Hope this interests at least someone (report on my XP successes)

Les_the_Sarge_9_1 · Post by **Les_the_Sarge_9_1** » Wed Dec 12, 2001 10:39 am

Drat.
The old phrase, if it ain't broke don't fix it sure applies here.

I went and re installed Steel Panthers 3 just to see if I could be a bit more helpful (by noting the steps taken). Well it installs ok...I guess. Runs ok... I guess. Sound is a bit messed up now though.

That will likely be its doom for me.

But yes it does indeed install with no weird gyrations on my part. Mouse movement is curiously sluggish (can't understand that part).

It is annoying. The game allows me to play WWII into modern era at a level more akin to platoon than squad level actions. But I have to say, after all this time of playing Steel Panthers WAW, I sure am spoiled. The graphics of SP3 sure don't do much to inspire.

I have the game currently uninstalled. It might even stay that way. The game just doesn't have the needed panache to get more devotion from me.

Been re-installing a few other older wargames/non wargames. Wish I knew more about software. It sure is a hit and miss effort. Thankfully Steel Panthers WaW works great on XP.

My Operational Art of War Volume 1 Elite Edition w/DirectX patch (that fixed a Direct X problem) doesn't seem to mean much to XP, can't get it to run. Currently haven't found how to solve that hurdle. My Volume 2 Art of War cd works though.

The computer was a bit lippy installing my SimCity 2000.
Totally gave me the finger installing my Hoyle Solitaire, won't cooperate at all.
Runs my Axis and Allies Iron Blitz just fine.
I installed a compilation 2 cd set from Talonsoft, their East Front II and West Front product (which I originally thought was defective, maybe it was my old cd drive as I have a burner drive now).
Just installed my Railroad Tycoon II Gold edition fine (and it was problematic before (again might have been cd rom).
My Age of Wonders installed with no effort at all.
Civilization 3 was an easy install, but graphics were fouled till I used the Compatibility feature of XP on the games .exec file to run it.
Call To Power 2 no problems (other than a fouled first install attempt).
Tried to Run both War In Russia and Pacific War that I downloaded from Matrix. Apologies guys, but the graphics and both the games in general, they both suck large. Who cares if they run.

Paul Vebber · Post by **Paul Vebber** » Wed Dec 12, 2001 6:41 pm

Thanks Sarge - this is interesting reading to me (and sure other XP users!)

Here's one for you - network cards ad XP, its as if my network card has been slowly degrading after I boot until after a few hours it loccks up and I have to reboot. I'm using a D-Link 10/100 Ethernet card and supposedly XP only likes certain cards...I'm still trying to get info on just what those are...Anybody know?

I also have occasional mouse difficulties, supposedly the new USB mice don;t have the problem, anybody on that one? It works fine in normal MS office apps, but goes snakey in some games.

Anyway even given that I have had MUCH less trouble with XP than either ME or 2K. When .1 drivers and service pack come out, this will be a must have.

We are working hard to ensure our games are all XP compatible. Most of us here ar matrix are shifting over to it as our primary OS.

vyrago · Post by **vyrago** » Wed Dec 12, 2001 9:54 pm

I cant get SP3 to run with XP. I can hear the intro sound in the background but all I get is a full black screen. Pressing space bar only seems to "stop" the intro music. Maybe its my Radeon?? Maybe its not VESA compatible?? Got any ideas????? My TOAW: Century of Warfare works ok. But then again, thats not DOS.

Paul Vebber · Post by **Paul Vebber** » Wed Dec 12, 2001 10:29 pm

I don't believe the Radeon has VESA compliant VGA drivers. I have the same problem with my Radeon all in wonder. Suposedly there is some utility out there that tricks teh system into thinking thereis a VESA compliant VGAmode and using generic Windows graphics drivers works, but I can't find it...I keep my old P166 for such emergencies...

Master Blaster · Post by **Master Blaster** » Thu Dec 13, 2001 8:42 pm

Paul,
there's a article in this months PC World magizine (pg 16 that covers the current crop of XP glitches.etc. It also lists web sites with patches etc....

Frank W. · Post by **Frank W.** » Thu Dec 13, 2001 10:45 pm

mmhhh...still wondering who needs this xp...

my friend just buyed a new pc w/ 1800 mhz. P4 and a geforce 3 (!!) card and win xp.

i wonder how slow the surface runs and starting and ending of the op. system takes longer than win ´98 on my P3 850. okay,i have 384mb ram and he only 256 - but,the proc is much faster than mine. everythings seems to be a little slower than my (optimated) win´98 system...

just some thoughts...

but the gf 3 card rocks....very fine grphics.

greetz
frank

moore4807 · Post by **moore4807** » Sat Dec 15, 2001 1:25 am

Paul,
to answer your question about XP & D-Link ethernet cards... I bought my kids a Gateway 500 1.8mhz computer 256K Ram 40Gig HD / GEForce 3 64mb Video card, I added D-Link card to it and bought Linksys combo hub/card to my old IBM 500mhz for cable modem sharing. The D-Link card does the same thing (fine 11mb connection -then within 1 hr definite slowing down of connection, then lockup) IBM still going strong downstairs... Only thing vexing me is that I upgraded to XP on the IBM because I couldnt get network printer to work (will tell me its printing to HP- then nothing but error messages...) upgrading to XP just bought me hours of frustration AND the printer troubleshooting section is worse than useless!
You are not alone!

Mesa · Post by **Mesa** » Sat Dec 15, 2001 7:03 am

I bought a second hand 8 Gbyte hard drive.
Has DOS6.22 on one partition, Win98SE on the second.

I was so scared when I got XP, which I despise. That nice little drive sits on a shelf and I pull the back off my machine and switch drives.

It isn't practical, but works with a minimum of fiddling, yes, really!

Now, I regret not using the little drive for XP, as it is the one on the shelf.

If I knew more, which I will soon enough, I would have both drives in at the same time, but I am too frightened of what kind of shit Bill Gates has pulled off in the big drive and am very reluctant to have the two drives in the machine at the same time.

Oh, I pulled the same off with an even smaller drive and stuck Linux Slackware on it.

Waaaay not practical. My kid hates me.

Les_the_Sarge_9_1 · Post by **Les_the_Sarge_9_1** » Sun Dec 16, 2001 12:24 am

I cant claim to be a power user (so hmm guess I wont heheh).

I dont think I can say with no reservations, that WIN XP Professional (which I am using) is perfect (but I never make statements like that).

But this much I can say. It runs, it continues to run, it hasnt stopped running once. Nothing I do makes any difference, I cant screw it up.

I have been using it for almost a month with absolutely no complaints (well ok it wont get me my waffles).

I dont have any ritsy add on hardware though. No outside the ordinary video or sound cards. My speakers are came with the system sort of speakers. I have a garden variety printer and it prints. I use an ordinary flatbed scanner that scans just fine. I have burned cds with my cd burner.

I use MS Office XP and I like using it (surprisingly). As my first post mentioned, I am able to install almost any atypical middle of the road game (and I aint thaaaaat brilliant at installing stuff, it has to be dang obvious for me to get it).

All I can say to those that dont like XP. It might not be XP that is causing your headaches. It is potentially that your hardware is not properly set up perhaps. Or you have in some way not properly installed some software.

This schmuck likes XP. And if this schmuck likes it, then thats high praise.

I partitioned my 40 gig drive "just to be safe". I have a 10 gig partition where Windows lives (along with my non game applications). I use the 30 gig secondary partition to put all my many games and bulky junk we all accumulate.

I can at a stroke format c and not lose the stuff on D (because it is after all not c). This was all done on the advice and with the help of my computer smart friend (I certainly didnt do all this partition stuff heheh).

My friend is a power user. If its new he wants it. He never buys "ordinary parts". He likes XP. It doesnt give him grief.

That is essentially it. A vote for XP from a schmuck, and a vote for XP from a demanding, game happy, need for speed, I have the latest doodad, user.

nyarlathotep · Post by **nyarlathotep** » Tue Dec 18, 2001 8:56 am

The computer was a bit lippy installing my SimCity 2000.
Totally gave me the finger installing my Hoyle Solitaire

Sounds to me you need less tweaking and more smacking. Show that p.o.s. who's boss ya know?

I abuse mine everyday just so it doesn't get any bright ideas.

Krec · Post by **Krec** » Mon Jan 07, 2002 11:54 am

Civ 3
spwaw
HOMM 3
Risk 2
SMACXC
JN Golf6
AOW

all no problems under XP

XP best winddows system yet, still no APPLE lol

Les_the_Sarge_9_1 · Post by **Les_the_Sarge_9_1** » Mon Jan 07, 2002 7:40 pm

Thought I would update my comments here. Experienced a relevant bit.

The other day my friend (the computer smart one) was attempting to remedy my scanner situation (it wont scan, thing might be dead for all I know). He attempted to install superior video drivers (one of many things we did, while investigating the matter).
The next day I went to play Steel Panthers, because lets face it, life isnt worth living if Steel Panthers wont run correct? And errr it wouldnt run.

What had happened is the computer had dumped the new drivers. Something I am told is not uncommon. Was a simple matter of looking in control panel and finding this out though.
That is essentially the point here.

I could have immediately paniced and assumed the fault lay with Steel Panthers (which would have been dumb). I could have thought "oh maybe I need to reinstall Steel Panthers" (which would have accomplished nothing). But really aaaaall I had to do was check and reload the driver (took me less time to do it than type this message).

And since so many users out there meddle with so many games and so many nifty must have devices, this should be the first place people suspect when software doesnt cooperate.

chief · Post by **chief** » Mon Jan 07, 2002 10:54 pm

Les the Sarge: Truer words were never uttered, as an analog technician for over 50 years I can attest to that statement. Thanks for bringing it to light. I'd like to say also, the more you add, the less you have. <img src="cool.gif" border="0"> <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0">