Desperate help needed on xp install

[siddyct]

Hi
I have a pentium 4 3GHZ Pc with 512ram, radeon 9200 vcard and running Xp Pro i think. I am trying to install RA2 but it simply wont work. Generals and C&c 3 work tho

I have the original discs, when inserted the autorun does not come up. When i enter the install file and click, i get an error would you like to notify popup. I have tried every compatibility mode but still cannot install. I have also googled my problem and no one seems to have an answer.

Please help me get it to work

[WhiteTib]

Hmm..

Step 1 . Make sure your cdrom / dvdrom drive is working. (test a different cd / dvd in it) Go to Step 2 if it works, if it doesn't try step 1a.
Step 1a. Try a cleaning disc to clean the cdrom / dvd lens, and wipe the cd clean, with a lint-free cloth, and some isopropyl alcohol (tape / cd cleaning fluid)
Step 1b. Check the data cable, power cable and drivers. (give us a shout if you need help with these.

Step 2. Insert RA2 cd, and open up My Computer, click on the RA2 icon, and it will show you the files on the disc, or start the install screen.

Step 3. Try the correct disc, if I remember right RA2 comes with 2 discs, installing from disc 1, if you inadvertantly inserted disc 2, it might not install.



Give us a shout if you need anymore help, and if this helped, please let us know, so we can help others with similar problems.

[siddyct]

Have Tried all that already thanks.
From several postings i found on web i have tried several answers including the following:

1. Installing in safe mode
2. every compatability setting available
3. deleting windows installer 3.1
4. Changing windows installer to automatic
5. uninstalling my antivirus
6. creating a cd image and mounting on clone drive

so far none have worked

[siddyct]

Also tried safedisc which also did not work.

[WhiteTib]

hmm

Tried the following ?
- uninstalling it (if you already have it installed), deleting the registry keys, and re-installing ?
- checked the disc in another pc ?
- reinstaled windows over the top of windows again ?

[siddyct]

disc works fine in friends pc. have not managed to install even once. im not gonna reinstall windows, dont really know how

[WhiteTib]

Checked that you have the latest directx installed ?
Also, please check that your videocard drivers are up-to-date.

Patch it: http://support.ea.com/cgi-bin/ea.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=1209&p_created=990565523&p_sid=invS5pCi&p_lva=794&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX 3Jvd19jbnQ9MTYmcF9wcm9kcz03LDM0MywzNTAmcF9jYXRzPTU 2NiZwX3B2PTMuMzUwJnBfY3Y9MS41NjYmcF9wYWdlPTEmcF9zZ WFyY2hfdGV4dD11cGRhdGU*&p_li=&p_topview=1
(Thanks to Couriant for the link).

Could also be XP Service Pack3... but I can cover that in another post in more detail, and how to remove it (to see if you can get RA2 running that way).


EDIT:
I also noticed while googling, this thread.
http://forums.techguy.org/games/864246-red-alert-2-xp-install.html

You don't mention here that your sound icon isn't working, so I suggest you update your soundcard drivers too.

ANOTHER EDIT:
If you have a windows 98 disc, you could always try this software at http://www.virtualbox.org/ and then install windows 98 into the virtualbox (doesn't ruin your xp settings, and looks like you run windows 98 as a program in a window), and you can try the install in there.

FINAL EDIT:
You might also want to try this thread.
http://forums.techguy.org/games/475097-red-alert-2-upgrade-connection.html
This guy actually has RA2 running on XP.

[Tore]

I think your disk is broken because RA2 was made work for Windows 2000/XP/ME/98 so it should work fine.

RA2 even works fine on Vista and 7!

And by the way Service pack 3 doesn't stop anything from working -_-

[WhiteTib]

I think your disk is broken because RA2 was made work for Windows 2000/XP/ME/98 so it should work fine.

RA2 even works fine on Vista and 7!

I did consider that in the beginning, until I spotted that it works in a different machine, which is why i asked about trying different cds in the pc.


And by the way Service pack 3 doesn't stop anything from working -_-
erm...

http://techbytes.wuz-up.com/2008/05/windows-xp-service-pack-3-breaks-stuff.html

http://windowssecrets.com/2008/09/11/02-Dont-let-XP-Service-Pack-3-hose-your-system

http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/archive/index.php/t-111185.html

[chickendippers]

I'm running SP3, no problems here :)

[siddyct]

Thanks for all the help guys but ive just given up. I started playing c&c 3 again. It works straight away and this is just too frustrating

[Tore]

I did consider that in the beginning, until I spotted that it works in a different machine, which is why i asked about trying different cds in the pc.


erm...

http://techbytes.wuz-up.com/2008/05/windows-xp-service-pack-3-breaks-stuff.html

http://windowssecrets.com/2008/09/11/02-Dont-let-XP-Service-Pack-3-hose-your-system

http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/archive/index.php/t-111185.html

There is something called Windows Update USE IT.

I have Service Pack 3 installed on 3 computers, there are no issues at all.

Most of the issues with SP3 has been fixed.

[WhiteTib]

There is something called Windows Update USE IT.

I have Service Pack 3 installed on 3 computers, there are no issues at all.

Most of the issues with SP3 has been fixed.
While I appreciate the fact that you have made comments, I think the comments you have made here, are off-topic, and that the original poster would have preferred positive input into getting RA2 working... instead of criticising my advice.

PS..... there is also something called LINUX. (Not all of us use windows).


Thanks for all the help guys but ive just given up. I started playing c&c 3 again. It works straight away and this is just too frustrating

Sorry we couldn't help, and it's disappointing that EA Support doesn't help anymore, but glad you got a game working, and hope you have fun playing it :)

[Nyerguds]

Messing around with installing RA2 in Wine is really totally unrelated to this topic, WhiteTib :p

[WhiteTib]

Messing around with installing RA2 in Wine is really totally unrelated to this topic, WhiteTib :p
Agreed, which is why I didn't mess around with Wine and RA2 during the course of this topic.

VirtualBox is where it's at, and I am a competent Win XP user anyway, and a veteran at TS, RA2, and other CnC related games.

Any tips I have given here, have been provided through my extensive knowledge of XP and RA2. Any other information I have googled I have given credit to the original author.

Thanks for your comments. :)

[Nyerguds]

Once you're talking about virtual machines, you can just as well install service packs on them -_-