Dirt 3 Error 0x8004005 - How to fix it.

If you are trying to play dirt 3 on your PC using Games for Windows Live, you may have encountered this error. I had this problem and spent almost a week without a solution. Heres the solution I found.

If you only want to play the career mode, this problem will not bother you, just create an offline GFWL account and you are ready to go.

But if you want to play online as well, then follow these steps:

First of all install GFWL if you dont have it already (you can find the setup file in Dirt 3 DVD, or any other GFWL game. Or you can download it from microsoft).

If you are creating a new account for GFWL(ie never played any other games with this account), then before installing Dirt3, create this new account (use xbox.com for eg) and use this account to download and install Tinker from Windows Live Market Place. You can launch this tool from your start menu. and dont worry Tinker is completely free.

Now you need create your online GFWL account, for this you need a valid Game Key. to get this, goto 'Downloads' section in Live Market Place. Click on Tinker. You will see more details and a link 'View Game Keys'. Click this link and copy the 'Live access code'.

Launch Tinker, and log-into GFWL, when asked for a key, just paste the above code. Press OK. Now GFWL will download your profile and if there are updates available. let it install them too. (You can download these updates seperately and install them).

Now install Dirt 3(you can do this before also).

Luanch the game and in GFWL, log-into the same account used for Tinker and you are ready to go.

Still problems http://forums.xbox.com/gfw/technical_support/connection_networking/f/265/t/15565.aspx

PS: If GFWL gets stuck at 'Downloading Updates', then download the GFWL update seperately from cracked Dirt3 releases, but dont use cracked files. Just use the GFWL update given with the cracked release.

I hope this helped someone.