FS2004 "No CD" utility

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petermcleland
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Re: FS2004 "No CD" utility

Post by petermcleland »

Chris H wrote:Peter, no improvements will be wiped out by the no-cd patch. The no-cd for 9.1 is a modified version of the 9.1 executable, not the 9.0 version, the only thing removed from cracked executables is the copy protection and disk checking, hence the smaller file size.
So lots of people have said Chris...You can believe it if you like. I don't need to believe it at I have always used the 9.1 executable as issued :)

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Re: FS2004 "No CD" utility

Post by Quixoticish »

petermcleland wrote:
Chris H wrote:Peter, no improvements will be wiped out by the no-cd patch. The no-cd for 9.1 is a modified version of the 9.1 executable, not the 9.0 version, the only thing removed from cracked executables is the copy protection and disk checking, hence the smaller file size.
So lots of people have said Chris...You can believe it if you like. I don't need to believe it at I have always used the 9.1 executable as issued :)
I only believe it because I've compared the two files myself, if you have the knowledge and tools it's not hard to do. Otherwise I would also be wary of what is promised of something that sits in such a legally dubious grey area, and of course running the game on a virtual drive is a far more elegant solution and at least you can be 100% certain that it is not going to cause any problems.

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Nigel H-J
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Re: FS2004 "No CD" utility

Post by Nigel H-J »

I have just started to use this facility and have found no issues as yet, I take it that it is still perfectly OK to use as I appear to get the impression by what has been said that it may cause problems at some point?

Now I am beginning to really show my ignorance!! :roll:
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DaveB
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Re: FS2004 "No CD" utility

Post by DaveB »

Fear not Nigel.. using the no cd patch for whichever version of FS you use (9 or 9.1) will not bring your system crashing down around your ears. I used the patch for FS9 with no issues whatsoever and after the release of 9.1 I've used the 9.1 nocd patch without a problem. If I thought for one moment it was going to kill my system let alone anyone elses.. I'd certainly not use it or consider passing it on ;-)

Peter's way of doing things is, as Chris says, very elegant but is really not necessary. I wouldn't dream of trying to convince Peter to bin it in favour of the cracked exe but in that vain.. I'll not be discarding something I've been using for years in favour of doing it the 'elegant' way ;-)

ATB

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Techy111
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Re: FS2004 "No CD" utility

Post by Techy111 »

Not really a cracked EXE now Nigel......MS support it now ,to save wear and tear on your discs..... :thumbsup:

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DaveB
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Re: FS2004 "No CD" utility

Post by DaveB »

I believe M$ have supported it for some time mate and I hardly think they'd do that if it meant losing something by not having cd4 in the gate or if it meant compromising your system in any way ;-)

ATB

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Nigel H-J
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Re: FS2004 "No CD" utility

Post by Nigel H-J »

Thanks Dave and Tony, feeling much happier now.

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nigelb
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Re: FS2004 "No CD" utility

Post by nigelb »

petermcleland wrote: Dave,

The Update download to FS9.1 actually changes the FS9.exe file with many changes in it...The program when started merely looks for CD4 in the drive...It finds my virtual CD4 in the virtual drive and is perfectly happy with that. So my installed fully updated FS9.1 runs...and it runs with the genuine updated FS9.exe file and NOT the No CD Patch version. Who knows what little improvements in the updated FS9.exe file are wiped out by that No CD Patch (The No CD Patch is simply a got at and modified FS9.exe file). If you Right click on your FS9.exe file and select properties and then the Version Tab it should be version 9.1.0.40901...That is the version that was installed with the 9.1 Upgrade. Anything else is a No CD Patch version :)

BTW...I never bought FS9 Dave...As a beta tester I was sent a free set of CDs :flying:

Edit...Note also that the correct file is 1362 KB and is dated 01/09/2004...You will probably find the No CD Patch version is much smaller.
I have the nocd version and properties show the version number to be 9.1.0.40901 - same as yours. Same date too (after I translated the American 9/01/2004). The file is a lot smaller (504kb) because the cd check has been removed. I have never had any problems whatsoever with this .exe files. The trick is to make sure you get the version 9.1 nocd .exe file if you have applied MS's 9.1 patch.

Quixoticish
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Re: FS2004 "No CD" utility

Post by Quixoticish »

Well you learn a new thing every day, I didn't know that MS had started supporting it.

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DaveB
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Re: FS2004 "No CD" utility

Post by DaveB »

Exactly that Nigel. It was well documented and published at the time that the nocd patch for FS9 would not work after the 9.1 patch. Fortunately.. the patched 9.1 nocd came very shortly after :)

Chris..
You'll probably find there is no support whatsoever for FS9 from M$ these days. Any 'error' file sent will probably end up going off the end of a piece of wire ;-)
ATB

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