Well, iam not a ValveMan so my opinion on this might be wrong, but this NoCD Patch replaces the ORIGINAL (non-cracked) hl2.exe with that one from the Puplisher (that one with securerom, needing the dvd/cd in drive before the original hl2.exe can be executed). So not the actually the Game was cracked, rather the door to that game has been removed.
But there is also a Post by Waldo, Level Designer / Day of Defeat co-developer on Valve who posted:
source: SteamForum

Even he is only speaking about the illegal "CD key" and not any NoCD Patch. I really dont know but it really looks Valve is tolerating this Patch until they release a solution by themself.

Wen i start hijack_hl2 i recive unable so start steam.exe and then unable to injeckt hijack_hl2.dll it worket yestorday ..

Not working Today Nov 24/04
 

Hey, The no cd was working yesterday and now today I get Steam Error- "This operation cannot be compleated in offline mode". Will the 1.4 version fix this? When I started my Steam account today it updated, is that why it isn't working now? Thanks for the ray of hope Hijack!

Version 1.4 does work on XP SP1, but maybe not on XP SP2. Could anyone confirm this?
Anyway, to solve the CreateProcess error, I need your kernel32.dll. Please send it to hijack_hl2********fr with a description of your Windows version.

I've had the same problem and couldn't find the cause. The only workaround I've found yet is to unpack the localized GCF file. To do that:
* Download and install GCFScape
* Open <steam directory>/steamapps/half-life 2_<language>.gcf
* Extract hl2 to <steam directory>/steamapps/<your account>/half-life 2
* Close GCFScape

This problem doesn't seem to be directly related with my nocd. For example, the same thing happens when you delete the file ClientRegistry.blob.
Has any localized user had the same problem with my nocd?

You can also extract hl2.exe by yourself from the file "source engine.gcf" using GCFScape. The unprotected exe is included in the game they sold you but it's disabled. You simply enabled it.

I don't think they'll ever release a solution by themself. That would break their contract with Vivendi.
I think they'll tolerate this nocd because it makes many customers happy, including people who simply couldn't play the game. Blocking this nocd would only make Vivendi happy.
If they tolerate it, they'll have less DVD drive incompatibility issues, less DVD returns because the dog scratched it, etc.

You must run hijack_hl2.exe in the steam directory. You can also use a shortcut to hijack_hl2.exe with the steam directory in the "Directory" field.

It still works for me. You (or Steam) must have changed something. Version 1.4 won't change anything unless you're using Win2k.
Edit: But I don't know about offline mode. Is anyone using it successfully?

but it worked yestorday

Eek!
 

Sadly enough i think i've ran into every single problem listed in this forum pertaining to the use of the no/cd program. My latest is the unknown creativeA thing. Any clues? I would appreciate anything.

As I said before: To solve the CreateProcessA error, I need your kernel32.dll. Please send it to hijack_hl2********fr with a description of your Windows version.

When I load the saved game the A.1 disabled show and nothing works

are there a fix for this?????

"This includes Credit Card fraud, theft of accounts you do not own and using cracked versions of Valve games." THE LETTER DOES POINT OUT USING CRACKS.....BUT FOR ME, I DON'T GIVE A !@#$....because I don't want to play cs......once this crap of a game is finished....it's un-installed and finished.
ok...it's only physically crap.....the game itself is cool though.....but it's still finished......why the loads still.....a far-cry from far-cry......play it again!

OK, i have done it. But now HL² doesn't start. After preparing the gamefiles, a errormessage appears but it disapears so fast i'm not able to read it. Do i have made something wrong? Is this happend because, the NoCD dont work with the new Steam version (Steam have updated itselfe)?

As per my last post,

XP is patched to SP2,
W2k is patched to SP4

I bought the game Monday, DLd nocd from GCW ( marked up as 1.0 ) this would not work with W2K kept getting the ' Games currently not available ' for HL2 and for CS ' Server unavailable '

Tuesday I DLd 1.4 from here via torrent, this worked straight off with w2k,

Then I installed on my XP machine ( Win2k PC dual boots with SuSE did want to reboot just to play a game) anyway the same 1.4 nocd would not work so tried the ver 1.0 this worked.

I did notice this in my trail if Steam was running ( autoloads on reboot ) on the XP machine so it could be the same for w2k you got the error ' CreateProcessA error ' exit from steam and retried and it would load.

Ram

for me the no CD (first hijack Release) is working 100%..with the German Retail DVD Version..

But actually i use the orig Exe of Steam again until i dont know for sure whats up with Valve/Steam and the "Account Sabotage"...

I think with this "crack" we're changing the Retail DVD Version Account into a Steam Download Account..maybe Valve is not amused about that..
Otherwise both Versions are legal and this NoCD only modifiy the Retail DVD Version EXE File into a Download Version Exe...wheres the Problem ?!
So far i know, Valve is only killing fake Accounts with multiple Keys!

But you can never know 100% what is coming up next with Steam..When i go online with Steam to play CSS, Steam can update or kill my Account!
dont want to lose my HL2 Account/Licence ....

We will see....

WinXP SP2 users: try the DLL attached

Edit: removed attachment

Thanks hijack, seems to be working :)

works fine! ;)