Your defo doin something wrong mate
You say you are using a crack? I know there's only one but just to make sure, its by reloaded and I think its got more than 1 file to be overwritten in the game install directory?
Have you put the cracked files in the right place?
Have you setup eveything right in the config screen before the game starts?
The fact the CD2DVD conversion wasn't working for you due to a small oversight, prolly means there's another small oversight going on...
My bet is that you haven't got ALL the cracked files only the EXE.
***Also just to note, the game will certainly not work if its not cracked if you'r using the wrong volume label. hell it won't work with the right volume lable even!!! (thats why a crack is needed).