HOW TO INSTALL GTR2 and PnG3 in 2019 ?

GTR233 · Oct 5, 2019

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| HOW TO INSTALL GTR2 HQ Anniversary PATCH |
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IMPORTANT :
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- NEW CLEAN GTR2 INSTALL FROM DVD or STEAM + GTR2 HQ ANNIVERSARY PATCH (PART1+PART2) ARE FULLY WORKING ON WINDOWS XP/VISTA/7/8/10/11 !!!

- DO NOT INSTALL SIMBIN PATCH 1.1 / NOCD GTR2.EXE / 4GB PATCH BECAUSE THEY ARE ALREADY INCLUDED AND YOU WILL BREAK GTR2 SETUP !!!

First you will need to install :
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- 7zip archiver to create/open archives : https://www.7-zip.org

Included in GTR2 HQ Anniversary Patch : GTR2_SETUP.CMD will install them automatically if required*
- Microsoft DirectX 9c June 2010
- Microsoft Visual C++ VC redist 2010 sp1 with MFC security update
- Microsoft Visual C++ VC redist 2015-2019

(*) a POP PUP will be prompted if install is required : you just need to click YES to allow install program in this case.

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| 1a) PRELIMINARY FOR DISC VERSION ONLY |
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- insert GTR2 DISC

- choose any language

- install GTR2 directly at the root of one of your drives like D:\GTR2HQ

- DO NOT SET 3D CONFIG : UNTICK 3D CONFIG BOX at the end of install !!!

- DO NOT RUN GTR2 YET !!!

- REMOVE GTR2 DISC and go to 2)

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| 1b) PRELIMINARY FOR STEAM VERSION ONLY |
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- Buy and install GTR2 from STEAM

- NEVER MODIFY ORIGINAL GTR2 STEAM INSTALL, KEEP IT ALWAYS CLEAN!!!

- Copy or make an archive (7z/zip/rar) of your clean GTR2 folder from STEAM\steamapps\common\GTR 2 - FIA GT Racing Game

- Copy or extract your clean GTR2 archive directly at the root of one of your drives like D:\GTR2HQ

- go to 2)

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| 2) GTR2 INSTALL |
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- download and install GTR2 HQ Anniversary PATCH : 1 SINGLE ARCHIVE SPLIT in 3 parts (001 is the header file and this is THE ONLY ONE YOU MUST OPEN, IGNORE 002/003 FILES BECAUSE THEY ARE ONLY READABLE BY 7zip DURING EXTRACTION), YOU MUST DOWNLOAD THE 3 PARTS FIRST THEN YOU CAN EXTRACT 7z.001 FILE (I REPEAT, IGNORE 002/003 FILES BUT THEY ARE REQUIRED AT SAME PLACE AS 001 FOR 7zip EXTRACTION) : RIGHT CLICK ON 7Z.001 FILE, WHILE YOU HOLD RIGHT MOUSE BUTTON YOU MOVE MOUSE POINTER IN YOUR GTR2 FOLDER (where GTR2.EXE is), THEN RELEASE RIGHT MOUSE BUTTON, LEFT CLICK ON "7-zip" >> "EXTRACT HERE" AND click "YES" to overwrite ALL files/folders (check "APPLY TO ALL")
part-1 : https://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/gtr2-hq-anniversary-patch-part-1.21415/
part-2 : https://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/gtr2-hq-anniversary-patch-part-2.32658/
part-3 : https://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/gtr2-hq-anniversary-patch-part-3.54224/

- you can also add HQ 2005 FiaGT season : https://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/gtr2-hq-2005-fiagt-mod.32765/

- and finally there is a hotfix to apply :

https://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/gtr2-16th-anniversary-patch-hotfix.54281/

- right click on GTR2CONFIG.EXE >> left click PROPERTY >> COMPATIBILITY >> tick ADMINISTRATOR RIGHTS box (you can skip this step only if you use CrewChief plugin because without CrewChief plugin GTR2 will not launch if administrator rights are not set to both GTR2config.EXE and GTR2.EXE)

- right click on GTR2.EXE >> left click PROPERTY >> COMPATIBILITY >> tick ADMINISTRATOR RIGHTS box (you can skip this step only if you use CrewChief plugin because without CrewChief plugin GTR2 will not launch if administrator rights are not set to both GTR2config.EXE and GTR2.EXE)

- use RadeonMod or Nvidia Profile Inspector (available in [OPTIONS]\f-[Windows TOOLS]) to set AA/AF (NVIDIA ONLY: set Antialiasing compatibility to Diablo III and select "replace/override application setting" for AA mode, you can also enable DSRX4).

Moreover on a LAPTOP you need to set both GTR2Config.EXE + GTR2.EXE to your GPU instead of poor integrated graphics.

- now run GTR2config.EXE (choose 32bits resolution, dx9) but Do NOT choose AA/AF here because the antialiasing/anisotropic settings in gtr2config are basic/outdated and doesn't manage advanced AA/AF that you have got with recent nvidia/AMD panel.
Turn off Vsync as FFB in GTR2 is tied to refresh rate (HIGHER FPS = BETTER FFB), moreover Vsync is never a good idea as you get lag.
Nevertheless, if you have +400 fps then you can get missed gear changes so try to limit the fps to 120 with nvidia/AMD panel.

- install Bill's process manager or Bitsum Process Lasso, and set GTR2.EXE "CPU AFFINITY" to use at least 2 cores of your CPU (you can skip this step if you use CrewChief Plugin)
You can also do it manually each time after launching GTR2 by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+ESC then click on PROCESSUS tab, right click on GTR2.EXE and set AFFINITY to ALL CORES.

- RUN GTR2_SETUP.CMD
>> page I choose language
>> page II choose HUD
>> page VI choose binary (NOCD IS SET BY DEFAULT)
>> page VII choose plugin (MANDATORY EVERY TIME YOU MODIFY BINARY WITH SETUP!!!)
>> page VIII choose defviews FOV (MANDATORY EVERY TIME YOU MODIFY BINARY WITH SETUP!!!)
>> page IX choose PLR* FFB (MANDATORY EVERY TIME YOU MODIFY BINARY WITH SETUP!!!)
(*) you can rename later "PLAYER.PLR" file in "GTR2\UserData\PLAYER" then "PLAYER" folder in "GTR2\UserData" with same NAME of your choice
>> set other options as you like or skip them with S key

- from now you can run GTR2.EXE

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| 3) Power & Glory 3 (PnG3) INSTALL |
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note: since I have made the GTR2_SETUP.CMD the install order GTR2>>HQ PATCH>>PnG3 or GTR2>>PnG3>>HQ PATCH is no more important. Indeed SETUP allows you to install GTR2 or PnG3 UI and other options afterward so you will have the same content in the end. The only small issue if you do GTR2>>HQ PATCH>>PnG3 is that PnG3 installer will detect modified files from HQ Patch as "corrupted" but just ignore these error messages because my HQ files are patched but not corrupted.

- follow STEP 1a) or 1b), then 2) to create a clean GTR2 install in D:\PnG3 by example

- you must run GTR2 at least once before installing PnG3 MOD

- download and install PnG3 mod : https://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/power-glory-for-gtr-2.21450/

- RUN GTR2_SETUP.CMD
>> page I choose language
>> page II choose #9 HUD PnG3 Anniversary
>> page VI choose binary (NOCD IS SET BY DEFAULT) #1 without CrewChief or #2 with CrewChief
>> page VII choose plugin (MANDATORY EVERY TIME YOU MODIFY BINARY WITH SETUP!!!)
>> page VIII choose defviews FOV (MANDATORY EVERY TIME YOU MODIFY BINARY WITH SETUP!!!)
>> page IX choose PLR* FFB (MANDATORY EVERY TIME YOU MODIFY BINARY WITH SETUP!!!)
(*) you can rename later "PLAYER.PLR" file in "GTR2\UserData\PLAYER" and "PLAYER" folder in "GTR2\UserData" with same NAME of your choice
>> page XI choose Settings.DDB file : HQ AI is recommended for offline but PnG3 version is required for festbierbude.de online
>> page XII choose UI PnG3 #A or #B (I added 24h/driving school lines in main menu plus many other tweaks)
>> page XV you can type #1 to remove safely all modern GTR2 cars (base+hq) which are not required for PnG3 mod
>> page XVI choose #1 OR #2 PnG3 HQ Anniversary if you want moving wipers and important fixes
>> page XVII choose #1 for wipers without CrewChief or #2 if you have CrewChief plugin installed (nvidia RTX recommended)
>> page XVIII choose #B for patched Mustang Safety Car
>> page XXXI choose #4 PnG3 Driving School cars

- from now you can run GTR2.EXE

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| 4) CrewChief plugin (CC) INSTALL |
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- visit thecrewchief.org to download CC app called "CrewChiefV4.msi"
- install CrewChiefV4.msi in DEFAULT PATH (DO NOT CHANGE IT!)
- run GTR2_SETUP.CMD :
>> page VI you MUST set #2
>> page VII select either #4 to copy CC files in your GTR2 without openvr_api.dll (NO VR), or #5 if you want to use openvr_api.dll for VR headset
>> page VIII you MUST update defviews FOV
>> page IX you MUST update PLR
>> page XVII choose #2
Now you can exit setup with "X" key

- now your GTR2/PnG3 install is READY FOR CREWCHIEF

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| UNINSTALL |
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Just delete folder D:\GTR2HQ or D:\PnG3

That's all folks!

Jempy · Jul 22, 2020

Really hoping you'll solve this mistery ...
If you succeed, don't forget to make a sign !

Good luck ... you'll need it to solve it.

NB sometimes we'd better throw our PC through the window !

Bjarne Hansen · Jul 22, 2020

Having a RTX 2070 I use driver 446.14 as that is the one of the best drivers for the simbin games in a long time and works fine with VR too.
I do recall a newer that didn't work well. on my system the display was always a stuttering a little but no frezzes.
Only freezes I had in Gtr2 was due to overclocking the GPU!
Everything was working fine in Dx11 but in DX9 games the OC was freezing up the GPU.
If I used Dege's Voodoo dll DX9 to DX11/ Dx12 I could run gtr2 with the OC GPU.
Later I got similar issues in VR and now just let the GPU control the clock.

Both those freezes had nothing to do with the keyboard being touched.
Came as small 1-2 sec freezes first and then a crash later.

GTR233 · Jul 23, 2020

So maybe a faulty gpu : there are millions of tiny transistors so if an important one is dead then gpu is dead. Gtr2 is dx9 so it doesn't use exactly same transistors path than newer dx11/12 games that's why rf2/Pcars2/AMS2 can work flawlessly but not GTR2. By the way gpu are fragile and hard to produce so it is not rare that a brand new video card could be faulty at first run : it already happen to my friends in the past.

Shovas · Jul 24, 2020

I will say switching from Auto/DirectX 9 to DirectX 8 in GTR2Config.exe solved a black screen freeze for me on a 980 TI. Happened a lot on Windows 7 and it has happened a couple of times on Windows 10, too.

Jim Carvalho · Jul 24, 2020

Virus settings? Folder Security settings and/or folder ownership? If you installed it, that shouldn't be an issue. Anything you copied over from your previous computer?

Jempy · Jul 24, 2020

Hoping that's not this Windows 10 Update 2004 the problem !
I have it since 1 week and discover some strange behaviours in my PC ... with HDD ( not SSD ) and some tools not responding as fine as they did before the install of this Win10 update. .... all documents and most games being on the HDD.

NB in fact a SSHD .... on 1st launch GTR2 takes the doubled time to load if another big software took its place in the SS part .... normal time as before for the next launches.
This Win10 version has a real problem with HDD !!!!!!!

The Iron Wolf · Sep 16, 2020

I thought I'd share couple of my "getting back in 2020" hints while they are fresh. Also, with a focus on VR. I am running Vorpx, Opentrack + CC VR overlays to get back into desktop, nvidia card.

* AA: I had to set 4xAA in GTR2Config.exe and then "Enhance application settings" 8xMSAA + 8xSGSSAA in Inspector. I had huge perf drop if I set settings to "Override". If I don't set AA in GTR2.exe, settings don't apply.

* Had to drop shadow levels to Medium

* had to map shifter buttons to keys using tool Antimicro, otherwise GTR2 won't detect shifter. Same is useful for reset VR center etc.

* To avoid setting XP Compat mode on GTR2 exe's I used this batch script (please be careful with it!!!). It needs to be ran as admin:

To set Anniversary as my running game:

rd "c:\Games\GTR 2 - FIA GT Racing Game"
mklink /D "c:\Games\GTR 2 - FIA GT Racing Game" "c:\Games\GTR 2\Annyversary"

Etc. That way I can have multiple installs without compat mode.

BTW, I am working on a plugin for GTR2, one of the things it does is sets Affinity, so soon that step will require one less tool

GTR233 · Sep 16, 2020

If you do not set WINXP compatibility then a dummy GTR2 folder will be created in MyDocuments with only the graphics config file (the one in your gtr2 main install will be ignored). Moreover I think you should have issues with driving school if I recall ???
By the way, there is a freeware in [OPTIONS]\[WINDOWS TOOLS] called AppCompatibilityView to set the layout mode you want for all EXE thanks to a graphical interface.

The Iron Wolf · Sep 16, 2020

GTR233 said:
If you do not set WINXP compatibility then a dummy GTR2 folder will be created in MyDocuments with only the graphics config file (the one in your gtr2 main install will be ignored). Moreover I think you should have issues with driving school if I recall ???
By the way, there is a freeware in [OPTIONS]\[WINDOWS TOOLS] called AppCompatibilityView to set the layout mode you want for all EXE thanks to a graphical interface.

Good to know about driving school, will keep that in mind.
I am trying to avoid compat mode because it affects SteamVR and I don't like running stuff as admin

Bjarne Hansen · Sep 17, 2020

GTR233 said:
If you do not set WINXP compatibility then a dummy GTR2 folder will be created in MyDocuments with only the graphics config file (the one in your gtr2 main install will be ignored). Moreover I think you should have issues with driving school if I recall ???

Not the case any longer! And has not been for +2 years with Win 10.
Run gtr2congic.exe and Gtr2.exe as administrators and config.ini Userdata in root folder folder will always be used!

The Iron Wolf said:
I am trying to avoid compat mode because it affects SteamVR and I don't like running stuff as admin

I and pretty much everybody else as run Gtr.2 in admin mode for years!
If want to use both suspenders and belts just block it from online assess in the firewall.

Compatible mode is not needed in Win 10 and courses so many negative issues with game add ones like VorpX, Reshade and any of the dirextX wrappers.

Gregoryleo · Sep 24, 2020

I'm having a compatibility issue that always starts on the third or fourth time I boot the P&G mod.
The message I get is "C++ requested a terminate in an unusual way."
It boots and run just fine for 2 or 3 times but always ends up with an unresolvable compatibility issue.
I have followed your instructions to the letter. I have deleted and reinstalled everything several times, and it always does the same thing, great for a couple of runs then crashes after that.
This is my favorite mod for GTR2 And I have been trying to figure this out for months.
Please, any help will greatly appreciated.
my system is
i3 8100, processor w8gigs ddr4 ram
gtx1030 Graphics card
G29 wheel with a t500 shifter
win10 operating system
incase this helps.

GTR233 · Sep 24, 2020

I said to not use Anniversary patch for PnG3 (because of hq cars and pit chief audio language files) but you can try to copy-paste all DLL files from Anniversary Patch in your PnG3 install.
If error still happen then go to microsoft store/website and download microsoft visual C++ redistributable pack 2010 also called vcredist 2010 : install it, restart your pc and check

Tombprince · Oct 8, 2020

it's strange that i have never had an issue with steam interfering with my gameplay/mods even when playing other steam games

so perhaps it's a rare occurence :/

Durge Driven · Oct 8, 2020

Bjarne Hansen said:
Not the case any longer! And has not been for +2 years with Win 10.
Run gtr2congic.exe and Gtr2.exe as administrators and config.ini Userdata in root folder folder will always be used!

I think GTR233 meant XP mode as opposed to W7 mode as there is no such thing as W10 mode lol

I must run compat. mode or GTR2, GTL, PnG simply wont start
Clearly see here below in up to date W10
IF I run compat mode GTR2Config comes up normal

SEE ARROW: WINDOWS 7 COMPATABILITY MODE

IF I run no compat mode GTR2 will have Config error stopping you from starting GTR2 to begin with

SEE ARROW: NO WINDOWS 7 COMPATABILITY MODE

In short
No compatibility mode for GTR2config.exe and it loops back to GTR2 Configuration

Same with GTR2.exe
If I set no compat. mode and click GTR2.exe or icon nothing happens
If I set compat. mode GTR2 starts normal

The reason I use started using W7 is XP mode can make 3dconfig show 512kb of memory which automatically sets GTR2 graphics and detail levels lower
With later GPU I don't think it has done that for ages now but I still use W7 compat as app compat registry is set that way so no reason to change

Gregoryleo · Oct 8, 2020

GTR233 said:
I said to not use Anniversary patch for PnG3 (because of hq cars and pit chief audio language files) but you can try to copy-paste all DLL files from Anniversary Patch in your PnG3 install.
If error still happen then go to microsoft store/website and download microsoft visual C++ redistributable pack 2010 also called vcredist 2010 : install it, restart your pc and check

I just kinda wanted to throw this out there. It turns out the problem for me wasn't the anniversary update after all, but rather an overall compatibility issue with the P&G mod itself. After reading @Durge Driven's latest post here, I went back and changed every exe file to win7 compatibility and BAM no more unusual requests or interrupts.
Thank you @GTR233 and @Durge Driven for all your hard work and advise, it is very much appreciated.

Durge Driven · Oct 8, 2020

other issue may be relevant

Say you use a backed up copy of a fresh GTR2 ( which I recommend ) to do new installs when you copy it to another location all admin and compatibility settings are lost

If you do a fresh OS same thing ...if you copy GTR2.exe to another folder same thing ..you lose all admin compatibility you have set

So I run 8+ GTR2/GTL/PnG folders that is 16 edits I would have to redo every time I do a fresh OS and I do a lot of fresh OSes

Use the tool in screenshots above

AppCompatibilityView

View / modify compatibility settings of Windows applications stored in AppCompatFlags Registry key

www.nirsoft.net

drag all exes into it's window, highlight all and right click for menu to set admin and compatibility modes

Then export it's registry and archive incase you do a fresh OS you can restore all edits in 1 click by importing registry

You can also see above it will even keep admin and compatibility for exe that does not exist ( the lines in Pink ) .....which is useful if you use GME's and standalone GTR2 as a mod ...........long story

AppCompatibilityView Registy:
Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags

Bjarne Hansen · Oct 8, 2020

Durge Driven said:
I think GTR233 meant XP mode as opposed to W7 mode as there is no such thing as W10 mode lol

I must run compat. mode or GTR2, GTL, PnG simply wont start
Clearly see here below in up to date W10
IF I run compat mode GTR2Config comes up normal

Just because there is no w10 mode doesn't mean there are no W7 mode as you indicate yourself on the screen dump.

I have now run config.exe and gtr2.exe for more than 2 years as admin and no compatibility with old versions of windows with out any issues so really can;t understand why other people got issues.
And the system, vram and Cpu settings in config.ini means nothing for gtr2,exe
By setting compability to a lower level OS you can't make use of w10 apps and features.

In P&G you have to run the launcher in admin mode to if you want to use it!.
But why use the Launcher it does nothing. Sure on first run you can patch the .plr file but it is not even a great patch for FFB so why use it?
I think it is safe to say by now no updates will come that way ever.

Using compatibility mode will prevent you from using some very nice new features that 'The Iron Wolff' is working on.
I would rather make a dual boot with W7 or even better a dual boot with Ubuntu and run the dx9 sims that way if you for some reason got issues.
But my guess are you some some apps or services running that are coursing the issues.

GTR233 · Oct 8, 2020

on windows 8 (same with vista) I have a boot loop if I do not set winxp compatibility and driving school will not work if I don't give admin rights to EXE

The Iron Wolf · Oct 8, 2020

I am running Steam GTR2.exe for all my GTR2 installs, and the only issue I hit is video configuration gets messed up while switching between installs, and for the life of me I couldn't get to the bottom of it (files are identical, but somehow they don't work depending on which .exe loads them). But I found a reliably working workaround, and it is better than symlink workaround I tried before.

Here's how my Docs GTR2 folder looks like:

Then in every install I have two batch files:

r_vr starts in VR resolution, r_w start in lower res for doing some modding etc.

del "E:\Documents\GTR2\Config.ini"
copy "E:\Documents\GTR2\Config.ini_ba_w" "E:\Documents\GTR2\Config.ini"

No elevation, no compat mode, no issues (other than known limitation of Steam .exe).

Durge Driven · Oct 9, 2020

oi Bjarne,

There is only one difference I can think
On XP - W7 I found if I you had the computer and user name the same made you auto admin .. set the 2 names different auto made you a user on the PC so no auto admin rights
Once you installed the OS you could not change it you had to do in OS setup and make the names identical when asked ..computer name and user name

W10 I am not a user I am admin and no other users
Are you admin like this and how many user folders ( unhide folders in options )