GTA: San Andreas - NoCD Problems

[Grumpy]

For those having problems with Hoodlums No-DVD crack, I dont know why you are having the problems as it appears to work fine for me!
But you 'can' create a working Backup of your original DVD!
'ILLUMINATOR23' has already posted how to make this working backup in another thread.
I followed his instructions and it worked fine for me!
This is what I did using a Pioneer 107D (with Nils 1.16 firmware hack) using the latest version of Alcohol 120%.

Open Alcohol 120, Go to 'Options' (to the left of the Alcohol screen) then 'General'.
In the 'Options' screen go to 'Data Type Setting'.
In this window choose 'Disc Type' as 'Securom *NEW (4.x/5.x)'
NOTE: Now for some reason when I go back to check these settings the Data Type is again on 'Audio'? When I re-checked the settings I again changed all the settings to what I have just mentioned above then left it!
Depending on your type of burner the read speed you choose may not make a difference as it depends on the burner as to what speed it will actually read at! The Pioneer will read at the 'Maximum' speed regardless of what I choose here!
'Tick' the checkbox for 'Data Position Measurement'. Then click 'OK'.
Dont worry about the Recording options for now.

Now choose 'Image Making Wizard' (at top left hand side of Alcohol Window).
Now with my Pioneer burner I cannot change any of the settings for a DVD! The speed is set at Maximum and I can not do anything to change it! So the read speed is not real important!
Choose 'Next'.
At the next screen choose the directory you want to save the file to.
Leaving it at the default will be ok.
Click 'Start'.
The Reading of the DVD will now start.

After the read has finished insert a blank DVD!
Then choose 'Image Burning Wizard'. (again at the left of the Alcohol Window.)
The Image you just created should be listed already, if not 'Browse' to the directory where you saved it and choose the image.
Choose 'Next'.
On this next screen choose a writing speed, I chose '4.0x (5540KB/Sec)'.
Tick the checkbox for 'Burn "RMPS" to recordable media'. Then click 'Start'

To play using the newly created Backup:
Open Alcohol and to the left of the screen choose 'Emulation'.
Now make sure you Tick the checkbox for 'RMPS (Recordable Media Physical Signature) Emulation'
Click 'Ok' and close Alcohol 120.
Insert your GTA-San Andreas Backup DVD, the Autorum Menu will start and you will be able to play!

Now hopefully this will help all those Noobies (as I have written this with plenty of Detail) and those who for some reason have troubles using a No-DVD crack!
Sure you will still have to use the DVD to play but a least its not your original DVD doing all the spinning in the Drive.

[postaldudeleo]

Thanks, But that means I have to reinstall. Oh, and did I mention I don't have a dvd burner......

I am screwed completally unless deviance decides to make a no-cd. I think hoodlum didn't fully crack the game but just removed protection or something.

@ Grumpy, thanks anyways. If in a week there is no crack from another group, I might just buy a Nec 16x dual layer dvd / cd burner .

[dunham]

It's not "just you" who has the problem.

When I start the game, it crashes to reboot just when the intro begins.

I suspect my onboard AC 97 sound chip, since it gave me similar problems in GTA VC.

Unfortunately, S.A. doesn't let you configure the sound hardware (as VC did).

Still looking for a solution ...

P.S.: Yes, I bought the game.

[bjornmmcc]

Great. That's a very nice well-detailed post. I'm sure it will be a big help for lot's of people.

The only problem with using a backup DVD is that you are still shortening the life of your DVD-Drive.

I have a sneaking suspicion that people who are having problems with the crack are either not up to spec or their system is confabulated with too much mish-mash. I find that even if I'm very careful not to install too much junk I still like to do a clean install of Windows every few months. Save what I need to another hard drive, reformat my windows drive, install windows, make sure all drivers are up to date, turn off all unnecessary services (BlackViper.com is great for that), etc., etc. The added bonus of doing this is that it is a sure way to get rid of StarForce and other viruses.

Of course, this isn't for the faint of heart and I wouldn't do this unless you have read up and know what you are doing. Might I also suggest that once you get your Windows installation all set up the way you like it that you make a Ghost image so you don't have spend so much time tweaking after each clean install.

[dunham]

I solved the problem - at least for me.

The hoodlum crack on this site works (it's referenced by grumpy in a posting above).

I used an older one. Looking at the file date, I guess hoodlum released a new crack a few hours after they published the first, faulty one.

I whish they had version-numbered it, or at least mentioned something in the .nfo

[DABhand]

The original crack was just for english, the later release was also for multilanguage also.

/me shrugs :P

[dunham]

Sorry, problem still there - just crashes later in the intro.

[postaldudeleo]

I feel better now that I'm not the only one........

I was begining to think my computer is f_ _ked.

[Superwindhund]

hi,
i have a problem with the sound and wanted to know if there is someone with a similar one.
when i start the game, everything workd fine but when i start a "new game", there is no sound in the intro (where cj is getting caught). after the intro i have to ride the bike an the whole ingame sound works without problems, but when i get in the car and try to switch the radio channel, ther is no sound and also the user tracks didn't work.

can somebody tell me if you had the same problem or someone know why its not working?

thanks.
d.p

[postaldudeleo]

Thats a game bug. Gamespot said it happens. Reload/restart should fix it.

But this topic is mostly about the problems cracking the game.

[Joe Forster/STA]

dunham, while it is not necessarily related to GTA, I really recommend that you buy a sound card. Realtek's onboard AC'97 is not good for listening to music or to play games - actually, I have no idea what it really is good for! I'm sure you'll do much better with only a Sound Blaster PCI128 or Live!, if you don't have enough money for a better sound card.

[leezer3]

Just a thought from me, you both seem to be running relatively low-end integrated sound hardware. Try going into dxdiag and sticking your sound level whatsit :P down to basic or none, and see if this makes any difference. I have had to do this with a couple of games on the other PC (Lappy runs fine, & under minimum specs! )

-Leezer-

[bjornmmcc]

You can get a sound card for like $10 that's a thousand times better than onboard audio. Or you can splurge, and for the cost of a new game, get something that is really decent.

[dunham]

Joe, I just installed an Audigy from one of my older PCs - no more crashes.

It's not a hoodlum problem, but a Rockstar bug. They detect the AC97 as a SB EAX card. Happens with the original CD.

Anyway, the AC 97 worked fine with 95% of games. I'll keep the Audigy, though, for the remaining 5%

Thanks for the help!

[mitch101]

Using the no dvd but can't get the radio stations to play. I recall that this was also a problem with the vice city no cd which was solved by copying one of the cab files from the cd to the vice city root directory. Anyone know how to solve this one?