Halo 2 Installation issue

Hi. I recently bought a retail copy of Halo 2, but it won't install on my computer. I'm running Windows 7 Professional (build 7600 i think..). I can install Map Editor, and The dedicated Server app. but when i try to install the game I get some sort of error: "redists/vcredits.msi: The installation is forbidden by system policy. Contact your system administrator." I have googled and found people with similar problems, both in connection with Halo 2 and other programs, but have not found a solution that works for me. I am the only user of this computer and I am the admin. I have tried to right-click and use run as admin but it makes no difference. I have also copied the disc to a folder on my machine but i get the same error wen trying to install from the folder. I also tried this and similar actions within the the Local Security Policy settings:
"Click Start -> Control Panel
Open Administrative Tools
Open Local Security Settings
Click Software Restriction Policies
If no software restrictions are defined, right click the Software Restriction Policies node and select New Software Restriction Policy
Double click Enforcement
Select "All users except local administrators"
Click OK
Reboot the machine "

I have tested all the Compability modes, and that did not work either. Does anyone know whats wrong? I know people have trouble playing online, due to an issue with the Windows Live service but the game usually installs just fine.

Some links I have visited, regarding the problem:
Forbidden by system policy

Halo 2 wont install on Vista.

halo 2 windows 7 - Google-søk

Wikne said:

Hi. I recently bought a retail copy of Halo 2, but it won't install on my computer. I'm running Windows 7 Professional (build 7600 i think..). I can install Map Editor, and The dedicated Server app. but when i try to install the game I get some sort of error: "redists/vcredits.msi: The installation is forbidden by system policy. Contact your system administrator." I have googled and found people with similar problems, both in connection with Halo 2 and other programs, but have not found a solution that works for me. I am the only user of this computer and I am the admin. I have tried to right-click and use run as admin but it makes no difference. I have also copied the disc to a folder on my machine but i get the same error wen trying to install from the folder. I also tried this and similar actions within the the Local Security Policy settings:
"Click Start -> Control Panel
Open Administrative Tools
Open Local Security Settings
Click Software Restriction Policies
If no software restrictions are defined, right click the Software Restriction Policies node and select New Software Restriction Policy
Double click Enforcement
Select "All users except local administrators"
Click OK
Reboot the machine "

I have tested all the Compability modes, and that did not work either. Does anyone know whats wrong? I know people have trouble playing online, due to an issue with the Windows Live service but the game usually installs just fine.

Some links I have visited, regarding the problem:
Forbidden by system policy

Halo 2 wont install on Vista.

halo 2 windows 7 - Google-søk

Be welcome To Seven Forums.

Install those packages before the game:

For Windows x86 Download details: Visual C++ 2008 SP1 Redistributable Package (x86)
For Windows x64 Download details: Visual C++ 2008 SP1 Redistributable Package (x64)
Games For Windows Download details: Games for Windows - LIVE Setup 3.2

After those two installations, try to install the game one more time and let us know the results!

"PLEASE REP ANYONE WHO HELPS YOU"

Hi and thanks for the help. I've tried to install the game after installing the packages you linked to, but I still get the same result as before "redists/vcredist.msi"... Do you have any other suggestions?

Wikne said:

"redists/vcredits.msi: The installation is forbidden by system policy. Contact your system administrator."

Hi Wikne,

Take a look at my Tips on Troubleshooting Game Issues and check out tip #14. May or may not apply but it's something to think about. You might want to go over the entire guide as well, see if you missed something.

Good luck

Wikne said:

Hi and thanks for the help. I've tried to install the game after installing the packages you linked to, but I still get the same result as before "redists/vcredist.msi"... Do you have any other suggestions?

Strange... corrupt dvd?! I've an idea. You'll need to:

1º: a blank dvd - dvd-rw is better; Halo 2 DVD;

2º: UltraISO installed - take it here > ISO CD DVD image creator, editor and ISZ DMG DAA UIF to ISO converter - UltraISO can extract/create/edit/convert CD and DVD image files directly, make bootable CDs and convert ISZ DMG DAA UIF to ISO.
please remember to DO NOT INSTALL VIRTUAL DRIVE;
Winrar too WinRAR archiver, a powerful tool to process RAR and ZIP files

3º: Dvd burner - Nero, Power2Go, etc - but UltraISO do the work;

4º: "redists" folder - I've upload it from my Halo 2 dvd - > redists.rar

Install UltraISO - 30 day trial. Download "redists". Install WinRAR to extract "redists.rar"
I'll continue this tuto in the next post...

Follow attached thumbnails:

I - Open UltraISO and put Halo dvd into drive and press "UltraISO's open cd/dvd"; Find "Halo 2" folder you've created and select it as show.

II - Right mouse click inside UltraISO superior right side window and "select all". Now, drag all selected items to UltraISO's inferior right side window. Wait 'till it ends. Close UltraISO.

# - Open Halo 2 folder and exclude "redists" folder. Right mouse click at "redists.rar" and "extract to"... find Halo 2 folder you've created and press OK. "redists" folder is in there?! That' fine!

III - Open UltraISO again. Find Halo 2 folder you've created at UltraISO's inferior left window. Right mouse click and select all itens at inferior right window and drag them all to superior right window. Ready?!...

IV - Now press "save as" as thumb shows. Wait 'till it ends.

Now, open your dvd burner, select "Halo2.iso" and burn it at 4x - DVD-RW RECOMMENDED
Install the game using this dvd.Let us know the results!!!

"PLEASE REP ANYONE WHO HELPS YOU"

I had problems with this game as well. Turned out I had to uninstall the game
and Games for Windows Live. Then reinstall both from the disk. After everything was
running I then updated Games for Windows and all was well.

I actually found the post on another site that got Halo2 working for me,

For those having problems with Windows 7 and halo 2 getting the above see my post at
Halo 2 on Windows 7 will not start due to Windows live 3.0 not compatible

Basically on vista with SP2 it doesn't install windows live version 1.0 so
you have to install it manually. I have copied a paragraph from my other post
which works for vista as I got the same error message in vista as well as
Windows 7.

So where does it leave Windows 7 users and Halo 2 for now. Well install Halo
2 as your FIRST windows Live game and then install windows live manually from
the dvd it's under the redists folder and named XLiveRedist1.0.6027.msi BTW
this will work for vista as well. Whatever you do don't install the windows
live 3.0 redist like I did. After running Halo for the first time and it
updating to version 3.0 of live you can install your other live games and
they will work fine.

Here's the link http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/default.aspx?dg=microsoft.public.xbox.halo&tid=45207f5c-8ced-4c8b-9320-04df1f8b81f6&cat=en_US_d61cd8ee-3cb1-4ad8-8ed2-69e4b6d3b885〈=en&cr=US&sloc=&p=1

sygnus21 said:

Wikne said:

"redists/vcredits.msi: The installation is forbidden by system policy. Contact your system administrator."

Hi Wikne,

Take a look at my Tips on Troubleshooting Game Issues and check out tip #14. May or may not apply but it's something to think about. You might want to go over the entire guide as well, see if you missed something.

Good luck

Thank for the tip, but I have tried that already. You've done a God job on that thread though I also updated most drivers and DirectX before trying to install, so I doubt that is the issue.

rvbfan said:

I had problems with this game as well. Turned out I had to uninstall the game
and Games for Windows Live. Then reinstall both from the disk. After everything was
running I then updated Games for Windows and all was well.

I'm aware of that problem as I read many threads concerning the issue with Halo 2 and Games For Windows Live, but that is just if you can't play live is it not? I can't get it to install at all. I have tried to both install the 3.0 version first and also to remove GFWL overall before installing, but I have not gotten any further..