Right - I am once and for all going to put this topic to bed - with my super definative guide to playing GT Legends on Windows 7.
My oringinal posts were a bit hit and miss becasue i was getting a step further with each new attempt but now that everything is confirmed as working I can say for sure this method works.
1 - Install GTL from CD (DO NOT REBOOT)
2 - Install V1.1
3 - Copy UIDATA and GAMEDATA to a safe location -
This will overcome the issue with the game being german afterwards (GTL_Light was only available in Switzerland, Austria and Germany I believe)
4 - Install GTL_Light from
http://uploaded.to/file/9tkft9 ( copy all files to your GTL folder, replacing all conflicts and then run 'decompress.bat')
5 - See steps below to remove starforce drivers from system
Remove the device drivers. Select the System icon in your Windows Control
Panel. Click the Device Manager button in the hardware tab and then select
\"Show Hidden Devices\" from the View menu. Now check the Non-Plug and Play
Drivers device tree, and you should find a few StarForce entries. Uninstall
these.
Delete the system files. Browse to your C:\Windows\system32\drivers folder
and look for a trio of files called sfdrv01.sys, sfhlp02.sys, and
sfsync02.sys (the actual numbers on the files may be different for you).
Delete 'em.
Clean your registry. While this isn't a very difficult step, it does involve
tinkering with your Windows registry-so be careful here, as damaging your
registry could cause serious system problems. Now that you've been properly
warned, type \"regedit\" into the Run dialog box from your start menu. Once
the Registry Editor opens, select the Find option from the Edit menu. Now
search your registry for all instances of \"sfdrv\" \"sfhlp\" and \"sfsync\"
deleting the offending registry keys as they turn up. Once that's done,
close the Registry Editor and reboot your PC-which should now be StarForce
free.\"
6 - Reboot PC
7 - Copy UIDATA and GAMEDATA back to GTL folder -
Important step for language retention.
8 - Install Lobby Fix and Money cheat from RD
9 - Enjoy
You do not need to use the previously mentioned 'GTL 2008' crack and since GTL_light is a legit copy of the game distibuted as a magazine freebie i see no legal problems with posting this method, you can't run the game with this method without owning a copy in the first place.
I hope that everyone is able to follow these instructions and can enjoy GTL regardless of their version of Windows. As ever I am happy to answer queries, PM is the best bet as I may not check the thread that often.
Finally, thank you to all of the people who offered help and advise way back when this thread first popped up.
Cheers,
Tom
**Disclaimer - This method worked for me, but it's no guarantee it will for everyone. It is dependant on your Drive patitioning and where you install the game (C:\Program Files is your best bet). The method also doesn't guarantee that once installed the game will run well, performance from PC to PC will differ. This method, particularly the starforce removal requires some tampering with the PC registry and system files and I will not be help responsible for issues of a 'PEBKAC' nature.**