I've spent the past week searching all over the web and trying fixes to get High Stakes to run on my new PC. I run Windows XP Professional with an ATi Radeon 9700 Pro. I've tried nearly every suggestion I've come across and this is the one that finally work. From what I hear everyone that has tried this has said it works.

Here it is:

Download the NFS High Stakes 4.50 patch and install it after freshly installing the game to your hardrive. Once the patch is installed go to the 3D Device Setup option for the game in it's subfolder from the Start Menu. Select Direct 3D Device 1 or primary Display Driver (this varies depending on your system). Once you have selected the device, go to NFSWorld and download a file from their NFS4 Utils Page called nfspatch10. This is a .dll file update taken from Porsche Unleashed that utilizes your video card better. Run nfspatch10.exe and deselect the NFS4 .dll file (you will see two files already selected, only the NFS5 .dll should be checkmarked). Follow through with the installation proceedure (keep the nfspatch10.exe file, as you can always install the old .dll file in case of trouble). Now go back to the 3D Device Setup and select Direct 3D Device 1 again (even if it is already checked - this resets the game video). Run the game and enjoy.

Not all users have to install the new .dll file. For some lucky few the 4.50 patch does it alone.

Finally, if you are experienceing rediculously slow game performance, go to the Need For Speed High Stakes exe file that you select from Windows' Start Menu to run the game and right click on it. Go to Properties and from there to the Compatability tab. Ensure that the compatability mode is NOT SELECTED!!! For some strange reason this was set as default when I first installed the game. It SHOULD NOT BE!!! When this is deselected the game should run as smooth as anything.

I hope this helped some of you.

Happy Racing

Sorry, forgot to mention that both of these files can be obtained from www.nd4spdworld.com

Enjoy

Tryed but does'nt work for me. I tryed to install the 4.50 patch but, i get the same freakin error message, as when i click the nfshs.exe, " NFSHpatch4_50.exe is not a valid win32 application. Someone please help!!!

This is for "TheKingLives!"- if you get a "this is not a valid Win32" error when trying to run the patch, it could be a corrupted download. Download the patch again, but make sure you DON'T use any "download accelerator"type software, or if you do, download the file at "normal" speed, NOT accelerated. Some files/download servers do not suppoprt download accelerators....

yesyesyesyesyes, thanks a lot man, at last, NFSHS is back.
I've done a lot of searching too without succes untill i found you.
Only the sound is a little bit messed up (no eax and some cracking stuff in the background).
But still, one off the best games ever works again!!

You are the greatest

Thx alot Dude You fixed our problem and now Need 4 Speed High stakes is Rocking with winXP

Thank you, guys!
You did great job.

Great Job Jett! Bought NFS6 (Hot Pursuit 2) 2 days ago, Killed it about 2 hrs ago =(( Decided to Dust off the Old NFS4 and NFS5 CD's and run them to pick up my Spirits, and remember that EA Use to release some Good stuff.
Had the "Not a Win32" error (Win XP/Ti4600) I got Close to getting NFS4 runnin', but was unable to run in anything but Software mode until I ran across your Post here! Thanx Again!

One little digression about Hot Pursuit 2 for PC...I just can't believe EA actually released this PC version of, what looks to be, an Amateurs attempt at Porting from XBox/GameCube to PC!
My Shame in EA is now even more pronounced after running NFS4, which highlights just how far down a hole EA will go to make a Buck, and how they refuse to listen to the people who write their paychecks! Correct me if I'm wrong but, Shouldn't a Game series improve with each new release? They did however nail the Eye candy and online play...but Pooched damn near everything else =( Gimme NSF4 with the online and GFX of NFS6 and you got one Killer Racer!
Ehhhhh...Sorry for the Rant! but thanx again for the Fix.

CYAzZz,
XBonez

Hey. I used to be able to run NFS High Stakes but i can no longer run the game. The first time i installed it, i was able to play for a couple of monthes but all of a sudden it stopped running asking for 'insert the CD' and 'this is not a valid Win32 application'. I think during that time i downloaded some updates for Windows XP and i think this may be the problem. I uninstalled all of the updates on XP and the game started working again. Maybe this might be your problem.

nononono. it now asks for the cd while it's there:"Please Insert Game Disk". please help me. even after replacing the nfshs.exe with 4.44 nocd crack, it jumps out. :-(

with me it doesn't work
it keeps saying the nfshs file isn't a win32 application

i don't get it, Need For Speed III works fine under XP Pro, but High Stakes doesn't :S

I have the same problem with NFS:HS, and I'm happy to know that there are more people with this error. Strange though, that it happens so much. But I'm going to try Jett's suggestion, hoping that it works.Jett TNX

I want to know why the Need For Speed IV High Stakes Demo works under Windows XP and not the full version.

I fixed my Need For Speed 4 High Stakes to work under Windows XP! What to do is download the graphics patch (the d3da.dll DX7 3rash Module (the one from NFS 5 Porsche Unleashed) and put it in the MAIN NFS 4 folder (overwrite previous one) and put another one in the 3D setup folder (overwrite). Then Install the Patch v4.44 or try the no-cd crack at megagames. Go to URL for direct download http://66.227.103.236/pcgamefixes/NFS4V4.44.ZIP Download and put in NFS 4 folder. If you downloaded NFS 4 remember double click on to nfshs.reg to add to registry. With this I gave you, you could play in Direct 3D or Software!
Bryant

This message was edited by Ryder 2K3 on Dec 28 2002.