ORIGINAL: bruceaboyd
two problems: war in the Pacific admirals edition
bought game today-won't open "can't set screen mode"
won't update "couldn't be downloaded"
thanks
Sounds like you are using the old "update" option from the Opening Menu. The game is about 12 years old and the Matrix site has evolved so that menu item does not work any more.
If you bought the game you should be registered on the Matrix site. Just log in there and find the WITP-AE page, then download the latest official patch 1126a. Assuming you already installed the original game, just run the patch to update it to the latest official version. There is also an unofficial Beta version 1126b available on this forum but it is virtually identical to the latest patch so you don't really need to have that version as well.
Now you need to understand the shortcut issue. The original game installs a shortcut that does not point to the game executable file, it points to Autorun.exe which is just the menu for the Game start, the Editor, and the non-functional update. You need to make a new shortcut that points to the game because you will have to add some text "switches" to make the game run properly on modern hardware/Windows versions. Go to the folder where the game is installed and find the game executable. Right click on it and choose "create shortcut". Name that shortcut something like "WITP-AE Game". Now drag it to your desktop and drop it there.
Read the thread in the Tech section of this forum that deals with slow game performance. The switches are well explained and illustrated with screenshots.
DO NOT start playing with map versions and such until you have the game running satisfactorily. If you run into problems not explained by the posts in the Tech section, ask the question with as much detail as possible. Screenshots are very desirable but you will not be able to post them until you have at least 10 posts on the forum (to discourage spammers).