Template:Infobox game/row/winporterWarnings
- For Games for Windows - LIVE on Windows 8 or later, install the latest Games for Windows - LIVE software.
Key points
- Graphics are superior than the Xbox version
- Modding tools provided on disk
- All the maps from the Xbox version and its DLC are included except two
- Two new maps are included plus a bonus map
- Extremely small community
- With innumerable glitches, problems and bugs, the general consensus is that Halo 2 Vista was not a good port.[1]
General information
- Bungie.net - The developer's site
- Halo Nation - A very detailed wiki for everything Halo related
- Halo.Bungie.org - One of the biggest Halo fan sites around
- Halo Maps - A fan site for downloading mods and maps for Halo 2 Vista
- H2v Hub - Home of the Halo 2 Mapping Team, the largest custom mapping team in the community.
Availability
- All versions require Games for Windows - LIVE.
Essential improvements
v1.01 Patch
The latest patch is v1.01. It can be downloaded through the game or manually from here.
Example Map
Example is a map not included in Halo 2 by default, but is present on the Halo 2 install disc and can be obtained by installing and using the Halo 2 map editor. Example is the only multiplayer map to include Fuel Rod Cannons, and includes custom "silenced" SMGs that are quieter than the ones in other maps and have laser pointers. Example is the smallest map in any Halo game and is unusually dense with explosives.
Skip intro videos
Game data
Configuration file(s) location
Save game data location
Video settings
In-game graphics settings.
Template:Video settings
- Backup your maps folder before starting (default location is
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Halo 2\maps
)
- A hex editor is required. Hex Workshop is a good one.
Input settings
In-game general keyboard settings.
In-game keyboard remapping settings.
In-game controller settings.
Template:Input settings
Audio settings
Template:Audio settings
Localizations
Language |
UI |
Audio |
Sub |
Notes |
English |
|
|
|
|
Network
- Online features require a Microsoft account (optional for offline play).
Multiplayer types
Connection types
Ports
Protocol |
Port(s) and/or port range(s) |
TCP |
53, 80, 443, 3074 |
UDP |
53, 88, 3074 |
- Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) support status is unknown.
- Specific details can be found here
Issues fixed
Sign-in error
If you are certain your username and password are correct, but are unable to log into Games for Windows Live, check if Xfire is running. If so, close it and try to log in again.
Extreme mouse lag/jittering
Forcing vsync will help users with fps/mouse issues. To fix said issues without the negative input lag effects of vsync, frame-cap 60fps in Nvidia Inspector.
Installation
Run the file "startup.exe" on the DVD in windows (right click and select compatibility) Vista Compatibility mode and the game will install and run fine without any Games For Windows Errors, it will start and stop several times while it updates Windows Live.
Nvidia GeForce GFX card errors
- As of 5/26/14, Nvidia has released driver update #337.88, the driver fixes the flickering and flashing.
It has been noted that updating to the newest GeForce Experience drivers as of March 25th, 2013 can result in severe artifacting of textures and in some cases a flashing phenomenon, as if the game is trying to produce two textures where every single one should render. The only known fix for this issue is to downgrade to graphics driver update #335.23 which can be found here.
Owners of GTX 540m will need to update their graphics card drivers to the latest to play Halo 2. Drivers pre-2012 have compatibility problems with said card.[2]
"One of the installation steps failed" error
You may receive this error message during installation. To fix it, exit the installer, open the redists
folder on the game DVD and run vcredist.msi
as an administrator. After it has finished restart the game installer and it should proceed normally.
Other information
- Games for Windows Live can be disabled as an alternative to using a local profile.
System requirements
Windows |
|
Minimum |
Recommended |
Operating system (OS) |
Vista | |
Processor (CPU) |
2 GHz | |
System memory (RAM) |
1 GB |
2 GB |
Hard disk drive (HDD) |
7 GB |
10 GB |
Video card (GPU) |
Nvidia GeForce 6100 ATI Radeon X700 DirectX 9 compatible
| DirectX 10 compatible |
- Common myth states that Halo 2 requires Dx10. In reality Halo 2 PC uses Dx9 and does not require Dx10 compatible hardware.
- Subsequently, Halo 2 PC may be installed on Windows XP by following this tutorial.[3] Note, Live will be disabled.
References