7-Zip is a free program that can open most compressed files, including RAR and 7z formats. It is the most recommended program for this process. The trial version of WinRAR will allow you to open most formats forever, but you’ll be bugged about registering after the trial period is up.
See How to Turn on Windows Defender for instructions on enabling it. For instructions on installing a different antivirus program, see How to Install an Antivirus. You should only have one antivirus program installed at a time. Right-click on your antivirus’s icon in the system tray and select “Update” to check for and download any available updates.
One of the most popular options is WinCDEmu, a free and open source program. Windows 8 and later includes the ability to mount ISO files without the need of additional software.
You can download highly compressed versions of games from various websites, but this isn’t recommended as they’ve often been stripped of lots of assets to make the file size smaller. With hard drive storage becoming cheaper and cheaper, you’ll get a better experience getting a full game from a torrent.
Most trackers you’ll find through Google are public trackers that anyone can use. If you do some digging, you’ll likely come across private trackers. These may allow you to find harder-to-find games, as well as stay out of the spotlight. Private trackers typically require invites from existing users, and almost always make members upload as much as they download.
It is illegal to download a game that you don’t own in most areas.
Make sure nothing else on your network is using the connection, such as streaming video or gaming. Modern routers will give BitTorrent traffic a low priority on the network if there is anything else using your bandwidth. Ensure that your torrent traffic is the only thing happening on your network if you need the files quickly. Open the Options menu in your torrent client and select the “Connection” section. Check the “Enable UPnP port mapping”. This will help your client open the correct ports in your router. Your router will need to have UPnP enabled as well. See How to Access a Router for information on opening your router’s configuration page. Put a cap on your Upload rate in the “Speed” section of the Options menu. If your torrent is maxing out your upload rate, it will likely slow down the rest of your computer, and can potentially disrupt your download. Set the upload rate to a small number while you’re downloading to maximize your speed.
If you can’t mount or burn the ISO file, see How to Burn ISO Files to DVD and How to Mount an ISO Image. Not all downloaded games come in ISO format. You may have a traditional setup file instead.
During the installation procedure, you may have to run a crack program to bypass copyright protection. Be very careful when running crack programs, as these are by far one of the most common ways that viruses are transmitted. If you want to be absolutely safe, install the game on a virtual machine first and apply the crack. Monitor the virtual machine for any signs of infection. If the game is clean, then you can install it on your actual computer. See How to Use VMware Workstation for a guide on setting up and using a virtual machine.
Remember, software piracy is illegal in most areas. The instructions above should only be used for games that you legally own.
