How to have game load files from HD

[MrZebra]

Hi, I have had VC for 2 years now, played a bit back then, got stuck and gave up on it. After finishing GTA San Andreas, decided to go back to VC and hopefully complete it this time around.

 

One thing I noticed is that whenever I get in a car or some game event causes a file from the /audio directory to be played, the game kinda freezes a bit while the CD drives has to spin up to load the file.

 

I checked in the /audio directory on the Hard Drive, all files are there including radio stations. After searching this forum they said that reinstalling the game selecting to install Radio Stations would solve this. Just did that, and the game still loads all audio files from the CD.

 

How do I force it to use the Hard Drive copy (From the /audio dir in the Game's installed directory?)

 

I am pretty handy with hacking the Windows Registry and that sort of thing, so if there is a hidden switch to set somewhere to tell the game to load the audio from the HD, I'm confortable with doing it manually.

[Justin]

This is going to venture into warez territory a bit, so let's just proceed with caution. Three words: No CD crack.

 

That's as far as we can go here - no links. You'll have to locate one on your own. If I see any links posted by anyone, the topic gets it.

[MrZebra]

I'm not looking for a No-CD Crack, I'm just looking for a way to tell VC to not spin up the drive everytime it needs a file that also resides on the HD. My copy is legit, putting the CD in each time I play is a minor inconvenience I can live with.

 

I mean what would be the point of having the option to install all the radio stations to the HD if the game is always going to read them from the CD anyway?

[Ben]

That's about the only way you're going to be able to do it. The no-cd EXE basically just removes the CD-check from the EXE, so the game will instead read the files from your HD rather than off a CD. The only problem with no-cd EXEs is that they're illegal because they allow people to play the game without ever having purchased it, not to mention violating the EULA (which states that you mustn't edit the EXE in any way). Hence why it's against GTAF rules to request them .

 

I understand what you're saying though - IIRC, you can put all the audio files from GTA3 on your HD (even though it's not a separate installation option) and the game will spin the CD less. But like you, I don't understand why your game is spinning the CD so much.

 

There is one thing you can try which might help you figure out the problem. You can try substituting the radio stations with blank ones (back up your originals first). If the game still plays the radio stations, then there was definitely some problem during installation of the radio stations to your HD because it shouldn't play anything but blank sound. The only thing I can suggest if this is the case is to try a reinstall .

 

Alternatively, the problem could be that your CD drive is old and spins really slow (or is just dying). If this is the case, you might be able to try a new CD drive (see if you can borrow one before you commit to buying one) and this might fix your problem as well. Aside from that, I don't really know how to solve your problem .

 

Have you also tried freeing up resources so that VC can make the most use of available memory, etc.? Because aside from the EXE, I'm fairly certain there isn't any other way to make the game read the files from your HD as opposed to the CD .

 

Good luck anyway .

[Justin]

I'm not looking for a No-CD Crack, I'm just looking for a way to tell VC to not spin up the drive everytime it needs a file that also resides on the HD. My copy is legit, putting the CD in each time I play is a minor inconvenience I can live with.

 

I mean what would be the point of having the option to install all the radio stations to the HD if the game is always going to read them from the CD anyway?

I understand.

 

In my experience, the only dead-set way to guarantee smooth gameplay directly from the hard drive is to use a no CD crack.

 

Ben, as usual, is full of good alternatives as well.

[Steve.]

I also had this problem, except I play VCMP, and it caused me to lag, so I did the following:

 

• I got a hold of Magic ISO Maker, which when you run it, it makes a .ISO out of the Play disc
• Then I download Daemon Tools, which is a free program, which will "host" the .ISO, making your computer think the CD is in there. The Daemon Tools simply acts as a pretend drive, which isn't really there.
• As the computer thinks the disc is there, because of the .ISO, you can now take your disc out, and play the game fine.

This is only what I do.

I do not encourage warez of programs, nor will I give any more information on how to warez a program which helped me ( MagicISO Maker ). Do it yourself, at your own risk.

[MrZebra]

The drive I'm mainly using now is a CD/DVD Burner and is barely 6 months old. The fact is a DVD and CD drive might add some overhead to determine whether it's a CD or DVD and focus the laser appropriately.

 

I do have another drive in the same computer which is a CD Burner only and is like 4 years old, but I'll give it a try. My case makes it hard to access (Have to open a door on the front) but since I don't really use that drive much, I can just leave the VC Play disk in there for now I just hope the game will still run if the CD is in a different drive than that it was installed from.

 

I guess in this case, a No CD Crack or that ISO mount thing is no different than holding down the SHIFT key while inserting a virus-infected Audio-CD to be able to copy it on my iPod. An acceptable last resort for me, but I'll try my other drive just in case first.

 

Too bad there is no OFFICIAL exe patch from the manufacturer which makes it smart and look for audio files on the HD first and only if they are not found, then run them from the drive.

[MrZebra]

Tested my theory (About using my other drive) and it works, the lag is barely noticable now.

[Heihachi_73]

A virus infected audio CD, that's a new one ROFL!