How to Patch EXE Files
All modern PC videogames must be played through the game CD. This means that when you want to play the game, the disc must be in the PC's drive or it will not work. Although no data is actually being read or burned from the disc, the measure has been implemented by developers and distributors to ensure that the player has a legitimate, non-pirated copy of the game. EXE patches, also known as NO-CD patches or "cracks," fix this so that players can play a PC game without the disc.
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Instructions
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Download the crack/EXE patch/NO-CD patch from a reputable website. Ensure that you avoid downloading a patch from any suspicious or unreliable websites; doing so can potentially harm or infect your computer via Trojan horses or bugs. Some of the more reputable websites include GameBurnWorld, GameCopyWorld and G-Play. Ensure also that you download the patch that matches your exact version of the game, e.g. an expansion pack or 2nd/3rd edition.
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Download the patch folder to the PC desktop. EXE patches are usually packaged as a ZIP file; unzip the folder's contents to the desktop as well. One of the content files will be an EXE file containing the name of the videogame, e.g. Civ3Conquests.exe. This is the NO-CD patch.
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Copy the EXE patch file. Do this by right-clicking on the file and selecting the "Copy" option in the drop-down menu.
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Open Windows File Explorer and navigate to the videogame's program folder. Inside the folder there will be a series of files, applications, images and folders. There will also be an EXE file that matches the name of your EXE patch file, e.g. "Civ3Conquests.exe."
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Right click on the background---not on another file---and select the "Paste" option from the drop-down menu. Your PC will prompt you to overwrite the file or cancel the paste operation. Choose to replace the file. This will mean that the EXE command that launches the videogame will now require no CD in the disc drive.
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Double click on the new EXE file to launch your game, without a required CD.
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Tips & Warnings
If in doubt, consult the text file that comes packaged with the ZIP file. All good patch makers provide simple and straightforward instructions with their NO-CD crack. These instructions are usually numbered and very specific.
You do not need to change your desktop shortcut for the game if there is one. The names of each EXE file are exactly the same, ensuring that the route for the shortcut is also exactly the same.
References
Resources
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