Test Drive Unlimited 2 can still be downloaded and run on Steam without the need for patches / fixes
149This video will show you how to install and run the Test Drive Unlimited 2 game from the Steam client on Windows PC without the need for any additional patches or fixes from other sources. The original game is only playable in a single player offline mode when using the original game files as downloaded from Steam. It is no longer possible to create a (or to link an existing) Test Drive Unlimited 2 account, and therefore, upon completing installation, the prompt to create an account can be skipped. Upon launching the game, the following error message is displayed:
An error occurred while downloading files.
Please check your Internet connection and restart the update.
If the problem persists, contact Atari technical support.
[ERROR #01]
The user should click CANCEL on this screen. Once CANCEL has been clicked, you will be told 'Your NAT type is X. Please wait...' Here, the user must be patient and wait perhaps a minute, at which point the PLAY button will highlight and become accessible. Upon clicking PLAY, the user should then click YES to play offline (seeing as online play is no longer accessible through the original game).
If you are then prompted for a serial number, this Enter Your Serial request window can be dragged off to the side, and in your Steam client (in the background), under Library, if you right-click on Test Drive Unlimited 2, followed by mousing over MANAGE, you can then click on CD KEYS. With the CD key displayed, you can select COPY KEY TO CLIPBOARD. From there, drag the Enter Your Serial request window back into view, select the SERIAL: field, and then hold the CTRL key and press the V key - the field should populate and you should then be able to click on the Activate button.
If, once the game launches, your game is in a window which the dimensions can not be changed, hold the ALT key and press the ENTER key to expand the game to full screen.
Regarding Windows Security Alert / Windows Defender Firewall, you can allow access to both options.
When first launching the game, a New Profile screen will appear. Do not fill in a Nickname, Atari.com account name and Password, but rather click on the blue OFFLINE button in the lower right corner of the window in order to create an offline profile where only a Nickname is required.