These problems has been answered before but I aswer again. This maybe is not the perfect sulotion or sulotion at all. But this is a tip.
(Try step by step. Example try number 1. If the game fale like usual. Do number 1 and 2. and so on.)
1. Disable U antivurs if U have one on.
2. Install the finalversion of Media Player 9, Directx 9 and NHL 1.01 patch. (Do an unwarp by bOOlsEyE (Sorry if I spell it wrong didn't know where to put the big and the small letters) safedisc cleaner.)
3. Unistall the NHL 2003. (Don't clean the registry, bacuse the registry hasen't a thing to do with it.) Delete the NHL 2003 in my document folder.
4. Install the game again. (Make sure that U DON'T have the virusscaner on. And the directx 9, and Media Player 9. And the patch ready. (Can be easaly downloaded) Copy all the files that can be find on ftp.ea.com the go to the map NHL 2003 and copy all the files that's are in the language mapp that's u using.
All U need to do then to install the patch it's to run the htm/html files. Install the 1.01 patch (DON'T run the game before).
And unwarp it like I've write before.
A freind of my couldn't run the game. So I've tested and tested. First I was thinking that the crack was not good. But after ours the I found out the My document folder if u delete the NHL 2003 map the game setting dissapering and the game started for him.
Why I'm say that U should download the latest driver and mediaplayer and patch. Beacuse that's could also solve mutch of problems.
The 1.01 path solve the Mediaplayer 9 problem. And I recamand U to download the mediaplayer 9 so I must say that u must download the 1.01 patch.
This maybe not will solve the problems U have. And I know that some of U have tested the most of it.
But try to do the things I'm been written again. And reply on this topics if u still have problems. And be specific. It's easier to help if u can say exactly what happen. (I know U all did but I just remind u)
-->I'm not smart. So sorry if I had say so<---