How to actually install Half Life 2 Launch version of the disc
43Video guide Starts at 3:29
GCFExplorer Download Link https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hoLUagUGP_ZT_aPkKEF8IQqJqI1fPA72/view?usp=sharing
Written Guide.
So Half Life 2 20th anniversary happened
and a lot of people probably wanted to play the original half-life 2 of the disc.
There's a ton of guides teaching you what to do. but a ton of them miss this very important step.
So I'm going to show you what to do.
for reasons so I don't get sued. This is for educational purposes only, and you should only do this.
with your own legally obtained physical copy of Half Life 2.
First of all, depending on what version of HL2 you own. You may have to apply more or less steps.
This guide will work on the 5/6 disc set or the DVD version.
The collectors edition may have extra steps, which I cannot confer since it contains extra stuff.
Step 1: Insert your copy of HL2 into your disc drive. Do not bother with auto-run or the installer.
if you dont want to have a bad time. Once you open your disc or discs, there should be some files with
the.CAB format. Copy these files and paste them anywhere on your desktop. once you have done this.
Eject your disc and place it back in its case. It has served its purpose and is no longer needed.
(If you are using the 5/6 CD version, make sure to grab every.CAB file off all five/six of the discs.)
once you have done this. We shall move on to step 2.
using any file exaction program. For our example, I used 7zip to extract the.CAB files, and you should end up
with the following folders
Hl2 Hl22 Hl23 Hl24 Hl25
Within these folders should contain the following files in this order.
base_source_shared.gcf
base_source_shared_materials.gcf
base_source_shared_models.gcf
base_source_shared_sounds.gcf
counterstrike_source_base_content.gcf
counterstrike_source_shared_content.gcf
halflife_1_source.gcf (COLLECTORS EDITION ONLY DO NOT PANIC IF YOU DONT HAVE THIS.)
halflife_2_base_content.gcf
So let's get the warning out now... whatever you do. Do not use GCFscape. These GCF files are encrypted.
and if you extract them using GCFscape. They will corrupt, and you will have to start again.
Yes, we found this out the hard way, so don't bother.
You need to use a program called GCFExplorer. Now finding this program was a nightmare. so a Google Drive
link will be in the description.
install the program and open it
You should be greeted to a screen simile to GCFscape.
Open your GCF file.
and click extract. Make a new folder and call it anything you like, as this is where your HL2 disc is installed.
will end up. press done
You now should be greeted by a new window on screen depending on the GCF you have selected.
You will need to enter the following encryption keys for all of the GC files in all of the half-life folders.
base_source_shared.gcf C596D1BA1FEAD9A40DD0058118F58975
base_source_shared_materials.gcf 33648B73E732E0734E34FE3CDA09AB74
base_source_shared_models.gcf D147FC333F1B2B18A8E0B9354B94AFF6
base_source_shared_sounds.gcf 9DC57C809A92196E2674ADA87AEA0FCE
counterstrike_source_shared_content.gcf D1C6EA82416EF4053E0B7E4C242D770F
halflife_1_source.gcf 87B3CEC59F6EC04A8CED7907CF8ACDD6
halflife_2_base_content.gcf 187D516D65C617EB6FE90FB20211DEC6
Note: There is no encryption key for counterstrike source base content.gcf as it is not encrypted.
When you extract this file, close GCFExplorer, then reopen it and open the file to easily clear
the currently set encryption key. Also, you are unable to copy and paste the encryption keys.
into GCFExplorer, so you will need to manually type each one in as you go; this will take awhile.
Once this is done, you should have an install folder that looks like the following:.
Now you may believe you are finished. and you are nearly. We now have to do the part. that causes a lot of people to give up on this.
getting the thing to start
So let's get cracking. as nearly anyone has documented this. or shown video proof of this actually
working.
step 3.
You are going to need a Steam emulator. Now, for reasons I cannot say. I cannot provide the following files:
but you will need a version of RevEmu that contains this file (steam.dll).
Once you get these files, place them in the bin folder in the main directory. then right click on HL2.EXE.
and make a short cut. adding the launch options -steam -game hl2. then launch from the shortcut.
If luck is on your side, the game should just boot and you should be golden. There you have it.
a DRM-free HL2 launch version off of your own personal copy.
This should run on all versions of Windows that supported the launch version. and don't have steam support.
on Windows 7 64-bit and maybe 8. if the game doesn't launch. Launch the game using compatibility mode.
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