Don't run the Launchpad after you replace the eqgame.exe in your Everquest folder.
After the file is in your Everquest folder, right click it and then select "send shortcut to desktop"
Then right click the desktop shortcut and click properties. Then type the following into the Target: window
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Sony\EverQuest\eqgame.exe" patchme (or whatever your path is) Essentiall, all you do is add patchme to the end of the string
Then start MQ2 and then use the new eqgame.exe desktop to start everquest. That will bypass the Launchpad