Posted June 02, 2023
Your patch taken from Retail patches should work. That one above with steam related error - is a messed patch not from retail. Probably wrong link. Or correct link (steam user mention it is old backup so he can miss which files he share) but still messed patch. That mean it was not from retail and made for replace minimum files. AS result steam exe in use. And with steam exe steam dll in use. It was made to be played with steam. Maybe he found backup of old Steam Delivery system NCF where THQ build present (SteamPipe update come along with Sega start to update old bought products, some publishers assist Valve making SteamPipe updates).
If old patch based on Steam there is chance it wont work anymore for Steam too. Depend on Steam and games updates.
And ofc it never support non-steam version.
Your Retail-based patch should work. BUT! Official DRM-free exe exist for sure, but extremely rare or never been on public relases. Maybe that why steam user keep using steamclient.dll DRM version exe. He keep it non-disc edition.
There is downgrade patch on DOWOnline and maybe somewheee else. They all use cracked exe i suppose (or at least rdn.dll or whatever it named). That the easiest ways although even for dll-based crack it can bring issues and not compatible with exe-cracked version.
Best of easy available solutions is MINI-IMAGE shared on GCW/TBP or maybe somewhere else.
As for unlocking races. To do that we need proper WinRegistry REGEDIT entries (HKLM/Software and HKCU VIRTUALSTORE) with cd-keys and DOWWADC exe locations.
Plus we need exe itself. Put them at registry locations. Any version are good.
Any DOW/WA/DC/SS CD-keys can be used. Find any online. Just put same keys in SS main menu.
Most cracks online are BROKEN for SS too. Both DC and SS. They are not compatible with DOW installations and race unlockers! As i understand working with raceunlockers crafk exist. In that case it can be only dll-based one.
So if DOWNGRADE made really from THQs Retail 1.2 and WORKING crack applied - it be 100% compatible with any version.
There is 1.1 preinstalled DOWSS editions. To be sure try to install both 1.1 and 1.2.
Dark Crusade and Winter Assault restoration are much easier - DRMfree public available just in Retail patches. No need to worry about cracks and their unlockers compatibility so no need to worry about GOG compatibility.
Maybe one exe enough. Maybe GSLobby and some else root dll files. Use NORTON/TOTAL Commander to chech Retail and GOG install folders. At first take every root files that is differ.
If old patch based on Steam there is chance it wont work anymore for Steam too. Depend on Steam and games updates.
And ofc it never support non-steam version.
Your Retail-based patch should work. BUT! Official DRM-free exe exist for sure, but extremely rare or never been on public relases. Maybe that why steam user keep using steamclient.dll DRM version exe. He keep it non-disc edition.
There is downgrade patch on DOWOnline and maybe somewheee else. They all use cracked exe i suppose (or at least rdn.dll or whatever it named). That the easiest ways although even for dll-based crack it can bring issues and not compatible with exe-cracked version.
Best of easy available solutions is MINI-IMAGE shared on GCW/TBP or maybe somewhere else.
As for unlocking races. To do that we need proper WinRegistry REGEDIT entries (HKLM/Software and HKCU VIRTUALSTORE) with cd-keys and DOWWADC exe locations.
Plus we need exe itself. Put them at registry locations. Any version are good.
Any DOW/WA/DC/SS CD-keys can be used. Find any online. Just put same keys in SS main menu.
Most cracks online are BROKEN for SS too. Both DC and SS. They are not compatible with DOW installations and race unlockers! As i understand working with raceunlockers crafk exist. In that case it can be only dll-based one.
So if DOWNGRADE made really from THQs Retail 1.2 and WORKING crack applied - it be 100% compatible with any version.
There is 1.1 preinstalled DOWSS editions. To be sure try to install both 1.1 and 1.2.
Dark Crusade and Winter Assault restoration are much easier - DRMfree public available just in Retail patches. No need to worry about cracks and their unlockers compatibility so no need to worry about GOG compatibility.
Maybe one exe enough. Maybe GSLobby and some else root dll files. Use NORTON/TOTAL Commander to chech Retail and GOG install folders. At first take every root files that is differ.
