SP:WaW help: Constantly crashing

[gfhuang3]

I did a search and couldn't find anything on this topic. I recently purchased SP:WaW but after running it on my vista laptop, the game kept crashing during the game generally when I am firing at a target or the AI is firing at me. This happens on average every other turn on bigger scenarios and campaigns. Also whenever I hit the Y button to set the range, the game freezes and just goes dark. I thought it might be vista so I reinstalled it on my desktop that runs XP, but the same thing is happening. Also I have updated the game with both patches, the older one first than the newer patch and it still is crashing.
Anyone have any advice?

my desktop is about 6 months old and it has up to date drivers for direct x, a good video card so that I can play more recent games like Medieval II or the new Command & Conquer on full detail without a problem.

thanks,

[chief]

gfhuang: First, shut down anything running in the background. SPwaw is an old updated DOS game that wants all your attention and RAM. She's very jealous and dosen't like VIrus checkers, Email scanners etc. running in the background. Also try running it in the Win98 compatibility mode, that also helps. Limit your number of units on the battle field to 200per side (I think thats keereck, if not someone will jump in and keereck moi). Go to your main SPWAW Save folder and clear the steel.prf file, the game will reconstruct same when you start up again.
 
HTH, if not it'll keep you busy for 5 or 10 minutes[:D], good hunting.

[gfhuang3]

thanks for the help. This may be a dumb question, but how do you run it in Win98 compatibility mode?

[chief]

Go to SPwaw folder, find Mech.exe and right click, on drop down open PROPERTIES, then open Compatibilty tab and the rest should be easy.  "Remember no guarantees."  Good luck[8D]