Halo 2 will not install on Windows 7

EmiDaShogun · Nov 7, 2010

Hello everyone! It's me again, the problematic Emperor!

So I recently purchased a retail version on Halo 2 for PC from Best Buy and did not know it had so many issues with Windows 7?! I mean, I figured, hey, it works on Windows Vista, shouldn't have any problemos on Win 7, right? Boy was I wrong!

Anyway, the problem is that I can't even install the darn thing. Every single time I try opening the installation file it just freezes, the splash screen, I mean. I tried running on admin, tried under different versions of Windows, tried updating the redistrib's...nothing has worked thus far. Weird part is Halo 1 works perfectly fine AND I also got a Retail Quake 4 PC today and that works great, just have to run it as admin.

Any ideas/advice? Thanks in advance!

Squid · Nov 7, 2010

I just purchased this same game a week ago and it installed without a hitch. Before I attempted installation, I had read that earlier versions of Windows Live needed to be removed before installing this game. I did this and had no problems.

Do you have Windows Live installed?

EmiDaShogun · Nov 7, 2010

SQUID said:
I just purchased this same game a week ago and it installed without a hitch. Before I attempted installation, I had read that earlier versions of Windows Live needed to be removed before installing this game. I did this and had no problems.

Do you have Windows Live installed?

Ummm.....no I don't think so. If I do, I'll uninstall and try again but I don't recall having that installed. Will let you know if I do/don't and what happened. Thanks!

EmiDaShogun · Nov 7, 2010

Okay the only two things I had installed that had anything LIVE in the name was: Microsoft Office Live Add In AND Microsoft Live Essentials. I did install Messenger and Mail but I don't want to remove the photo gallery or movie maker b/c I DO use them. Do you think these may be the issue? If so, I suppose I could remove them...but...sigh...I can use another gallery program I guess. What do you think?

XxbowjrxX · Nov 7, 2010

By the sounds of it you will need to update to the latest version of windows live.

Windows Live Essentials 2011

Go here and update to the latest, and try again, if it doesn't work, ill look for another fix

Squid · Nov 7, 2010

Sorry I meant Games for Windows Live needed to be removed before installing. It seems that the updated client version 3.0 will not let Halo 2 install in some cases. It looks as though that is not your problem though.

sygnus21 · Nov 7, 2010

Trying to see if I could get the game installed was a success. However getting the game to run is a different story as I get this error attempting to run the game....

Not only that but my resolution changes and I can't do anything to the desktop unless I Ctrl+Alt+Delete :eek:

Anyways this issue have something to do with the fact that the game is looking for Live 1.0 when the latest version I have installed is 3.0

Here's a link here.....

- Halo 2 Windows 7 (combining threads/issues) - Games for Windows Live
- Halo 2 on Windows 7 will not start due to Windows live 3.0 not compatible

Again, getting the game to install on my Windows 7 x64-bit wasn't a problem, running the game is.

XxbowjrxX · Nov 7, 2010

Try downgrading to an older version, that my help, also the error shows something about a halo 2 dedicated server, you aren't hosting a server on your machine are you?

sygnus21 · Nov 7, 2010

XxbowjrxX said:
Try downgrading to an older version, that my help,

If you're talking about live, you can get it off the disk itself.

XxbowjrxX said:
the error shows something about a halo 2 dedicated server, you aren't hosting a server on your machine are you?

No I'm not running or hosting a server. Never did.

Anyway I just wanted to see If I could get the game installed seeing how the OP said he couldn't get it to install. I'm not really interested in playing it again, so it's no biggie to me. Plus I don't feel like going through the hassle of the proposed fix.

So....

1- Did the game install on Windows 7 (64-bit).... yes.

2- Did it run for me.... no

3- Did I try the proposed fix in here - Halo 2 on Windows 7 will not start due to Windows live 3.0 not compatible.... no

Sorry

sygnus21 · Nov 7, 2010

Well these procedures didn't fix the game.... When you try to load a Games for Windows – LIVE game, you receive one of the following error messages: "System Cannot Find the Path Specified" or "LIVE gaming on Windows failed to initialize". Just tried them without success.

I've also tried....

- Uninstalling and reinstalling the game.

- Uninstalling the latest version of Windows Live (3.3) and just installing the one from the disk.

- Updating on top of the Live version from the disk (1.) to 3.3.

- Both procedures listed here.... When you try to load a Games for Windows – LIVE game, you receive one of the following error messages: "System Cannot Find the Path Specified" or "LIVE gaming on Windows failed to initialize"

- Installing the game on different directories.

So far non of those has worked.

Anyways I was trying to help out the OP but I seem to have hit a wall. I'm sure there's other things
to try but I haven't checked them all.

For those having the issue give some of the other suggestions in the links I posted a try.

Peace

XxbowjrxX · Nov 7, 2010

I've done extensive googling on the matter and you have posted 90% of the fixes, so i'm running out of ideas.

EmiDaShogun · Nov 11, 2010

Yeah I appreciate the help gang, it just does not want to do anything with the splash install screen freezing, if that makes any sense. I'll keep trying or just wait for MS to come up with a fix for this. Or...just play the game on my Xbox360 lol.

KlemK · Sep 13, 2012

Finally found the fix

The problem is with the version of Games Live Installer.
I have tried all the listed tricks to no avail. I finally found this on a MS forum.
The halo2 installer sees Games Live files that are resident on Windows 7 and thinks there is another instance running, and wont install. The fix is to download and install this version of the Games Live (not newer). XLiveRedist01.02.0241.00
I have used this several times and it works.

sygnus21 · Sep 15, 2012

It would help tremendously if you posted links to both the forum post and files.

Thanks.

KlemK · Sep 15, 2012

Yes, sorry.
it can be found at: http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/108976-games-for-windows-live-redistributable-v12/

sygnus21 · Sep 15, 2012

KlemK said:
Yes, sorry.
it can be found at: Games for Windows - LIVE Redistributable v1.2 - MSFN Forum

Thanks but I just finished posting instructions for a fix I found. See this post - http://www.sevenforums.com/gaming/252972-how-get-halo-2-working-under-windows-7-a.html#post2095793. It's probably similiar to your fix.

Later.

mjsumits · Oct 30, 2012

Halo 2 Initialization Failed Error

I installed Halo 2 and when I click to play the game, I get an error that says: Initialization failed. Either insuffecient resources were found to run the game, or game data is missing or damaged. Reinstalling the game may fix this problem.

Now I tried reinstalling the game and this error still comes up.

My PC specs are
1 GB RAM
Win 7 Ultimate 32bit
220 Free Space in hard drive
Intel G31/G33 Express Chipset Family 256 MB

And I played same game on my friend's pc
which has 4GB of RAM, Win 7 Ultimate 32bit, Intel HD ggraphics, 500gb hdd space

please help me to play game

I completed Halo 1 1000 Times
I want to Play Halo 2

KlemK · Oct 30, 2012

Dear mjsumits,
In looking at your computer specs, I'm not sure you will be able to play Halo 2. Is there anyway you can increase your RAM? Your whole system would run better if you could increase the RAM to the maximum your system can hold. I would also suggest a dedicated video as well.

Richardc269 · Oct 30, 2012

KlemK said:
Dear mjsumits,
In looking at your computer specs, I'm not sure you will be able to play Halo 2. Is there anyway you can increase your RAM? Your whole system would run better if you could increase the RAM to the maximum your system can hold. I would also suggest a dedicated video as well.

What he said. I agree with him 100%. You really should get at least even just 1 more gig of RAM (which is probably cheap). And at least a 512mb GPU at the minimum.

sygnus21 · Oct 30, 2012

Richardc269 said:
KlemK said:

Dear mjsumits,
In looking at your computer specs, I'm not sure you will be able to play Halo 2. Is there anyway you can increase your RAM? Your whole system would run better if you could increase the RAM to the maximum your system can hold. I would also suggest a dedicated video as well.

Click to expand...

What he said. I agree with him 100%. You really should get at least even just 1 more gig of RAM (which is probably cheap). And at least a 512mb GPU at the minimum.

Well I'm thinking the game should at least start; though I agree that the specs aren't idea.

That said, to the OP, have you looked seen this post - http://www.sevenforums.com/gaming/252972-how-get-halo-2-working-under-windows-7-a.html#post2095793

Have a look and see if these directions can't get you started. However, don't be surprised if the game runs slow, if it even starts seeing your system specs.

Good luck.

Halo 2 will not install on Windows 7

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