Help.... CD Rom troubles

[Marshal]

Here is a new problem to me, After installing Max Payne 2, I try to start the game, I hear the CD spin up and after a few seconds the hourglass goes away, but nothing happens. I go to Processes, 100% cpu usage and maxpayne.exe using 99%. So I wait, and wait but nada. The game installed perfectly off of multiple cd's. I did switch the CD device with an extra I had laying around. The same problem occurs with any game I try and install that requires a CD to play. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Marshal

ps. machine is:
P4 1.6 gig
256 Rimm
Asus P4t board
Asus GeForce 2 128 meg video.

[ScurrilousPrune]

Are you sure its not a pirated copy, or is it the original game? I recently got Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 for PS2 and it didn't even load. It said "Please insert a Playstation or PS2 disk." LOL like its an Xbox game or something.

[ghost_of_war]

Dumb question, but did you restart the system before trying to play the game and are you sure your system could handle the game?

[Marshal]

Thanks for the replies.
I just purchased the game at our local "Wally World" so it is definitely not pirated. The other games I mention have questionable origins, but this one I know to be a new, non-pirated (I even registered it) game.

Yes I did restart the machine afterwards and my machine meets the minimum requirements, barely but it does meet them.

A little history on the machine. The last game I installed that required the CD to play was Age of Empires II. Installed several months (maybe a year) prior to this install. I have since moved the machine to a different room. I did have a CD-RW and a CD-ROM. After the move the CD-ROM went bad and I removed it, changed the jumper on the CD-RW, made the necessary changes in the BIOS and went on with my life with a single optical drive again. Everything was fine as far as music CD's and burning pics and such. This is the first attempt to install software via the RW drive. As I write this I think I will uninstall, and re-install with the CD-ROM I stole from the wifes box. Maybe this will help. I really don't know why it would but ya never know.

Thanks again, and looking for more input.

Marshal

[ghost_of_war]

You might have already said this, but is the problem during actual installation or afterwards when you want to play the game? I am asking because some CD ROM drives (even new ones) have trouble reading CDs with enormous copy protection on them. I had to install Call Of Duty using my DVD-RW drive and not my DVD reader......

[Pharaohwolf]

My opinion is that the problem lies with the drive you are using. Try using just a 52x or better multi-read standard cd rom drive and see what happens. Also you did not mention a time span you waited for the game to start. Writer drives although great for storage are at most dismal for speed in running a game especially if the game must have fast access to the cd to play. Make sure DMA is turned on in the system properties for this drive also. Many writers require this to be turned off to work correctly and that might be causing you problems too. Hope this helps.

[Marshal]

Thanks again for the quick reply.
The actual installation goes fine. Just when I try to play the game, the CD spins up, and after several seconds, the hourglass goes away and nothing happens. I went to processes and MaxPayne2.exe is using 99% processer capacity. I thought maybe just a slow loading game but waited over 10 mins and nothing changes.

Any other thoughts?
Marshal

[Marshal]

Originally Posted by Marshal Thanks again for the quick reply. The actual installation goes fine. Just when I try to play the game, the CD spins up, and after several seconds, the hourglass goes away and nothing happens. I went to processes and MaxPayne2.exe is using 99% processer capacity. I thought maybe just a slow loading game but waited over 10 mins and nothing changes. Any other thoughts? Marshal

Thanks Pharaoh, I have waited up to 10 mins for the game to start. It is using all (99%) processor for the entire time. The only spare drive I had is a 44x pos. If I knew it was in the drive, I would just go get a new one. It has been a long time since I have had to do any configuration so I am a little rusty with these things. When you say "Make sure DMA is turned on in the system properties for this drive also." Where exactly do I go to see that? I have been to the Device manager and found nothing. In the Bios I do have DMA set on 2 if I remember correctly. UDMA 3, 4, and 5 require 80 pins which I dont have on secondary. I don't want to sound like a total newbie, but sometimes I feel like one. I built this box about 3 years ago and has been flawless up till now. I am running XP if that makes any diff.

Thanks
Marshal

[ghost_of_war]

May be a dumb trick, but try a no-cd patch for th egame and see if it still doesn't work. If it doesn't work, then it is more likely a problem with the installation (after the fact), rather than a hardware issue.....

[Marshal]

Thanks ghost.
As previously stated it has been a while since I have had to do anything to this box or software. Where would I find a no-cd patch? Game manufacturer? or what? I will see what I can come up with till I hear back.
This is frustrating, finally broke down and bought a new game, and can't even play the dang thing.
Thanks again.
Marshal

[ghost_of_war]

Try gamecopyworld.com - they offer such no-cd patches as long as you read the disclaimer knowing you own the original game, in this case, you do...

[Marshal]

Well, the no-cd patch worked perfectly. So what does that mean? 2 bad CD drives? Glad I got the problem solved, but what the heck? Is it the demands of the new games that make marginal drives not operate correctly?

Thanks guys for all your help.
Marshal

[Hi Ho]

Some cheap CD-ROM's just can't read newer CD's that have copy protection. I have a cheap 52x CD-ROM in my other computer and it has problems reading newer games and burned CD's. My Plextor burner and Pioneer DVD-ROM in this PC can read ANYTHING.

[Marshal]

Thanks Hi Ho, I can understand this problem with the Cheapo BCD CD drive. But the initial installation and problems showed up with a Sony 52x CD-RW drive. Is this a not so good drive? At any rate, an upgrade is in order.

Thanks again all
Marshal

[pam123]

I'm not sure abut Max Payne 2 but there have been a series of games that have had trouble with certain cd-roms.
The usual suggestion is to upgrade the drive's firmware.
You might want to check the Max Payne site and see if the have a list of problem drives, and the fixes for them, in the tech section.

[Pharaohwolf]

The setting you are looking for is found by opening the control panel, then system icon, then devices tab. In the submenu of +cdrom you will find your drive. Just highlight the drive and the settings tab. You will find some different settings for your drive including but not limited to DMA. Hope this helps although it looks like you solved your gaming problem with the no-cd patch. I was going to suggest that too but I am a glutton for punishment when it comes to computer problems and usually do not stop until I make something work that should. Character flaw I guess. Good luck though.