Vista - A2 + FO Won't run

posted on August 7th, 2009, 8:29 pm

I've looked at several forums, and searched these, but I can't find identical/even remotely similar issues (with any solutions that is), so here I go..
Ok, I'll start with the fresh A2 install:

Whenever I do a clean install, when I attempt to run the game, I get a generic Vista audible alert, saying there was some sort of error (but I can't seem to tab to that error box, so I don't know what the actual message is).
I get the same error when trying to run it in: Admin/XP/2000/ect (anything except compatibility for 98/ME).
When i select it to run in compatibility mode with 98/ME, It 'does' run, but it starts out onto a blank map, covered by line of sight fog. If I click abort mission, it closes the program all together (if I hit restart mission, it goes straight to the Fed mission 1).
Well, that wouldn't be so bad, except... Every mission starts glitch lagging more and more.
Mission 1: 1 sec freeze up every 10-20 sec
Mission 2: 1-2 sec freeze up every 5-10 sec
Mission 3 3-5 sec freeze every 3-5 sec
(suffice it to say, I haven't made it past mission 3....)


Well, I check the web as much as possible, and find the 'unofficial' patch, to bring A2 functional with XP. When I install that, the game ceases to run at all...
I run A2, the process starts in the Task Manager, but the program never appears or shows up on the task bar. I even left it running for like 30 min once, just to see if 'maybe' it was just taking a ridiculous amount of time to load, but it doesn't >.<

The same thing happens with FO, the Armada2.exe starts running in the task manager, but never actually starts running....
I used to play this game all the time (previous system, XP before it crashed), and love this classic.

Currently using:
Windows Vista 32 bit 2gb Ram
Radeon 2600XT Card
Everything is fully updated, including newest Graphic's drivers.

Any thoughts?

posted on August 7th, 2009, 10:17 pm

Silly question, but are you playing with Fleet Operations version 3.0.6+7?

posted on August 7th, 2009, 11:02 pm

u dont need to install A2 before installing FO. Its like an own game. FO just needs your A2 CD in your drive.

posted on August 7th, 2009, 11:45 pm

Yes, and don't install FO in the same folder as A2.

[DarthThanatos]

posted on August 7th, 2009, 11:47 pm

Last edited by DarthThanatos on August 7th, 2009, 11:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I'm not sure it helps but...

Try to run the install program as administrator, not as a normal user. Sometimes that makes the difference.

Instead of double clicking the executable, right click on it and select "Run as Administrator".

I installed FO on my parents' computer (which runs Vista Home Basic) and I think I had to install it this way, and specially NOT in the "Program Files" folder.

posted on August 7th, 2009, 11:58 pm

Silly question, but are you playing with Fleet Operations version 3.0.6+7?

Had to look in recycle bin (deleted them all to try again), but the one I installed was 3.0.7.

u dont need to install A2 before installing FO. Its like an own game. FO just needs your A2 CD in your drive.

Yes, and don't install FO in the same folder as A2.

Yea, I read the instructions, and same folder was near the top of the warning lists.
And yea, I saw that about the not needing A2, just the CD.
Was mainly just pointing out that identical things are happening to both Armada2 (post 'unofficial patch) and FO.

I'm not sure it helps but...

Try to run the install program as administrator, not as a normal user. Sometimes that makes the difference.

Instead of double clicking the executable, right click on it and select "Run as Administrator".

I installed FO on my parents' computer (which runs Vista Home Basic) and I think I had to install it this way, and specially NOT in the "Program Files" folder.

I have only 1 profile on this computer, so everything is always ran as administrator.

I think the problem is something more basic than an issue with the FO install, but its a problem that affects FO + A2 (both 'run' but don't actually start...)

posted on August 8th, 2009, 12:06 am

Was hoping some of the keywords for the problem would be helpful..
1: W/O unofficial patch, the game will run w/ compat 98/ME but when game starts, it skips the main menu, and starts off on a blank map.
2: Game freezes/lags every few seconds.
3: W unofficial patch the game process will start, but it never appears on start menu.

4: FO acts just like A2 w/ Unofficial patch

posted on August 8th, 2009, 12:16 am

My parents' computer has only one visible profile too, without Admin privileges. Admin is usually hidden in Vista for security reasons.

posted on August 8th, 2009, 12:28 am

Maybe your game itself is corrupt... not sure what's going on honestly. 

[DarthThanatos]

posted on August 8th, 2009, 12:39 am

Last edited by DarthThanatos on August 8th, 2009, 12:41 am, edited 1 time in total.

Hmmm...

Not so sure. First thing most installers do is a self check, and won't run if the exe is corrupt. And if the game CD was scratched it simply wouldn't finish the install.

But downloading the FO install another time might be a good idea.

As I said, I played FO in a computer running Vista Home Basic with 768 Mb RAM without problems.

EDIT: Make sure Vista is up to date with the Micro$oft update. May be there is some patch that needs to be applied.

posted on August 8th, 2009, 12:55 am

Well, the corrupt CD theory 'shouldnt' affect FO, as the only file that is required from the original is the exe correct?
And yea, Vista is fully up-to-date (OS came with comp, so no authentication issue), updates daily...

Its been so long, but I remember having to do 'something' with XP to get A2 to play... I just can't for the life of me remember what it was......

[Diabolical]

posted on August 8th, 2009, 1:20 am

Last edited by Diabolical on August 8th, 2009, 2:24 am, edited 1 time in total.

Or how about this, is there any way to set A2 to run in windowed mode? Then I could at least see what the error message is saying, and possibly linking it to a solution.
I changed one of the graphic's settings in the menu a few minutes ago, and it immediately crashed out, and I haven't been able to load it again (uninstall/reinstall I guess, unless there's a way to change the settings from one of the .txt openable files..)

[s]LOL
Found a program to bypass fullscreen programs, and it turns out, Its apparently an issue with screen resolution.......... >..< I'm doomed..

posted on August 8th, 2009, 4:08 am

What graphics card do you have in your computer and how does it conect to the mother board?
It may not be a good enough card

also, you might want to check if all of the video cards drivers are up to date

don't know if this is the problem, but I know graphics cards can cause the strangest errors

posted on August 8th, 2009, 5:25 am

  Do you have DX9 installed ? Vista comes with DX10 if i remember correctly. The game needs at least DX8 (included in DX9)

posted on August 8th, 2009, 5:55 am

What graphics card do you have in your computer and how does it conect to the mother board?
It may not be a good enough card

also, you might want to check if all of the video cards drivers are up to date

don't know if this is the problem, but I know graphics cards can cause the strangest errors

I was answered in the OP, but I'm using Vista 32 w/ 2g ram
If the OS itself wasn't a measure of the performance level of the card (IE Vista)
Its a Radeon 2600XT, which is a PCIe card.

As for DX, Yea, I think Vista comes standard with DX10, but other than attempting to manually install the DX from the game CD, I'm not sure exactly how to roll back a DX installation.