How to Fix Stutters and Lag in Classic Codemasters Racing Games (PC)

Here is a fix for some classic Codemasters racing games including Grid, Grid 2 and others.  Do note that this isn't a fix for Dirt 1 that game has some odd issues for multiple core cpus.  If your having issues with slowdowns, stuttering and lag its not cause your computer sucks its cause of a feature in the games that needs to use the hard drive for replays.  So here is a really simple fix.  What were going to want to do is go to our C:\Programdata folder.  Then look for Codemasters and in there should be a few of your favorite racing games.

So I'm going to use this as an example but Grid should be in there.  So what were going to want to do is go to C:\ProgramData\Codemasters\GRID\DataCache\YourUsernameHere\replay.  In there should be a file called replay.pbf.  Now what were going to want to do is right click on that and go to properties.  In there at the bottom check mark "read-only" and press OK.  Now all  your going to want to do to fix the other games in your collection is go to there \DataCache\YourUsernameHere\replay folder and do the same thing.

Now if you don't have a replay.pbf file in there all your going to want to do is open Notepad.  So once you opened up Notepad go to save as and open your \DataCache\YourUsernameHere\replay folder for whatever Codemasters game your doing.  Remember to click on "all files" and save the document as replay.pbf.  Go to the \DataCache\YourUsernameHere\replay folder you saved the file in and right click on it, go to properties and click on "read-only" then press OK.

Done now you don't have to worry about the stuttering, slow downs and lag.  Have fun playing your Codemasters racing classics.

Best Way To Install Windows XP Media Center 2005 Edition with VMware Workstation Player (PC)

I had a few problems trying to get Windows XP Media Center 2005 Edition to install on Virtual Box.  So instead what I used was VMware Workstation Player which is available for free from VMware Workstation Player.  Also it can be used for free if used for non commercial reasons so you can use it for many years without a license.

Okay so now for the next step were going to want to "create a new virtual machine" with disk 1 of 3 of the Windows XP Media Center 2005 Edition.  Instead of selecting for easy install which might bug up the install were going to take the more advanced step and select "I will install the operating system later".  Of course doing this will allow us to install the operating system like we would on a normal computer.  I believe the easy install will detect the disk as Windows XP Pro like Virtual Box and use Disk 1 and the Service Pack 2 or 3 disks and not use Disk 2 which will have all the essential software.

So open the operating system up go for the install and set it up like you normally would and don't forget to use your special serial key.  I will not show you where to get a serial key you can do that on your own.

After you have the operating system installed you should now be able to boot it up like you used to having all the essential software including Media Center.  Also you'll need to activate the operating system using this hack available from this link How To Activate Windows XP.  After you have done so now you can use your Windows XP Media Center 2005 Edition with no problems.

How to Restore Backed Up Origin Games (PC)

For those of you who want to restore your backed up Origin games its pretty simple.  What your going to want to do is open Origin and begin downloading the game you have backed up for about 10secs.  Once you have let the download go for about 10secs close Origin.   Now locate where you have your previously downloaded games backed up to.  Right click on the folder of the game and select copy and then paste it into the "Origin Games" folder that is currently assigned to your Origin which should already contain a folder with the same name as the backed up game.  Once pasting into that folder it will ask to replace over any of the files and you'll want to select yes.

Then finally open Origin and the game that you had selected to download will now begin to verify the files.  Once verifying has completed which takes a bit of time it'll then become available to play.  Now remember each time you do this to let the game download for at least 10secs and make sure the program is closed before copying any files over.

PowerDVD 17 Ultra Support for Fox Blu-Ray's

If some of you are having issues getting some older Fox Blu-Ray's working with PowerDVD 17 Ultra there is a fix.

Download this >>> https://www.dropbox.com/s/p86gydx0n30dojl/PDVD_RedCard_Patch-1519615738911.zip?dl=0 "close the login and begin to download"

Open the file with 7zip or any other compression software.  Drag the two files to where you installed PowerDVD 17 Ultra.

To get an old Fox Blu-Ray to work right click on WorkaroundRedCard.bat and "open as administrator".

After you are done watching a Fox Blu-Ray right click on BackToOriginalBehaviour.bat and again "open as administrator" in order to watch other Blu-Rays again.