"unable to authenticate original disk within the time limit" SOLUTION Windows 7 x64 bit (PMDG 747 for FS9)

Today I was installing the PMDG 747 for FS9/FS2004, but I got the error "unable to authenticate original disk within the time limit".

SOLUTION

Do you have any other applications open that are possibly accessing the optical drive that your disk is in?

I bet you have.

In my case I was watching a DVD using Classic Media Player but I also had open Windows Explorer which was accessing the optical drive to show me files.

After closing both applications and clicking on "Try Again", the installation
continued and loaded fine. After starting I was able to resume the other applications and use them as normal.

So click on "Try Again" or by re-running the setup.exe (or autostart.exe) from the disk.

Hope this helped you as it had me confused for an hour.

How to get The Simpsons Hit and Run working on Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 (32 / 64 bit)

Post Updated 21st Aug 2017 for Windows 8/8.1 and 10 users :)

OK, for the past few days I've been troubleshooting this issue and I found the perfect fix for both Windows XP Professional/Home Edition, Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 (both 32 bit and 64 bit versions).

First Step: INSTALL THE GAME

Win XP: You can install to the default directory without any issues.

Win Vista / 7 / 8 / 8.1 / 10 (32 and 64): Install to a folder on your main OS drive such as C:\GAMES\SimpsonsHnRun

*** IMPORTANT *** Have no spaces in the folder to install to!

During installation you will be asked if you want to install DirectX 8.1 ... SELECT NO!

Step 2: Make sure you have DirectX 9 installed!

For XP you should automatically have DirectX 9.0c installed. If not get it here:

http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/download/details.aspx?id=34429

For Windows Vista / 7 / 8 / 8.1 / 10 install DirectX 9 from here:

http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/download/details.aspx?id=35


NOTE: Windows 10 users may need to enable DirectPlay in Legacy Components.

To enable Direct Play feature on Windows 10:

1) In your Start Menu, open Programs and Features (it's also in Control Panel)
2) In the left hand side menu, click on "Turn Windows features ON or OFF"
3) In the list that loads, make sure there is a tick in the box for "Legacy Components"
4) Click the plus symbol to expand the "Legacy Components"
5) Make sure the box is ticked for "Direct Play"
6) Click OK
-- If there are issues, temporarily disable your anti-virus program as this may stop the Legacy Components installing correctly.

Step 3: Set the executable properties

a) Right click on the desktop shortcut and select 'Properties'

-- If you don't have a desktop shortcut navigate to the main game folder and right click on the main game executable 'Simpsons.exe'

b) Click on the compatibility tab and set the following settings:

-- For Windows XP, set only "Windows 98/ Windows ME" and "Disable visual themes".
-- For Windows 7 and Vista users, please use the settings illustrated:

-- For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10 users, use the following settings:

Thanks to MrCorZa for the above screenshot.

Now try and run the game!

If it runs, great! You're done and you can now play the game.

If not then there is one other option you can do to gaurantee the game will work (I had to do this next step).

Step 4: Install a no-cd crack to get the game working

Don't worry if it doesn't work yet as you can do what I did and download a "no cd crack". This is not illegal in any way. A no cd crack is what it states. It is a main program executable file which has been edited so that the game CD is not required in order to play the game. It skips disk checking securities.

a) Go to http://gamecopyworld.com/

b) Click on the main site link "Main #1" if it is online, if not select another mirror site which is online

c) Read and click on the "Enter" button

d) Once the page loads, on the right hand side there is a heading "PC", click on "[T-Z]"

e) Scroll through the list for the game title "The Simpsons Hit & Run" and select the title link

f) Once the page has loaded click on "The Simpsons: Hit & Run [ENGLISH] No-CD/Fixed EXE #1"

g) Click on the File Archive [922KB] icon (a blue disk - far left of the header)

h) A Pop-up window will appear with an advert loaded ... in the top right select "Skip Ad" when it is shown after the countdown

i) Once loaded download the "flt-har.rar" file from any of the mirror links and save it to your downloads folder (or somewhere temporary like the desktop)

j) You will need 7-zip to be able to unzip the compressed rar file

k) Once uncompressed you will have a replacement "Simpsons.exe" ... Cut and paste this into the main game folder and replace (over-write) the file when asked

l) Double check that the properties are still set as mentioned in step 3 above

n) Play the game and it should now play without any issues

Transform Windows XP / Vista into Windows 7 =)

Have you ever wanted to have Windows 7 features for Windows XP / Vista?

Features such as: aero snap, aero peek, aero shake, Windows 7 boot screen, Windows 7 login screen, Windows 7 sounds, Windows 7 cursors, Windows 7 taskbar, Windows 7 wallpaper, Windows 7 sidebar, Windows 7 progress dialogue box, Windows 7 shutdown / log off / restart dialogue box, Windows 7 about windows box, Windows 7 system properties dialogue box, Windows 7 volume control window PLUS loads more mods!

Well here is a post which can help you do just that !

You can pick what features you have. I personally only use a few.

To learn how, follow this XP tutorial / Vista tutorial by VG. I take no personal credit for this tutorial and did not see the need to do my own as the latter is just that good =)


IMPORTANT NOTES:

You can install Tuneup Utilities to easily apply the login and boot screens; then once applied you can uninstall Tuneup Utilities and the screens will stay ... however best test that they work / you want to keep them before uninstalling Tuneup Utilities ;)


ISSUES / FIXES:

1) QT Addressbar does not work well with the Windows 7 themes due to activation of the x-mouse features ... read below to understand and even fix this issue.

There is a bug in which the QT Addressbar does not work correctly when installed along side the Theme(s) ... i.e. When you select the first option and then scroll over the drop down menu for the directories, the mouse pointer 'focuses' the window and brings it to the front (i.e. activating it).

TO FIX this install Microsoft PowerTool Tweak UI and under the mouse settings; X-Mouse ... untick 'Activate follows mouse (X-Mouse). Click 'Apply' and the setting should be instant; if not simply restart =)

This then allows you to have the proper functionality of the QT Addressbar.

You can always use the ALT + TAB feature to change focus to a window of choice =)

How to remove (hide) system reserved drive in my computer ...

Few days ago I was helping out a friend install Windows 7. He had the system reserve partition that Windows 7 creates appear in his 'My Computer'. He asked me how to remove it (get rid of it). I said to him it wasn't a good idea to get rid of it as it was there to help boot up Windows 7 just in case of failure. I decided to research it and it turned out you can simply hide it. To hide the system reserve drive from appearing in 'My Computer' do the following:

1) Open Control Panel

2) Open Administrative Tools found in the System and Security Category

3) Open Computer Management

4) Click on Disk Management

5) Right click on the system reserve disk drive and select 'Change Drive letter and Paths ...'

6) Select the drive letter and click on remove

7) Click OK

8) Check that it has been 'hidden' (removed) from My Computer

9) Recommend you do a restart and save a restore point

Cannot view old help files (.chm) on Windows 7 [solution]

Have you ever tried to view a .chm (old windows help file) to be told you cannot view it?

If so, Microsoft have developed updates for Windows 7 to solve this so that you can view these files. Follow the instructions found here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/917607

Did you know you can change the Windows Boot Screen (and/or) Logon screen(s)?

How can I change my Windows Boot / Logon Screen?

Q) What is the windows boot screen?

This is what the Windows Boot Screen is (Windows XP Pro shown):





Q) What is the Logon screen (again Windows XP shown):



OK, so now you know what we're on about being able to change; if you weren't before that is.

Q) How do we customise these screens then?

Easy to do. Firstly you need to go and install the software which you need to do this with.


1) Download and Install the software needed to customise the screen(s)

Install the BootSkin for Windows XP (last release is 1.5a) or Vista (Windows 7 isn't supported yet) by visiting the following link:

http://www.stardock.com/products/bootskin/downloads.asp

For customising your Windows Logon screen you will need to download and install LogonStudio (which does support Windows 7 as well as Vista and XP):

http://www.stardock.com/products/logonstudio/

NOTE: You don't need both if you only want to change one screen; so download and install the ones you will use.
2) Find a skin to use instead of the default (note you can always revert back so don't worry)

To get skins (which are images you use to change the default screen); visit the 'Get [Windows Version] Skins' links at the top of the links within the previous paragraph.

Or go direct to the web site http://www.wincustomize.com/ and use the menu (currently on the right hand side of typing this post, scroll down a bit). You can then use the search feature.

Why not make your own logon or boot skin? See question at the end of this post on how to do this!

Note: It's best to use the links from the StarDock web site to make sure you are getting the correct skins.

3) Download the Skin and apply it using the StarDock software

a) Once you have found the skin you would like to apply as your boot / logon screen; simply click the download button on the wincustomize web site skin page and save the file somewhere temporary like "My Documents".

b) Open the BootSkin or LogonStudio application and use it to apply your chosen skin. You can simply click on the file as well which should open with the correct application.

BootSkin Note: You may need to import the skin in order to select it in the list if clicking on the file does not open the application. To do this click on 'File > Import from file', navigate to where you downloaded the skin to and click on open once you have the skin file selected.

LogonStudio Note: You need to unzip .zip files before you can open the skin in LogonStudio. Use 7-Zip (OpenSource) or other (winzip or winrar etc).

Need help?

Visit the following forum links for support: BootSkin Forum / LogonStudio Forum


Q) Can I create my own logon or Boot screen skin?

YES!

Visit the appropriate link below to create your own. If you think it is good, then upload it and share it on the wincustomize web site for others to enjoy too!

NOTE: You do not need to use Photoshop. If you like you can use Paint Shop Pro, or an OpenSource application such as http://www.gimp.org).

Boot Skin Tutorial

LogonStudio: Use the 'New' button to create your own ... see below for help ...

Comes with it's own Help which is installed with the application on your local hard drive (or where ever you install it to). However, you might find this post useful.

The easy way to avoid Windows OS Update after a complete re-install :)

Warning: ALWAYS KEEP YOUR OS UP-TO-DATE !

In a situation whereby you need to reinstall your OS, but afterwards you don't want to bother waiting ages for the Windows Update to download and install all those updates?

Well here is a post which will aid you for the next time, of which will save you considerable time!

When I reinstall my OS (currently XP), before I do so, I make sure I have all the major Service Packs downloaded, the most Recent Internet Explorer (even though I use FireFox), the most recent MS Office Service Pack and of course the latest Windows Media Player etc.

Once finished reinstalling I get the media (I tend to keep them on DVD or Internal / External Hard Disk Drive), install the service packs and drivers etc which saves hours of downloading them from the web! Then once connected to the web I allow the OS to download the smaller updates which takes not so long on a Broadband connection. Only after Windows is completely up-to-date do I install any other software or applications, games etc.

So, where do you get these "Stand alone" service packs and other installations?

Simple, the Microsoft web site of course :D

They tend to name the Windows Service Packs '[Windows OS Version] Service Pack # Five Language Standalone' or '[Windows OS Version] Service Pack # Network Installation Package for IT Professionals and Developers'; or similar.

Listed below are a few direct links to save you time searching their Download Centre section. All links on my blog posts always open in a new window or tab depending on your browsers setup.

However in time you may want to use this page: http://support.microsoft.com/sp. When using that link though, once you have selected the product make sure to look for the heading 'Download ...' so you can download the latest Service Pack rather than having to do it via Windows Update.

If you need to search for some other product or application update to download the installer, use the Download Center Home Page Search Feature.

Windows XP Service Packs (32 bit and 64 bit)

SP2 (Includes SP1) / SP3 (These are for 32 bit ONLY)


SP2 (Includes SP1) /  SP3 NOT AVAILABLE FOR XP 64 bit (These are for 64 bit ONLY)

Windows Vista Service Packs (32 bit and 64 bit)

SP1 / SP2 (These are for 32 bit ONLY)

SP1 / SP2 (These are for 64 bit ONLY)

Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1

Service Pack 1 (both 32 bit and 64 bit ---> x86 is 32 bit and x64 is 64 bit)
 

Stand Alone Installations (All Window Versions)

Windows Media Player (latest version) / Internet Explorer (latest version)

MS Office Service Pack

MS Office 2003 SP3 (includes SP1 and SP2 also) / MS Office 2007 SP1 Suite

MS Office 2010 SP1 (32 bit) / (64 bit)