problem opening with Vista, please help

[fbecker]

Despite four attempts to open on a computer with Windows Vista (and deleting after each attempt), I continue to get an error message immediately after starting the program involving AACW.exe. I have no problem downloading and playing on a Windows XP computer. What do I do?
Thank you

[Adam Parker]

This game as with Birth of America runs under Vista Ultimate fine for me.
 
How much RAM do you have, what version of the game are you installing and what type of installation are you running - disc/zip/saved download?

[fbecker]

I have plenty of RAM, the version is 1.05 (from digital river), and I am installing as the instructions ask: zip, unzip, etc. straight into the Downloads folder.

[fbecker]

I have found more information. The Windows program compatability box tells me that the AACW "program requires D3DRM.dll, which is no longer included in this version of Windows." Anyone with a suggestion?

[Adam Parker]

Try these threads here:
 
http://www.ageod.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3972 - regarding aacw.exe launch error.
 
http://www.ageod.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3122 - Vista missing ddl - I had this issue and it fixed it.
 
 

[fbecker]

I appreciate your help with this. I have placed the dll file into the directory. Still no luck. Do I place the dll file somewhere within the directory or just have it listed with the other contents?

[Adam Parker]

Hi,
 
All I did was download the dll and just dropped the actual file "d3drm.dll" it into the game directory eg: C:\Program Files\AGEod's American Civil War.
 
I then fired up the game at it did the trick.
 
If this doesn't work, please post a thread to Pocus at the AGEOD forum and he will certainly look into this for you.

[Adam Parker]

PS: I ran the game in pure Vista, not in compatibility mode.
 
Also it may be that you have the .exe issue referred to above. Could be your graphics card. Mine's nVidia.
 
The dll issue actually comes up on screen when you try to start the game - something like "you're missing a necessary component" etc. I had no .exe error window.

[fbecker]

I, too, have nVidia.

How do I know whether I am running pure Vista or compatibility.

Since adding the dll file, I now simply get a AACW.exe error, without explanation.

[Adam Parker]

You're gonna have to talk to Pocus over ar AGEOD. Just drop him a line. AGEOD prides itself on personalised service from what I've seen, even helped me once or twice.
 
You know you're running true Vista if you install the game and run it without doing anything else.
 
You invoke XP compatibility mode I believe, by right clicking a program's properties and setting it up to run as such. I thought that's what you had been trying - forget it if not.
 
In your case I feel you have 2 issues:
 
1. The .exe error.
2. The dll error which you have already solved but not yet gained the benefit of because of 1.

[fbecker]

thanks for your help. So far no response from AEGOD.

[Adam Parker]

Time differences/life? Also I saw your post and it was good though bare.
 
Send a mail to Pocus direct with as much detail as you have.

[fbecker]

I place the .dll extension into the folder created by the program itself, but when I launch the program, it still does not find it. Do I place the .dll extension somewhere else?

[MrBoats]

fbecker,

I think I ran into the same problem when I installed AACW into my new Vista-based system. The solution, if I remember right, was to uninstall the program and reinstall it in its own folder, not in the program files folder. I could not replace the .dll file while the game was in the program files directory. After I created C:\AACW and installed there everything went smoothly. AACW now runs fine with Vista without any compatibility changes. I hope this helps.

[Adam Parker]

ORIGINAL: MrBoats

reinstall it in its own folder, not in the program files folder.

That's interesting because I didn't use the default folder either. I think HPS titles have the same issue using C:\Programs... as the default.

[MrBoats]

Adam,

That's true. I installed HPS Normandy to the default folder and had trouble patching and modding it. Vista seems very protective of it's Program file programs. I'm sure it's possible to overcome the obstacles, but it's just not worth the time, for me. Everything I've installed has it's own directory and this seems to work fine. WITP runs like a champ now, and AACW is smooth as silk.

[Pocus]

Can you post a screenshot of the error message. It is not clear if this is because the DLL is missing, if this is AACW.EXE crashing, or something else.

try installing the game under another directory (not in Program Files), turn off UAC, give you admin right if not done.

If you want faster feedback, either write on the ageod forum or mail me directly at support@ageod.com

[Mangudai]

I loaded the game on a new version of vista.

IIRC I had to download a font that was missing in vista. Then everything was fine. You'll have to look through the old threads in the tech support forum to figure out which one.