Matrix Games Forums

Ok - I have a new machine and vista....when I try to start a new scneario - I am getting this error message:


"There is an error running this application - please contact martrix games support @ blah,blah - Error Code 486"

I am running the game off the download - any help would be appreciated - thanks!

I have exactly the same problem. Si I have purchase this game and I cannot play with it. And matrix support "assistance" doesn´t answers.

If you are using Vista, you might have to download it into the official download folder.

A redownload and reinstall might be necessary as a Error Code 486 is a password problem.

Apparently the support email isn't working right, see this post:

tm.asp?m=1500234

Jason Petho

Actually I download the games with a Windows XP computer in my work because I don´t have internet on my laptop (and my laptop has vista ) . What do you call download in official folder please?

I have resolved the problem. Matrix assistance says me that the 486 error code was an error due to the password of the dowloading of the games and that the solution was to desactivate all vista security parameters ( firewall, users acces security and all others protection programms ). It fonctions very well and yet the show can go on....

ORIGINAL: Tiger 88

Ok - I have a new machine and vista....when I try to start a new scneario - I am getting this error message:


"There is an error running this application - please contact martrix games support @ blah,blah - Error Code 486"

I am running the game off the download - any help would be appreciated - thanks!

Getting the same code trying to play from a thumb drive on other computers than the one I downloaded and installed on. Game menu starts up, I choose WF/EF/RS, try to play any scenario or campaign, and crash.
Is this a registry issue?
No problems doing this with Birth of America, AGEOD's Civil War, HOI1, HOI2.
Any way to edit a config file?

ORIGINAL: Lightsfantastic

Getting the same code trying to play from a thumb drive on other computers than the one I downloaded and installed on. Game menu starts up, I choose WF/EF/RS, try to play any scenario or campaign, and crash.
Is this a registry issue?
No problems doing this with Birth of America, AGEOD's Civil War, HOI1, HOI2.
Any way to edit a config file?

Yes, it is a registry issue. Not sure how to edit it though.

Jason Petho

Dissapointing.  The games I end up playing the most are the ones I can take and play anywhere with my thumb drive.  Developers please keep this in mind.

They do. It prevents yet another method of stealing the game.

ORIGINAL: junk2drive

They do. It prevents yet another method of stealing the game.

Well, Guns of August and Uncommon Valor, which I bought, runs fine off my thumb drive so I don't think that argument holds water.
Another reason I won't be buying Battlegrounds Civil War or Napoleon, or SSG's Battles in Italy from Matrix. If Empire in Arms does this as well I'll just stick with AGEOD's Napoleon's Campaign's.

I wasn't accusing you of stealing. Just bringing up a valid point.

You could copy the install exe onto the thumbdrive and then install the Campaign Series on the machine you intend on using, uninstalling when you are done.

As junk2drive notes, it is an anti-theft measure.

While you can install the game you bought on more than one machine, you will not be able to play against another machine with the same serial.

Jason Petho

ORIGINAL: junk2drive

I wasn't accusing you of stealing. Just bringing up a valid point.

I didn't imply that you did. I just stated that I had bought them and can run them by copying the relevant folders and starting the .exe from a thumb drive. [8D]
My frustration is that I do not have time to partake of my wargame addiction (damn you Avalon Hill) when I'm home but have plenty of down time when I'm away. As my laptop is company issued I'm not allowed to install software to it. With the advent of high capacity thumb drives I now can conquer and pillage without having to lug around 2 laptops; which made for some interesting conversations with TSA screeners.

ORIGINAL: Jason Petho

You could copy the install exe onto the thumbdrive and then install the Campaign Series on the machine you intend on using, uninstalling when you are done.

As junk2drive notes, it is an anti-theft measure.

While you can install the game you bought on more than one machine, you will not be able to play against another machine with the same serial.

Jason Petho

I already thought about doing that too, but without registry access (ie, Administrator capabilities) it won't work. So I'll stick to buying games that don't have such issues.
Now another question how does one return a digital download and get their money back?

One could also become friends with the IT guys from work, they would have the ability to provide you the access you require. A beer can go a long way!

Jason Petho

ORIGINAL: Jason Petho

One could also become friends with the IT guys from work, they would have the ability to provide you the access you require. A beer can go a long way!

Jason Petho

IT guys? Nasty, smelly things. Makes one late for supper.
Appreciate the effort. It just galls me that I can play some Matrix releases off thumb drives, yet with others I can't. Some consistency would be nice to save me some money.

ORIGINAL: Lightsfantastic

Appreciate the effort. It just galls me that I can play some Matrix releases off thumb drives, yet with others I can't. Some consistency would be nice to save me some money.

True enough, might be something to bring up in the main Matrix tech support area.

Jason Petho

ORIGINAL: Tiger 88

Ok - I have a new machine and vista....when I try to start a new scneario - I am getting this error message:


"There is an error running this application - please contact martrix games support @ blah,blah - Error Code 486"

I am running the game off the download - any help would be appreciated - thanks!

I've run into the same problem. I downloaded and installed the Campaign Series, then downloaded and installed both the 1.2 and 1.2b patches. All of the installations appeared to work without any problems.

But I can't play the games. They all boot up fine, and I can access the scenario and campaign menu screens, but when I try to actually start a scenario I get the exact same error code mentioned above.

I'm running a 2 GHz AMD Dual Core processor, and Vista (which, I'm gathering, is what may be causing the problem). My drivers and DirectX are up to date.

Has anyone encountered this same problem after installing the game from a CD? I also ordered a copy of the game disk, so if the game will work properly if installed from the CD, I'll probably just wait a few days for it to show up.

If there's still going to be a problem, though, then I need to get in touch with Matrix tech support.

Any feedback that anyone could provide would be greatly appreciated.

It is most likely a registry issue.

While you wait, you can uninstall and reinstall the Campaign Series, following up with the 1.02 UPDATE and 1.02B TEMPORARY PATCH.

Hopefully that will resolve the problem.

Jason Petho

Well, reinstallation didn't work, but the problem has been resolved. I e-mailed Matrix tech support, and they sent a fix that appears to work for all three games. I haven't seen it posted anywhere else, so I'll list it here in the hope that it'll save future purchasers of the game some time.

For Vista computers, the games evidently need to be run in compatibility mode to work properly. So after installation, you need to go into EACH of the three game directories, right-click on the *.exe files, and then click "Properties". One of the tabs in the "Properties" window is for "Compatibility". Click that tab, set the .exe file to run in Windows98 mode, and also click the little box that says "Run as Administrator."

There are _two_ .exe files in each of the game directories (RS.exe and RisingSun.exe, EF.exe and East Front.exe, WF.exe and West Front.exe). So there are a total of SIX files whose properties need to be adjusted. Since I've made the changes, I've been able to run the games, and I have not encountered any problems. I'm glad that Matrix Support was able to provide a solution, because I'm really enjoying Campaign Series.