Unable to run Age of Empires III on XP

G

Guest

Hi all

I have XP Media Centre Edition 2002 (Version 2 - Service Pack 2) Intel
Pentium 4 CPU 260Ghz, 1.00 GB RAM; Display NVIDIA GeForce FX5200

I can install the game without any problems, but .exe file does not work at
all, and nothing happens when I try to run the game - either on PC or CD. I
have tried running it with both my CD and DVD players. I can watch the game
vids with RAD video tools, so I suppose it can't be the graphics card ?

I have tried several options (uninstall/re-install; editing registry; clean
boot, downloaded Rad Game tools, install in different folder/ under different
user, deactivated firewall before installing etc...) but still no luck.

Can anyone help please ???

Thanks
Hendrik
 
J

Jimmy S.

Hi Hendrik,

Updating video card drivers can solve most gaming issues. Here's some
simple abc's to always keep in mind. a. Shut off download accelerators,
firewalls and antivirus programs when downloading or installing updates;
b. Check for game patches: www.avault.com/pcrl/patches_list.asp?letter=a
c. Make sure you meet the game's minimum video and system requirements;
d. Check for known issues with your video card at the game's web site. :)

1. Before you update your drivers, I recommend that you update DirectX
from: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/directx/default.aspx

Here are the steps I recommend you use to update your driver. If you've
never done this before I recommend you also look over the Installation hints
and Release Notes both of which are linked to from their download page.

2. Download the latest drivers from: www.nvidia.com/content/drivers/drivers.asp

3. Save the .exe driver in My Documents\My Drivers\nVidia

4. Restart the computer in Safe Mode by pressing the F8 key
about once every second as it's rebooting to pick Safe Mode.

5. Click Start / (settings) Control Panel / System / Hardware
Device Manager / expand +Display Adapters / right click on
the adapter, pick "Uninstall", and click No if asked to reboot.

6. Use Control Panel / Add-Remove programs to uninstall the
previous driver (exe)software which may have been installed.

7. Restart the computer in Safe Mode by pressing the F8 key
about once every second as it's rebooting to pick Safe Mode.

8. If Windows prompts you to install the adapter, click "Cancel".

9. Double click the nVidia driver we saved to My Documents\My
Drivers\nVidia folder in step 3 to install.it. If it complains about
Windows Logo Certification just click "Continue". This is normal.

10. After you reboot, go to Control Panel / Display / Settings and
choose 32 bit Color Quality, and 800x600 or higher Resolution.

TROUBLESHOOTING:

Test your drivers using DXDiag: Click Start / Run / type: DXDIAG
Click the "Test" buttons in the Display, Sound, Music & Network Tabs;
If any of the Display options are Disabled and you cannot Enable them,
your most likely solution would be to update your Chipset Drivers as per
my website: http://www3.sympatico.ca/nibblesnbits/Video.html#v11

Your program might not support dual monitors, or "dual head" video cards
You can disable the extra video output in your display properties control
panel. Click Start>Settings>Control Panel>Display>Settings>Advanced.

Along with your Video card, Sound Cards, Motherboard Chipsets,
and Video Monitors may also require updated drivers. Even your
motherboard's BIOS may need to be updated for compatibility with
your Video card. These steps are listed at: http://NibblesNbitsVideo.tk

Perhaps the old Nvidia drivers did not completely uninstall. If that's the
case, use this utility to completely uninstall the drivers and go to step 7:
http://content.guru3d.com/index.php?page=detonatorrip&menu=0

The latest video drivers sometime don't work with a particular game.
(Check the Video suggestions in the readme.txt file in your game folder/CD)
If there's no suggestions, try an older (WHQL) driver, and/or if you still
experience problems try a Beta driver, or even an Omega driver instead:

BETA Drivers: http://download.guru3d.com/
OMEGA Drivers: http://www.omegadrivers.net

There you have it, if you have any questions feel free to post them! :)

--
Cheers, Windows_XP_MVP_Shell/User
Jimmy S. http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

Visit my MSN Zone.com and Gaming Help Site: http://mvps.org/nibblesnbits
MS Games Help and Support Center: http://support.microsoft.com/?pr=gms
My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I confer any rights.
_________________________________________________________

Hendrik Wrote:
=================
| Hi all
|
| I have XP Media Centre Edition 2002 (Version 2 - Service Pack 2) Intel
| Pentium 4 CPU 260Ghz, 1.00 GB RAM; Display NVIDIA GeForce FX5200
|
| I can install the game without any problems, but .exe file does not work at
| all, and nothing happens when I try to run the game - either on PC or CD. I
| have tried running it with both my CD and DVD players. I can watch the game
| vids with RAD video tools, so I suppose it can't be the graphics card ?
|
| I have tried several options (uninstall/re-install; editing registry; clean
| boot, downloaded Rad Game tools, install in different folder/ under different
| user, deactivated firewall before installing etc...) but still no luck.
|
| Can anyone help please ???
|
| Thanks
| Hendrik
 

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