The ONLY Half-Life 2 Thread. Do Not Create New Threads

[Kdjn]

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.