Why did gamers flock specifically to for the NFSU2 crack?

A No-CD crack is a modified version of the game’s executable file (e.g., speed2.exe for NFSU2) that removes Digital Rights Management (DRM) or forced disc checks.

🏃‍♂️ : If the game crashes on startup or experiences random freezing, right-click SPEED2.EXE , go to Properties -> Compatibility, and check the box to run the game in Windows XP (Service Pack 3) compatibility mode.

By following these steps, you should be able to play NFS Underground 2 without a CD using the GameCopyWorld no CD crack.

Their library consisted of:

For the vast majority of users searching for they were standing in their parents' basement holding the original CD in one hand and a broken Windows Vista laptop in the other. They had paid $50 for the game. EA had no patch to fix the SafeDisc issue. The crack was the only way to play the software they legally owned.