches but you can simply "Google" the phrase "Rail Simulator No CD patch" and find it. Then simply rename the original RailSim.exe file (I think that is the file name but someone correct me if I am wrong... I am on my laptop at the moment and can't see the filename) to something like RaiSim_BAK.exe and just add the new one to the Rail simulator folder. Then next time you run it you wont need to put the DVD in the drive.
One think I never could understand though...some people fuss over using a no cd patch but if you purchase a "download version" of any game (even Rail Simulator) you don't even get a cd or dvd... so really, isn't that the same as using a no cd patch?
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Post by bhk on Feb 23, 2008 15:34:25 GMT -5
... so really, isn't that the same as using a no cd patch? Precisely! And we are also encouraged to "create a back-up copy". Bruce
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davel
Flightsimmer
Posts: 3
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Post by davel on Feb 23, 2008 17:17:23 GMT -5
Dad-gummit, I hate looking dumb!!!!
Why should I replace RailSim.exe (multi-megabyte) with a file with only 191kb?
I know I -should- know the answer, but I don't.......
Dave
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Post by Dave3cu on Feb 23, 2008 18:27:39 GMT -5
Dave
It's 'cause the 191k is all that's needed to start execution of the game simulator. The other 4535k was the code for the DVD authenication scheme.
Make sure you make a backup of the original Railsim.exe as you may have to swap it back in should you ever want to install the RSDevTools or any future upgrades.
Dave
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Post by Keith on Feb 23, 2008 19:55:55 GMT -5
Yep, Dave beat me to it. I often wondered why they had to bloat the runtime .exe with all that junk. I find that the games loads (startup) much faster (for me that is) with the patch but the routes take just as long to get going. Still, my DVD is safe and sound now.
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Post by Admin on Feb 23, 2008 20:13:42 GMT -5
Good call Keith. I agree that No-CD patches are legit for owners of programs but I would prefer not to give out direct links.
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davel
Flightsimmer
Posts: 3
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Post by davel on Feb 23, 2008 22:18:53 GMT -5
Thanks Dave!!
I figgered there was a logical explanation.
DaveL
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