Hi all,

I run Vista64 Ultimate and I just got the HL2 and HL2 Episode Onde DVDs from
the store.
When I insert one of these DVDs Vista keeps telling me to insert a disc when
I double click on the drive icon.



I returned the DVDs to the store and got new DVDs at another store, same
problem.
I can't even view the contents of the DVDs le alone install!

All other DVDs I have work.

What's the prolem here? I found so references to Alcohol 120% being a
problem but I have no such software installed.

Patrick
btw. this sucks, if I find myself a torrent for both games I have them for
free and they work. Me, the smuck wanting to be a good guy, buy the games
and it doesn't work.

Not sure I'll be able to help too much, because I did the steam download of
the game over the DVD. Though it seems like I had that problem with Vista64
as well, I think it was when I was trying to install Supreme Commander, When
I would click on the DVD it would want to try and write to it (which it
couldn't)

You could always try opening the Command prompt (go to Start - run and type
CMD) and then go to your DVD drive and type setup and hit enter. Assuming
your DVD drive is Z, here's what it would look like from the command prompt

c:\users\patrick> Z: [hit enter]
Z:\> setup [hit enter]

Program should start up

This is kinda of the long way around it, but hopefully you want see this
problem very often, or maybe it will get fix in a patch


"Patrick" <patrick.kessen@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:9995FEEF-1F73-4E47-BFCA-FB6FA4E4B03F@microsoft.com...
> Hi all,
>
> I run Vista64 Ultimate and I just got the HL2 and HL2 Episode Onde DVDs
> from the store.
> When I insert one of these DVDs Vista keeps telling me to insert a disc
> when I double click on the drive icon.
>
> I returned the DVDs to the store and got new DVDs at another store, same
> problem.
> I can't even view the contents of the DVDs le alone install!
>
> All other DVDs I have work.
>
> What's the prolem here? I found so references to Alcohol 120% being a
> problem but I have no such software installed.
>
> Patrick
> btw. this sucks, if I find myself a torrent for both games I have them for
> free and they work. Me, the smuck wanting to be a good guy, buy the games
> and it doesn't work.

Hi,

thanks for the effort but opening a command prompt and doing f: reults in a
popup stating there is no disk in the drive. Please insert a disk into drive
F:.

I think it has to do with some form of copy protection.

Patrick

"Dale M. White" <dale.white@NOinsightbb.NOcom> wrote in message
news:Ef6dncmZ-psGrWTYnZ2dnUVZ_uOmnZ2d@insightbb.com...
> Not sure I'll be able to help too much, because I did the steam download
> of the game over the DVD. Though it seems like I had that problem with
> Vista64 as well, I think it was when I was trying to install Supreme
> Commander, When I would click on the DVD it would want to try and write to
> it (which it couldn't)
>
> You could always try opening the Command prompt (go to Start - run and
> type CMD) and then go to your DVD drive and type setup and hit enter.
> Assuming your DVD drive is Z, here's what it would look like from the
> command prompt
>
> c:\users\patrick> Z: [hit enter]
> Z:\> setup [hit enter]
>
> Program should start up
>
> This is kinda of the long way around it, but hopefully you want see this
> problem very often, or maybe it will get fix in a patch
>
>
> "Patrick" <patrick.kessen@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:9995FEEF-1F73-4E47-BFCA-FB6FA4E4B03F@microsoft.com...
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I run Vista64 Ultimate and I just got the HL2 and HL2 Episode Onde DVDs
>> from the store.
>> When I insert one of these DVDs Vista keeps telling me to insert a disc
>> when I double click on the drive icon.
>>
>> I returned the DVDs to the store and got new DVDs at another store, same
>> problem.
>> I can't even view the contents of the DVDs le alone install!
>>
>> All other DVDs I have work.
>>
>> What's the prolem here? I found so references to Alcohol 120% being a
>> problem but I have no such software installed.
>>
>> Patrick
>> btw. this sucks, if I find myself a torrent for both games I have them
>> for free and they work. Me, the smuck wanting to be a good guy, buy the
>> games and it doesn't work.
>
>

Wow that is a odd one. I guess if you're not able to take the game back then
you might be stuck. It's probably using SecureRom or Starforce, both give
vista fits (and even XP to a degree). If you can refund the game, probably
you other option is to get HL2 and EP1 via the steam method.

Oddly enough Valve supports Vista, but I guess if they can't get the Vista
to reconize the DVD, then they will have to change their copy protection
means.


"Patrick" <patrick.kessen@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:3A63F946-93A5-4038-B4A0-CA8A777EEF60@microsoft.com...
> Hi,
>
> thanks for the effort but opening a command prompt and doing f: reults in
> a popup stating there is no disk in the drive. Please insert a disk into
> drive F:.
>
> I think it has to do with some form of copy protection.
>
> Patrick
>
> "Dale M. White" <dale.white@NOinsightbb.NOcom> wrote in message
> news:Ef6dncmZ-psGrWTYnZ2dnUVZ_uOmnZ2d@insightbb.com...
>> Not sure I'll be able to help too much, because I did the steam download
>> of the game over the DVD. Though it seems like I had that problem with
>> Vista64 as well, I think it was when I was trying to install Supreme
>> Commander, When I would click on the DVD it would want to try and write
>> to it (which it couldn't)
>>
>> You could always try opening the Command prompt (go to Start - run and
>> type CMD) and then go to your DVD drive and type setup and hit enter.
>> Assuming your DVD drive is Z, here's what it would look like from the
>> command prompt
>>
>> c:\users\patrick> Z: [hit enter]
>> Z:\> setup [hit enter]
>>
>> Program should start up
>>
>> This is kinda of the long way around it, but hopefully you want see this
>> problem very often, or maybe it will get fix in a patch
>>
>>
>> "Patrick" <patrick.kessen@gmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:9995FEEF-1F73-4E47-BFCA-FB6FA4E4B03F@microsoft.com...
>>> Hi all,
>>>
>>> I run Vista64 Ultimate and I just got the HL2 and HL2 Episode Onde DVDs
>>> from the store.
>>> When I insert one of these DVDs Vista keeps telling me to insert a disc
>>> when I double click on the drive icon.
>>>
>>> I returned the DVDs to the store and got new DVDs at another store, same
>>> problem.
>>> I can't even view the contents of the DVDs le alone install!
>>>
>>> All other DVDs I have work.
>>>
>>> What's the prolem here? I found so references to Alcohol 120% being a
>>> problem but I have no such software installed.
>>>
>>> Patrick
>>> btw. this sucks, if I find myself a torrent for both games I have them
>>> for free and they work. Me, the smuck wanting to be a good guy, buy the
>>> games and it doesn't work.
>>
>>
>

One other thing you might try, is to go to Control panel- user acounts and
turn off the User Account Control, reboot and see if that makes any
difference


"Dale M. White" <dale.white@NOinsightbb.NOcom> wrote in message
news:Jd6dnfddNN97xGTYnZ2dnUVZ_hGdnZ2d@insightbb.com...
> Wow that is a odd one. I guess if you're not able to take the game back
> then you might be stuck. It's probably using SecureRom or Starforce, both
> give vista fits (and even XP to a degree). If you can refund the game,
> probably you other option is to get HL2 and EP1 via the steam method.
>
> Oddly enough Valve supports Vista, but I guess if they can't get the Vista
> to reconize the DVD, then they will have to change their copy protection
> means.
>
>
> "Patrick" <patrick.kessen@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:3A63F946-93A5-4038-B4A0-CA8A777EEF60@microsoft.com...
>> Hi,
>>
>> thanks for the effort but opening a command prompt and doing f: reults in
>> a popup stating there is no disk in the drive. Please insert a disk into
>> drive F:.
>>
>> I think it has to do with some form of copy protection.
>>
>> Patrick
>>
>> "Dale M. White" <dale.white@NOinsightbb.NOcom> wrote in message
>> news:Ef6dncmZ-psGrWTYnZ2dnUVZ_uOmnZ2d@insightbb.com...
>>> Not sure I'll be able to help too much, because I did the steam download
>>> of the game over the DVD. Though it seems like I had that problem with
>>> Vista64 as well, I think it was when I was trying to install Supreme
>>> Commander, When I would click on the DVD it would want to try and write
>>> to it (which it couldn't)
>>>
>>> You could always try opening the Command prompt (go to Start - run and
>>> type CMD) and then go to your DVD drive and type setup and hit enter.
>>> Assuming your DVD drive is Z, here's what it would look like from the
>>> command prompt
>>>
>>> c:\users\patrick> Z: [hit enter]
>>> Z:\> setup [hit enter]
>>>
>>> Program should start up
>>>
>>> This is kinda of the long way around it, but hopefully you want see this
>>> problem very often, or maybe it will get fix in a patch
>>>
>>>
>>> "Patrick" <patrick.kessen@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>> news:9995FEEF-1F73-4E47-BFCA-FB6FA4E4B03F@microsoft.com...
>>>> Hi all,
>>>>
>>>> I run Vista64 Ultimate and I just got the HL2 and HL2 Episode Onde DVDs
>>>> from the store.
>>>> When I insert one of these DVDs Vista keeps telling me to insert a disc
>>>> when I double click on the drive icon.
>>>>
>>>> I returned the DVDs to the store and got new DVDs at another store,
>>>> same problem.
>>>> I can't even view the contents of the DVDs le alone install!
>>>>
>>>> All other DVDs I have work.
>>>>
>>>> What's the prolem here? I found so references to Alcohol 120% being a
>>>> problem but I have no such software installed.
>>>>
>>>> Patrick
>>>> btw. this sucks, if I find myself a torrent for both games I have them
>>>> for free and they work. Me, the smuck wanting to be a good guy, buy the
>>>> games and it doesn't work.
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>

EA uses Safedisc in their encoding.

Copy Protection should not effect your computers ability to read a CD
directory. Could be your DVD drive just doesn't like how this disc is setup.
Might borrow an external DVD drive and see if that works. Try the disc in
another computer.

The Steam idea is good, but I'm guessing he got a good deal on the disc
version. I've noticed the games on Steam are a bit more usually than some of
those retail versions.

Here's ANOTHER idea (just thought of it). Go to http://www.steampowered.com
(Assuming you don't have Steam on your computer), download and install
Steam, Make an account once you get online, Click on Games Menu (Not My
Games Tab) and select Activate a product on Steam...

Steam will ask for the CD Key that came with the game, enter and you can
download the entire game off the Steam Network.

It'll take WAY longer, but it should work.


"Dale M. White" <dale.white@NOinsightbb.NOcom> wrote in message
news:Jd6dnfddNN97xGTYnZ2dnUVZ_hGdnZ2d@insightbb.com...
> Wow that is a odd one. I guess if you're not able to take the game back
> then you might be stuck. It's probably using SecureRom or Starforce, both
> give vista fits (and even XP to a degree). If you can refund the game,
> probably you other option is to get HL2 and EP1 via the steam method.
>
> Oddly enough Valve supports Vista, but I guess if they can't get the Vista
> to reconize the DVD, then they will have to change their copy protection
> means.
>
>
> "Patrick" <patrick.kessen@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:3A63F946-93A5-4038-B4A0-CA8A777EEF60@microsoft.com...
>> Hi,
>>
>> thanks for the effort but opening a command prompt and doing f: reults in
>> a popup stating there is no disk in the drive. Please insert a disk into
>> drive F:.
>>
>> I think it has to do with some form of copy protection.
>>
>> Patrick
>>
>> "Dale M. White" <dale.white@NOinsightbb.NOcom> wrote in message
>> news:Ef6dncmZ-psGrWTYnZ2dnUVZ_uOmnZ2d@insightbb.com...
>>> Not sure I'll be able to help too much, because I did the steam download
>>> of the game over the DVD. Though it seems like I had that problem with
>>> Vista64 as well, I think it was when I was trying to install Supreme
>>> Commander, When I would click on the DVD it would want to try and write
>>> to it (which it couldn't)
>>>
>>> You could always try opening the Command prompt (go to Start - run and
>>> type CMD) and then go to your DVD drive and type setup and hit enter.
>>> Assuming your DVD drive is Z, here's what it would look like from the
>>> command prompt
>>>
>>> c:\users\patrick> Z: [hit enter]
>>> Z:\> setup [hit enter]
>>>
>>> Program should start up
>>>
>>> This is kinda of the long way around it, but hopefully you want see this
>>> problem very often, or maybe it will get fix in a patch
>>>
>>>
>>> "Patrick" <patrick.kessen@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>> news:9995FEEF-1F73-4E47-BFCA-FB6FA4E4B03F@microsoft.com...
>>>> Hi all,
>>>>
>>>> I run Vista64 Ultimate and I just got the HL2 and HL2 Episode Onde DVDs
>>>> from the store.
>>>> When I insert one of these DVDs Vista keeps telling me to insert a disc
>>>> when I double click on the drive icon.
>>>>
>>>> I returned the DVDs to the store and got new DVDs at another store,
>>>> same problem.
>>>> I can't even view the contents of the DVDs le alone install!
>>>>
>>>> All other DVDs I have work.
>>>>
>>>> What's the prolem here? I found so references to Alcohol 120% being a
>>>> problem but I have no such software installed.
>>>>
>>>> Patrick
>>>> btw. this sucks, if I find myself a torrent for both games I have them
>>>> for free and they work. Me, the smuck wanting to be a good guy, buy the
>>>> games and it doesn't work.
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>

I agree that it shouldn't but over in the Supreme Commander forum there was
alot of talk about this as well. In fact, THQ and Gaspowered Games did the
unthinkable and removed the CD check in their 2nd patch because it was such
a problem. Granted, most of these problems were with people who got the game
installed, but couldn't read it.

Does EA do Valves CD\DVDs ??

I heard the problem was specific to 64bit OS, something about something
couldn't load right. I didn't pay enough attention, so I guess I'm not much
help.




"Andy" <android8675@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:OFTVP80ZHHA.3612@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> EA uses Safedisc in their encoding.
>
> Copy Protection should not effect your computers ability to read a CD
> directory. Could be your DVD drive just doesn't like how this disc is
> setup. Might borrow an external DVD drive and see if that works. Try the
> disc in another computer.
>
> The Steam idea is good, but I'm guessing he got a good deal on the disc
> version. I've noticed the games on Steam are a bit more usually than some
> of those retail versions.
>
> Here's ANOTHER idea (just thought of it). Go to
> http://www.steampowered.com (Assuming you don't have Steam on your
> computer), download and install Steam, Make an account once you get
> online, Click on Games Menu (Not My Games Tab) and select Activate a
> product on Steam...
>
> Steam will ask for the CD Key that came with the game, enter and you can
> download the entire game off the Steam Network.
>
> It'll take WAY longer, but it should work.
>
>
> "Dale M. White" <dale.white@NOinsightbb.NOcom> wrote in message
> news:Jd6dnfddNN97xGTYnZ2dnUVZ_hGdnZ2d@insightbb.com...
>> Wow that is a odd one. I guess if you're not able to take the game back
>> then you might be stuck. It's probably using SecureRom or Starforce, both
>> give vista fits (and even XP to a degree). If you can refund the game,
>> probably you other option is to get HL2 and EP1 via the steam method.
>>
>> Oddly enough Valve supports Vista, but I guess if they can't get the
>> Vista to reconize the DVD, then they will have to change their copy
>> protection means.
>>
>>
>> "Patrick" <patrick.kessen@gmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:3A63F946-93A5-4038-B4A0-CA8A777EEF60@microsoft.com...
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> thanks for the effort but opening a command prompt and doing f: reults
>>> in a popup stating there is no disk in the drive. Please insert a disk
>>> into drive F:.
>>>
>>> I think it has to do with some form of copy protection.
>>>
>>> Patrick
>>>
>>> "Dale M. White" <dale.white@NOinsightbb.NOcom> wrote in message
>>> news:Ef6dncmZ-psGrWTYnZ2dnUVZ_uOmnZ2d@insightbb.com...
>>>> Not sure I'll be able to help too much, because I did the steam
>>>> download of the game over the DVD. Though it seems like I had that
>>>> problem with Vista64 as well, I think it was when I was trying to
>>>> install Supreme Commander, When I would click on the DVD it would want
>>>> to try and write to it (which it couldn't)
>>>>
>>>> You could always try opening the Command prompt (go to Start - run and
>>>> type CMD) and then go to your DVD drive and type setup and hit enter.
>>>> Assuming your DVD drive is Z, here's what it would look like from the
>>>> command prompt
>>>>
>>>> c:\users\patrick> Z: [hit enter]
>>>> Z:\> setup [hit enter]
>>>>
>>>> Program should start up
>>>>
>>>> This is kinda of the long way around it, but hopefully you want see
>>>> this problem very often, or maybe it will get fix in a patch
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Patrick" <patrick.kessen@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:9995FEEF-1F73-4E47-BFCA-FB6FA4E4B03F@microsoft.com...
>>>>> Hi all,
>>>>>
>>>>> I run Vista64 Ultimate and I just got the HL2 and HL2 Episode Onde
>>>>> DVDs from the store.
>>>>> When I insert one of these DVDs Vista keeps telling me to insert a
>>>>> disc when I double click on the drive icon.
>>>>>
>>>>> I returned the DVDs to the store and got new DVDs at another store,
>>>>> same problem.
>>>>> I can't even view the contents of the DVDs le alone install!
>>>>>
>>>>> All other DVDs I have work.
>>>>>
>>>>> What's the prolem here? I found so references to Alcohol 120% being a
>>>>> problem but I have no such software installed.
>>>>>
>>>>> Patrick
>>>>> btw. this sucks, if I find myself a torrent for both games I have them
>>>>> for free and they work. Me, the smuck wanting to be a good guy, buy
>>>>> the games and it doesn't work.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>

What you can do is Download steam, create an account and register the serial
number to you account. That way you won't need the dvd, you can just
download it straight from their site. I had the CD's, and due ti several
reformats, i never used the cd's again.

"Dale White V64" <dale.white@NOinsightbb.NO.com> wrote in message
news:uLHkcD1ZHHA.4508@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>I agree that it shouldn't but over in the Supreme Commander forum there was
>alot of talk about this as well. In fact, THQ and Gaspowered Games did the
>unthinkable and removed the CD check in their 2nd patch because it was such
>a problem. Granted, most of these problems were with people who got the
>game installed, but couldn't read it.
>
> Does EA do Valves CD\DVDs ??
>
> I heard the problem was specific to 64bit OS, something about something
> couldn't load right. I didn't pay enough attention, so I guess I'm not
> much help.
>
>
>
>
> "Andy" <android8675@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:OFTVP80ZHHA.3612@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> EA uses Safedisc in their encoding.
>>
>> Copy Protection should not effect your computers ability to read a CD
>> directory. Could be your DVD drive just doesn't like how this disc is
>> setup. Might borrow an external DVD drive and see if that works. Try the
>> disc in another computer.
>>
>> The Steam idea is good, but I'm guessing he got a good deal on the disc
>> version. I've noticed the games on Steam are a bit more usually than some
>> of those retail versions.
>>
>> Here's ANOTHER idea (just thought of it). Go to
>> http://www.steampowered.com (Assuming you don't have Steam on your
>> computer), download and install Steam, Make an account once you get
>> online, Click on Games Menu (Not My Games Tab) and select Activate a
>> product on Steam...
>>
>> Steam will ask for the CD Key that came with the game, enter and you can
>> download the entire game off the Steam Network.
>>
>> It'll take WAY longer, but it should work.
>>
>>
>> "Dale M. White" <dale.white@NOinsightbb.NOcom> wrote in message
>> news:Jd6dnfddNN97xGTYnZ2dnUVZ_hGdnZ2d@insightbb.com...
>>> Wow that is a odd one. I guess if you're not able to take the game back
>>> then you might be stuck. It's probably using SecureRom or Starforce,
>>> both give vista fits (and even XP to a degree). If you can refund the
>>> game, probably you other option is to get HL2 and EP1 via the steam
>>> method.
>>>
>>> Oddly enough Valve supports Vista, but I guess if they can't get the
>>> Vista to reconize the DVD, then they will have to change their copy
>>> protection means.
>>>
>>>
>>> "Patrick" <patrick.kessen@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>> news:3A63F946-93A5-4038-B4A0-CA8A777EEF60@microsoft.com...
>>>> Hi,
>>>>
>>>> thanks for the effort but opening a command prompt and doing f: reults
>>>> in a popup stating there is no disk in the drive. Please insert a disk
>>>> into drive F:.
>>>>
>>>> I think it has to do with some form of copy protection.
>>>>
>>>> Patrick
>>>>
>>>> "Dale M. White" <dale.white@NOinsightbb.NOcom> wrote in message
>>>> news:Ef6dncmZ-psGrWTYnZ2dnUVZ_uOmnZ2d@insightbb.com...
>>>>> Not sure I'll be able to help too much, because I did the steam
>>>>> download of the game over the DVD. Though it seems like I had that
>>>>> problem with Vista64 as well, I think it was when I was trying to
>>>>> install Supreme Commander, When I would click on the DVD it would want
>>>>> to try and write to it (which it couldn't)
>>>>>
>>>>> You could always try opening the Command prompt (go to Start - run and
>>>>> type CMD) and then go to your DVD drive and type setup and hit enter.
>>>>> Assuming your DVD drive is Z, here's what it would look like from the
>>>>> command prompt
>>>>>
>>>>> c:\users\patrick> Z: [hit enter]
>>>>> Z:\> setup [hit enter]
>>>>>
>>>>> Program should start up
>>>>>
>>>>> This is kinda of the long way around it, but hopefully you want see
>>>>> this problem very often, or maybe it will get fix in a patch
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> "Patrick" <patrick.kessen@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>>>> news:9995FEEF-1F73-4E47-BFCA-FB6FA4E4B03F@microsoft.com...
>>>>>> Hi all,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I run Vista64 Ultimate and I just got the HL2 and HL2 Episode Onde
>>>>>> DVDs from the store.
>>>>>> When I insert one of these DVDs Vista keeps telling me to insert a
>>>>>> disc when I double click on the drive icon.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I returned the DVDs to the store and got new DVDs at another store,
>>>>>> same problem.
>>>>>> I can't even view the contents of the DVDs le alone install!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> All other DVDs I have work.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> What's the prolem here? I found so references to Alcohol 120% being a
>>>>>> problem but I have no such software installed.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Patrick
>>>>>> btw. this sucks, if I find myself a torrent for both games I have
>>>>>> them for free and they work. Me, the smuck wanting to be a good guy,
>>>>>> buy the games and it doesn't work.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>

That worked for Episode One but with the regular HL2 Steam tells me to to a
DVD install first. I't won't activate without the dvd install having taken
place.
The deal on HL2 wasn't great. It was ?19,95 and I didn't buy online with
download because I want to have an install dvd at hand.


"Kamal Rahim" <kamal.rahim021@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:O4z8gt1ZHHA.2320@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> What you can do is Download steam, create an account and register the
> serial number to you account. That way you won't need the dvd, you can
> just download it straight from their site. I had the CD's, and due ti
> several reformats, i never used the cd's again.
>
> "Dale White V64" <dale.white@NOinsightbb.NO.com> wrote in message
> news:uLHkcD1ZHHA.4508@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>I agree that it shouldn't but over in the Supreme Commander forum there
>>was alot of talk about this as well. In fact, THQ and Gaspowered Games did
>>the unthinkable and removed the CD check in their 2nd patch because it was
>>such a problem. Granted, most of these problems were with people who got
>>the game installed, but couldn't read it.
>>
>> Does EA do Valves CD\DVDs ??
>>
>> I heard the problem was specific to 64bit OS, something about something
>> couldn't load right. I didn't pay enough attention, so I guess I'm not
>> much help.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "Andy" <android8675@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:OFTVP80ZHHA.3612@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>> EA uses Safedisc in their encoding.
>>>
>>> Copy Protection should not effect your computers ability to read a CD
>>> directory. Could be your DVD drive just doesn't like how this disc is
>>> setup. Might borrow an external DVD drive and see if that works. Try the
>>> disc in another computer.
>>>
>>> The Steam idea is good, but I'm guessing he got a good deal on the disc
>>> version. I've noticed the games on Steam are a bit more usually than
>>> some of those retail versions.
>>>
>>> Here's ANOTHER idea (just thought of it). Go to
>>> http://www.steampowered.com (Assuming you don't have Steam on your
>>> computer), download and install Steam, Make an account once you get
>>> online, Click on Games Menu (Not My Games Tab) and select Activate a
>>> product on Steam...
>>>
>>> Steam will ask for the CD Key that came with the game, enter and you can
>>> download the entire game off the Steam Network.
>>>
>>> It'll take WAY longer, but it should work.
>>>
>>>
>>> "Dale M. White" <dale.white@NOinsightbb.NOcom> wrote in message
>>> news:Jd6dnfddNN97xGTYnZ2dnUVZ_hGdnZ2d@insightbb.com...
>>>> Wow that is a odd one. I guess if you're not able to take the game back
>>>> then you might be stuck. It's probably using SecureRom or Starforce,
>>>> both give vista fits (and even XP to a degree). If you can refund the
>>>> game, probably you other option is to get HL2 and EP1 via the steam
>>>> method.
>>>>
>>>> Oddly enough Valve supports Vista, but I guess if they can't get the
>>>> Vista to reconize the DVD, then they will have to change their copy
>>>> protection means.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Patrick" <patrick.kessen@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:3A63F946-93A5-4038-B4A0-CA8A777EEF60@microsoft.com...
>>>>> Hi,
>>>>>
>>>>> thanks for the effort but opening a command prompt and doing f: reults
>>>>> in a popup stating there is no disk in the drive. Please insert a disk
>>>>> into drive F:.
>>>>>
>>>>> I think it has to do with some form of copy protection.
>>>>>
>>>>> Patrick
>>>>>
>>>>> "Dale M. White" <dale.white@NOinsightbb.NOcom> wrote in message
>>>>> news:Ef6dncmZ-psGrWTYnZ2dnUVZ_uOmnZ2d@insightbb.com...
>>>>>> Not sure I'll be able to help too much, because I did the steam
>>>>>> download of the game over the DVD. Though it seems like I had that
>>>>>> problem with Vista64 as well, I think it was when I was trying to
>>>>>> install Supreme Commander, When I would click on the DVD it would
>>>>>> want to try and write to it (which it couldn't)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> You could always try opening the Command prompt (go to Start - run
>>>>>> and type CMD) and then go to your DVD drive and type setup and hit
>>>>>> enter. Assuming your DVD drive is Z, here's what it would look like
>>>>>> from the command prompt
>>>>>>
>>>>>> c:\users\patrick> Z: [hit enter]
>>>>>> Z:\> setup [hit enter]
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Program should start up
>>>>>>
>>>>>> This is kinda of the long way around it, but hopefully you want see
>>>>>> this problem very often, or maybe it will get fix in a patch
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "Patrick" <patrick.kessen@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>>>>> news:9995FEEF-1F73-4E47-BFCA-FB6FA4E4B03F@microsoft.com...
>>>>>>> Hi all,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I run Vista64 Ultimate and I just got the HL2 and HL2 Episode Onde
>>>>>>> DVDs from the store.
>>>>>>> When I insert one of these DVDs Vista keeps telling me to insert a
>>>>>>> disc when I double click on the drive icon.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I returned the DVDs to the store and got new DVDs at another store,
>>>>>>> same problem.
>>>>>>> I can't even view the contents of the DVDs le alone install!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> All other DVDs I have work.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> What's the prolem here? I found so references to Alcohol 120% being
>>>>>>> a problem but I have no such software installed.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Patrick
>>>>>>> btw. this sucks, if I find myself a torrent for both games I have
>>>>>>> them for free and they work. Me, the smuck wanting to be a good guy,
>>>>>>> buy the games and it doesn't work.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>

$19.95 is better than the $49.95 I paid. I understand the desire to have the
DVD handy. I normally never do the download stuff, but I though what the
heck, I'll give it a try. The good part about the steam stuff, is that I
keep my games on a another hard drive. If I re-install my OS or in this
case, Install Vista, all I have to do is run the Steam Setup and then point
it to where I already have it loaded and it sees whatI have and off it goes.
No re-installing neeeded. I can even make a copy to DVD of my Steam folder
and format that drive, recopy teh data from DVD and I'm back up and running.
So at least in Steam's case, it's been pretty flexible. Plus I don't have to
go through the whole insert DVD to play crap. If all game downloads worked
as well as Steam, I'd probably be willing to buy more games like that.

About the only other thing I could suggest is taking that DVD to another PC,
copying the game over to a USB hard drive or via a network connection try
doing the install. Once you get the game install, you could try putting the
DVD in to see if it will validate.


"Patrick" <patrick.kessen@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:eSpJLQ8ZHHA.4620@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> That worked for Episode One but with the regular HL2 Steam tells me to to
> a DVD install first. I't won't activate without the dvd install having
> taken place.
> The deal on HL2 wasn't great. It was ?19,95 and I didn't buy online with
> download because I want to have an install dvd at hand.
>
>
> "Kamal Rahim" <kamal.rahim021@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
> news:O4z8gt1ZHHA.2320@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>> What you can do is Download steam, create an account and register the
>> serial number to you account. That way you won't need the dvd, you can
>> just download it straight from their site. I had the CD's, and due ti
>> several reformats, i never used the cd's again.
>>
>> "Dale White V64" <dale.white@NOinsightbb.NO.com> wrote in message
>> news:uLHkcD1ZHHA.4508@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>>I agree that it shouldn't but over in the Supreme Commander forum there
>>>was alot of talk about this as well. In fact, THQ and Gaspowered Games
>>>did the unthinkable and removed the CD check in their 2nd patch because
>>>it was such a problem. Granted, most of these problems were with people
>>>who got the game installed, but couldn't read it.
>>>
>>> Does EA do Valves CD\DVDs ??
>>>
>>> I heard the problem was specific to 64bit OS, something about something
>>> couldn't load right. I didn't pay enough attention, so I guess I'm not
>>> much help.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> "Andy" <android8675@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>>> news:OFTVP80ZHHA.3612@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>> EA uses Safedisc in their encoding.
>>>>
>>>> Copy Protection should not effect your computers ability to read a CD
>>>> directory. Could be your DVD drive just doesn't like how this disc is
>>>> setup. Might borrow an external DVD drive and see if that works. Try
>>>> the disc in another computer.
>>>>
>>>> The Steam idea is good, but I'm guessing he got a good deal on the disc
>>>> version. I've noticed the games on Steam are a bit more usually than
>>>> some of those retail versions.
>>>>
>>>> Here's ANOTHER idea (just thought of it). Go to
>>>> http://www.steampowered.com (Assuming you don't have Steam on your
>>>> computer), download and install Steam, Make an account once you get
>>>> online, Click on Games Menu (Not My Games Tab) and select Activate a
>>>> product on Steam...
>>>>
>>>> Steam will ask for the CD Key that came with the game, enter and you
>>>> can download the entire game off the Steam Network.
>>>>
>>>> It'll take WAY longer, but it should work.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Dale M. White" <dale.white@NOinsightbb.NOcom> wrote in message
>>>> news:Jd6dnfddNN97xGTYnZ2dnUVZ_hGdnZ2d@insightbb.com...
>>>>> Wow that is a odd one. I guess if you're not able to take the game
>>>>> back then you might be stuck. It's probably using SecureRom or
>>>>> Starforce, both give vista fits (and even XP to a degree). If you can
>>>>> refund the game, probably you other option is to get HL2 and EP1 via
>>>>> the steam method.
>>>>>
>>>>> Oddly enough Valve supports Vista, but I guess if they can't get the
>>>>> Vista to reconize the DVD, then they will have to change their copy
>>>>> protection means.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> "Patrick" <patrick.kessen@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>>>> news:3A63F946-93A5-4038-B4A0-CA8A777EEF60@microsoft.com...
>>>>>> Hi,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> thanks for the effort but opening a command prompt and doing f:
>>>>>> reults in a popup stating there is no disk in the drive. Please
>>>>>> insert a disk into drive F:.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I think it has to do with some form of copy protection.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Patrick
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "Dale M. White" <dale.white@NOinsightbb.NOcom> wrote in message
>>>>>> news:Ef6dncmZ-psGrWTYnZ2dnUVZ_uOmnZ2d@insightbb.com...
>>>>>>> Not sure I'll be able to help too much, because I did the steam
>>>>>>> download of the game over the DVD. Though it seems like I had that
>>>>>>> problem with Vista64 as well, I think it was when I was trying to
>>>>>>> install Supreme Commander, When I would click on the DVD it would
>>>>>>> want to try and write to it (which it couldn't)
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> You could always try opening the Command prompt (go to Start - run
>>>>>>> and type CMD) and then go to your DVD drive and type setup and hit
>>>>>>> enter. Assuming your DVD drive is Z, here's what it would look like
>>>>>>> from the command prompt
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> c:\users\patrick> Z: [hit enter]
>>>>>>> Z:\> setup [hit enter]
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Program should start up
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> This is kinda of the long way around it, but hopefully you want see
>>>>>>> this problem very often, or maybe it will get fix in a patch
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> "Patrick" <patrick.kessen@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>>>>>> news:9995FEEF-1F73-4E47-BFCA-FB6FA4E4B03F@microsoft.com...
>>>>>>>> Hi all,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I run Vista64 Ultimate and I just got the HL2 and HL2 Episode Onde
>>>>>>>> DVDs from the store.
>>>>>>>> When I insert one of these DVDs Vista keeps telling me to insert a
>>>>>>>> disc when I double click on the drive icon.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I returned the DVDs to the store and got new DVDs at another store,
>>>>>>>> same problem.
>>>>>>>> I can't even view the contents of the DVDs le alone install!
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> All other DVDs I have work.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> What's the prolem here? I found so references to Alcohol 120% being
>>>>>>>> a problem but I have no such software installed.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Patrick
>>>>>>>> btw. this sucks, if I find myself a torrent for both games I have
>>>>>>>> them for free and they work. Me, the smuck wanting to be a good
>>>>>>>> guy, buy the games and it doesn't work.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>