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I have a perfectly good copy of EU2 (it works on this computer), but when I install it on my laptop (XP, 1.8 ghz, P3, plenty of ram- all the requisite system requirements), it installs fine, but when I tell it to run...the drive makes the traditional noise but nothing happens. The program never starts.

Please help, because I have recently become addicted to this game, and I will need it to play on my laptop.
 
Almost certainly the binkplay issue. Either rename the EU2\avi folder to \avi_old or download the optional Windows update fix that corrects it.

If that doesn't fix it, let me know and we'll take it from there. :)
 
It did not do the trick. I go into Strategy First, then into Europa Universalis 2, and re-name the 'avi' folder to 'avi_old', correct?

Where can I find this windows update fix?

You seem like you've seen this particular problem before- if it is really this "binkplay" thing, is there any way I can forego it entirely? I've seen the intro already...
 
By renaming the avi folder to avi_old you will disable binkplay and avoid the intro "movie" which can cause problems on a few systems.

The Windows Update is something you should do often (at least once a week is a good idea). It will probably be somewhere on your start menu, but if not just go to...

http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/

Click on the "scan for updates" button/link and let Windows determine if you need to download any critical updates. If so, you'll probably have to do those first and then reboot. Once that's done, come back to the update site and run the "scan" again. On the left you should see three subsections of update...critical updates, Windows XP updates, and driver updates. In the Windows updates section (just click on it) you will (probably) see a number of options. Download them all (it won't hurt) unless the description says something that you know you don't need. You should also always download and install anything in the critical update area and the driver update area.

You may have to do this a few times since some updates have to be installed one at a time by themselves.

This may seem a little confusing to read, but you'll understand what I mean when you see the web page. :)

Try that and see if that fixes your problems. 99% of the time it will.
 
No problem. Let me know how it goes. :)
 
Well, it did not do the trick.

I've downloaded everything Windows Update tells me is available, I've renamed the folder to avi_old, and the game still does not run. The autorun display comes up (play, uninstall, register, etc) but after hitting "Play", the hard drive revs up like it is going to do something, but doesn't.

The CD installed fine on the desktop I have at home, and the laptop here exceeds all the necessary system requirements, so I am struggling to come up with a solution.
 
Okay...let's move on to the next set of possibilities then.

I'll need a fairly detailed system description, please. Can you please run DirectX diagnostics (Start-->run-->dxdiag.exe) and then tell me the following:

DirectX (current version and build):

Sound card (type, driver version and build):

Video card (type, driver version and build):

Could you also confirm that when you say "plenty of RAM" you have at least 256Mb...and that you have at least a decent amount of free hard drive space available.

Last question (for now) is what video properties do you currently have set for your desktop/system? (right click anywhere on your empty desktop and select properties and then the settings tab...you should see resolution and colour depth listed there)

My guess is that you most likely have an out-of-date video driver since Windows update does not automatically update it (it tries to but doesn't usually do a very good job of it) and that this is somehow causing a crash with your version of DirectX when certain instructions are sent by the EU2 program code. It could also be a CODEC issue so make sure you've dowloaded those if any appear in the "recommended updates" section when you run Windows update.

I'll give you a couple possible fix solutions once I've got the above information.
 
By the way...if you haven't done so already you should also do a complete uninstall and reinstall too, just in case the initial installation went awry for some reason.
 
Pentium 3, 1000 MHZ
256 megabyes of RAM.
I've got around 22 gigs of memory unused.



DirectX version 8.1 (4.08.01.0810)

Sound:
Crystal WDM Audio, version 6.13.10.4151

Video:
Radeon Mobility, version 6.13.10.3293

The screen settings are 1024 by 768, highest quality color (32 bit)
 
That's strange...

IBM (I'm assuming that your laptop is a ThinkPad?) lists the 6.13.10.4143.0313 driver to be the most current version for your audio set up with XP and I can't determine from the info you've given as to what the correct video driver should be. Could you either give me the exact model number of your laptop or check the IBM Diver Matrix for your system to double check that everything's current.

Did you try the uninstall/reinstall suggestion?

Also, are you trying to run EU2 at a higher res than 800x600 at the moment? If so, try dropping it down to that and see if that's the issue.

Fear not, I may have to go through a series of potential fixes and I may have to ask you a bunch of questions, but we'll get you sorted out and playing in the end. :)
 
Okay. Have you gone to Dell's site to confirm that the drivers are definitely current? https://support.dell.com/register.aspx I had a quick look there but couldn't locate the model number you posted so I couldn't check what they think are the current drivers for your sound and video.

When you run the various DirectX diagnostic tests do you get any sort of errors reported there?

Do you have any other peripheral devices attached that might somehow be interfering? I'm thinking of things like external USB devices, joystick, etc. that might be charing the same IRQ. Do you have any unnecessary TSRs running in the background by any chance?

Am I correct in understanding that you have this same problem whether you just insert the CD and press "play" on the autorun pop-up or whether you use the desktop icon to launch it?

Do you get any signs whatsoever of any progress in loading? Does the screen shift to full-screen black, does it flicker at all, or does it fail to launch anything at all other than to spin your CD-ROM? You might try disabling autoplay on the CD-ROM in case there's a strange error occuring there.

One last series of questions (for now ;))...did you use the default installation path (C:\Program Files\Strategy First\Europa Universalis 2\ ) and could you check your desktop shortcut properties to make sure that it is pointing to the exe file with that path?

I guess most importantly right now (assuming that all drivers are current and that DirectX thinks it's working properly) is to give me as precise a description of exactly how far the launch process is getting before it fails so I can get a better handle on what the most likely culprit is.

Thanks for your patience. :)
 
Updated sound and video drivers. Found no errors in diagnostic. Unplugged everything optional. Ritual scarred myself in appeal to Sky Gods. It's in the right, default location.

I don't know how to disable autorun, so that might still work.

Exactly what happens is: I click on "Play" for an autorun or I click on the EU2 program icon, the CD spins for a little while. Then it stops spinning. Sometimes this is followed by clicking noises. Nothing other than that happens.

On the computer where the game worked, it span the CD, made the clicking noises, went quiet, and then the program popped up.
 
This sounds suspiciously like there's somehow a conflict in the copy protection of the CD since it's not even getting to the initial launch phase. I have seen one or two instances of this in the past and Strategy First has been able to help out the customer by proving a possible work-around solution. You will have to contact them directly to get this, however, so your next step is as follows:

Go to the Strategy First Support page and fill out the support request there. When you do so, tell them that you've already been working on this problem with us and provide them with a url link to this thread so they can check it out quickly. They should respond to you fairly quickly (usually within a couple days) and will likely require a proof of purchase to be faxed to them before they release the work-around.

Let me know if you run into any problems.

One thing you can try first (although I suspect it won't work) is to disable autoplay on the CD by doing the following:

Remove any CD from the CD-ROM
Start-->My Computer
Right click on the CD-ROM and select "Properties"
Choose the "Autoplay" tab
From the drop-down menu select "Mixed Content"
Click the "Select Action to Perform" button
Highlight "Take No Action"
Click "Apply" and then close the window.

As I say, I don't think that's going to work in this particular situation, but it will take only a moment to test so it's worth a shot before you contact SF.
 
It's probably been a fairly busy period for them immediately after Christmastime. I just sent a friendly e-mail to see if that might help too. :)
 
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