Make sure to read the stickied [megathread](https://rentry.org/pgames-mega-thread), as it might just answer your question! Also check out our [videogame piracy guide](https://www.reddit.com/r/PiratedGames/comments/i3r14g/a_beginners_guide_to_video_game_piracy/) and the list of Common Q&A [part 1](https://www.reddit.com/r/PiratedGames/comments/fvix6e/common_questions_and_answers_thread/) and [part 2](https://www.reddit.com/r/PiratedGames/comments/igxebs/frequently_asked_questions_part_2/). Or just read the whole [Wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/PiratedGames/wiki/index).
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I figured this out by trial and error but the one mistake I only learned about yesterday is the fact that everything was being downloaded in temporary files
I didn’t even know about the existence of temporary files.. I was always wondering why my games keep disappearing after a while lol
For future reference, Program Files are for 64bit applications, and Program Files x86 is for 32bit applications. Just make sure to check the type when installing your application and you’ll always know where the files belong. In this case, it sounds like the game path was using a default path like %localuser%\programfiles(x86) instead of being able to set the directory yourself, and the reason for this is widespread compatibility. Everyone has a x86 folder but not everyone has the regular program files folder.
Even worse programs like winrar or 7zip only extract to a temp folder and uncompress files the .exe calls for things like directx dlls and etc but since some cracks really on steam fixes rather than game.exe manipulation those dlls are never called for thus never get extracted making the exe never work and after the game is shut down the temp folder gets auto deleted
"Why is the setup broken??? Its probably a virus! I reinstalled Windows and did a format for all drives, it still won't install from the archive while I download it"
It’s one thing to go after someone in the comments but it’s another to beat the man while he’s down. Grow the fuck up and teach people the RIGHT way to do things so they can learn from their mistakes and educate others. Time and time again I see people downvote and belittle others for simply asking for advice and guidance. What is this sub for them if all we do is say “read the mega” and downvote for simple shit. HELP the naive and unwise and be the teacher to them. SHOW them the safe way to pirate and they will teach others. Come on, DO BETTER!!!
Yeah but if I help them that would be convenient and they wouldn't have to sift through 15 threads with 4 comments saying "megathread" to find one from 2015 that gives them a wordy answer to their question (of course with OPs life story as a prelude).
Can't have things be convenient around here, keep gatekeeping trivial things boys.
i dont understand this, the game is installed, there is still some zip files inside some files, do you have to unzip everything? i never heard of this before
Let’s say you download a game (i’m just gonna use stellaris since it’s the last one i played even though i didn’t pirate it), it downloads (if it’s not a repack)
as stellaris.zip, and if it is a repack, the output is instead a regular folder. I think that’s where the confusion comes from, because some people don’t use fitgirl or dodi and instead download non-repacked games. When you do this, you have to extract the stellaris.zip folder, but what some people do is simply open it while it’s still compressed and then open the .exe, which runs it as a temporary file and will delete all progress once you close the game
That's weird, I suspect you're mistaken. The majority of games come with either compressed bin files that you need to decompress, or an exe with a bunch of assets and other files. In both cases you need to extract stuff.
The only situation where you can play right out of the box in a zip is a game which consists solely of a compressed exe file, with no other files.
Kind of the case.
Some games use some compressed folders of their own during gameplay or other sections of the game. I'm not really sure of any PC games that do this but I know the original Xbox's Midtown Madness 3 does. Using a modded system, you can look in the cache drives and see that it does use one containing ai stuff and whatnot.
If you get a game, sometimes it's in a compressed folder, rar, whatever, itself. In most cases, it wasn't designed to run from there and fails like that other person that this post was based off of complained about.
When I get my stuff from fit girl I never see any compressed files so I never even knew this was a thing so I also just clicked setup and I've never had any errors or issues
My husband was installing addons for WoW one day and looked puzzle by the difference between not unzipping the file to install it. I married him anyways, and he's usually so smart... but jesus christ.
I did this but instead of directly clicking it in the zip, I instead drag and dropped inside the zip and moved it into a different folder.
Lets just say my drive didnt like that
I knew that this would cause problems but I did it sometimes because of laziness. I think I installed hollow knight like that or celeste and luckily it worked.
Can't be as dumb as one thing I did
Taking an embarrassingly long time (6 weeks) to figure out a "Multi-Zip File setup" (Goat Sim 1,2,3,4 etc) and having to search on here to figure it out (For those you just Extract Zips/Rar or whatever with 7-Zip or whatever you are using at the same time) thankfully It was a game I was on the fence on playing due to a trigger (School Days HQ - Shy person who can't handle rejection)
I was working on a project on ue4 and i wanted to download it onto a flashdrive and me, wanting to download everything fast(the wifi was not the fastest where i was), i only downloaded the .exe file. Felt pretty dumb but at least i knew exactly what the issue was lol
I have probably a hundred games cracked, I always launch directly the setup.exe and then install the game on the drive I want. Never got any problem, the games was always working perfectly fine so I don't really understand the reason of this post 🧐
I shit you guys not, one dude who did morrowblivion setup guides actually went through the trouble of showcasing downloading rar and 7z from Ninite at the same time just to make it easier to dummies at home about getting the proper compressors installed before trying to get into any kind of modded game ever.
Some people grow dumber by the day
on steam or on gog? Case Gog´s more practical.
I´m figuring out firsthand sometimes the best approach is pirating the game and donating to the creator case sometimes the publisher pulls them under the rug and doesnt pay proper royalties so while they make bank, the creator is left penniless.
This is why creators then go to Epic and sell their integrity for that immediate fortnite cash and go full exclusive.
I don't think most game devs have donation pages though.
I much perfer to pay up front. If every game were open source but still for sale for the same price I would be buying exactly the same amount of games as I do now. I only pirate games when it's necessary because it's honestly a chore. Not worth the half hour to figure it out unless I have to.
Also you won't be getting updated cracks soon if ever.
God no, you´ll regret it later, when you want to play something with mod support and the Goddamn Steam requires you to login in everytime you wanna play a modded game.
That BS killed my first Tale of Two Wastelands run by the time i got to rivet city, finally went through the trouble of getting everything through GOG and it´s a 100x times more practical now.
Just keep steam for the games that are exclusive and wont be coming to GOG ever.
Make sure to read the stickied [megathread](https://rentry.org/pgames-mega-thread), as it might just answer your question! Also check out our [videogame piracy guide](https://www.reddit.com/r/PiratedGames/comments/i3r14g/a_beginners_guide_to_video_game_piracy/) and the list of Common Q&A [part 1](https://www.reddit.com/r/PiratedGames/comments/fvix6e/common_questions_and_answers_thread/) and [part 2](https://www.reddit.com/r/PiratedGames/comments/igxebs/frequently_asked_questions_part_2/). Or just read the whole [Wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/PiratedGames/wiki/index). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/PiratedGames) if you have any questions or concerns.*
what does it do
[удалено]
I figured this out by trial and error but the one mistake I only learned about yesterday is the fact that everything was being downloaded in temporary files I didn’t even know about the existence of temporary files.. I was always wondering why my games keep disappearing after a while lol
At least you aren't idiotic as me. Installed my game in the download folder instead of program ×84 drive. Sent 1 hr wondering why it went wrong
you don't have to install game on program files folder though. in fact, you can install it on any drive
Tell that to my game.
what game?
Black and white 2 (not pokemon)
Strange, where did you get it from? That's definitely not meant to be happening. Is your downloads folder connected to one drive?
Some Russian torrent verified to be safe by a friend.
For future reference, Program Files are for 64bit applications, and Program Files x86 is for 32bit applications. Just make sure to check the type when installing your application and you’ll always know where the files belong. In this case, it sounds like the game path was using a default path like %localuser%\programfiles(x86) instead of being able to set the directory yourself, and the reason for this is widespread compatibility. Everyone has a x86 folder but not everyone has the regular program files folder.
Un short terms those ppl you see crying that the game dont work in the comments of the games are the people who normally do this XD
Was gonna say the same thing but in a much more stupid way lol so thanks for giving me a better way to say this lol
Even worse programs like winrar or 7zip only extract to a temp folder and uncompress files the .exe calls for things like directx dlls and etc but since some cracks really on steam fixes rather than game.exe manipulation those dlls are never called for thus never get extracted making the exe never work and after the game is shut down the temp folder gets auto deleted
Basically is like when you want to procreate only with your brain, you need something else too...
Then he comes on and makes a post titled "plz help" for every game he does this with.
"Why is the setup broken??? Its probably a virus! I reinstalled Windows and did a format for all drives, it still won't install from the archive while I download it"
wHy iS tHe WeBsItE sTiLl oN tHe MeGaThReAd??
It’s one thing to go after someone in the comments but it’s another to beat the man while he’s down. Grow the fuck up and teach people the RIGHT way to do things so they can learn from their mistakes and educate others. Time and time again I see people downvote and belittle others for simply asking for advice and guidance. What is this sub for them if all we do is say “read the mega” and downvote for simple shit. HELP the naive and unwise and be the teacher to them. SHOW them the safe way to pirate and they will teach others. Come on, DO BETTER!!!
Yeah but if I help them that would be convenient and they wouldn't have to sift through 15 threads with 4 comments saying "megathread" to find one from 2015 that gives them a wordy answer to their question (of course with OPs life story as a prelude). Can't have things be convenient around here, keep gatekeeping trivial things boys.
Cmon dude. You were just like him once upon a time. Clueless and had to find out things by trial and error.
It wasn't a serious comment I just thought it was outrageous enough to not need a /s
I would NEVER do that!!!! I only try to unpack zip files while downloading them as a torrent.
Reading the comments makes me disappointed
you asume they know open a rar or a 7z files too.
Had to learn that not too long ago, maybe a few months ago. I’ve grown a lot since then
i dont understand this, the game is installed, there is still some zip files inside some files, do you have to unzip everything? i never heard of this before
Idk why you are being downvoted, I've been pirating for like 15 years and have no idea what OP is talking about
Let’s say you download a game (i’m just gonna use stellaris since it’s the last one i played even though i didn’t pirate it), it downloads (if it’s not a repack) as stellaris.zip, and if it is a repack, the output is instead a regular folder. I think that’s where the confusion comes from, because some people don’t use fitgirl or dodi and instead download non-repacked games. When you do this, you have to extract the stellaris.zip folder, but what some people do is simply open it while it’s still compressed and then open the .exe, which runs it as a temporary file and will delete all progress once you close the game
That's weird, I suspect you're mistaken. The majority of games come with either compressed bin files that you need to decompress, or an exe with a bunch of assets and other files. In both cases you need to extract stuff. The only situation where you can play right out of the box in a zip is a game which consists solely of a compressed exe file, with no other files.
Repacks have a setup that does everything for you
Kind of the case. Some games use some compressed folders of their own during gameplay or other sections of the game. I'm not really sure of any PC games that do this but I know the original Xbox's Midtown Madness 3 does. Using a modded system, you can look in the cache drives and see that it does use one containing ai stuff and whatnot. If you get a game, sometimes it's in a compressed folder, rar, whatever, itself. In most cases, it wasn't designed to run from there and fails like that other person that this post was based off of complained about.
When I get my stuff from fit girl I never see any compressed files so I never even knew this was a thing so I also just clicked setup and I've never had any errors or issues
I'll be honest, it seems to be a kind of rare thing. It reminds me of the CAB files PC games had years ago that acted like that.
Didn't know I was doing anything wrong until I saw this post
Funny... Always did like that and never ever got a problem...
Doesn't Windows give you a pop-up warning you about this anyways?
unless windows locks the damn user out of doing anything until they read the message properly, they're just going to click ok and do it anyways.
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
My husband was installing addons for WoW one day and looked puzzle by the difference between not unzipping the file to install it. I married him anyways, and he's usually so smart... but jesus christ.
I did this but instead of directly clicking it in the zip, I instead drag and dropped inside the zip and moved it into a different folder. Lets just say my drive didnt like that
ROFL. Or they install the game and their antivirus software removes the crack so they call the whaaaaambulance and come here crying
I knew that this would cause problems but I did it sometimes because of laziness. I think I installed hollow knight like that or celeste and luckily it worked.
The only way he could be more stupid is if he clicked the fake download link
I used to do that with a cracked gta sa game when i was 12, i ended up having to reinstall windows on the family computer
Can't be as dumb as one thing I did Taking an embarrassingly long time (6 weeks) to figure out a "Multi-Zip File setup" (Goat Sim 1,2,3,4 etc) and having to search on here to figure it out (For those you just Extract Zips/Rar or whatever with 7-Zip or whatever you are using at the same time) thankfully It was a game I was on the fence on playing due to a trigger (School Days HQ - Shy person who can't handle rejection)
Dude can't wait to play😂😂
lool i'd say less experienced instead.
Literally did this last night lol was trying to cut corners
Wait there are people who install games without unzipping? Is that even works?
I was working on a project on ue4 and i wanted to download it onto a flashdrive and me, wanting to download everything fast(the wifi was not the fastest where i was), i only downloaded the .exe file. Felt pretty dumb but at least i knew exactly what the issue was lol
I crack games but never play them, just in case my internet crash. (Huh, if they're good I usually try to buy them during sales)
i do this because im too lazy to click the extract button (if i just run the exe file it prompts me with an extraction)
Honestly didn't even knew temporary files existed, I just went straight to extract everything to play the game.
I once asked someone to put games in my pendrive and he put shortcuts from his desktop instead
I have probably a hundred games cracked, I always launch directly the setup.exe and then install the game on the drive I want. Never got any problem, the games was always working perfectly fine so I don't really understand the reason of this post 🧐
WHO TF DOES THAT?????
So, this is a day old, and three hours ago we get https://www.reddit.com/r/PiratedGames/comments/w71436/i_have_a_problem_with_lunching_games/
even i after extracting i tend to go to properties of that exe file and check things like run as administrator or compatibility shit
I can't extract stuff. Probaly because I'm on windows 11
7zip. open source free ect.
if you have winrar or whatever you use for zip files installed revert the context menu. the new one doesnt show anything
Oh ok btw yeah I have winrar
I shit you guys not, one dude who did morrowblivion setup guides actually went through the trouble of showcasing downloading rar and 7z from Ninite at the same time just to make it easier to dummies at home about getting the proper compressors installed before trying to get into any kind of modded game ever. Some people grow dumber by the day
I buy my games now
on steam or on gog? Case Gog´s more practical. I´m figuring out firsthand sometimes the best approach is pirating the game and donating to the creator case sometimes the publisher pulls them under the rug and doesnt pay proper royalties so while they make bank, the creator is left penniless. This is why creators then go to Epic and sell their integrity for that immediate fortnite cash and go full exclusive.
I don't think most game devs have donation pages though. I much perfer to pay up front. If every game were open source but still for sale for the same price I would be buying exactly the same amount of games as I do now. I only pirate games when it's necessary because it's honestly a chore. Not worth the half hour to figure it out unless I have to. Also you won't be getting updated cracks soon if ever.
Steam for vr
God no, you´ll regret it later, when you want to play something with mod support and the Goddamn Steam requires you to login in everytime you wanna play a modded game. That BS killed my first Tale of Two Wastelands run by the time i got to rivet city, finally went through the trouble of getting everything through GOG and it´s a 100x times more practical now. Just keep steam for the games that are exclusive and wont be coming to GOG ever.
I don't have to login again lol.
Sure you dont... Yet.
Huh
Select the zip file and a 'Extract' button should appear on the toolbar
Is extract without confirmation the same thing