How to get Halo 2 working under Windows 7

[sygnus21]

Finally!!! A fix for getting Halo 2 working under Windows 7....

Credit for this find goes to this video... Halo 2 for Windows 7 Installation Tutorial 100% Fix - YouTube. I'm just making the fix easier to find, clarifying the instructions, and providing images.

Now... I’m aware that there are a lot of pirated copies of this game out there so be warned we do not support or condone pirating and that discussion of pirated material gets a ban. I'm just stating the rules.

That said, I can’t say this works for pirated copies of the game, but it does work for legitimate copies.

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….

1 – Install your copy of Halo 2 by doing a Customize Game install...



MAKE SURE you choose Full install only, do not start...



2- You will be asked to Activate the game, choose Activate later



Game will begin installing...



3- Once game is finished installing you should be done for now...



however if it asks again to be activated, again, choose Activate later.



BTW YOU WILL have to activate the game so those without a Product Key.... you're wasting your time here!

4- Now... Go to the Control Panel, Programs and Features, and look for Microsoft Games For Windows - LIVE Redistributable. This is the version that was installed with Halo 2 and NEEDS to be uninstalled!



Do not, repeat, do not uninstall Microsoft Games For Windows Market Place! This is the latest version that should have been/should be installed on Windows 7.... AND, Halo 2 will require it as you'll have to be signed into live to play or update the game!

5- Anyway once the old version of GFWL is uninstalled, install the version you downloaded earlier....



Once you're done with installing the file you've downloaded you can start the game. You will be required to activated and register the game. And you will be asked to sign into Games For Windows Live (Market Place). Bottom line follow the on-screen prompts and enjoy the game. I just finished part of the first level and the game looked and ran well thus far.

Things to note....

1- For me the game is running in full screen at a resolution of 1920 x 1080
2- I'm not running in any type of compatibility mode or Admin mode.
3- You can install on a different drive (I did).
4- The game just works

Good Luck

 

[M1GU31]

Good guide this will help some people

 

[N0b0dy]

Nice guide =)

 

[sygnus21]

Thanks.

Don't know how many posts I've seen over the years of people trying to find a way to get Halo 2 working under 7. Now we have instructions that actually work. Finally

 

[PauloAgojo277]

Thnxs!! Now I Can Install It Now To My Brothers Laptop )

 

[sygnus21]

Thanks.

Please let me know if you have any issues with the instructions.

 

[vett]

I have done all up tostep 3 but in step 4 I do not see Microsoft Games For Windows - LIVE Redistributable. to uninstall. I have a new comp. with windows 7??

 

[Richardc269]

You'll probably have to install it then.

 

[vett]

So o should install it then uninstall it??

 

[sygnus21]

I have done all up tostep 3 but in step 4 I do not see Microsoft Games For Windows - LIVE Redistributable. to uninstall. I have a new comp. with windows 7??

So o should install it then uninstall it??

If you've installed Halo then....

4- Now... Go to the Control Panel, Programs and Features, and look for Microsoft Games For Windows - LIVE Redistributable. This is the version that was installed with Halo 2 and NEEDS to be uninstalled!

So yeah, uninstall the Redistributable version, follow the rest of the instructions listed.



Once you start the game whatever needs to be updated just do so and go from there.

Let me know.

 

[vett]

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?

 

[sygnus21]

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.

 

[vett]

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?

 

[sygnus21]

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.

 

[vett]

OK thanks I will give it a try

 

[vett]

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.

 

[sygnus21]

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.

 

[vett]

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

 

[sygnus21]

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

Thanks.

 

[mrchumley]

Another thing to try

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.