PS2: Replacing the background music of Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 3

In the Japanese edition of Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 3 (in Japan published as Dragon Ball Z: Sparking! METEOR)  we have the many tracks from the TV series unlike in the US or European version where this soundtrack was substituted with a new music. But now we have the opportunity to exchange the soundtrack with the original soundtrack or anything we want.

Note: You'll find a more up-to-date version with more information about changing the BGM of Tenkaichi 3 here.

The first step is that we of course need the PS2 game to make an ISO-image out of it. Any burning application like IMGBurn should be able to create such a file. This ISO-file you have to extract - recommended with a zipping tool like 7-Zip.

After extracting the output files should look like this:

Then you need this software (Google is your friend):

DKZ Studio 

PES Sound File Converter

In the folder 'data' you'll find three afs-files. Most important for replacing the background audio is the file pzs3eu2.afs (the letters 'eu' might be different depending on where you're from).

This file has to be opened by the DKZ Studio. Then you see the archive is divided in three pages - you have to go to the last one (3) and scroll almost to the end.

The PS2 audio files are in the adx-format. The background soundtrack is named like zs3_00_US.adx and so on. In the next step you should convert your favourited music from mp3 to adx. That's why you need the PES Sound File Converter: 

After selecting the file, click 'next', chose a destination folder and press 'convert'. You may check the first setting for making an adx-file with a complete loop.

Following that you have to rename the output file with the same name like the file to be replaced with (like zs3_00_US.adx). Then you need to use the DKZ Studio again, right-click the adx-file to replace and select 'import'. Then chose the before created adx-file.

The adx-file has now been replaced and you should save the afs-archive (floppy disk icon as usual).

For having a proper ISO-image to use, the original file pzs3eu2.afs has to be exchanged within the ISO-image.

Luckily the DKZ Studio is also able to open ISO-images. Now you only have to do the same with the afs-file like done before with the adx-file. Right-click, replace and save - and know you have a modified ISO.

Ok, I have read in forums that it's also possible to simply create an ISO out of the extracted files. Unfortunately this ISO never really worked in an emulator - the image could never boot.

Yes, an emulator. Before burning it or copying the image to PS2 hard disk it would be better to test the image previously. The PCSX2 is always a good way to find it out if everything works.

If you have chosen the z3_00-adx-file you'll hear the confirmation that it worked directly at the start screen...

So let's go!

How to use F1 2011 with Windows 8

When you first try to start F1 2011 from Codemasters at your recently installed Windows 8, you'll see that nothing happened. No error - simply nothing.

The problem is the missing Games for Windows Live Marketplace Client.
You have to download and install it, then you change settings of the Windows Live application   (GFWLClient.exe ) at the Compatibilty Mode.
You need the Windows 7 settings.

But fortunately you can start the F1_2011.exe without having started the Windows Live client before.
You don't have to be logged in with the client. Of course you can connect with your account when you already have your game started.

From now on it will work everything, no other changes needed!
So let's go!

How to shutdown Windows 8

When I first started Windows 8 I couldn't believe that I was unable to shut it down.

I've also heard of people who also couldn't find 'the button' that they wrote a batch script saved on the desktop for it - even better than simply turn off the power (what I believe lots of people did...)..

Ok, my first thought was to use the shortcut ALT + F4 (still works) but there had to be a way for a normal user.

Yes there is! Move your mouse to the right down or up edge of the screen to open an extra menu.
Choose 'settings' and then there's an option for On/Off. With another click you can finally chose 'Shutdown'.

Still - it could have been hidden better..

Luckily they changed that for the update Windows 8.1 with the NEW start button...

How to handle PDF Creator updates with terminal services

The current PDF Creator version (1.7.1) is already a good solution for being used under terminal services like Windows or Citrix. 

There's only one disturbing thing:The standard setting for an update check appears weekly for every user (!!!). 

Setting under  'Options'

But here you can only change this setting for the current user. That's not ideal for a terminal server.

So how can I change this for every user at this server?

In the registry HKCU/Software/PDFCreator/Program you have the following entry:

The value '2' means 'weekly'. If you change it to '0', it will be changed to 'never'.

If you want this for every user you simply have to set this entry in 

HKUsers/DEFAULT /Software/PDFCreator/Program 

at every terminal server PDF Creator is used.


Problem solved.