The Fire Eater on 26/3/2010 at 01:04
Just for gen. principles...since needing to use that .exe and circumventing the original .exe is it really necessary to put disk in drive? I installed the full game and would like to save wear and tear if possible? I don't really think I could test it because I don't think it would recognize the new .exe using the play command so I exit disk to use proper shortcut on desktop. Could someone let me know about this please? Thank you.
bob_doe_nz on 26/3/2010 at 05:51
You should consider getting the(
http://thief-thecircle.com/download.asp?fid=423) Premier 1.18 patch.
It's the same at the regular 1.18 but you can then modify the install.cfg and remove references to the optical drive.
*Runs away before the banhammer appears*
baeuchlein on 26/3/2010 at 14:39
Quote Posted by The Fire Eater
since needing to use that .exe and circumventing the original .exe is it really necessary to put disk in drive? I installed the full game and would like to save wear and tear if possible?
If I got that right, you have a version of
Thief 2 and use a modified .exe file which doesn't check for the CD in the drive. You made a full install of the game, and now you would like to never insert the CD anymore.
I think it's possible. My original T2 game CD, which I bought about ten years ago, has more scratches on the surface than a Pirate's scruffy face, so I had to do something to be able to play without it in the drive. Afterwards, I have noticed that even when I forgot to insert the CD, the game usually ran without problems. Obviously, it did not use the CD anymore under standard circumstances (meaning, I'm playing a fan mission
and do
not finish said mission - upon completing a mission, some disk access may be needed).
The only thing I don't know is whether
all of the movies on the CD are copied to the hard disk if one selects "full install". The briefing movies
are copied, but what about SUCCESS.AVI and DEATH.AVI? At least if one does just a
partial install, these movies are usually
not copied to the hard disk.
You better check out the MOVIES sub-directory in the
Thief 2 installation directory for these two files. If they're not there, copy them over from the
Thief 2 game CD (CD 2, in the \THIEF2\MOVIES directory), and that should be enough.
The other movies, especially the cutscenes (CSnn.AVI, where nn is a two-digit number) and the briefing movies (Bnn.AVI, where once again nn is a two-digit number), are only necessary if you play the original game. If you only play fan missions, you don't need the CSnn.AVI and Bnn.AVI files on your hard disk. I think you can even delete the MISSnn.MIS files from your hard disk; the MISSnn.OSM files, on the other hand, might be needed.
To verify you have the necessary files on your hard disk, you can start
Thief 2 and play the first mission on easiest difficulty level. Leave the CD inside until the briefing movie has stopped. Once Basso tells you about the lock on the side door, you can take out the CD and play through the mission. If you have all necessary files on your hard disk, you should be able to play until the missions ends (whether successful or not). Don't forget to read at least one readable (I think there's a note near the kitchen which will do); this triggers a CD access if not all of the files have been copied to disk. And maybe you should visit the two guards standing in a room downstairs to start their conversation, which
might trigger another CD access - I'm not sure about it, though.
On the other hand, you can as well create a copy of your original game disk and put this copy into the drive while playing. You don't need a full install then, and the original disk will not suffer any wear and tear. That's basically the route I've been taking for several years now. You could even integrate necessary patches into the CD, re-encode the movies to make them somewhat smaller (or to solve problems with the old Indeo codecs, maybe), and create a one-DVD-version of the game, but that's another story now...
The Fire Eater on 27/3/2010 at 01:01
Quote:
I think it's possible. My original T2 game CD, which I bought about ten years ago, has more scratches on the surface than a Pirate's scruffy face, so I had to do something to be able to play without it in the drive. Afterwards, I have noticed that even when I forgot to insert the CD, the game usually ran without problems. Obviously, it did not use the CD anymore under standard circumstances (meaning, I'm playing a fan mission and do not finish said mission - upon completing a mission, some disk access may be needed).
The only thing I don't know is whether all of the movies on the CD are copied to the hard disk if one selects "full install". The briefing movies are copied, but what about SUCCESS.AVI and DEATH.AVI? At least if one does just a partial install, these movies are usually not copied to the hard disk.
Yes those two copies plus the others copied over. However I believe when using Darkloader as in the past, it takes care of all that by making an "Allsaves' files and putting said FM in the directory for Thief replacing those needed to play the FM, etc. Now whether or not CD needs to be in for FM's to process, I don't really know not having this kind of set-up for Thief in the first place?
I have played game already to the extent of getting Basso in to get girl and they are out of mansion and I did read the note in one room already, etc. However just as soon as I tried making another QS, the game/computer crashed down and not sure if that QS took? I have a HS but would require doing some things over again if needed. Ha, ha I am playing Easy (normally would play hard) but been a long time and need to get my BJ skills back, but also because I'm having an issue with key binds I have to work that out some more. :(
Quote:
I guess the only thing to do is take *(or not put in the disk) a chance on not using it and see if it says "put in disk"? I think always before I never had a full install but used the disk for the movies so that was another reason to "have to use it" et al. Guess it can't hurt to try.
Just to answer my own question about this now: No it won't work without disk in. Too bad.
@bob_doe_nz thank you also for reply but don't think I'll go that route. As it is I have a CD that was sent to me years ago from Eidos (I think it was) that has the full patch on it for T2 so that is what I use. :) In the day I had only Dial-up and that is what they offered for us ILO downloading large patch. ;) Plus I don't like messing with files anymore than might be absolutely necessary and within my scope of abilities (limited). :D
Even to copy over game into another place (drive) would still call for some modifications that I'm not sure what would need to be done? Although I have sufficient room I really don't want to take up more space because of Missions I will be putting in and keeping etc. So there it is and no matter where I go, there I am! :D Later and if you have any more ideas...fire away! :)
bob_doe_nz on 28/3/2010 at 10:59
Quote Posted by The Fire Eater
Even to copy over game into another place (drive) would still call for some modifications that I'm not sure what would need to be done?
That would be just changing the path to Thief2 directory.
sNeaksieGarrett on 28/3/2010 at 17:18
Did you install the full version of thief? I didn't think about what baeuchlein said... It should possible to go that route, but seeing as you said the game doesn't work without the CD then I guess it doesn't work - Could be because you didn't do a "full install?" The main thing is that you need to modify a file in your install directory.... I will PM you about it if you would like to know more.
You can of course make a copy of your disc as baeuchlein suggested, which would then avoid having to modify anything regarding the game.
Quote Posted by The Fire Eater
Plus I don't like messing with files anymore than might be absolutely necessary and within my scope of abilities (limited).
One of us could step you through it, don't let your lack of abilities stop you ! ;)
