GalCiv2 refuses to install on US-Eng Win2k computer

from GalCiv2 Forums

I just purchased Galactic Civilizations II: Dread Lords in the jewel case box.  The minimum system requirements state Windows 98/Me/2000/Xp/Vista, but when I run setup.exe off the CD-ROM to install this game on my (US-English) Windows 2000 system, the installer says that the game only runs on Windows XP and does not even attempt to install.

Does the product packaging lie?  Or is the installer lying?  Is there anything I can do to play my game?

 

Todd

 

5,408 views 14 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

hum DL should work on win2k it did work on my computer which had win2k

are you sure the package you got is DL only ? (DL = Dread Lords by the way)

is your win2k install updated ? (service packs, DX version and such ?)

Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Thanks for the response.  I purchased a disk that is Dread Lords only.  I just updated my Win2K install, to whatever Microsoft says is good for me, but Dread Lords still rejects my computer and claims it will only run on WinXP.


Is anyone from the company watching these bug reports?

 

Todd

Multiplicity - Control multiple PCs using one keyboard and mouse
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting AstorFoo, reply 2
Thanks for the response.  I purchased a disk that is Dread Lords only.  I just updated my Win2K install, to whatever Microsoft says is good for me, but Dread Lords still rejects my computer and claims it will only run on WinXP.


Is anyone from the company watching these bug reports?

Todd

End of AstorFoo's quote
from time to time there's a dev around, but they don't have the time to read everything. Kryo (from stardock) is quite active in the galciv2 forums though.

as for your problem, I don't really know what could cause it but at that point, I would try to trick the setup into thinking you have windows XP with windows compatibility tools

first step, create a shortcut to the setup.exe file then select properties of the new shortcut if there's a compatibility tab go there and check : "run this program in compatibility mode"

if you don't have that, there's another possibility with "qfixapp" from "windows application compatibility toolkit", but not the latest version (5.0) which relies on an SQL server #:( (very practical for an end user, thanks microsoft :puke:   )

 

I'll add that all of this is actually 100% harmless to your computer or system because in fact it's only setting a couple of "flags" here and there (but only for the target application) to trick stupid application checks (for example I got the old SACRIFICE game to work on windows XP 64bit by using this tools...whereas it showed a lot of errors because it was detecting not enough memory and more ... )

 

ho and lastly, if you don't solve your problem you might want to email : [email protected] or report on this very forum ..

Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Hi!

GalCiv2 refuses to install on US-Eng Win2k computer
End of quote

IIRC Win2k only supports DirectX-6. I'd say it's the missing DirectX-9 what prevents the game to install.

BR,  Iztok

Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

I'm running DirectX 9.0c, which meets the sysreqs.

 

I tried emailing support and we'll see if they get back to me with anything.  Thanks for the response.

 

Todd

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Iztok, reply 4
Hi!


GalCiv2 refuses to install on US-Eng Win2k computer
IIRC Win2k only supports DirectX-6. I'd say it's the missing DirectX-9 what prevents the game to install.

BR,  Iztok
End of Iztok's quote

if you don't know what you're talking about it's best to check out before saying wrong things ... DX9 has no issue with win2k and in fact I'll even go farther : http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=822640ab-0983-4c41-9c70-632f6f42c557

Code: asp.net
  1. <span> </span>Version:9.23.1350
  3. <span><span class="__mozilla-findbar-search" style="padding: 0pt; background-color: yellow; display: inline; font-size: inherit; color: black;">Windows 2000</span>; <span class="__mozilla-findbar-search" style="padding: 0pt; background-color: yellow; display: inline; font-size: inherit; color: black;">Windows 2000</span> Advanced Server; <span class="__mozilla-findbar-search" style="padding: 0pt; background-color: yellow; display: inline; font-size: inherit; color: black;">Windows 2000</span> Professional Edition ; <span class="__mozilla-findbar-search" style="padding: 0pt; background-color: yellow; display: inline; font-size: inherit; color: black;">Windows 2000</span> Server; <span class="__mozilla-findbar-search" style="padding: 0pt; background-color: yellow; display: inline; font-size: inherit; color: black;">Windows 2000</span> Service Pack 2; <span class="__mozilla-findbar-search" style="padding: 0pt; background-color: yellow; display: inline; font-size: inherit; color: black;">Windows 2000</span> Service Pack 3; <span class="__mozilla-findbar-search" style="padding: 0pt; background-color: yellow; display: inline; font-size: inherit; color: black;">Windows 2000</span> Service Pack 4</span>

Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

if you don't know what you're talking about it's best to check out before saying wrong things
End of quote
Iztok is vertitable font of good information 99.9% of the time. I'll be happy to ignore the one time he might be mistaken in order to hear the 999 things he has to say that are 100% correct.

However, no harm, no foul. No one should take offense from any of this. :)

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Mumblefratz, reply 7

if you don't know what you're talking about it's best to check out before saying wrong thingsIztok is vertitable font of good information 99.9% of the time. I'll be happy to ignore the one time he might be mistaken in order to hear the 999 things he has to say that are 100% correct.
However, no harm, no foul. No one should take offense from any of this.
End of Mumblefratz's quote

hum, reading your post I wonder... maybe I was a bit on the blunt side, sorry I was just in the frenzy of answering :\

it is to be taken as it is, because so many people on the internet post wrong things and spread the word that it's sometimes getting annoying so I tend to don't take any gloves... sorry if I hurt anyone v_v

Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

maybe I was a bit on the blunt side
End of quote
No problem. :)

It all depends on your context. Iztok has been a major contributor of some literally great GalCiv2 advice for at least two years now. If you know this then it's hard to complain when once in a great while he posts something that might not be up to snuff. If you don't know this then you have no history and then you're probably right in assuming that this is just another example of someone that doesn't know what they're talking about.

In this case it's more a matter of familiarity breeding respect as opposed to contempt.  ;)

Also I doubt anyone's feelings were actually hurt, however I feel it's always best to avoid any possibility of misunderstanding. :hot:

Reply #10 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Hi!

if you don't know what you're talking about
End of quote

It's been awhile when I've been dealing at home with the Win2k, and I(f) I R(ecall) C(orrectly) I couldn't install DX-7 or 8. Again IIRC it was a problem with built-in DX-6. That's why I started my post with "IIRC" and continued with "I'd say", and not with an absolute "Win2k only...".

However by just mentioning it, I could've given someone with the real knowledge a clue he might not recall without it. At least that's my understanding of how forums of experts work, when searching for solution.

BTW Mumble, thaks for the praise! :)

BR,  Iztok

Reply #11 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

I was wondering if this had a solution or not. I also have a CD version of Galactic Civilizations II Dread Lords that was purchased for me as a gift from Target, and it says on the outside of the package that it will support Win2K, but the installer complains that it needs WinXP and quits.

I would be most greatful for a solution that doesn't require me stealing my wifes laptop. :)

Reply #13 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Thank you for the suggetion, but it didn't solve the issue.

However, I entered the serial number from the CD into Stardock Central and it seems to have downloaded and installed fine. And I'm kicking myself for not having thought of it sooner. ;D

Reply #14 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Is this happening with the Game of the Year re-release version of DL? It's possible that the installer may have mistakenly been set up with the settings from the expansions (GOTY was put out around the same time as TA which does not officially support 2k).

You should however be able to register your serial key and download the game via the old Stardock Central system (now replaced by Impulse, which does not support 2k either--but base GC2 has no significant updates beyond what's still on SDC).