What a shame that Microsoft has come up with this Windows XP >and most of the cool games are crashing to desktop>when in Facto the game says its compatable. This windows XP I think is a bunch of HUPLA about nothing. It plain out stinks unless you have top of the line Grafics card> and Sound cards. I hate having to update this >and update that >when in fact I payed 1,500.00 for a system that can't play a simple game from dreamcatcher. MICROSOFT? get it together.

Darleen, are ALL your games crashing? You said in another thread that Ubisoft games are crashing for you too. Most people are able to play the newer games on XP and some can get the old ones working too.

I'm assuming you've tried tweaking hardware acceleration. Check the bottom of this page
http://home.earthlink.net/~eddie1231/general_drill.htm
if you don't remember how.
If your computer is crashing on EVERYTHING, I wonder if it doesn't have some hardware problem.
Is your computer a name brand? Does it have a warranty?

It's possible to buy Windows 98 on ebay. But the latest graphics cards and sound cards aren't well supported in Win 98.

I have XP, I don't have a top of the line graphics card, and I have had very good luck running new and old games. XP is a good OS. The problem with computers these days is that there are so many different possible configurations based on the hardware and software you have installed, it can be hard to figure out what is causing the problem.

If you gave some specifics about what games you're trying to run and what problems you're having, maybe we can help...

It would also be useful if you let us know what video card, sound card, version of DirectX you have and how much memory. What is the speed of your CD-ROM drive? These all play an important role in gaming.

I am using XP/Pro with the latest DirecX, and the latest video driver and experience no trouble with any of the games.

You should really update the video driver on you computer. By the time the public gets the machine with a CD of drivers they are already out of date.

Where do you go to update your video drivers and how would find out what one you have.

Cuz I am having problems trying to play a game on my laptop, that has windows xp.

goldnorchid: If you use Windows 2000 or Windows XP, go to Start, Run then type in dxdiag. Click on the Display tab. The driver version will be available there. Get the name of the card and manaufacturer there too.

For example, I have a GeForce 4 video card by nVidia (the manufacturer). The driver version is 6.14.10.5216, so on nVidia\'s website , this version would be named 52.16 for the last four digits of the version number listed in dxdiag.

Once you know the manufacturer of the card you have, and the card type, go to the manufacturer's website and get the latest drivers.

Regarding Windows XP... It's a stinker with old computer games. No two installations are alike, so trying to write a general setup walkthrough to run older games on Windows XP usually never works. As far as stability, ease of use, and other things, Windows XP is far better than Windows 98. IMO, Windows 98 is far superior to play older games on than Windows XP. I anticipate that Windows Longhorn (next client release of Windows) will have the same problems with running older games as Windows XP).


Gamehound

If you have XP, you can update your video drivers with Windows Update. Just go to Windows Update (you can get there from your Start menu)... if there's a newer driver available for your video (or anything else), Windows Update will tell you.

-emily

Thank you all so much, I am off to see if can be fixed.

OK roomies
Here is the problem . I can't play Nautilus or URU mystery. Dreamcatcher says its a Microsoft XP hotfix problem in the system. I have all the latest updates . My computer is 6 months old it is a E-machine with tons of memory. I have played these cames with no problem on my sisters computer which has win 98. I can play Arabian nights on WinXP with no Glitches>thats because its a real cheapo game.

Darleen,

It's not XP. I have XP and played both those games with NO problem. It's probably something in your configuration that's causing the problem; most likely a video or sound card incompatibility.

It could also be the hotfix problem, like Dreamcatcher said.

Unfortunately for some people the only way to get rid of the hotfix is to restore the computer to a time before the hotfix was applied. Removing the hotfix and getting the updated, repaired version of the hotfix doesn't work for everyone.

It's Microsoft's fault for putting out a bad patch.

I have found XP to be an excellent operating system for gaming. I have had XP for 2 years and not one game that has come out during this time have I had problems with caused by XP. I have also played some older games on it too and nearly all has run great without any tweaking.

Having same problems with XP also. Egypt 2, Sacred amulet, will not work on new computer. (dell 4600) Work on old computer with W-98! What a pain in the &%*#!! Any help?????

Many old games won't work whatever you do to them. Inferno's setup walkthroughs are nice, but they do not cover all XP systems... just hers for the most part. Each installation/configuration of XP is different. So, if you can play older games while others cannot, that is due to how you have your XP configured. Most games since 1998/1999 should work. Older games, however, are other stories.


Gamehound

I tried the link they gave me for inferno, and did what it said to do, only thing is I don't have a scan disk or a check disk. I am getting frustrated, I don't like not being able to play a game that I paid $30.00 dollars for when it says on the box will work with XP.

You should have the Check Disk feature if you have XP. If you Go to-->My Computer-->Local Disc "C" ("C" is mine but your Local Disc maybe assigned another letter)-->Right Click--> Properties-->Tools-->
do you have a
"Check Now..." ->

Just read that there is a patch available for Egypt 2, egy2cdint.exe at cryo-interactive.com but they aren't there anymore?? Does anybody know if there is another place to get this patch??? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

The Dreamcatcher version of Egypt 2 has already been patched. So has the DVD version that Cryo published.

If you have the UK CD version, I guess you'll have to email Dreamcatcher Europe and see if they have it. I can't find it online.

Hi Sven,

I have a copy of the patch for Egypt II if you still need it. Let me know if you want me to e-mail it to you.

It is not a good idea to go to windows update for video card drivers. They are never as good as the drivers written for the actual card.

I said this before and now I will repeat it again. Download Aida32 for the web. It is free and will tell you not only what hardware is on your computer in detail. It also will tell you where to download the drivers from to that hardware.

Before you do any other adjustments make sure that you have the latest video drivers and the latest DirectX.

Really? I just downloaded video drivers last week (first time since I got my computer, because I needed the old drivers for a certain game) and as far as I can tell they came directly from NVIDIA. They weren't generic Windows drivers. (According to the video card's properties, NVIDIA is the driver provider.)

-emily