How to Play
Your antivirus may trigger some warning because of NoDVD, but it is safe to use, here's VirusTotal report. Technically that NoDVD is "hacked" version of Ubisoft Game Launcher client, that is the reason why antivirus shows warnings. Also NoDVD files are inside ISO image too, so add buddha.dll in antivirus exceptions if antivirus is blocking virtual drive.
The game version 1.01 and NoDVD has been tested on Windows 7 64-bit and Windows 10, works fine. The game supports widescreen and high resolutions up to 4k. You may experience some small troubles when you play the game on modern systems, check our Guide and Notes for details
Install & play guide:
- Mount the disc image. You will need the utility for mounting disc image files, like WinCDEmu, UltraISO, Alcohol 52%/Alcohol 120% or Daemon Tools Lite
- Install the game (if autorun doesn't work - simply launch the installation from Setup.exe inside the disc)
- Also it is recommended to install DirectX from the disc (if you're using Windows 10 - enable DirectPlay, read this or this guide how to do it)
- After you installed the game - install the patch 1.01
- Then install NoDVD (simply copy files from archive and put it into directory with installed game, agree to replace original file)
- Open the directory with installed game and find HAWX2.exe. Right click on HAWX2.exe - Properties - Compatibility - Set "Run this app in compatibility mode with Windows XP SP3" and "Run as administrator"
- Now disable the Internet connection before running the game, otherwise you couldn't play it!
- Launch the game from exe-file or desktop shortcut, Ubisoft Game Launcher window will open. Press "Play" to start the game. If the game doesn't work in compatibility mode with Windows XP - try to launch it in compatibility mode with Windows Vista SP1 or other version of Windows (Win98/ME, Win2000, Win7 etc.)
The game had Ubisoft Connect DRM protection when the game was connecting to Ubisoft servers on every launch. But because the game online servers were closed in November, 2017, it is possible to play the game only with disabled Internet connection
Notes:
- If the installation doesn't start - try to launch Setup.exe in compatibility mode with old version of Windows (98, 2000 or XP)
- It is recommended to install the game not by default path
C:/Program Files/Ubisoft/Tom Clancy's HAWX 2, but in non-system folder, like C:/Games/HAWX 2, otherwise you may have troubles when you try to run the game with NoDVD - And make sure that installation path has only English letters, otherwise the stable work of the game isn't guaranteed
- It is recommended to install all versions of Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable for the correct work of the game
- Also it is recommended to install RAD Video Tools and K-Lite Codec Pack for the correct work of the game
- The game works on DirectX 9, so if you're using Windows 8, 8.1, 10 or 11 - you need to enable DirectPlay: Go to Control Panel, and select 'Programs'. Select 'Turn Windows features on and off', click on 'Legacy Components' and check the box 'DirectPlay'. Select OK, once the installation is done, restart your computer
- The game also support DirectX 11, but it launches from another exe-file. Go to game directory and run HAWX2_DX11.exe if you want to play DirectX 11 version
- Make sure to disable Internet connection before every launch of the game, otherwise it may not work at all! Or add the rule in Windows Firewall for HAWX2.exe, HAWX2_DX11.exe and UbisoftGameLauncher.exe, and forbid that apps to connect to the Internet. Watch this video guide how to block an app access to the Internet with Windows Firewall
- The game has full controller support, including support for Xbox 360 controllers
- Online servers were shut down years ago, but you still can play in multiplayer via LAN game, with LAN emulators like Hamachi, Tunngle or Garena
- Don't forget to check PCGamingWiki and Steam forums if you have troubles
Russian 
Comments and reviews
Windows 11 25H2
1. Download ISO version
2. Mount it with double click
3. Install the game
4. Copy content from TiNYiSO folder into the installed game directory and override files
5. ISO can be unmounted and is not needed anymore
6. Start the game using HAWX2.exe or HAWX2_DX11.exe - it doesn't matter it will launch uplay in offline mode then you can start the game and choose DX9/11.
Note: Didn't bother to install the patch. Also didn't bother with NoCD - defender detected it as virus but didn't detect one in the crack folder of the ISO. No firewall settings or w/e - game just ran.
Follow SaturnianDragon's instructions and the game will work perfectly. Also, the custom profile ID (atleast for this download from this site) is 11111111-1111-1111-1111-111111111111. That what you have to rename the file in fixed files 2, so just follow the readme instructions that come with it and rename what needs to renamed with 11111111-1111-1111-1111-111111111111.
This game is unplayable
Game was working fine in campaign mode after following the instructions and tips from the rest of the users here. After mission 6, however, campaign/story mode got broken, and I couldn't continue to mission 7 or fix it. The only solution I found was to find a 100% save file. I then played the missions from 6 onwards as single missions, and so far, so good."
the nocd.zip was flagged as a virus halting the download of the file can someone double check it if it was safe?
The game DOESN'T Work. Don't try it.
It just doesn't get past the home screen, and it doesn't load the performance test either. It's broken.
For those who might still be interested in playing this game, if you still have issues loading the single player campaign, here's my setup.
(tested working as of January 31st 2026, on Windows 10 22H2)
1) Install the game, the v1.01 update, and the NoCD patch.
2) Next, go to this site: (https://gamecopyworld.com/games/pc_hawx_2.shtml), and download Fixed Files #1 and Fixed Files #2.
3) Extract Fixed Files #1 on the game installation directory (where the game exe is located), and overwrite when asked. Do the same for Fixed Files #2.
4) Using Windows Firewall, block incoming and outgoing traffic for three exe files: HAWX2.exe, HAWX2_DX11.exe, and Uplay.exe (located in orbit folder). If you don't know how to do this, you can find tutorials on the internet.
5) Set compatibility mode to Windows 7 and run as administrator for all three files.
6) Run the game via HAWX2.exe (or choose DX9 via the Ubisoft launcher).
7) Start the campaign via New Story. You will probably be kicked back into the main menu. No worries, just pick New Story again until you can get into the campaign. It may take 3-5 tries, or more depending on your luck.
8) Once you manage to get into the campaign, you should now be able to play as long as you want. I managed to play continuously for over an hour.
9) If you quit the game and run into the same loading issues again when you come back, repeat Step 7.
Hope this helps!
it gives me "ubisoft gamae lancher error code 2"
woow i finally made it work i had to buy a online CD key tho but after that everything worked fine its one of the few good jet fighter games out there and i did not like ace combat :)
1. Install the game using the ISO and apply the crack from the ISO.
2. Install the patch and apply the crack included with the patch.
3. Start the game. (use DS4Windows so your controller is recognized as a X360 controller)
October 6 2025
it works after trying a few things ... what worked for me, was to go to installed folder, then dirx11 , property, than changed to vista combability. voila game worked.... I DIDNT INSTALL PATCH.
El juego está raro 😂 creo que debo esperar más de 2 minutos en el menú y luego abrir en cualquier modo de juego y recién me permite jugar porque cuando entro rapidísimo al modo Supervivencia por ejemplo, se queda cargando y vuelve al menú de inicio del juego , de nada sirve ninguna de las opciones, por lo visto , es cosa de suerte para que entres al juego, no hay solución para jugar tranquilo sin que te tire a la pantalla de inicio, si alguien conoce la solución definitiva, POR FAVOR, ayúdenos.
does not work need activation key in ubisofts connect when i try offline it just bugs out
Still work until now (February 4th 2025), install the game, move the crack file in TiNYiSo folder to the installation folder,
for Windows 11. Go to the game folder, right mouse button on the HAWX2_DX11.exe and then select "Properties", go to the "Compatibility" tab and under Compatibility mode, check the box and select "Windows 7" from the drop down. Also check the box "Run this program as an administrator"
but when start the campaign its stuck
Game does not get past loading New Story. Tried firewall rules along with compatibility suggestions.
Anyone know where to place NoDVD? I managed to copy+replace buddha.dll but I'm not sure if the applications are supposed to replace anything in the install file. Can't seem to find the other files that came with NoDVD.
Here's how I got it to work for me, First install the game using the ISO file, copy the NOCD crack files into the installation folder, DO NOT download and run the patch file. Play the game, if it's crashing on the intro of the New Story or Campaign mode simply start a LAN game, quit it and then start the campaign it should work now
doenst work just asks for a key just wasted hours downloading this pls die soon
Just got it working after some tinkering and fresh install of win 7. So my process was to install the game, patch it to 1.01. Then run the game so launcher tries to update. Once done shut it down, disconnect internet connection, copy crack to installation folder and run the game.
It did not worked if I did not tried to update launcher with "clean" game
I cannot even start the game because the ubisoft game launcher tries to check for updates. When I disable the internet it says, please check your internet connection and it wont proceed. When I start it with internet connection it just says, service unavailable. any idea how to avoid that update process?
The game doesnt enter story gameplay
is it safe to download from ransomware
I've managed to fix it for Windows 11. Go to the game folder, right mouse button on the HAWX2_DX11.exe and then select "Properties", go to the "Compatibility" tab and under Compatibility mode, check the box and select "Windows 7" from the drop down. Also check the box "Run this program as an administrator". Now i was able to play the campaign without it quitting back to the menu.
I'm afraid it doesn't seem to work on Windows 11. I can start the game up fine. However, when you go to a new game (story), it goes to load and after around 10 seconds, goes back to the menu. I've tried quite a few different workarounds but none seem to work :(
the nodvds are going to be a false positive almost always, you need to make the whole folder or files named an exception w defender or other av. Many games are coded to phone home for a long long time, you need to have a real firewall you approve what goes out and in manually. You can mount discs natively with win10, just right click and open or mount it will do so, no need for separate programs to do so.
The CAB files you included do not work.
Following the instructions to the best of my ability, I've arrived at install NoDVD, however when I go to copy the files into the game directory, I only ever get a popup saying "there is not enough space on HAWX2." Even if I knew what to go about deleting to free up space, I am incapable of doing so as when I right click on any program in the directory, there is no delete option.
The game doesnt enter story mode after the first launch after installing. After the first launch it doesnt enter into story mode anymore
Hi there. I did the installation and played the first 2 missions last night only to come to it now and experience the same issue as @EVSTATI. Do you have a solution for this? Able to play Survival but that's it
I do all the things described in the how to play section. I disconnect from the internet. When I try to start the story line it does not load and sends me back to the main menu. Do you have any ideas on how to fix it?
So I am a little confused with the NoDVD I copy and pasted the Orbit File, Buddha.dll and Both HAWX2 exe files and it wont let me play it saying its installed improperly
@AdamH it's all explained in the How to play section on this page
Just to follow up on previous comment - Both Chrome and Windows Defender were really unhappy about the NoDVD patch. After telling them to back off and let me download and unpack the zip, I got the game running by following the instructions. I blocked the two HAWX exe's and the Ubisoft launcher using my firewall rather than disabling my network card. I then ran a full system scan, picked up the virus again in my browser cache so I cleaned up and all seems good. Glad I went through the effort as games seems good.
Hello - I'm getting a trojan warning on the No-CD patch you've posted - 'Trojan:Script/Wacatac.B!ml' Is it possible to check this please?
saludos, muy agradecido con tu aporte, aún funciona en estas fechas, pero no sé donde esta para descargar el NoDVD
No comment nor review for this game at the moment.