1.4 XP patch

[mew master]

I came across a file on Download.com the other day labeled as Final Fantasy 7 1.4 XP patch trusting download.com as much as i did I thought i would download it and give it a try  my antivirus picked it up as something like a backdoor Trojan so i didnt install can anyone give me advice here?

[Kudistos Megistos]

Delete it and don't install. The 1.4 patch is bad:

The AnimeVamp Final Fantasy 7 XP update patch hoax: FFVIIXP_patch.zip unveiled

What REALLY happens when you install the so called "100% XP Copatibility Patch"

-ff7.exe is changed to FF7 version 1.02 with a few  "nop"s = do nothing commands = hex code $90 at offset: Hexadecimal address 36E033 through 36E039, used to be hex code "0F BF 94 01
B8 86 01 00" in case you want to search and replace your exe, i think it's the cd-protection check, i am not sure tho.

-gm.dls in windows\system32\drivers is simply overwritten with a new 6 megabyte file => probably makes most of the filesize, also explains the sudden problems with MIDI playback for some other
user in the forum that complained, remedy this by restoring that single file from your windows cd-rom (search inside the cab files with search then extract the file to the folder mentioned)
details: file date 06/08/2002, size 6615616 bytes

-FF7 ReadMe.txt is created, labeled  "Final Fantasy VII ~XP Optimised~ README file", absolutely bullsh*t with nothing really interesting or new added.

-FF7config.exe is replaced with one dated 06/05/2002 size 448000, file compare shows that the ONLY difference is that the string "1.02" has been replaced with "XP" so basically it's the identical eidos 1.02 file

Summary: Somebody probably messed around a bit with the midi files, maybe even ripped off someone's work like threesixty's or someone elses, f***ed around with an installer program and "hacked" some strings in the files to pretend he actually did something useful which he did not. This is all just the pitiful attempt at pretending someone made an indepdentent XP
 patch which is simply not true and i felt this should be revealed. I used filemon from sysinternals to track the changes made and also made directory listings of the FF dir and windows dir to see which files were changed.

Now what _I_ want to know is: Which FF7 midi replacement package a) sounds best b) is the most recent c) works and where can i get it ? i have 360s and tiad-what'shisnames downloaded, haven't tried them yet. The XG-SbLive! one is down along witth he complete fice-webpage.

Oh and, FF7 is still the best game i ever played considering replayability and dedication to story and characters, period.    (To add a bit fervor)

The patched FF7.exe is identical to the FF7 chocobo patch, yet I don't recall any credit given to jedwin... And replacing GM.dls, that's just a horrible thing to do, replacing system files without even warning the users. So unless the new music is somehow original, the *entire* patch is in actuality a huge ripoff. Wish I could say this comes as a surprise  :erm:

[mew master]

Thanks for the info I wont install it (but what is it doing on Download.com then?)

[Kudistos Megistos]

Thanks for the info I wont install it (but what is it doing on Download.com then?)

I assume that either:

1. No-one bothered to report it

2. There was difficulty proving that the patch was bad

or 3. The people at download.com are lazy

[idl12]

It's actually all over the place, i've even found it on cnet and software informer.

[nfitc1]

-ff7.exe is changed to FF7 version 1.02 with a few  "nop"s = do nothing commands = hex code $90 at offset: Hexadecimal address 36E033 through 36E039, used to be hex code "0F BF 94 01 B8 86 01 00" in case you want to search and replace your exe, i think it's the cd-protection check, i am not sure tho.

I can guarantee that it is NOT the cdcheck. I know where those are and that's not it. There are four locations and they're not near those.

The patched FF7.exe is identical to the FF7 chocobo patch, yet I don't recall any credit given to jedwin... And replacing GM.dls, that's just a horrible thing to do, replacing system files without even warning the users. So unless the new music is somehow original, the *entire* patch is in actuality a huge ripoff. Wish I could say this comes as a surprise  :erm:

I'm pretty sure that this is all it is. I think that no op-ing in those few spots are all the chocobo patch does anyway.

It was a big shock to me to learn that this so-called "FF7 XP" was a load of hoax. Good for you, mehtehhacker, for asking here first! Had I known this place existed I would have found out myself.