NHL 09 - First steps to install AddOns

NHL 09 AddOns Installation - Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

A beginner-friendly guide to installing mods and addons

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What You Should Know First

NHL 09 is the last NHL game from EA Sports that was released for PC (2008). Thanks to an active community, there are still regular updates with current rosters, jerseys, logos and much more. These extensions are called AddOns or Mods.

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What You Need

1. The Base Game NHL 09

• Where can I get it? You can buy the game used on Amazon, eBay or similar platforms
• Important: You need the PC version, not the Xbox or PlayStation version!

2. A Computer with Windows

• The game runs on Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 and 10
• Windows 11 also works without problems in most cases

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Installation of the Base Game - VERY IMPORTANT!

You need to pay special attention here, as the correct installation is crucial for everything that follows:

❌ DO NOT install like this schrieb:

• DO NOT use the suggested default path (e.g. C:\Program Files\EA Sports\NHL 09)
• DO NOT install on the same drive as Windows

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✅ Install like this schrieb:

• Choose a custom installation path on a different drive
• Example: D:\Games\NHL09 or E:\Games\NHL09
• If you only have one drive (C, create a simple folder: C:\Games\NHL09

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Why is this important? Windows has security features (UAC - User Account Control) that can block AddOns if the game is installed in the Windows program folder.

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Preparing Windows (for Vista, 7, 8, 10, 11 only)

To install AddOns, you need to disable User Account Control (UAC) and give full access rights to the NHL 09 folder.

Step 1: Disable UAC

1. Press the Windows key
2. Type "UAC"
3. Click on "Change User Account Control settings"
4. Drag the slider all the way down to "Never notify"
5. Click OK
6. Restart your PC

Step 2: Set Full Access Rights

1. Open the NHL 09 folder (e.g. D:\Games\NHL09)
2. Right-click on the folder
3. Select "Properties"
4. Go to the "Security" tab
5. Click "Edit"
6. Select your username
7. Check the box for "Full control"
8. Click OK

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The Toolbox - Your Most Important Tool

The Toolbox combines all the programs you need to install AddOns into a single tool. It makes installation incredibly easy!

Installing the Toolbox:

1. Go to wasserlasser.com (the largest German NHL 09 community)
2. Register for free
3. Download the "Wasserlasser Toolbox" from the file base
4. Extract the ZIP file
5. Copy the EXE file to your NHL 09 main folder
6. Start the Toolbox with a double-click

On first start:
The Toolbox automatically creates a "Toolbox" folder in your NHL directory and detects where your game is installed.

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Important: Create a Backup!

⚠️ BEFORE you install any AddOns schrieb:

You should create a backup!

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1. Open the Toolbox
2. Go to the "Backups" tab
3. The Toolbox automatically asks if you want to create a backup
4. Click "Create backup"
5. Enter a name, e.g. "Original"

Why? If something goes wrong, you can reset everything with one click on "Restore"!

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Downloading and Installing AddOns

What are Rosters?
Rosters contain player lineups, team names and many other important data that make the game more realistic. They are the heart of every mod!

Where can I find AddOns?

• wasserlasser.com (best German source, also for DEL, Switzerland, Austria)
• There you'll find:
  • Rosters (current player lineups)
  • Jerseys (uniforms)
  • Logos (team logos)
  • Cyberfaces (player faces)
  • Stadiums (arenas)
  • Ice surfaces (different ice designs)

How to install AddOns:

1. Download the desired AddOn from the file base (e.g. a roster)
2. Extract the ZIP file to your NHL 09 main folder
3. Open the Toolbox
4. Click the "Install AddOns" button
5. Done! The Toolbox automatically takes care of everything - successful installations are marked with a green checkmark

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Which AddOns Should You Install First?

1. A Roster (MANDATORY)
The roster is the most important! Choose according to preference:

• NHL Roster: For current NHL teams and players
• DEL Roster: For German hockey league
• Elite Roster: Combination of multiple international leagues

Tip: Read the descriptions in the file base - it states exactly which leagues are included!

2. Ice Surface Format (IMPORTANT after roster installation)
After installing new ice surfaces, the ice may not be displayed correctly.

How to fix this:

1. Open the Toolbox
2. Click "Install NHL Ice Format" (for NHL/AHL teams)
3. Or "Install International Ice Format" (for all other teams)
4. The Toolbox installs the correct format automatically

3. Optional AddOns:

• Jerseys (new uniforms)
• Cyberfaces (realistic player faces)
• Logos (team logos)
• Stadiums (new arenas)
• Crowd sounds (fan chants)

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Common Problems and Solutions

Problem: "I can't install AddOns"

• Did you disable UAC and restart your PC?
• Does your user have full access to the NHL 09 folder?
• Is the game NOT installed in C:\Program Files?

Problem: "The ice is displayed incorrectly"

• Install the appropriate ice format via the Toolbox

Problem: "The goal lines are shifted"

• Use the "Goal Line Fix" button in the Toolbox

Problem: "I don't see my new logos"

• Install transparent logos via the Toolbox, otherwise new logos will be covered by old ones

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Tips for Advanced Users

• Multiple backups: You can create different backups, e.g. one for NHL, one for DEL
• Change language: The Toolbox can change the game language - just click on a flag
• Mix of AddOns: You can combine AddOns, e.g. NHL roster with DEL jerseys

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Summary - The Most Important Steps

1. Install NHL 09 on a separate drive or in a simple folder
2. Disable UAC and give full access to the NHL folder
3. Restart your PC
4. Download the Toolbox and copy it to the NHL 09 folder
5. Create a backup (important!)
6. Download rosters and other AddOns
7. Install AddOns with the Toolbox
8. Install ice surface format
9. Play and enjoy!

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