You are here

Portable Halo Launcher

37 posts / 0 new
Last post
Mclovin223
Mclovin223's picture
Offline
Last seen: 2 months 2 weeks ago
Joined: 2008-02-23 18:02
Portable Halo Launcher

Hello everybody, this is Mclovin here. For anybody wanting Halo to work portably, today is your lucky day. The link below links you to Halo Portable. This lets you bring your own saved games, allowing you to switch screens, and all while the game takes advantage of the current computer's video card you are using. The link is below

Halo Portable Download
(This has the source now as well.)

I will remind you this is a LAUNCHER, not the actual game. Anybody that officially owns the game will be able to use this. Don't ask me for serial keys or a copy of the game. Buy it yourself! Also, please tell me if there is anything that needs changing or bugs that need fixing. I would also like to Thank Wriathdu, who helped with about 80% of this project. You Rock!

Jaypeezy
Offline
Last seen: 16 years 1 week ago
Joined: 2008-03-17 02:43
This is awesome! Once I find

This is awesome! Once I find my copy of Halo, I'm gonna try it.
Also, is there any way to kind of slim down the space requirements? 1.2gb is pretty steep for my 4gb stick.

Mclovin223
Mclovin223's picture
Offline
Last seen: 2 months 2 weeks ago
Joined: 2008-02-23 18:02
Depends on what you want...

If you don't want to campaign and you just want multiplayer, delete the files with one letter and 2 numbers without a real name. Those are campaign files. Other wise you could compress it.

Aciago
Aciago's picture
Offline
Last seen: 5 months 1 week ago
Joined: 2007-01-24 14:23
Which

Halo version?

If a packet hits a pocket on a socket on a port,
and the bus is interrupted as a very last resort,
and the address of the memory makes your floppy disk abort,
then the socket packet pocket has an error to report Biggrin

Bensawsome
Offline
Last seen: 2 years 1 month ago
Joined: 2006-04-22 19:27
I would assume...

...that it is the most recent version (1.07).

 iLike Macs, iPwn, However you put it... Apple is better ^_^ 
"Claiming that your operating system is the best in the world because more people use it is like saying McDonalds makes the best food in the world..."

Mclovin223
Mclovin223's picture
Offline
Last seen: 2 months 2 weeks ago
Joined: 2008-02-23 18:02
Yep.

You need it to be updated to 1.07 for it to work.

N3RD
Offline
Last seen: 12 years 11 months ago
Joined: 2008-04-06 04:26
Works great!

I haven't been able to try it on another computer that didn't already have halo installed. I tried it on a laptop running vista which had halo, and it displayed a error complaining about the registry and died. I assume it can't cope with more than one licensed version of halo on the same computer - or its a vista thing and the vista registry is screwed up in a way different than xp. But on my own computer, it successfully accessed the game saves from my ipod, and the game actually ran faster than from the cd, which was really nice.

So thanks!

Zach Thibeau
Zach Thibeau's picture
Offline
Last seen: 1 year 5 months ago
Developer
Joined: 2006-05-26 12:08
For one thing

For one thing if it's an open-source launcher you need to provide a link to the source either in the source directory or adding a link to the source in your post

your friendly neighbourhood moderator Zach Thibeau

Mclovin223
Mclovin223's picture
Offline
Last seen: 2 months 2 weeks ago
Joined: 2008-02-23 18:02
I'll Get on that...

Just check in a couple of days to see if I added the Link to the source, then download it. I didn't think I really had a source, but now I remember the AutoIt file I used to make the launcher. Once I get more Feed back on how good the launcher is, then Ill include the source in a future Update of it. And, just in Curiosity sake, what were you planning to do with it? JW Smile

Zach Thibeau
Zach Thibeau's picture
Offline
Last seen: 1 year 5 months ago
Developer
Joined: 2006-05-26 12:08
Well

I might want to help you improve it a little Wink anyways I was able to decompile the executable with my exe2aut program Smile so I have the source now, any changes I make I'll forward it to you Smile

your friendly neighbourhood moderator Zach Thibeau

Mclovin223
Mclovin223's picture
Offline
Last seen: 2 months 2 weeks ago
Joined: 2008-02-23 18:02
OK

That would be nice to have some feedback and some suggestions or improvements. Thanks :)!

matborden
Offline
Last seen: 12 years 10 months ago
Joined: 2007-08-10 03:08
Halo:CE

is this launcher compatible with halo custom edition?

Mclovin223
Mclovin223's picture
Offline
Last seen: 2 months 2 weeks ago
Joined: 2008-02-23 18:02
I Guess...

I'm not totally sure if CE is encoded like Halo for saving wise, but You can try just using the no-cd crack for it at full upgrade and then putting it into the app folder and renaming the Exe to just halo.exe. If that works, then export some registry keys from CE, rename them to the ones in the Reg Files Folder in Data, and then replacing them. Then It would make a CE launcher.

quackstar
Offline
Last seen: 12 years 9 months ago
Joined: 2008-02-19 10:41
link dosen't work

Invalid File. This error has been forwarded to MediaFire's development team.

The key you provided for file download was invalid. This is usually caused because the file is no longer stored on Mediafire. This occurs when the file is removed by the originating user or Mediafire.

...

EspaÑaks (not verified)
It works to me

It works to me

Itzalive
Offline
Last seen: 13 years 9 months ago
Joined: 2008-04-22 15:14
Virus/Worm

I just download this and avast reconned it was a Virus/Worm. is this to do with Mediafire going wrong or does the file contain a worm or some sort?

OliverK
OliverK's picture
Offline
Last seen: 2 years 9 months ago
Developer
Joined: 2007-03-27 15:21
its clean (probably) Use

its clean (probably)

Use virus total and jotti to check it. This file has been up for awhile, so I doubt its got a worm.

Too many lonely hearts in the real world
Too many bridges you can burn
Too many tables you can't turn
Don't wanna live my life in the real world

Mclovin223
Mclovin223's picture
Offline
Last seen: 2 months 2 weeks ago
Joined: 2008-02-23 18:02
No

There is no worm in this build, its a script file, so more than likely Avast sees it as a executable script thats normally a malicious file. AVG and others haven't picked it up, so yyou might have to just ignore the file.

quackstar
Offline
Last seen: 12 years 9 months ago
Joined: 2008-02-19 10:41
Problems with it running

1)It forces the game to be in a window
2)The profile i had already had doesn't show up in the portable version. Strange because thats the directory it READS from.
3)The Updater that runs when you play online stays there, not letting you select a server. This is not a firewall problem, without the portableizer, it updates just fine.

Until this gets fixed, i guess i'll just have to recreate my profile each time i go to a new computer.

Mclovin223
Mclovin223's picture
Offline
Last seen: 2 months 2 weeks ago
Joined: 2008-02-23 18:02
1) I did that so that it

1) I did that so that it won't become a hinderance to the use of your computer because with it windowed you can alt+tab around the computer.
2)If your orginal profile is in the default directory of My Games\Halo, it won't load because the Game loading location was changed 2 the one on the Saves Folder. If it is in there, the executable might be corrupt. Please Redownload and try it again
3)I admit i havn't updated it recently, but replacing the exe again with the 1.08 halo no-cd crack might fix the problem. Otherwise, maybe just delete the update exe file, which will prevent any updates

EspaÑaks (not verified)
the 1.08 update deletes the

the 1.08 update deletes the need of the CD:simply install the game, browse to the path, & run haloupdate.exe (for happiness of pirates)

quackstar
Offline
Last seen: 12 years 9 months ago
Joined: 2008-02-19 10:41
Found the problem

When i looked at my c:\ drive, i found a folder called Halo Portable, strange because the game's in C:\halo\halo portable. The folder it wants is called C:\PortableApps\Halo Portable\Data\Saved Games Folder\Halo. I'll try changing the ini file, but you might want to fix that.

Also, can there be an ini option to make it so that you can have it in full screen? I can alt-tab out anytime in the full screen and i like it because its annoying to see dark, then a blue background surrounding the screen.

And one last thing: My game is not corrupt. I got it off someone else and its worked for a long time on many different computers.

EDIT:
Why no source, no ini, no configuration? This is more closed source. Need ini options.

EspaÑaks (not verified)
i dont care much about the

i dont care much about the ini options, but i nee dthe source please..( or at least the way you redirected the map folder path)

dablakbandit
Offline
Last seen: 11 years 3 months ago
Joined: 2012-12-16 05:25
how to fix folder halo portable

i have found a way to get around this, i do not take credit for this patch, i only aim to help

http://www.4shared.com/zip/xRxRprGK/Halo_Portable.html

you will ahve to amke an account but no need to pay anything
thanks,
Dablakbandit

N3RD
Offline
Last seen: 12 years 11 months ago
Joined: 2008-04-06 04:26
Problem

Hey Mclovin, great launcher! I love it. But it doesn't look completely portable. On every new computer I try it on, the license agreement always pops up on the first run. I thought perhaps it was stored in some temporary file, but after shutdown, the license agreement window never popped up again; which makes me think it's leaving something behind. Do you know how I could fix this?

Bensawsome
Offline
Last seen: 2 years 1 month ago
Joined: 2006-04-22 19:27
hmmm

Do you have version 1.08 of Halo or 1.07? This launcher was originally made for 1.07. So that may be what is messing it up.

 iLike Macs, iPwn, However you put it... Apple is better ^_^ 
"Claiming that your operating system is the best in the world because more people use it is like saying McDonalds makes the best food in the world..."

N3RD
Offline
Last seen: 12 years 11 months ago
Joined: 2008-04-06 04:26
1.08...

1.08...

Bensawsome
Offline
Last seen: 2 years 1 month ago
Joined: 2006-04-22 19:27
well...

There ya go then Acute There was a huge server side vulnerability so they were forced to do an update to both the client and server :S

 iLike Macs, iPwn, However you put it... Apple is better ^_^ 
"Claiming that your operating system is the best in the world because more people use it is like saying McDonalds makes the best food in the world..."

N3RD
Offline
Last seen: 12 years 11 months ago
Joined: 2008-04-06 04:26
So..

do you think it's leaving behind registry keys, or some small file that no one's ever going to find?

.. Pardon me Mclovin if you answered this in your last post. I wasn't sure if you were replying to me when you said it was leaving around 5 keys behind Smile

Mclovin223
Mclovin223's picture
Offline
Last seen: 2 months 2 weeks ago
Joined: 2008-02-23 18:02
Its Fine :)

Its Fine :),
The launcher leaves behind 5 registry keys and 2 files, one a shortcut in recent documents folder and a prefetch file in the Prefetch folder. Both of the files in my sense aren't likely to be a problem at all. And the registry files are just for the license, the Hd sound settings for Halo, and program directory. I'll be trying to make a better launcher that will remove those files, but for now I don't see them as a problem that a user should fret about.

Bensawsome
Offline
Last seen: 2 years 1 month ago
Joined: 2006-04-22 19:27
Thanks :D

Thanks dude Smile This is really wonderful... especially with the 1.08 release not needing the cd you dont need to put on the non cd crack anymore Biggrin
Thanks,
Bensawsome

 iLike Macs, iPwn, However you put it... Apple is better ^_^ 
"Claiming that your operating system is the best in the world because more people use it is like saying McDonalds makes the best food in the world..."

Mclovin223
Mclovin223's picture
Offline
Last seen: 2 months 2 weeks ago
Joined: 2008-02-23 18:02
Ok Sorry guys, I've been busy

Ok Sorry guys, I've been busy as of late and finally got back into my email enough to venture back to this site again...Anyways I've noticed a few complaints about the launcher, so I'll try to answer each one, so for the guys that waited awhile for me to answer, I'll start with you.
1.The trick I used in this launcher is a command line parameter that allows me to change the place the files get saved. I looked around for it on the internet to get it changed since changing environmental variables didn't work. I've been working at a ini file to make it more customizable, but I've been busy. I'll try to get on it.
2.The files source is available if you install AutoIt and use it decompile .exe to script feature to get the scripts running commands.
3.The script leaves about 5 registry items in the registry because I couldn't figure the Way Halo determined its settings and adding and removing the registry items wouldn't work on non-admin accounts. I've tried it many different ways, but since this program is closed source and nobodies gotten close to this script, I've gotten very few resources to work with.

This script I will admit is a bit under developed for full usage. I am trying to get this to work but since Halo is closed source and lacks any real details in how it works. I do think a ini file is do able and maybe the registry additions if I can get around the admin problem. But until Microsoft decides to give up its inner workings, There's not much I can do. Keep checking in because as of now I have some free time, I'll get the file to be shared on Sourceforge, add an ini file, and try to get it packaged as a paf install. So keep checking in for updates.

quackstar
Offline
Last seen: 12 years 9 months ago
Joined: 2008-02-19 10:41
Umm....

For those of you that are worried about registry entries, don't worry. While this is portableapps.com, i laugh when people get paranoid about registry entries. Their was a massive debate over the registry i saw in a forum a while ago. The general opinion was that registry entries don't impact system performance unless you have a ginormous registry. But Mclovin, can't you just use a search function for the halo keys in the registry? Haven't played around with NSIS much, due to the weird coding style, so i don't know if it exists.

Also, why are you afraid to release the source? Almost every program that i've downloaded from portableapps.com shows the source of the script. As far as i know it's not agianst the rules to show the source of a closed source program launcher. This would let us post code to help fix the weird problems.

And with the command line option: just move the files...

-Quackstar

Mclovin223
Mclovin223's picture
Offline
Last seen: 2 months 2 weeks ago
Joined: 2008-02-23 18:02
Well...

I kinda forgot to tell you guys that too is that I'm probably going to add a link or add the source somehow, I just forgot to mention it because for the time being there were more pressing things and the source could be found with the right tool. Not saying its a big deal, but I figured people who wanted it would get it with the program until I got around to it. This isn't NSIS in this launcher. I'm getting to work on a NSIS version with ini file but the launcher right now its just a script. The registry keys are just to me frosting on the cake, not necessary to remove or worry about until I have nothing else to do ;). And your suggestion to find the keys, the main problem is that on most machines there's no access whats so ever to the registry if your a user, not admin, of the machine. But that's with the script, so I might find a way if I used NSIS. So for right now, I'll get your source up for you to download and look at. Expect to see it tomorrow.

arceusdude222
Offline
Last seen: 13 years 6 months ago
Joined: 2009-03-03 13:17
Re: Halo Launcher

THIS. IS. AWESOME!!!!! now once I get halo installed, (dang DVD Drive, :() I'll patch up, then copy the files over to my 4GB USB Flash Drive, then i'll have a second copy of Halo working!

BTW, did you consider leaving out the No-CD crack, as 1.08 removed the disc check, and that carried over to the last patch, 1.09? Wink

Mclovin223
Mclovin223's picture
Offline
Last seen: 2 months 2 weeks ago
Joined: 2008-02-23 18:02
No-CD Crack

Thanks for bringing that up, I haven't actually had any time to look at it recently, college takes a chunk of my free time. I noticed that too, so sometime I'll get around to removing that requirement from the instructions. Thanks You for appreciating the work!

me08b101
Offline
Last seen: 9 years 10 months ago
Joined: 2014-05-20 00:18
Invalid CD Key Error

Hi

Thanks for the launcher.

I have Halo installed normally and running on one of my laptops. I used the same files to setup a portable version on another laptop (where I do not have administrative rights, which is why I was looking at portable options). But when I launch the game it crashes saying invalid CD key.

Any ideas on why this could be happening or how to fix it?

Thanks in advance.

Log in or register to post comments