Game won't work even after reinstalling (tried to use Winter Classic add on)

DanielG342 · 02-21-2011, 01:09 AM

Hi. I have a very serious problem with NHL 08 and I hope someone can help me fix it.

Anyhow, I watched the Heritage Classic earlier today and wanted to get an outdoor arena into NHL 08. Found the Winter Classic add on...followed all the directions (added BHImport, ran it, made the appropriate changes in NHLView (made the Los Angeles Kings the outdoor team, just for giggles)...and the game now won't enter the actual game playing mode.

I figured, at this stage, the add-on just wouldn't work and decided that I'd reset the game's values and it would work. The game still didn't work. I tried recopying the old files (I remembered to back up the all of the game's files, including my rosters and the program files) back to the old directory. It still didn't work. I then uninstalled and reinstalled the game (twice). The game still has the same problem- it loads okay but it won't let me play an actual game...and I'm at a loss trying to figure out just what happened.

A few notes:

-I have Windows Vista, on an Acer Aspire (February 2009). I have Windows Update to run automatically so all my drivers should be updated correctly.

-I've been able to run it successfully for almost two years without incident, even with NHLview. In fact, I played this game just three days ago without any problems.

-Yesterday, the left button on my mouse (which is the touchpad built into the laptop) broke, so I switched the left click and right click buttons around (not sure if this will do anything, but I figure it may still be important).

-I don't have game's activation key handy (it's at my old home) but it was a store bought, legit game. I did try reinstalling the game with an activation key I found online- and I still got the game working until I actually tried to play a hockey game.

-It doesn't matter which teams I decide to play with- the program just won't enter game mode. Season mode locks up too.

EDIT- Few other notes:

-Saw a suggestion to run RegCleaner to fix the registry. Ran it. I still have the same problem. I couldn't remove *all* the registry entries for NHL 08 because RegCleaner said they were "unsafe".

-When the game loads the EA Sports registration field, it tells me that the game-console match is "invalid".

-I don't have AutoRun for my CD's turned on.

-When I finish the installation, the program doesn't ask me if I want to start playing the game. I just get "Readme" and "Quit".

-I did run BHImport twice- once as a regular user and once as an administrator- when I tried installing the rinks.

Can anyone help? This is my favourite game- I've gone to great lengths to keep it updated and working, so it's very frustrating that this is happening.

Thanks.

Daniel

DSgamby · 02-21-2011, 10:30 AM

see link in my sig regarding How to Install Addons in Vista

DanielG342 · 02-21-2011, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSgamby

see link in my sig regarding How to Install Addons in Vista

I did follow that (other than turning off User Account Control- I decided to copy them into the folder using administrative privileges, and it copied correctly). I also ran BHimport twice- once as a regular user and once as an administrator...the add-on didn't work and now my *game* doesn't work.

I appreciate the message but I'm getting nowhere. My game now all of a sudden doesn't work- no matter how many times I'm reinstalling it; and right now I am a lot more concerned with getting my game back to normal than making the add-on work. I'll get the add-on to work later- I just want my game back to normal.

DSgamby · 02-21-2011, 12:05 PM

so you did not do what the step that is needed.

Do a restore before you had problems with the game and see if that fixes it. If not. You might have to do a full restore but before you do that contact EA in regards to getting a working and legal activation key.

DanielG342 · 02-21-2011, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSgamby

so you did not do what the step that is needed.

Do a restore before you had problems with the game and see if that fixes it. If not. You might have to do a full restore but before you do that contact EA in regards to getting a working and legal activation key.

I'll try System Restore then, didn't think of that.

EDIT- Tried System Restore...it wouldn't even let me pick a date before this whole mess started. Can't seem to find out why on Google.

Does turning off the User Account Control function actually matter? I thought all that was necessary was that you granted BHimport access to copy into the folder, which happens when you allow administrative access.

DSgamby · 02-22-2011, 06:11 PM

yes, turning off UAC is a must for installing addons

DanielG342 · 02-22-2011, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSgamby

yes, turning off UAC is a must for installing addons

OK, I'll note that as soon as I can get my game fixed. Do you have any ideas? I tried System Restore...it didn't work (wouldn't even let me pick a date from before the game went crazy on me).

DSgamby · 02-22-2011, 11:32 PM

a full restore back to the day you got the computer. Make sure you back all your files as they will be gone.

DanielG342 · 02-23-2011, 02:43 AM

I got no other options then? It's a pretty drastic move.

DSgamby · 02-23-2011, 07:06 AM

you can always ask at TBN