18 replies to this topic

[Crisis]

This seems to be working, but it'd be nice if some other people could try it out, I'm also not sure if the patch mentioned here is supported by xwis, but it's the only thing that seems to work so far. 
 

Snagged this from the Tiberian Sun section and updated for Yuris (haven't tried ra2 yet, but it seems to be working):
1. Copy the directory Red Alert 2 (Typically found in C:\Program Files (x86)) to somewhere outside of Program Files
2. Download the graphics patch from http://www.stuffhost.de/files/cnc/ and extract it into the directory that you just moved
3. Rename Yuri's Revenge to gamemd.exe, then run the patch to patch the game (likewise for ra2, rename to game.exe)
4. Download http://bitpatch.com/ddwrapper.html zip file and extract the files to the directory that you've patched the game in
5. Edit aqrit.cfg in notepad and change these two settings to 1 as in below: 

NoVideoMemory = 1

forcedirectdrawemulation = 1
6. Create a shortcut to the game and move it to your desktop
7. Go to properties and in 'Target' add at the end after " add -win
example Target: "C:\Users\Roberto\Desktop\Red Alert 2\gamemd.exe" -win
note the space between gamemd.exe" and -win
8. In the same Properties Tab:

Compatibility : Win Xp Service pack 2 (Seems to be most stable)

Reduced colour mode : 16bit

Run as Administrator
9. (Optional) Edit .ini file to change the resolution
10. Play the game

Notes: I've noticed that once you've open it, you can't alt-tab out, it just seems to break Windows.
The screen will be very small until a game begins, around it will be black that will flicker back to your desktop when you move over it, do not click into that black or it'll break Windows
To exit the game, exit through the menu, not through Ctrl-Alt-Del
It seems to be working, but I haven't had the chance to play online, also after you patch the game you can name it back to Red Alert 2 or Yuri's Revenge

Edited by Crisis, 24 August 2013 - 04:42 AM.

[Seke]

I'm glad you're smart. Anyone else that would have written this would have done a horrible job. I hope this works... I just texted Frank to try it out.

[Crisis]

It seems to be working better for ra2 than for yuri's actually

[Seke]

It seems to be working better for ra2 than for yuri's actually

 

Oh, bad for YR players

[FReQuEnZy]

Does it work if you don't run it in a window?

[Crisis]

No, the -win part is probably the most important part. With this alone it seems to work, yuri's was just going very slow for me without the graphics patch. Also, this setup seems to make ra2 work without the problems I was seeing on yuri's so it's basically like playing ra2 normally, but you still can't alt-tab out of the game I guess.

Edited by Crisis, 24 August 2013 - 03:59 PM.

[Crisis]

I can't seem to connect to people while trying to play online though, has anyone else tried this yet? 

[Crisis]

Port forwarding doesn't seem to help either

[FReQuEnZy]

Try, firewall, windows defender, turn off UAC.

[kab00m4u]

Doesnt even work for TS

[Crisis]

Doesnt even work for TS

Really? It fixes the no menu problem in ra2/yuris, and I'm able to play single player skirmish at least so far.

Try, firewall, windows defender, turn off UAC.

None of those worked either, I've also tried setting my computer up for DMZ but that didn't work either. 

[Rocker219]

If this doesn't fix the problem with using auto ss or new maps ide just recommend buy tfd (Sorry crisis)

 

I tried it, ra2 just froze

Edited by Phoenix123, 01 September 2013 - 08:28 PM.

[Crisis]

You followed all of the steps? I have tfd and don't really care much for playing the games anyways (stopped playing for like 3 years before coming back) but it'd be cool if the supported version worked on Windows 8. All of the menus appear for me and with the graphics patch the game runs smoothly in skirmish, but I can't connect to anyone online using this method. 

[FReQuEnZy]

Can you try going to device manager and turning off all the unnecessary adapters, virtual adapters and tunnels?

Then check properties on your default connection and disable everything that you don't use, besides what provides your internet connectivity? 

I only have ipv4 on my connection and the rest of the stuff is disabled, just through the belief that it's the most optimal and reduces loading/connection time and provides a more efficient bandwidth management. 

 

I also use custom settings through 'tcp optimizer'. The optimizer provides an easy gui for setting registry keys for network settings.

[Crisis]

I'll try that out when I have some time.

[xTheEntertainer]

I LOVE YOU *___*

I finally got the game to work as it should.

THANK YOU SO MUCH !!!!! 

Edit: After I wrote this comment I got several Problems with the Menu, It just disappears. 
Thought it was fixed .___.

Edited by xTheEntertainer, 04 September 2013 - 11:35 PM.

[Crisis]

You can't alt-tab out or click outside of the ra2 window, very important. It's in Windowed mode meaning it's a separate window, but the settings changed in aqrit.cfg make the windowed mode suck hard (but it also speeds the game up, at least for me). So if you want I would suggest exiting the game through the exit button in the menu. Also you should change the resolution so that the windowed mode is larger so that you're less likely to click outside of the main ra2 window. LEt me know if you can connect to anyone online too if you ever try (would appreciate that a lot). 

Edited by Crisis, 04 September 2013 - 11:41 PM.

[xTheEntertainer]

So I tried the whole night now.
I tried without windowed mode.
At first it went perfect. It worked without problems but after starting a second skirmish it freezed again.
Then I tried everything with the window. If i change the resolution to 1366x768 it is too big and I can't use the Taskbar ingame anymore.
And if the Resolution is too small I have the same problems like you. Clicking outside. 
The thing that makes me wonder is that I can actually play online as usual.
And what makes me wonder even more is that If I don't use the windowed mode I can play online but I can't play skirmish or campaign. 

[FReQuEnZy]

Blame westwood, it's their crappy coding in the game engine. The bugs with the game never make any sense.