You can create a desktop shortcut using the Loader.exe, just create a shortcut on your desktop for Loader.exe, open the properties for it then:
In the
Target: part of the shortcut put:
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Halo 2\Loader.exe" "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Halo 2\halo2.exe"
and in the
Start in: part put:
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Halo 2"
Assuming game is installed in default directory, edit as necessary if you installed it elsewhere!
As for the crap game, I made the mistake of missing a video setting! Goto SETTINGS > VIDEO > LEVEL OF DETAIL and set it to HIGH!! Then the game looks a bit better, but not much!
Halo 2? More like Halo 1.5
