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[problemvssolution-blog]

What does it mean when the host gets the message that the connection to your partner has disconnected? And, What does it mean when the person who is joining gets the message that the connection to the game host has failed? Both messages are received at the same time by both people.

Look at the added "EDIT" part of the Play Portal 2 “cracked” in co-op! entry. This might solve your problem.

[problemvssolution-blog]

hey, I have a question.I play the SKIDROW release of portal 2with a friend who has the same version, and it works fine. thanks for the map list btw. But when I try to play with a friend who has bought the game, I can't. It says valve rejected her lan game. So I told her she should download the skidrow release too. We tried that, same error. Steam isn't running, she said. What's wrong? :s

Look at the added "EDIT" part of the Play Portal 2 “cracked” in co-op! entry. This might solve your problem.

Also, with update 3 from Skidrow she can now play her legit copy of the game, as long as you with the cracked version acts as host. Make sure she have the COOP.cmd file copied from you just to make life easier.

[problemvssolution-blog]

ilovethis. TYVM :)

Glad to be of service. Have fun playing the game.

[problemvssolution-blog]

Play Portal 2 "cracked" in co-op!

NOTE! Edited/added part 2011-05-03 at the bottom!

This is tested and confirmed working with the SKIDROW release of Portal 2. It might very well work with other releases as well.

So, you want to be able to play the co-op part of Portal 2. There is a solution to make that work with your "cracked" game.

The solution to this one is really very easy actually.

Install the game as instructed. Apply cracks as mentioned or instructed. Edit your shortcut to the game. You must add -console

EXAMPLE: "D:\Games\Portal 2\portal2.exe" -console

Start the game with your new shortcut. If done properly you now have a console window where you can enter commands. Write down the ip-address of the computer that will act as host.

So, FIRST you want to start to connecting to the host. In your command window you type:

connect 127.0.0.1 (replace 127.0.0.1 with the IP of the computer that will act as server)

SECONDLY the server starts to host. This by loading any multiplayer map. In the command window the host types:

map mp_coop_start

When a map is complete the game will automatically load the next map. This with exception for a few times. We noticed that after every map where you are asked to "steal information" from a disc the game loaded mp_coop_lobby_2. The simple solution to this is just for the host to load the right map that should have followed, and for the other player to connect again. However, if you should turn off the game you always need to start to connect BEFORE the host starts a map.

(When ProblemVsSolution was playing we tried to play over the internet IP and over a Hamachi IP. Both worked.)

Here is the complete list, in the right order, of all the names of the multiplayer co-op maps in Portal 2:

mp_coop_start mp_coop_lobby_2 mp_coop_doors mp_coop_race_2 mp_coop_laser_2 mp_coop_rat_maze mp_coop_laser_crusher mp_coop_teambts mp_coop_fling_3 mp_coop_infinifling_train mp_coop_come_along mp_coop_fling_1 mp_coop_catapult_1 mp_coop_multifling_1 mp_coop_fling_crushers mp_coop_fan mp_coop_wall_intro mp_coop_wall_2 mp_coop_catapult_wall_intro mp_coop_wall_block mp_coop_catapult_2 mp_coop_turret_walls mp_coop_turret_ball mp_coop_wall_5 mp_coop_tbeam_redirect mp_coop_tbeam_drill mp_coop_tbeam_catch_grind_1 mp_coop_tbeam_laser_1 mp_coop_tbeam_polarity mp_coop_tbeam_polarity2 mp_coop_tbeam_polarity3 mp_coop_tbeam_maze mp_coop_tbeam_end mp_coop_paint_come_along mp_coop_paint_redirect mp_coop_paint_bridge mp_coop_paint_walljumps mp_coop_paint_speed_fling mp_coop_paint_red_racer mp_coop_paint_speed_catch mp_coop_paint_longjump_intro mp_coop_credits

EDIT: 2011-05-03

With update 3 from Skidrow there is now a file named COOP.cmd in your game directory. It will essentially do the same thing as this guide, but it does it for you. However, since you don't have Steam to track your achievements or progress you will still return to mp_coop_lobby_2 with no change on that course, making it loop the game-play to the first courses infinitely. So, the issue still is that you manually have to load the next level every time you get to that point.

If you want to use the COOP.cmd file to load the appropriate map you right click the file, choose edit and find the line almost at the bottom that ends with mp_coop_start. And then replace mp_coop_start with the map name you want to load.

In the COOP.cmd you will as host have the option between only lan games or not. Choosing only lan games will require your and your friends IP address to be similar to each-other, as if you are on a actual lan. If playing over internet I recommend not to limit it to lan and use your internet ip, that will work just as good, if not better, you then don't need to bother with Hamachi.

Choosing the option to not limit to lan games may also solve some of the connection issues ProblemVsSolution has gotten questions about.

[problemvssolution-blog]

Bypass Windows 7 login screen

Lets say you lost your password for your windows 7 account. You want to get in to your computer but you cant! You are just stuck in your login screen... sad. So, what will you do?

Here is the solution to "hack" your windows 7 login screen.

You will need:

A way to boot into Windows PE. (Here is our solution to that)

Reboot the computer and start it to Windows PE. From the command prompt when booted into PE you locate the HDD where windows is installed. In my case it was D: even though when booting regularly it is C:.

For argument sake we say it is d: this time. Enter this into your command prompt.

d: [enter] cd windows [enter] cd system32 [enter] copy cmd.exe sethc.exe [enter]

You will get a question about writing over the sethc.exe file. You want to do this! Now you have replaced the sticky keys function in windows with the command prompt.

Reboot your computer and let it start up normally. When you get to the login screen you press your shift key repeatedly a few times until a command prompt appears.  (If it doesn't you have failed to replace the sticky keys function with the command prompt and should start this guide over.)

In the command prompt you now enter this:

net user /add Hacker [enter] (replace "hacker" with your name) net user localgroup administrators Hacker /add [enter] (Hacker=Your name)

Reboot the computer again. You will now see a new account at the login screen with administrator rights. Log into that account. And from the control panel in windows you should be able to change the password of your regular account. Or delete the account. Or whatever you want really...

[problemvssolution-blog]

Boot Windows PE with command prompt from USB.

You want to boot up Windows PE (preinstall environment) with a command prompt. And you want to boot this from a USB memory stick! Why? It is good for simple editing and/or accessing system protected files. The tricky part is of course to make all this work.

Well, here is the solution.

You will need:

The Windows® (AIK) for Windows® 7 (download)

A windows 7 installation disc

A USB memory stick. 1GB is enough.

Program to mount .iso files (Virtual CloneDrive: download - its free!)

A bunch of custom .bat files (download)

Start by mounting the .iso file downloaded from "The Windows® Automated Installation Kit (AIK) for Windows® 7" site. Wait for the autostart or start the installation manually with "StartCD.exe" located on the disc.

Start the "Windows AIK" setup. Make sure not to change the installation directory. It should install to: "C:\Program Files\Windows AIK".

After the installation is complete you can unpack your .bat files. Run the files in the right order. This creates a .iso file with your "Windows PE".

NOTE! Between the "Run 2.bat" and "Run 3.bat" you can add files to your PE installation. Info is in the .bat files!

When all the .bat files has done it's job you should mount your windows 7 installation disc. Or put it in your dvd drive if it is a real actual disc. Also make sure that your USB device is connected at this point!

Start your command prompt. Start it as administrator!

In the command prompt enter these commands:

diskpart [enter] list disk [enter]

You should now see a list. Find out which one is your USB device. Mine was number 1.

select disk 1 [enter] (replace 1 with your disc number.) clean [enter] create partition primary [enter] select partition 1 [enter] active [enter] format fs=ntfs [enter] (This will take some time.) assign [enter] exit [enter] e: [enter] (Replace e: with your drive containing the windows 7 disc.) cd boot [enter] bootsect /nt60 i: [enter] (Replace i: with your USB device.)

Exit the command prompt. Mount your "Windows PE" iso that the .bat files created. It is located at "C:\PE\winpe_x86\winpe_x86.iso".

Copy all the files from it to your USB drive. And! You are done... Congratulations.

[problemvssolution-blog]

Install Windows 7 from bootable USB stick

You want to be able to boot from a USB stick and install your Windows 7 copy from it? 

Here is the solution to how you do it!

You will need:

A USB memory stick. At least 4GB.

A Windows 7 installation disc.

NOTE! This should work with most USB sticks and will be bootable on all computers that has a motherboard that supports booting from a usb device. Most modern motherboards do.

Start by mounting your windows 7 iso or putting it in your dvd drive if it's an actual disc. Also make sure your USB stick is plugged in to your pc.

Then start your command prompt as an administrator. Do this by going to "Start -> All Programs -> Accessories" and right clicking your command prompt to choose "run as administrator".

In the command prompt:

diskpart [enter] list disk [enter]

You should now see a list. Find out which one is your USB device. Mine was number 1.

select disk 1 [enter] (replace 1 with your disc number.) clean [enter] create partition primary [enter] select partition 1 [enter] active [enter] format fs=ntfs [enter] (This will take some time.) assign [enter] exit [enter] e: [enter] (Replace e: with your drive containing the windows 7 disc.) cd boot [enter] bootsect /nt60 i: [enter] (Replace i: with your USB device.)

Now you can exit your command prompt and copy all of your content from your windows 7 installation disc to your USB device.

Good luck.

[problemvssolution-blog]

Multiplayer on cracked "games for windows live"

So, you want to play a game (pirate copied) with you friend and the game sadly is using Windows Live? 

Well, there is a solution.

You will need these components.

Hamachi (download)

TeknoHelper (download) (alt. direct download)

In this guide we will be referring to the game "Warhammer 40k - Dawn of War II". But the TeknoHelper program works on a number of games using the games for windows live application. For more information about that head over to TeknoGods.com.

I am not going to tell you how to set up Hamachi. You probably already know this.(If you want a guide telling you how to use Hamachi please tell us and we will provide.)

So, you install Warhammer 40k - Dawn of War II and crack it. Unpack the TeknoGods files to any folder you want. Run the teknohelper.exe file. You will see four steps, the first beeing about VPN filter. This should already be green if you have Hamachi running. Second step is about setting the adapter key. Choose your Hamachi network interface in the list above that and press the button "Set Adapterkey". Then you could just press "Start Injection" from the fourth section.

Directly after that you start up your game. Very quickly you should hear a beeping noise. This is from the teknohelper application telling you that it has found the game. And about 30 seconds after that you should hear the same noise again. This is now telling you that it should be possible to play over your Hamachi LAN. Now is when you start a custom Local Area Network game and have some fun.

It could take up to a full minute for a hosted game to appear in the lobby. So be patient.

Note! In the readme for TeknoHelper is says this:

For all other games except Dawn of War II: 

In the lobby before joining a game press F12 and once joined press again to prevent the game from crashing.

You will hear "Working" when it patches and "Transfer Complete" when you repatch.

The readme also says that pressing the "home" button on your keyboard will cause the game to crash. This is understandable because that button in this case would have opened the "windows live games" menu. 

[problemvssolution-blog]

Force games to run over Hamachi

So, you have a game you want to play with your friend. It can run over LAN but you want to play it over internet. You have installed Hamachi to make a VPN and everything should run fine but you cannot seem to get the game to actually run over the "LAN" (Hamachi)!

Well, there is a solution!

It is called ForceBindIp, it is free and it forces your game to use the Hamachi network adapter.

Here is what you need to do. Download ForceBindIp from here. Run the setup.

Double check if the installation went properly by starting your command prompt and type "forcebindip". If it is installed correct you shoud get a error message looking like this.

Now go to the folder where your game is installed. Create a .bat file. I name mine rungame.bat. Edit it and enter something like this:

ForceBindIP 192.168.1.1 game.exe

NOTE! You need to replace 192.168.1.1 with your ip on Hamachi. And replace game.exe with the name of your game exe file! Shouldn't be so hard to figure out.

Save the .bat file and run it. Both you and your friend need to do this process and the game should work fine.

If you get an error about bindip.dll you need to download the .zip version from the ForceBindIp site and copy the dll file manually to "c:\windows\system32". 

[problemvssolution-blog]

Start .torrent files from your iPhone

This guide shows you how to start torrent downloads on your home computer from your iPhone. No need for a jailbreaked iPhone!

Haven't you ever wished that when you, when you feel like it, can set your home pc to download that important file using bittorrent technology without going home and start the download? It isn't that hard. 

Here is the solution.

You will need:

an iPhone

home pc

uTorrent

a dropbox account (free)

drop it app (cheap - $0.99)

Ok, first you need to install uTorrent on your computer. It's free and you can download it from here.

Then you need to register a dropbox account, that also is free. Do that here. After the registration is done you will have to install the dropbox application on your pc. This will create a storage space on internet that you can sync with your iPhone. So, optionally you could install the iPhone Dropbox app at this point.

Apple doesn't allow you to download files with the extension .torrent on your iPhone so we have to work around this. You will need to install a app called DropIt. This will cost you $0.99 which is very cheap. And this is the only thing that will cost you anything in this guide. Find DropIt here. 

When you start the DropIt app you have to make sure you connect it to your dropbox account. (small i at bottom of screen) When this is done you can start your safari internet browser in your iPhone and go to whatever torrent site you want. When you have found a torrent you want you will need to press down on the "download torrent file" link until the menu with the option to copy the link address appears.

With the address to the .torrent file copied you start the DropIt app and paste the address into the field on the screen. Press OK and the phone will download the .torrent file to your dropbox and put it in the folder named "downloads". 

A few moments after this your pc should have synced with dropbox automatically and the .torrent file has appeared at home. 

Now you need to set up your uTorrent so that it automatically starts downloading torrent files saved in a specific folder. Start uTorrent, press "options" then "preferences". Go to "directories" and find this section.

  Make sure you select both "automatically load .torrents from:" and "Delete loaded torrents" and then locate the "downloads" folder in your dropbox.

So there you have it!

Now you can walk around town surfing torrent sites with your iPhone. Copy the address of the .torrent file, paste into DropIt and it puts it in your dropbox account. From there your uTorrent will find it at home, start the download and then delete the torrent file so your dropbox doesn't fill upp with junk.