More Awesome Than You!

I was stupid and impatient and bought Seasons on EA Link when it was released, so I know I deserve to suffer.  ::)  EA Link has been borked on my computer since shortly after that, but somehow I was still able to play -- until yesterday.  I knew it was only a matter of time before I would be unable to play it.  It spends all its time trying to reconnect, and telling me I have to log in, which it won't allow me to do.  I don't expect EA Link help, because it is total crap.  I've been though all the information they provide and tried many things, and it still doesn't help.

What I am hoping is that someone will share how I can continue playing an electronic download version of a game I already paid for without forking over more cash.  Otherwise, I'm going to go buy it again today and consider it an expensive lesson.

http://thepiratebay.org

Don't buy spyware next time.

If the game files are already on your computer, you might be able to play using a cracked executable.  It's also possible that the new EP's launcher will do away with your current problems. 

Pescado's suggestion is also a fair compromise.  If you don't wish to deal with torrents, I'd be willing to send you the image file via ftp.

Awesome site.  :)  Sadly, I haz crappy satellite internet that limits me to 200 MB a day -- something I discovered after I already paid for Seasons on EA Link, so I angered my family for 4 days while I hogged all the internets to download it already.

I promise, I will never download from EA Link again.


I can't hold my breath long enough to see if EA can make something work, but the cracked executable thing sounds cool, although I doubt I am awesome enough to make it work.

Check GameCopyWorld.  They may already have a cracked exe for the digital version of the game.  If not, try using one of the no-cd cracks.  Just be sure to make backup copies of any files you  overwrite. 

Thanks B, I'll try that.

Update:

As I suspected, I can't get it to work.  EA wins this time.  :P  I am just going to get the CD version.  Maybe I can serve as a warning to others.  Just say no to EA Link!

Twooflower, the cracked .exe should work (even when you are fully patched). You have to replace it in the C:/ProgramFiles directory...can't recall the exact path at the moment and I'm at my work computer. I'll check it all when I get home and see if I can't attach the crack I'm using. EALink has always worked for me, but I hate hate hate the thought of my cable going out and not only losing my tv but also the game.

Overall I love EALink because even here in Chicago it's hard to find a game copy on release day. The game stores have gone all console and only handle the rare PC game...but those are fighters. Department stores are mostly on the west side....I'm on the lake. So it's EALink or take a Pace bus out to the stupid suburbs*.

*disclaimer: I don't think suburbs are stupid. Just a pain in the butt to get to as I opted against getting a car.

I had a similar problem to you with EALink, which was only solved by a complete reinstall of my hard drive!  I shall never get the download again, and there shouldn't be a problem with using the dvd for the next EP. 

The thing that annoyed me most about the darn link was the stupid responses you got whenever you asked for assistance.  Never again!  I shall save the stuff that's still in the cache plus the installer, then if ever I need to reinstall Seasons it won't matter that I've removed the Link - and there's actually no reason why if necessary I shouldn't just install the link for long enough to redownload the game and install it if it ever were necessary. 

And all because I wanted the game at the same time as the US got it!

Zazazu, that was what I needed.  I was putting the .exe file in the wrong directory.  It seems to be working fine now, even with EA Link uninstalled.  Yay!

Thank you everyone for your help. :)


Yeah, it's a load of crap.  I didn't even bother to ask for assistance because I knew I wouldn't get anyone who knew anything.  I knew I would get a lot more help here at MATY.  I just saved over $30 USD.  Well, I actually didn't yet because I did go out and buy it a little while ago, but I haven't opened it yet and have the receipt.  As soon as I install Bon Voyage, if all goes well I'll be returning the Seasons CDs.

I only ever got started on the link because of OMGPetz, which I couldn't get on CD, and at the time I only had a CD drive on this PC.  So, after getting the thing from Virgin, who promised me it was a CD and not a DVD. and finding it was a CD after all, I was so mad I just went and bought the download!  I never bothered to send the CD back, for which now I'm extremely grateful, as if ever I want to play without Seasons, I don't have to use the link.  (I also use it on my laptop installation occasionally.)  Then, when I found I would have this annoying wait for Season, I went and got the download again, and then is when the link got borked - every time they upgraded it, something happened and I couldn't access the darned game.  I tried uninstalling and reinstalling Seasons, no dice.  So I then did a complete reinstall of everything, and it was fine until they upgraded again.  What I did discover this time was a nice little program the link had in its files - Seasons Key Uninstall, or something similar!!!  Which is what they'd done, as every time I tried to open the game, the hourglass would appear and disappear almost immediately.  But if I clicked on Pets, it would try to open it, and then tell me I had a later expansion on my PC!  And all the registry entries were fine.  Just no key to open the game with.

If it was a British company doing these kind of things, you'd be entitled to a refund or a replacement of the download with the DVD, as their product (or at least, the means of delivering their product) is faulty.

And as Pescado says, Spyware!  I thought there was something wrong with the game itself, as I got all these problems with jerky sim movements, which started actually with the Pets download, and then got worse - but the Pets game on my laptop (DVD) doesn't have this problem even though the laptop specs are only just about up to the mark for the basegame and one EP!

I think I'm going to read more thoroughly now, and work out how to access my game without the Link!

Yeah, I was impatient to get Seasons.  It always takes a couple of extra days beyond the release in my area to get an expansion, and when the stores do get it, it gets sold out quickly.  GameStop is the only halfway decent game store in the area, and I don't particularly care to shop there because of the attitude I get.  They tend to ring up any game you ask about before you even say you want it or can ask them the price, which is really annoying and presumptuous.  Their prices are too high, so I guess they don't want you to have time to think.  Wal-Mart has good prices, but no one there ever knows anything or wants to bother to find anything out for you.  Many times I have made a trip in vain to try to buy an expansion, and I live a half hour drive from anywhere.

I also understand about the problems when EA Link would update.  That's when it broke for me as well.  Fortunately up until yesterday I could still play my game if I was persistent and tried to start it a few times.  EA Link hasn't been able to connect for a couple of months.  Last night it refused to let me play until I could prove I owned the game.  I would try to log on, but I couldn't click into the box to type my information -- just kept getting the annoying beep that says "you can't do that, stupid."  I ended up completely uninstalling EA Link because I never want to deal with it again.


I went to GameCopyWorld as suggested by B and got the no dvd/fixed exe for Seasons.  I'm not good at explaining it other than to say I made a backup of the files I would be replacing in the Seasons directory in Program Files and then put in the new files -- had to rename the Sims2EP5 file to Sims2EP5_DRM and then ran the program from there.  When it worked, I made a shortcut to my desktop so I could set the program up to run in a window.  I'm sure somone else could probably do a better job at explaining, but that's what I did.  So far it's working for me.

Well, I downloaded the .exe from the link Pescado gave earlier in the post, and I'm seriously thinking about trying it!  I don't in general approve of stuff which helps people access pirated copies of games, but I think when one has paid for the true EAxis stuff and can't play it properly, it's different.   Especially as I paid £19.99 (I think) for the download, whereas I could have got it from Amazon for about £15.  And I think to myself, if Amazon can sell it for that (plus free delivery) - what must they have paid EAxis for it?  So the profit EAxis make out of me buying the download must be about twice what they make out of selling it to Amazon!

As to having to wait to get it in the stores, don't Amazon.com do a pre-order with guaranteed delivery on the launch date?  That's what the UK Amazon does, only of course it's the UK launch date which is always a couple of weeks after the US, and having to wait while everyone is talking about a new EP gets me soooo frustrated!

I don't see why you're in such a rush to get it, you may as well wait until we get all the issues ironed out.

But so much more interesting waiting on tenterhooks for you to come up with the fixes!

I think we've found your REAL problem.  :o

Even on crusty old dial up I could download twice that much.

My building doesn't have package receiving. I can try to get the UPS person to contact my super for drop-off, but that's unreliable and 9 times out of 10 they won't get him on the first try and will reschedule for the next day...when the same thing will happen. Can't complain too much...I live right on the lake, have a low rent, and a large apartment. I could get it delivered to work, but I hate doing that. It's shady, and our receptionist is a strange guy who will mention whatever package you've had delivered for months and months afterwards. I try to avoid him in general. No game stores around me carry it, and the nearest chain departmenty store is in Lincolnwood...a good hour away by transit, and that's after my hour + commute home. If EALink doesn't have it Tuesday, I guess I'll have to start calling the game store by my grocery store on the off-chance they decided to stock it and the one in the closest suburb to me, which isn't too much longer to get to if I go straight from work and take the express. But both carry nil-to-few non-console games, and typically only shooters. Actually, I may just call the EB in Evanston tomorrow to see if they are going to get it or not.

Drama. But it's shiny and new, and I'm a spoiled brat who needs things NOW NOW NOW.

You can pre-order with the Link, you know, and then you can download it as soon as you can actually get a turn.  (Can get a bit crowded on Release Day!)

Presumably, if you can't get parcels delivered to your building, you can pick it up at a Post Office - I know my niece in NY often has to do that if she is out when the postman calls.  If you're so keen to get your sims going globe-trotting, it might be worth a little foot-slogging yourself!

UK Amazon sounds much better.  Amazon.com doesn't do that.  I tried pre-ordering an EP once, and I think it arrived about 10 days after the release date.  I live way out in the sticks, but still.  After a few days of waiting, I went and bought a copy and returned the Amazon copy when it finally arrived.

I know you're right, but maybe I just want to do free play-testing for EA to help you find those issues.  Yeah, that's the ticket.

I know, but it's really a choice of bad vs. bad.  Not going to be getting DSL or cable here anytime soon.

I understand. ;)

Just say no to EA Link.

I just started using the no CD EXE and it's great as I now have my DVD drive back to use for other things. I'm in the UK and usually buy from play.com as their postage is always free (unlike Amazon's minimum spend) and so far EPs/SPs have arrived on time.

Never tried them,  Amazon uk have lowered their free post limit, I don't know if it's a permanent thing, but I quite often buy a couple of books as well while I'm there, so I don't take a lot of notice - it's still cheaper than the stores round here.  I won't buy from Virgin again, they misled me over Pets when I needed to know if they had the CD, they said they had, and it was a DVD after all.  And EMI, if I remember correctly, advertised the CD - but when they actually checked their stock, it was a DVD. 

I'm still wavering over the no CD .exe......  Why oh why can't EAxis give you  the download for a fiver, then sell you the key for fifteen quid?  It would actually save them money to do it that way, too, as you'd never need the Link to open your game.

I've been using play.com since they started up in 2000 and we get most of our DVDs, CDs and games from there so I'm happy to recommend them to anyone in the UK. They do have some good deals on books but on the whole we stick to amazon for books and the occasional bit of non-game software. Play have also proved a good source for USB data keys and compact flash.

Both Pets and Seasons came on DVD, I didn't think there were CD versions available. The cover for Bon Voyage also has DVD printed on it. If you've paid for the game already then don't feel guilty about using a cracked EXE. I personally don't see why I should be forced to have the CD/DVD in the drive just to play and the same principle applies to the EA purchased download.

The CD versions were only released in America.

But it took a while to find that out, especially when sales staff at video game stores don't know the difference!

And, of course, we can't buy software direct from the US because of their all-encompassing laws about exporting technology - seems it's ok for EA to ship millions of dvds around the world, but it's illegal for Amazon.com to ship one!

I don't feel guilty about using a cracked exe, just dubious about what I actually need to replace in my program files.

Oops, my bad, I misinterpreted you.

To replace the original EXE, first of all locate it and rename the original to something else.

Seasons:  C:\Program Files\EA GAMES\The Sims 2 Seasons\TSBin folder\Sims2EP5.exe
Pets: C:\Program Files\EA GAMES\The Sims 2 Pets\TSBin\Sims2EP4.exe
OFB: C:\Program Files\EA GAMES\The Sims 2 Open For Business\TSBin\Sims2EP3.exe

Once you've renamed the original, copy the no CD/DVD version into the TSBin folder. Run the game to see if it works. If it doesn't work, then delete it and revert the original EXE filename. I renamed my Seasons EXE to Sims2EP5Original.exe so I know exactly what it is.

Thanks!  That makes a lot more sense than moving it somewhere else where there's always the danger it might get lost!

I'll give it a try later on this evening.

What I'm having trouble figuring out is why you wouldn't buy a DVD drive, given that you can now get a DVD drive for less than the cost of an EP (http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/cat/CD---DVD-Drives/subcat/DVD-ROM-Drives).

EDIT: Ah, now I see. Still, it's pretty stupid that EA doesn't allow Amazon.com to ship internationally, given that I recently received this email from Amazon:

Well, I have now!  Can't honestly think why I didn't, but it was Pets I originally got the download for, which was a while back, and the CD drive was basically put in this PC by mistake - the guy who built this PC and rebuilt my old one put the DVD drive in the wrong one - and I haven't the know-how to change them over.  (Also I find it physically quite difficult now to do things like that.)


Would this be the 18.5MB file that in my game is called Sims2EP5_DRM?  And presumably I then need to create a new shortcut on the desktop and delete the old one?

Sounds like it, I assume the DRM stands for digital rights management and the size is about right, the original DVD version is about 17.5Mb. I'm assuming that, like me, you downloaded something called Sims2EP5.exe so you can either:

• Rename your sims2EP5_DRM.exe to Sims2EP5_DRMOriginal.exe then rename the no CD EXE to be called Sims2EP5_DRM.exe and use the existing shortcut.

OR

• Copy the no CD exe across to the TSBin folder, create a new shortcut and run that. Leave the original exe/shortcut untouched.

I'd probably advise the latter as it simply involves a copy/paste and create a new shortcut.

DRM is Digital Restrictions Management, not rights. It's about restriction your rights after all.

Does that mean I'm actually breaking some law in order to access my own stuff which I paid for?  This sucks - just like the way the darned Link had the nerve to unload some file which was something to do with deleting the product key when they upgraded the link - which you can stop, but then you can't access your game because as soon as you try the loop starts again and the Link starts to upgrade!  It's the only program I have on my PC which gives me no real choice, and I think it sucks! 

And why, when I first installed Seasons, did I get an ordinary exe file, and then when I had to download it again did I get this one?  And why will they never answer your questions with a straight answer which actually addresses your problem and not a cut and paste job from standard answers which actually have absolutely zilch to do with your question?  EA seem to think they are above the law!  A UK firm would have to refund your money if they sold you a faulty product.

Anyhow, I've done it, and I shall finish tidying up my PC and then I'll try and load the game with the internet off and see what happens!

Well, it loaded fine, although I'm still getting the lag which I shouldn't be getting, so I'm wondering now if I should uninstall the Link - when I clicked on the icon on the desktop it still tried to use the Link, but since there was no internet access, it loaded anyway.  (The Link is showing multiple errors in its log files! ) As soon as the game had loaded, I alt/tabbed and exited the Link, but no doubt during that time it was able to activate whatever file is causing the problems.  There is one called prefs.ead, which I am just a little suspicious of.....

I think the issue legally is reverse engineering/hacking game files, which I'm not 100% sure is illegal but I'm willing to bet it is or that companies claim it is. And of course, if you download a cracked Exe without buying the game, it's piracy (ARR!), and I think certain programs are labeled illegal because their "intended use" is "illegal operations" so if you have them installed, it's like owning a black box to hack into a phone - you'll automatically be assumed to have either performed or to have the intent to perform illegal activities and be arrested.

Don't be silly.  A hacked exe is perfectly legitimate for use with legally purchased software.  EA games might hate you for it and they will ban you if you mention it on the BBS, but you cannot be prosecuted so long as you own a copy of the game.  Downloading the game itself is illegal, but downloading things to make the software you own less annoying is not illegal.

Very important to do that, I've been burned so many times.  Often a patch or add-on won't install unless it finds the original exe (because that is being patched itself).

So before you install any updates/eps, get your cracked exe out of there, and rename the original back to its proper name.  Then put your cracked one back and hope it works. Doesn't seem to be much of a problem with Sims, but its frustrating when updates fail and you can't figure out why.


Totally true.  Read the disclaimers on GameCopyWorld or GameBurnWorld.  You own the game, you are fine. Otherwise those sites would have been shut down long ago.

And lol @ this situation. I like how getting an illegal, pirated, cracked copy is easier, faster, and works better than getting a legit one from EA.

I think we're all agreed on this one, that downloading a cracked exe in order to play one's game that one has already paid for is fine.  I just can't see why EA can't simply do with TS2 what most programs you download do, and provide you with the key that, after all, is part of what you paid for!  It can only be for underhand reasons like wanting to stick you with spyware (as JM says) and they know that as soon as you run an anti-spyware program their little program will be gone, so then they install it again next time you play the game.  And the other annoying thing is, if a new game of any sort comes out, then all the people busy downloading it mean that you can't even access the servers for the ten seconds needed to play your game!

Yes, I understand. That's why I was saying that EALink was preferable to me. It's up now, so I've preordered. Just took them forever to do so.  ::)

The post office is not close to my apartment at all, and it's not convenient to transit. By the time I can get there from work, it's closed. Trust me, I've gone through all alternatives in my head.

There was a lot to be said for the "good old days" as far as mail delivery was concerned!

Strange, though, that you mention that you can only now pre-order on the Link - I seem to remember seeing the option at least a week ago, probably more.