Desperate Housewives: The Game

Credit to Reddit user bbudlite; their instructions are what ultimately made this work for me. I’m just simplifying the process and highlighting the parts that really matter, because after 6+ hours of trial and error, this finally fixed the “insert original CD” error and the game instantly closing.

What worked for me:
(I got all the files I needed from this website, which is why I’m posting this comment here instead of Reddit.)

1. Download the Disc Images (English version ~1.2 GB) and unzip them.

2. Install Daemon Tools Lite.

3. Mount Disk 1 and run setup.exe.
When prompted, mount Disk 2 and select that drive.

4. When installation finishes, do NOT launch the game.

5. From the Extras section, download:
Patch 1.4 (English)
NOCD for version 1.4 (English)

6. PATCH FIRST:
Unzip Patch 1.4 and copy/run it in the actual game folder:
C:/Program Files (x86)/Buena Vista Games/Desperate Housewives
⚠️ VERY IMPORTANT: This is NOT the shortcut folder, it must be the folder with all the game files.

When you run this and watch the patch file do its thing, you’ll immediately feel like, okay… this might actually work lol

7. NOCD SECOND (required):
Unzip the NOCD and copy its contents into the same folder, overwriting DesperateHousewives.exe.

8. Right-click DesperateHousewives.exe → Properties → Compatibility →
set to Windows XP (Service Pack 3) and run.

Important notes:

1. Both the Patch and NOCD are essential
2. Pasting the files to the correct Program Files (x86) game directory is essential

Again, Huge thanks again to bbudlite. I’m finally able to play the game with no issues saving or loading.

@Vshak
Use Daemon Tools or a similar program

1. Mount DH Disk1.mdf
2. Start the installation
2. When the installation asks for disk 2, disconnect DH Disk1.mdf and insert DH Disk2.bin into the same drive letter
3. Continue with the installation (You may need disk 1 again at the end of the installation, repeat step 2, just connect DH Disk1.mdf again)
4. Download Patch 1.4 and apply it
5. Download NOCD for EN version 1.4 and copy the exe file to the game directory

The discs 1/2 in english it doesn't work :(
I had to download it in French but I'd love to have the english version.

Can anyone help? Thanks!! c:

When trying to extract and run the game, I receive a "the code execution cannot proceed because binkw32.dll was not found" error message. Has anyone found a way to get around this? I've tried looking it up but can't seem to find a clear fix.

For those struggling in 2026 with the NOCD patch and trying to extract it. Use 7-Zip to extract it and it should work :) I've got it to boot and start a family at this point!

Hello! I have been working on this game for tee last few hours and i've followed all the instructions to the T! however when i'm loading the game it just keeps crashing. I've looked at the property settings, including running as an administrator, changing the resolution and taking off the fullscreen. the patch and nocd os installed and i'm able to have a save file of the family. If anyone has any more tips pls pls pls comment. I have been really wanting this game to work

HELP!!! can't surve the internet in the game. there's error

Hi, I was able to install the game by following the instructions here, and open and run it successfully. Character creation was fine, but when I loaded the game proper, the graphics wouldn't load; I just had a blank black screen with the UI pop-ups. Anyone have any ideas as to how to fix this?

Hi, even after inserting LILI's patch, the game still says 'Please insert the original disk'. Please help!!

okay so

i had a messy time doing this however

simply mount the disk 1 and 2 as ISCSI in daemon tools light by adding a drive and selecting them.

make sure to have all the other files in the right places as directed by other users

this should fix the no original disk issue. it worked perfect;y after that

i did not find the revised patch really did anything also the reason you are having the flicker game opening is because you should ignore all the files that are not the disk files you mounted. however do not ignore the file placements as i cannot tell you if they actually mean anything i just followed the other guides.

do not register click cancel

https://www.retro-games.hu/index.php/termek/szuletett-felesegek-a-jatek-uj/

Here is the Hungarian version for purchase

(Delete my Coment please, Hungarian version is a English Game with Hungarian cover, my badú

I've been trying to get this to work for several hours and I just can't. I followed all the steps provided before, but when I try to launch the NOCD exe it just shows a loading cursor and won't open. I've fiddled around with the properties and tried un & reinstalling multiple times. I have no clue what I'm doing wrong, everything else seems to have been done correctly.

I followed all the instructions but the game kept closing when I tried to run it and I fixed it by going to the .exe of the game and clicking Properties Compatibility. Then, tick Run in 640 x 480 screen resolution. You can now start the game without the game closing on you. If it doesn't work, in the same compatibility window, tick Disable fullscreen optimizations.
Good luck!

I followed all the instructions but every time I try to open it I get "Please insert original disc instead of backup (1000)'' does anyone know what I can do to fix it?

I tried running the game and i followed both "T2154" and "HotGirlShit" instructions (that are basically the same) and it still won't launch. I have a millisecond of the load screen appearing but crashing right after. What do I do ? I can't play.

i did it late at night with the instructions and ended up getting through to the regular download part of the game where it opens and asks for registration and stuff, but then I thought I should try the next day when im not as tired just in case, so I uninstalled it using the games included uninstaller but the empty folder file it used to be in won't delete and anytime I retry again it gives me the error that goes like ''Please insert original disc instead of backup (1000)'' uuuuggh. is it hardcoded hidden somewhere from being downloaded then uninstalled or where can I squash it? thx if u can say anything to me about what i can do at all ;;

Hi, everyone!

Thanks to T2154 comments for great instructions. I followed this to a tee and was able to run the game no problem for 7 hours. So crashing is not the issue I am experiencing. I can successfully get to the save menu in the game and it appears the save was successful. When I exited out of the game and ran the app again, there is no option to continue the game. Where is the saved data stored on my computer, when I save the game?

anyone know how to get past the issue of the setup failing because it doesn't think the system meets the "video acceleration" requirements? I tried updating drivers, downloading directx, direct3d, and still no luck. Dxdiag says everything should be okay. The only thing I could find online about the video acceleration failure is here: https://gamicus.fandom.com/wiki/Desperate_Housewives:_The_Game
"Many customers who have bought Desperate Housewives: The Game have found it does not work on their computers/laptops. After thousands of complaints Buena Vista posted on their website the reason the game might not work. The reason Buena Vista claimed the game does not work is because of the System Checker identifying the video card as not supporting either Vertex or pixel shader technology. The "Video Acceleration" row in the table will display "FAIL" to indicate the system requirement failure. The "Required System" column will show the deficiency ("Accel"). Full details of video cards that will run the game are on the website."
The website in question is this dead link: http://disneyinteractivestudios.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/disneyinteractivestudios.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=8&p_created=1160697156&p_sid=93Sqo2Ji&p_accessibility=0&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPSZwX3NvcnRfYnk9JnBfZ3JpZHNvcnQ9JnBfcm93X2NudD0xNDk5JnBfcHJvZHM9JnBfY2F0cz0mcF9wdj0mcF9jdj0mcF9zZWFyY2hfdHlwZT1hbnN3ZXJzLnNlYXJjaF9ubCZwX3BhZ2U9MQ**&p_li=&p_topview=1

I got this working on the Steam Deck, thanks so much! Trial and error but just follow the instructions here.

i follwed the instructions and i can't get in the game. it opens and then closes

Hi! So i installed the game but when i wanna play it says i need to insert the disk (which i obviously haven't). I tried to find a way but i couldn't, anyone has the solution please?

For error saving problem. I found out it only occure if you installed on default folder (C:\Program Files....), I dont know if it installed on other folder but still on drive C this problem persist. But I've tried to install it on drive D:\Games and the games could saved successfully.

@WILLIAM I didn't mention it in my post but my issue was exactly that one, the opening and instantly closed window error. I'm sure you're doing it right but maybe try again? The thing that solved the problem for me was definitely running the PATCH first and then overwriting the .exe, I spent two hours doing both things "at the same time" and it was an instant crash every single time. I think (in my case) that this occurs when you try to run de new .exe before patching the game. Maybe try different links to the PATCH and NOCD content? Sorry if nothing works anyway :(

i've been at this on and off for months and with selina's post of everything on this chat log, this is the farthest i've gotten. i have everything but the only issue is it opens and closes immediately. there's people that have said this and nobody said anything about it and all i wanna do is just play this game lol. i've done the steps like 3 times, the game is in my folder and there is absolutely nothing that will fix the opening and closing issue.

Update on my last message!!

I did a clean re-install and it worked. It originally installed it on my E: drive, and now I put it on C:, though I'm not sure that's what made the difference.

Trying to get this game to work!

I managed to install it, but the 1.4 patch updater doesn't work. It says:
"Old File not found. However, a file of the same name was
found. No update done since file contents do not
match."

I've also tried the no-CD patch, but that only opens up the splash screen and then closes it immediately.

ADDITIONALLY- TO SAVE GAME:
Shoutout to this reddit thread https://www.reddit.com/r/techsupport/comments/wwfwyj/comment/ilkvffa/ for helping out! Once the game is successfully running, create a family with the desired last name, and then quit without saving. Next, use Win+R and type %appdata% and hit enter. Here, I personally had to create a Desperate Housewives folder, but if you have one you can use that. It does not matter that there are no game files in it. In THIS folder, add the additional folders mentioned in the reddit thread (Profiles, Saves, Photos, and Coupons). Then, create another new folder in Saves, titled the last name you chose for your family originally. You should be able to save upon creating a NEW family using that last name.

@STARDUSSTIE you have to extract with 7zip or another extraction service instead of windows! hope this helps

I've been following hotgirlshit's steps but once I have to replace the DespreteHousewives.exe it won't let me. Did anyone else have this problem?

The tutorial by HotGirlShit worked perfectly, both of the patches mentioned are on this site, so it's super easy to download.

I followed all of the instructions, but when I get to Lili's step where I extract the No-CD patch, I receive an error message that won't let me copy the files into my game folder. It says Error 0x80070005: Access is denied. Please help, what do I do??

I still dream of playing this game Lool

"Please insert the original disc instead of a backup (1000)."
I did everything and this shows up. The "NoCD" patch does not work. When you click on it, it flashes then disappears. Been trying and trying... maybe i'm not cut out to sleep with other wives' husbands and slap bitches rip lol

Hi i hope we can be frinds please its my first time

The game crash in 0.5 second.... how can i do ?...

i was able to install it but i cant see any crack folders :( what am i doing wrong? help

has anyone figured it out yet?

Hi does this work

Natalia, did you get and paste the patch file from hotgirlshits link?

im having the same problem as natalia and the others i cant make it work fvgbhnj pls help

Whenever I try to run the application it shows me a message saying "lease insert the original disc instead of a backup (1000)." I don't know how to fix this and why it is happening. Any answers?

I have the the same issue as HIGHERX and NITAREBEL, I've followed the steps and everything went fine but when I run the game it only opens for 1 second then immediatelly closes. Anyone found a solution yet?

game crashes as soon as I open it can't get pass the loading screen. I have uninstalled and reinstalled multiple time

am i the only one having the problem that it won't save once i start the game? If you did, how did you fix that?

i tried pressing on the link that LILI gave but whenever i do, it just says " sorry, the file you requested does not exist. " does anyone know what to do??

LILI the link doesn't work anymore, can anyone help?

Idk if many people still check these comments, but I was wondering if anyone knows how to get the saving to work? I followed what Scomo said and it worked well, the game does run, but when I try to save it just gives me a message saying "An error occurred - the game was not saved". Because of this, the game kept changing my family models to the default ones and forgot my names entirely, they're just spaces. This might have something to do with there being no folder for the game in %appdata% but I have no idea how to fix this

HigherX, maybe go through the game's folders, uncheck read-only and run the game as administrator. I really need to test this one again. It's rather buggy.

I was able to make it work and play in november, however after reinstalling i am experiencing the issue of it closing when you click on the .exe. Also, does anyone know how to fix it so your character and family don't get reset when you start actually playing?

I am having the same issue as Jude. I made sure to follow instructions and install it into the right folder.. so im not sure what the issue may be

Thank you to SCOMO and LILI!!!
Ive put both their steps in this comment to avoid any confusion. Just follow as it is pasted.

SCOMO:
"Here is how I got this game to install.
Download the file linked here and extract the archive.
Download and install Daemon Tools Lite.
Double click on DH Disk1.mdf in the Desperate Housewives Disk Images folder (that you extracted)
Disk 1 will mount to a new drive letter.
Double click on DH Disk2.bin and Disk 2 will mount to a new drive letter.
Run the setup.exe from Disk 1. It should install a bit and ask you to choose Disk 2. Browse on your computer and find the drive that mounted image 2.
Setup should proceed and finish. Choose to never register and not to launch the game."

Once the game is installed and you launch it for the first time you will most likely get an error telling you to put the original disk in. This is where you now follow LILI'S steps below.

LILI:
"I found a fixed version of the No-CD patch. Just follow SCOMO's instructions up until the "gameburnworld desperate housewives 1.4" and instead of downloading gameburnworld's patch, download my patch here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1w6dc6-Tt2pwCyV7zdBAYxz6dqBRGgTKK/view?usp=sharing

Then unzip it and paste it in your game folder replacing 'DesperateHousewives.exe'. After, just run it and the game should work fine."

so hi guys I got this working by follow scomo's comment and followed also the comment by syd which made the game work, I didn't use the patches scomo provided but I used the one on this websites so try and follow scomo's comment and if confused to why crashing follow syd's comment.

I found a fixed version of the No-CD patch. Just follow SCOMO's instructions up until the "gameburnworld desperate housewives 1.4" and instead of downloading gameburnworld's patch, download my patch here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1w6dc6-Tt2pwCyV7zdBAYxz6dqBRGgTKK/view?usp=sharing

Then unzip it and paste it in your game folder replacing 'DesperateHousewives.exe'. After, just run it and the game should work fine.

found a fix for the instant crash on scomo's. for the instant crash youre probably installing it to the wrong folder (the one with the shortcut and not the exe). follow their instructions and then when the game opens a folder with the 4 shortcuts (i forgot what they were, but it opens), dont drag the patch into that folder. instead, go to the actual program files folder where the .exe is (directory would be my pc/programfiles(x86)/bueno vista games/desperate housewives). then drag all of the patches into that one, as it actually holds the exe application and not just the shortcut. hope this fixes it.

Followed SCOMO's instruction and the game crashes at launch

I have the same problem as Mish. Someone please help !

I followed SCOMO guide and can't get it to work, I click play and it just shuts down. Anyone have any fixes?

i really want this game, but like i don't understand how to install it... super confusing and i tried following instructions from the comments but yeah can't do it

Here is how I got this game to install.
Download the file linked here and extract the archive.
Download and install Daemon Tools Lite.
Double click on DH Disk1.mdf in the Desperate Housewives Disk Images folder (that you extracted)
Disk 1 will mount to a new drive letter.
Double click on DH Disk2.bin and Disk 2 will mount to a new drive letter.
Run the setup.exe from Disk 1. It should install a bit and ask you to choose Disk 2. Browse on your computer and find the drive that mounted image 2.
Setup should proceed and finish. Choose to never register and not to launch the game.
Search google for - gamepressure desperate housewives 1.4 patch - and go to gamepressure to download it.
Extract the patch and paste it in the Desperate Housewives folder you install (where the installed program DesperateHousewives.exe is located, probably Program Files (x86)\Desperate Housewives).
Run the patch and it will update the game to 1.4 fixing some issues.
If you run the game now it will still nag you about locating the CD and warn that you must have the original copy. The Daemon Tools images downloaded here will not work.
Search google for - gameburnworld desperate housewives 1.4
This will find a site that has a no cd patch for 1.4.
Download DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES: THE GAME v1.4 [US] FIXED EXE (3.25MB) or maybe the other file if you aren't in the US.
In your game folder with exe rename the exe game file to something like DesperateHousewives-backup.exe to be safe.
Paste the patched DesperateHousewives.exe from gameburnworld into the game directory.
Launch it and profit!

how do you get it to run? i have the file and everything but then i get a pop up saying i need to insert the original disc instead of a backup

how to play this its really a nightmare

I love this game I hope this works for windows 11...

This was a nightmare to SetUp as I kept getting an original dics error but PINNACLE OF VIRTUE's advice in the comments worked, Thank you~ Must mount as a SCSI this finally prevented the error but nothing seemed to happen. I genuinely walked away from my computer for my sanity when 10 minutes later I heard the theme music. Played in one play through because I was too afraid to start it up again.

That being said I had a lot of fun. It had all the nostalgic vibes of Sims 2 with the well fleshed out ridiculous story line we always wanted the sims to explore further. I only have passing memories of the show from when I was a kid but interacting with the characters was really fun. Weird trip down memory lane.

keeps asking me to insert disc 2 :-(

This must be a joke for sure. Right??!

How do you mount the disks?

Does this work on macbook?

Having same issue asking for original disk :(

I Managed to fix the other problem I was having but Now its saying put the original disc instead of a backup disk.. great just when i fixed my other issue

I keep getting an error with a cabinet file and because its a cabinet file I cannot fix it with compatibility- this is with disk 2.

dunno anything about this game but looks good

I couldn't get it to work, it asked for disk 1 repeatedly, even after I mounted disk 1 :( help please?

even the them is similer