How to get Halo 2 working under Windows 7

I have gone to the control panal, programs and features and I don't see microsoft games for windows. I have uninstalled halo2 and tried again and still nothing?

OK, first did you follow the instructions, install the game, and then download and install the file I told you to download?

Alright, first thing you want to do is get an older version of Games For Windows Live (LIVE 3.5.50.0) here Freeware Files.com - Download. OK….

Anyway if you don't have the redistributable files installed, skip that part and just install the downloaded version I mentioned and go from there.

BTW do you have "Microsoft Games for Windows Marketplace" installed? If not, you might have to download and install that before doing anything in my instructions. Get it here: Download the Games for Windows Client | PC Games Client - Xbox.com

BTW if the the game isn't legit/pirated (i'm just saying) there's going to be issues.

OK I first downloaded the 3.5 file but did not install it then followed the rest of the instructions til I got to step 4 and could not find the games for windows live file. so I should just install the 3.5 file I downloaded?

Again, if you don't see the redistributable files to uninstall, just install the 3.5 file I told you to download and go from there. In short follow the instructions, but skip step 4, and go to step 5. Go from there.

OK thanks I will give it a try

thanks for all your help got it working. I think the problem was there was no wwindowss market place I thought halo 2 was to install it? Oh well. Also once I got that sorted out my product key was corrupt so a call to mocrosoft and they gave me a new one. Again thanks it seems to be working fine.

So to help others out, and to make sure my instructions are correct....

1. You never had Marketplace installed to begin with?

2. And in order to fix your issue, you had to first install Microsoft Marketplace?

Thanks.

yes that would be it, halo 2 didn't install them

True... Halo 2 wouldn't install Microsoft Marketplace.

Thanks.

For what its worth, I couldn't get Halo to work following these instructions - kept getting an error at the very beginning about system policy - there was a mention about the redists subdirectory.

BUT....
The way I got it to work was to go to the redists sub directory on the installation disk and install the vcredist.msi separately before I run the halo "Startup.exe" (I used Vista compatibility and "run as administrator"). I assume the startup checks for the vcredist being already installed and skips it - so I get past the point that was failing. The rest of the install worked fine.