Be sure that your machine's capabilities don't exceed the following specs to ensure a more reliable experience. By today's standards, they are practically primitive and inexpensive:
- 2GHz Processor @ Dual Core Technology, preferably the older models, no need to overclock
- 4GB DDR2 (or if you're feeling lucky, DDR3) Memory RAM
- 128MB - 512MB Integrated Graphics
- 120GB - 500GB HDD (or if you're feeling lucky, SSD)
Believe it or not, this is still overdoing it. But if you intend to use this machine for other things than just playing AoE, it's better to have the cream of the proverbial crop regarding older tech. It's also good for recording AoE games with Fraps.
Step 2: For God's Sake, Make an .ISO
In order to make sure your CD/DVD/BD Drive doesn't run to the point that it goes kaput in a year or so, it's a good idea to make a virtual disc image (.iso, .mdx, etc.) from your genuine disc, then mounting it. It's easy and compact, also good for preserving your original discs.
If you need directions for that, I can elaborate. And yes it's perfectly legal for personal use (no sharing). A brand new copy of the Gold Edition is gonna set you back maybe no more than $15. The same goes for AoEII. eBay is your friend in these matters.
Using the original discs is an acceptable circumstance, but not ideal, as explained above.
At these specs, feel free to do a Full Install*. It's not gonna hurt anybody.
It is best to install it in the original Partition of your Hard Drive (by default it's
C:
), assuming you've made more than one.After installing, make sure you get Shortcuts. You can assign them to your Taskbar or Start Menu later.
Close the Installer and Restart Windows.
C:Program Files(x86)\Microsoft Games
]-After logging back into Windows, mount AoE and open it.
-When the intro starts, hit Alt+Tab.
-Then Ctrl+Alt+Del. It will bring up a Menu Screen.
-Select the ->
-In Task Manager, get the Processes Tab and find
explorer.exe
. Select it, and click 'End Process'.If you're new to this, don't panic. You just essentially closed Windows Explorer. Keep Task Manager open for now. Hit Alt+Tab again, and find the AoE icon for your opened game. Then, release after you found it. This will reopen it where the intro left off.
Now, there's a reason for this.
In AoE, AoEII and their Expansions, there are "Game Conundrums" in which the game doesn't know how to handle Windows 7's resolution and other things, sometimes unrelated things, so it does some goofy sh**. In AoE/RoR, it will mess with your Game Speed and occasionally make the graphics look even more primitive. Water will also look discolored or pixelated.
In AoEII/Conquerors, it will cause your screen to discolour. Some colours will seem off, textures will usually suck and the screen overall has this ugly discolored look, caused by the game conundrum with the Dirt/Grass/Snow/Water Graphics.
When you disable
explorer.exe
, it relieves the games of those conundrums. But it also comes at a "price". When disabling explorer.exe
, it closes all the Windows Folders you had opened and were viewing. So, if you were listening to a song you downloaded, etc., you'll have to get creative with opening a folder. If you have your web browser open, you can go to any free file sharing site and hit the Upload button that they usually have. Then, Right-Click Computer (C:)
or whatever and select "Open in new Window". And viola.Now, to enable explorer.exe, you can close the game or Alt-Tab out, then view your Task Manager that you kept open. Go to File ->
explorer.exe
. And that's that.It's a little annoying, at first, but this is a tried and true method to go by that I've done countless times.
Don't forget to download and install the
----
Let me know if this worked for you, and feel free to ask questions if you need to. I will also correct any mistakes/add/edit things if they fit in.
Steam: LtSurge695
[This message has been edited by LtSurge (edited 03-01-2013 @ 01:04 PM).]