So I recently bought SWBF2 PC DVD version. I uninstalled Steam and the SWBF2 I bought off Steam, installed a fresh copy of SWBF2 with the DVD. Go to install the Unofficial 1.3 patch, and when I am done, SWBF2 automatically runs. The DVD is not in the drive. I thought it was a side-effect of the installation so I tried starting BF2 after installing it. Same thing again - the game works without the DVD. The DVD is not pirated because I bought it from a supermarket's games section, the serial number I used works.

So I am wondering, has my Steam version created a 'no-CD' version of BF2? If it hasn't, what the hell is going on?

I'm not trying to condone piracy, BTW. I am honestly baffled by this, and I would like to fix the issue.

Nope. This is standard. If you use Vaduh's Version Switcher from filefront, you can just switch your .exe to the DVD version and play without a CD. You still need a legit CD key to play it, though.

Ya know, come to think of it...that could spell out bad news...
@Whoever's in charge of swbffiles and the like, should we remove "Vaduh's Version Switcher"? It's almost like a no-CD hack.

PS: although I have used the version switcher, I did not use it to illegally play the game. I have a legit copy of the game and if not getting banned requires me sending guru, Tean, or Mav a scanned picture of my CD, game manual, proof of purchase, etc, I will do so.

I've used no such thing. The only thing I've installed is the official 1.1 patch and the unofficial 1.3 patch lite version.

I know you haven't. I'm not saying you did. I'm just saying that the DVD .exe doesn't have do a disc check for some reason. So, no matter how you got it, either from the CD or by using the version switcher, the DVD version 1.1 does not do a disc check.

Ha, what an oversight. Still, I'd have thought LucasArts would have, at the time, pushed Pandemic into making another patch to fix that.

Question: If you can do that with the CD, would it be bad if I compressed it from the CD and played it on a laptop? I want to know because I don't like the thought of doing something illegal...


=EDIT= On second thought, I think I will just let it be. Best not to mess with these matters.

Twilight_Warrior wrote:...the DVD .exe doesn't have do a disc check for some reason...the DVD version 1.1 does not do a disc check.

I have the DVD version of SWBF2 and it performs a disc check when launching either the BattlefrontII.exe or LaunchBFII.exe but I have to use an actual DVD disc. I don't know about online downloads but it would seem they won't have a disc check because you just don't have a disc to check.

Strange.... then Idk...
It wouldn't be Steam's files making it a no CD thing, cuz if you uninstalled Steam those files would be removed from the computer altogether...

Twilight_Warrior wrote:Strange.... then Idk...
It wouldn't be Steam's files making it a no CD thing, cuz if you uninstalled Steam those files would be removed from the computer altogether...

well, all games bought off steam can only be played with steam running (correct me if im wrong)

AceMastermind wrote:

Twilight_Warrior wrote:...the DVD .exe doesn't have do a disc check for some reason...the DVD version 1.1 does not do a disc check.

I have the DVD version of SWBF2 and it performs a disc check when launching either the BattlefrontII.exe or LaunchBFII.exe but I have to use an actual DVD disc. I don't know about online downloads but it would seem they won't have a disc check because you just don't have a disc to check.

I'm assuming you mean the DVD 1.1 patch still performs a disk check.

I uninstalled Steam and I'm now running the officla DVD version, just without the DVD. As I said, the CD key is legit, the purchase was legit as well. I'd ask LucasArts myself but I don't know if they can help.

I rebooted this morning and tried again. It still runs without a DVD check.

It may be that Steam's version of BF2 left something in the registry. However I'm not searching for it because I don't want to mess my machine up by deleting something I shouldn't.

CCleaner can get rid of any left over uninstallation files in the registry, and is very safe. I've had no problems using it whatsoever, and it can keep your computer optimized.

http://www.piriform.com/

It might resolve your issue.

It's not really an issue. I haven't played through yet though because I'm afraid that I might encounter bugs. Although that might be unfounded since the game doesn't really draw any other data off the DVD other than whether the DVD is the correct disk or not.

I suppose this was all just curiosity on my part.

I must admit, I recently bought the steam version for that sole reason, but if I could use the DVD version without having a disc check I'd go back to it, as I don't believe the BF2_modtools.exe works with the steam version.

I don't think this is special, my BF2 (completely legal of course) runs also without the DVD.

Sooooo, in other words, Ace's is the only DVD version on record that runs with a disc check xD.

I have the DVD version, and American CD version and both use disk checks. I thought that was the norm. It just seems Marvel4, and ggctuk have been lucky.

My version (legal of course) work without the DVD, but after install of the UnOfficial patch 1.3

thats weird because the 1.3 patch doesnt edit the .exe file

My BF2 runs without DVD on all versions...

I have both .exe's. The one that requires a disk is 8.7 MB and the one that doesn't is 4.3. A friend gave me the non CD version when my disk drive stopped working.