Feature
June 7, 2010

[Re]Installing Grand Prix Legends

by Jens "McGonigle" Lindblad

Many of you have a love for Grand Prix Legends but haven't loaded it in a long time. Here is a complete step-by-step installation guide how to get yourself back into the GPL world. Besides Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 also works with this installation procedure.

If you experience problems make sure you have followed the install instructions. If you are sure you did it all right, post in the SimHQ Forum what error you're getting and we will assist you.

Method A

The lazy way for the “I'm a GPL addict and GPL is up-to-date but resides on my old computer”.

1) GPL works fine without entries in the Registry so just copy the Sierra\GPL Folder to your new hard disk. Done!

2) You'll still need to install the GEM/iGor package to manage the mods and for the multiplayer matching client.

Method B

The clean install approach. Many steps, but take them one-at-a-time and you shouldn't have problems.

1) Download the Grand Prix Legends installer from the GPL Preservation Society (GPLPS) homepage.

2) Insert the Grand Prix Legends CD into your CD/DVD drive. Do not install from the Papyrus window!

3) Close the Papyrus installation window.

4) Start the GPL installer of the GPL Preservation Society and follow the instructions.

5) Download and install the new rasterizers (supports widescreen resolutions) from this thread.

6) The installer should handle the file management and put the files in their correct location for you but if you're interested, the necessary files go into Sierra\GPL\.

7) The installer may indicate an error has occurred but proceed anyway, things should be okay.

8) Download and install the Monaco Rocks 2 update from here.

9) If you are using a gated shifter instead of paddle shift, you'll need to download and install GPLShift. This nifty utility supports a number of wheels and it also supports, and is essential for, using NaturalPoint TrackIR in Grand Prix Legends.

10) Before starting GPL, make sure that you set it to run in administrator mode.

11) Start GPL and create your player profile for example; “Your Name”, calibrating controls, realism settings, graphics options, etc.

12) When you're this far you will have GPL installed with GPLEA 1967 cars and the best and most accurate track addons for the standard tracks, and your GPL will support widescreen monitor resolutions.

13) Now we're almost ready to download and install the mod managing front end, and the mods, but first we need to prepare for the mods by creating new player profiles, one for each of the mods you'll be installing. For the 1965 mod you'd create a player called “Your Name 65”, for the 1966 mod “Your Name 66”, etc.

14) Download GEM from this location. iGor, the multiplayer matching client is included.

15) Install GEM/iGor and follow the instructions.

16) Download and install the 1967 patch from here.

17) Get the mods you want from here, and make sure to get any relevant mod patches as well.

18) Set GEM to run in administrator mode.

19) Watch the short video tutorial below on how to configure and use GEM.

Now you can start downloading add-on tracks, utilities, mods and generally configure Grand Prix Legends to suit your own preferences.

Good Luck All!

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