Links 2003 error message - cannot locate disk 1

[bophil]

have just reinstalled 2003, however, when attempting to play, get an error message cannot locate disk 1...had game previously installed...and working
would appreciate any thoughts on how to remedy this problem..
thank you

[loner]

Try this. If it doesn't work then reinstall the game.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=eae20f0f-c41c-44fe-84ce-1df707d7a2e9&displaylang=en

[bophil]

Did as suggested....still getting "Cannot locate the Links 2003 Disk 1, select OK and restart application notice file at bottom is RuKsHuK.exe

[loner]

Here's what MS has to say about that.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;228985

Here's what a NO-CD site has to say about it.
http://m0004.gamecopyworld.com/games/pc_links_2003.shtml

[bophil]

Thank you so much...GameCopyWorld had the solution...the game is now complete and working quite nicely...once again...thank you for your time and solution...

[loner]

Glad to hear that it worked. It shouldn't need a push from a crack but now we know where to go for the fix.
Enjoy!

[Mailman]

[Scotty]

It is now a sticky.

[RIRed48]

Hmm...

I tried that "no cd" file, and did not work for me...is it because I play w/ version 1.05, not 1.02?

... at that site that has the file it says it is for ver 1.02

[RIRed48]

I found a MS Support page for Links 2003 and followed all of their suggestions...still will not run with "cannot verify CD" error message...

Wonder if I should just buy the online version of Links 2003 files...

Brian

[Armand]

I haven't followed the proceedings of this thread or the previous discussions to resolve this glitch. Fortunately for me, I've never run across the issue.

However, I'm wondering about uninstalling Links 2003 completely. When I say completely, I mean going into the registry after the normal "uninstall" is complete and removing all references to "Links 2003". I don't know how well the uninstaller really works - many of them leave all sorts of things in the registry.

So, as a stab in the dark, try uninstalling the game and then reboot the computer and start the registry editor (START, RUN, type REGEDIT, then press OK or ENTER). From that window, navigate in the left pane to the uppermost icon, called "My Copmuter". (This is often easiest to simply hold down the LEFT ARROW key.) Then, choose EDIT and FIND from the menu and type "Links 2003", without the quotes. Ensure the box "match whole string only" is NOT checked, but the other three should be. Wait a moment and eventually, the "seraching the registry" dialog box will disappear. When it stops, you will have one of two scenarios:
1. Another dialog box will come up saying "Finished searching registry" (or similar). If this is the case, then Links did a good job of cleaning up after itself. Unfortunately, this also means this suggested "fix" will not work. Sorry.
2. An entry in the registry will be found containing "Links 2003". You should be able to see the branch of the registry that contains "Links 2003" - look for the "open folder" in the left pane; if it's too difficult to find, you can read the location in the lower left of the Registry Editor window. From there, you will have to make an educated guess as to how much of the branch to delete. For instance, the first occurence of "Links 2003" in my registry is under:
My Computer\HKEY_Current_User\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Distiller\PrinterJobControl
This reminded me that I last made a PDF file from Acrobat and saved it in my Links 2003 data folder. This shouldn't affect the installation of Links, but just in case, I could delete it from the right hand pane ONLY, since I don't want Adobe to run into problems the next time I try to make a PDF. In the right hand pane, I could delete either the "Data" portion of the registry entry, or the "Name"; these are the headings of the columns. I probably could delete the entire registry KEY (both the Name and Data), but I'd probably just double-click on the "Data" entry and then blank that out. Upon completing this, press F3 to search for the next occurence of "Links 2003". For me, the next one is a Recent File List of my text editor and I can see that I opened a readme file. Again, I don't want my text editor to squawk, so I'll just delete the right-hand portion - they registry KEY, itself. Continuing on, the next entry in my registry is under:
My Computer\HKEY_Current_User\Software\Microsoft\Microsoft Games
and the Links 2003 folder is highlighted on the left hand pane. In this case, I would delete the entire "Links 2003" branch from the left hand pane, since anything within this folder would be related to Links.

For you, the entries you find will be different and you will have to judge for yourself what to delete. If you are unsure, post the entire branch of the entry and someone could help you determine what to delete. Note that in going through your registry, some KEYs will look quite familiar. For instance, I also have an entry at:
My Computer\HKEY_Local_Machine\Software\Microsoft\Microsoft Games
and it looks just like the previous one I found under HKEY_Current_User. Just continue deleting them as you find them. If you get a message saying that it "Does not exist", you'll need to refresh the Registry Editor (Press F5) and then F3 to repeat your search.

Following deleting ALL of the references to Links 2003 from your registry, reboot your computer and try to install Links again. Try the NoCD patch to get past the verify media, and if that doesn't work, try your CD1. Do this BEFORE applying any patches to the game. I'd suggest you play a hole or so, then quit Links and start it again, to ensure it doesn't ask for the media check again.

Once you are past this, then apply your patches (1.02, 1.05, 1.06, etc.). Again, I don't know that this will work because I'm unsure of how well Links uninstalls itself or even if it's a registry entry that says you have passed the media check. Nonetheless, it's the only thing I can think of to suggest. Failing that, try the download version.

I hope this helps.

Armand

[RIRed48]

Thanks, Armand...

I'll give this a try.

Brian

[RIRed48]

Registry cleaning of any Links 2003 references did not work. So........I bought the online version of Links, DL'd it, installed....perfect...it was worth the $12. or so...

:)

[djhousemaster@gmail.com]

The same problem with the download version "cannot verify CD" error message

[Golfero]

Another problem causing the error "No Disk" are the card readers if you has it simply change the letters of your card readers for example a,b,c,d for f,g,h,i and will work perfectly again.

[mickfox2007@yahoo.co.uk]

[ali1ear]

Hi everybody, I'm a new player and I had this same problem. Here's my fix. I Google searched RUKSHUK.EXE and found that some nice guy had posted his (good) RUKSHUK.EXE file in zip form. I downloaded his file then removed my RUKSHUK.EXE file and replaced it with the new (good) one and WHAH-LAH! The game worked brilliantly. No need for patches or drivers or removal of other programs or virtual drives. Hope it works for you. Cheers Ali

[Tassieboy]

Ali1ear
Can you tell me the actual site you googled for the Rukshuk File?

[ali1ear]

Hi friend .. strangely enough I did the same thing again - Google searched 'RUKSHUK.exe' and could not find the entry I had found so easily the time before, instead I found 7 pages of almost identical entries. Strange. However .. I still have the zip file on my hard drive and if you would like it I'd be pleased to send it to you. Then .. if you remove your RUKSHUK.exe file and replace it with my unzipped RUKSHUK.exe file your Links 2003 Golf game should work perfectly.

(i) sorry if I sounded a bit smug but I was really pleased to get the game working and it is a good game. Trust. Ali

(ii) I don't know why Xplosive or Microsoft hasn't sorted this out ages ago, they're usually fairly comprehensive on just about everything.

(iii) my internet connection is intermitent due to my shoe-string budget so I've just discovered your post today, soz.

Big up the 'Karma Army'

[ElTee]

If you read the 4th post in this topic, which is also Loner's 2nd post, there's a link to the No-CD file.