no I bought it, too
 

no I bought the game retail....I understand that its Win2k related.

Damn. I'll have to investigate that more but I can't do that right now.

If you can build the DLL (using Dev-C++), try to change the value of the variable "replaced" on line 179 of hijack_dll.c
Try some values between 0 and 20 for example. If you find any working value, post it there.

I'll give it a shot hijack. I'll repost with my results. Actually I had already started looking before you posted that =)

Fixed the dll:

case 0xFFEC8B55: // Win2k SP3 && SP4
replaced = 6;
break;

6 was the magic number. Win2k: SP4. Attached is the dll I compiled, enjoy all, thanks hijack.

I have no programming knowledge whatever.

I feel like Homer Simpson...I keep entering new values, trying the rebuilt .dll, and saying "Doh!"

i get this by executing hljack_hl2.exe : it goes up to 27% than : error: win32 structuredExeption at77c13b4c :
this is what i get. help pls

Aye Carramba, man! 6 was the one. Thanks, dudes...

MaHa, system info please. Sorry if you posted that info before. Also a readout of \errorlogs would help.

Way to go dracflamloc, 6 it was, It's now working like a charm (Ignores WiKiD's comments as it's funtioning is proof enough that it's not true). Whew I thought I was gonna have to splurge on a new drive there. My thanks go to Hijack for the nocd fix and dracflamloc for finding that elusive number before the rest of us.

U need to let Steam do the initial update just after u installed the game from cd/dvd/hdd, when it then asks you to create an account you may quit steam and run hijack_hl2.exe

btw: hijack: it works now, 6 is the magic number indeed :)

ok, im confused a bit on something, but my problem is different and i dont know if this will work for me.

i just got my authentic CD-Key emailed to me from a third party outlet [no cds/dvd, just the key] and when i go to steam->register i get "please install half-life 2 retail standard..." I thought there would be an option to download from steam just as long as i had a key, apparently not.

Do I need to install a retail CD/DVD first, then use this hijack?

i have steam installed with a registered account.

Apparantly there is a distinction between the retail keys and the keys ATI was giving out for free Steam downloads of the game.

In other words, you need to install using the retail version of the game to validate the key through steam, then use the no cd tools.


Not that I would condone such things, but for just for conversations sake,


Its hypothetically possible to buy a retail version from your local game store or
Best Buy, use the CDs and YOUR KEY to install the game, then apply the NO CD tools developed and discussed in this thread.
Because you did not use the Authorization CD key from the retail package
you bought, you could repackage and resell it. Its doubtful that the retailer would accept returns on that, so you would have to resell it on ebay or the like.

OR....

You could borrow the CDs from a friend who a bought the game, then install and validate your steam account that way.

Although its in a very grey area, it could be considered to still be legal because you purchased a valid key.

Let me guess, you got it for $20 and they also sell an authentic Brooklyn Bridge key.

Whats the web address for this legit outlet?

ok cool, i got it working. i used my buddy's HL2 discs to install but used MY CD-Key to authenticate. then i applied the hijack trick to get around not having a disc. everything is legit and legal, thanks guys.

i got my key from a thai website :) $15

I Need Help - Please...
 

I just don't get it.

It says to install the 3 files into where the steam.exe is...

But that is not where the HL2.exe is though... I cannot find the steam.exe anywhere but it is installed and it is working...

It is supposed to be inside the steamapps folder no doubt...

Exactly what path do i need to place the three files into???

Thanks for your help ppl...

The instructions said to put it where steam.exe is located. I put all three files in steam.exe, then -- as instructed -- I ran hijack_hl2.exe, which launched steam, from where I could launch Half-Life 2 without the disc in the drive.

Yes, hl2.exe is in the steamapps\<username>\half-life 2 directory, but the crack's hl2.exe (which is actually just the Steam download hl2.exe) goes in the steam root directory, so that hijack_hl2 can swap it into the appropriate directory when Half-Life 2 is launched.

Oh..looks like dimensio replied first...

For what its worth...



Your steam.exe file should be in C:\Program Files\Valve\Steam

Unless, of course, you installed Steam into a different folder.

That's the folder where you need to extract the files; its a different .c file if you have Win2K service pack 3 or 4.

The two zip files are on the first and third pages of this thread.

The first is hijack's workaround, which it sounds like you have already...the one on the first page is the most up to date.

The second is drac's mods of hijack's .dll & _dll.c on the third page of this thread. They are to replace the .dll and _dll.c in hijack's zip package, ONLY if you have Windows 2000 service pack3 or 4. You shouldn't need them if you have WinXP.


Once extracted into the proper folder (where ever you put steam.exe), you can launch hijack_hl2.exe into your valid steam account and you should be able to play HL2 ans CS without your CD.

Ive been looking for this fix for a while myself, as I am sure many have. So, Excuse my zeal in replying to this thread.

I just hope this thing won't "hijack" my steam account..


gah....

Thank you guys for the magic number :)
I've edited my 1st post and I'll release a new package soon.

Okay, thanks! In most cases I'd think they would be on the side of the publishers, but there seems to be a lot of bitterness between Valve and Vivendi these days. A sort of "give the finger to each other" mentality seems to be at work... ;)

EDIT: BTW, does your patch work on Half-Life: Source?

Next Problem
 

I put all the files on the root of Stem folder but this does not work
whe i run Half Life 2 i have this screen

PreCondition Assertion Failed
Name :HaveCmdLineArguments
Program D:\games\steam\steam.exe
File :BootStrappedDg.cpp
Line :632

argc>0
(press Redy to debuge the application - JIT debugg must be enabled)

stop repeat ignore

What next ???? Pleas Help ME
I have Win 98 SE :confused:

Will there soon be a way of activating the game without Internet-Connection. I do not have one at home, but want to play the singleplayermode.
Or is there already a way?




Sorry for my poor english. I´m from germany.

what do u mean with valid steam accout??
can i register with serial number from internet??

Damiankca: You have written the answere to your question yourself:

* It doesn't work on Windows 98

Thats what you quoted


--Ano

There are two ways getting a valdi serial number:
1. Buy the retail boxed game from a store.
2. Buy a ATi graphic card with a Serial-Key-Card to download the game via Steam.

There are no other ways and discussion about other ways aren't allowed here!

Read the very first post of the thread !!!
No discussion about bypassing the Steam-Activation.

The Crack works perfectly man .... Good Job ;) :D

Hi,

can someone reseed the torrent please? Anyway, thanks to the person who released this as it will be a godsent! :)

I still get the "Game not available" error. Please..help.

edit. It says my game need an update. But it won't update, it gives me a "Try again later".

Version 1.4 of the nocd is availiable as a torrent here

Almost nothing changed since v1.3.

What is your Windows version?

Does the update work when you don't use the nocd?

Hi
i was wondering whether there is any way at all to make this work on Windows 98 SE
can someone please modify the .DLL file for me so it can work under WIN98SE
hijack plz?
i cant afford windows XP
:(

Also.. what if i installed this on an XP machine cracked it, would there be any steam files i can just transfer over to the Windows98SE machine for it to be able to bypass the CD check
Thanks

bumthology: This nocd cannot work on Win98. It needs some win32 functions not availiable on this system (like CreateRemoteThread). Copying files from another system won't help neither.

But this nocd is not the only way to disable the CD check. I'm sure someone will find another way.

Windows xp user trying to play hl2
 

I have windows xp sp 2 and installed the game from cd, and then tried the hyjack file from the GCW site and it wants to register an account with them, I do and then when I check to see if HL 2 is available it is not in my games. Not sure what I am doing wrong but I decided to uninstall/reinstall the game 3 times and still nothing. I also tried the other files on the this thread but errors up the wazoo, but later found out that they are for windows 2k. I noticed that there are not to many windows xp users on this thread, but if someone has been able to run this game with windows xp and the patch I would be gratefull if they could relay there info to me on how they got it done. Thanks

This Crack was first working on XP only Dude :)

Anyone hear about 20,000 Steam accounts getting closed?

I'm wondering if Valve can get wind of this NoCD hack on your machine or is this completely different.

See these:

Message from Valve on Steam Forums

Slashdot Article

Russ

All I need is tips on how to install the game, run the patch know what to expect when I go through the process of doing all of this.

It should be possible with a steam update. Wich i really hope didnt happen now. Iam still able to play on my account, but how long?
Anyone else problem with this?

That NOCD v1.4 crack doesnt work. :(

I put all files in steam folder where steam.exe is and I get this error message when i launch hijack_hl2.exe:
Unknown CreateProcessA signature: 472D4A4C

This is so frustrating, i just want to play HL2 without the damn dvd!
Can someone tell me why that crack doesnt work?? :confused:

Your version of CreateProcess is different than ours. What is your version of Windows? Could you send me your kernel32.dll?

Other than on BitTorrent, where can one get the NOCD v1.4 patch?

As far as I am concerned, there's nothing illegal about it. We bought it legitimately and other users of the same software can play without a CD, whether they have a CD/DVD or not is irrelevant to most I think...

I have said it before and I'll say it again, if the companies want us to use the disc, stop taking away the rights we are entitled to (Backups) by using pirating as the justification. Until this changes I have no problem coming here and grabbing the patches, which is what they are, they aren't cracks unless you had downloaded it with the warez version of a game IMO.