I originally had civ installed on a secondary partition (D: ). It was patched up to 1.61 when I installed BTS.

I generally run as a Limited account in Vista for good security hygiene reasons. Civ IV was always perfectly happy with this. When I installed BTS, I used the UAC prompt to escalate to an Admin account, and BTS seemed to install fine. However, *every single time* I try to run BTS, I get UAC prompts for privilege escalation. This happens even when I'm logged in as an Admin primary user.

I have tried uninstalling BTS and reinstalling while logged in as a primary admin and it hasn't helped at all.

Are other people getting this behaviour? It's unacceptable for a brand-new game to require Admin privileges to run, especially since Civ IV without the expansion handled this perfectly fine.

Have they fixed the issue of unusable voice capture device? I'm running Vista 32 bit and everytime I start Warlords, I get 3 prompts about an unusable voice capture device. I click OK on the warnings and then the game plays fine, it's annoying. I was hoping for better Vista support.

Well, I don't get any messages about that. I haven't installed xfire, don't know if that makes a difference.

The voice capture thing might be a hardware-specific issue in any case?

It very well could be a hardware issue. I'm very curious about this admin issue. Since this is a "Games For Windows" title, there are very strict guidelines that must be followed.

Platform standards

Games which wish to be included in the Games for Windows platform must meet certain requirements regulated by Microsoft. These include but are not limited to:

* An "Easy Install" option that installs the title on your PC in the fewest possible steps and mouse clicks
* Compatibility with the Windows Vista Games Explorer (see below)
* Compatibility with the Xbox 360 controller (where applicable)
* Installs and runs properly on x64 versions of Windows Vista and is compatible with 64-bit processors (though the game itself can be 32-bit)
* Supports normal and widescreen resolutions, such as 4:3 aspect ratio (800 x 600), 16:9 aspect ratio (1280 x 720), and 16:10 aspect ratio (1152 x 720)
* Launching from Media Center (Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate have Media Center)

While not a required feature at this time, some Games For Windows certified games are playable during the game's installation, making PC games more convenient and more similar to console games, in that players aren't required to wait until the game's installation is complete before they can play the game. This feature is known as Tray and Play, and is available in Halo 2 for Vista.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Games_for_Windows

Update: even after installing BTS, I can still run Civ IV vanilla without needing privilege escalation.

However, BTS requires privilege escalation, no matter whether I start it from the Games browser, Media Center, or CD Autoplay launcher.

By the way, I'm running Vista 32-bit Ultimate.

I have this same problem. I notice one more thing I HAVEN'T ICON for CIV:BtS all the time when I want play I must use autostart option from disc. I try create shortcut manualy (succesfuly) but still I need admin priv. to start game. I use Vista Home Premium on Acer laptop Aspire 5630.

I have this same problem. I notice one more thing I HAVEN'T ICON for CIV:BtS all the time when I want play I must use autostart option from disc. I try create shortcut manualy (succesfuly) but still I need admin priv. to start game. I use Vista Home Premium on Acer laptop Aspire 5630.

I don't have a Start Menu icon, but the game did add itself to the Vista games menu... did you get that?

I don't have a Start Menu icon, but the game did add itself to the Vista games menu... did you get that?

I use Vista 64 Ultimate, no desktop icon or start menu group, just the shortcut on the game menu; I think it's by design.
Same for UAC every time I run BTW, while vanilla and warlords work without UAC.

I use Vista 64 Ultimate, no desktop icon or start menu group, just the shortcut on the game menu; I think it's by design.
Same for UAC every time I run BTW, while vanilla and warlords work without UAC.

Same for me.

Hmm. Well, I'm satisfied with the icon situation; I agree that it's a design decision, and I'm happy with it.

But I really hope that some forthcoming patch will allow BTS to run without needing escalation.

Are there any Firaxians around who can clarify why BTS is requesting admin rights? I find it curious that Warlords didn't need it (I don't have Warlords myself).

I haven't any CIV4:BtS icon on my desktop or on program list. I've Programs\FiraxisGames\CivilizationChronicles
.............\.................\Civilization 4
..............\.................\Civilization 4:Warlords

but I have not Civilizaton 4: Beyond the Sword

all the time I must use autoplay from DVD or shortcut (create by me). This extension pack has more bugs to repair.

Hi Sebastian.

You're running Vista Home Premium, right? If you have the Vista-style Start menu turned on, when you click on the Start button you should see an item labelled "Games" on the right hand side, along with Documents, Control Panel, Computer etc.

If you click on that, you should get a window that pops up with a list of games installed on your computer. (Most "big name" games will automatically show up on that list, but old games and games from minor publishers may need to be added manually). Anyway, the shortcut for Beyond the Sword should be in there.

If you have the Start Menu set to "Classic" style rather than Vista-style, that may explain your lack of shortcuts...

I've just installed BTS on Win XP SP2 and it also seems to require admin rights to run.

If I try to run under a limited user then it bombs out just after the 'Loading' screen and I get a message from the OS that the program has encountered an error and do I want to send the details to Microsoft. If I run it under my admin user then it starts fine. Vanilla still runs fine under the limited user.

sapphire_wyvern you have right. When I change taskbar style from classic to vista I found CIV4:BtS icon :D. Next bug to repair. Did Firaxis hired some people from Microsoft? There is so many stupid bugs......?

I've just installed BTS on Win XP SP2 and it also seems to require admin rights to run.

If I try to run under a limited user then it bombs out just after the 'Loading' screen and I get a message from the OS that the program has encountered an error and do I want to send the details to Microsoft. If I run it under my admin user then it starts fine. Vanilla still runs fine under the limited user.

Hmm... is that the "Loading" screen with no progress bar and "Loading" in multiple languages? That would be the MacroVision SafeDisc copy protection flash screen. I wonder if BTS is using a new version that requires admin rights?

I generally prefer to remove disc checks from my games, since having paid full retail price, I will not settle for a product that's inferior to a pirate version (ie, one that requires me to carry optical discs around with my laptop) - and I have noticed that the first loading screen disappears when I do so. I will certainly check to see if removing SafeDisc clears up this admin rights issue.

If the game needs admin rights for copy protection reasons alone, that would be even more infuriating than having sloppy but actually gameplay-related code which requires admin rights...

(Note: I strongly advocate purchasing legitimate copies of games, and am strongly against software piracy. Please don't mistake any content of this post as endorsement for piracy.)

Hmm... is that the "Loading" screen with no progress bar and "Loading" in multiple languages? That would be the MacroVision SafeDisc copy protection flash screen. I wonder if BTS is using a new version that requires admin rights?

Yes I get the screen with 'Loading' in multiple languages and then it bombs out.

If it's the copy protection causing the problem then we may not have much chance of getting the problem fixed. Presumably they would have to issue a new DVD with a patched copy protection. :(

Can you see those flying porcines going by the window?

Haay guys^^

Games for Windows doesn't allow games to install desktop icons on the desktop; go to game explorer or online media to check play the game

And about the pop-up you're recieving when running BtS, check your permissions or allowances to turn that off.

You have to remember that BtS is one of the first games released on the GFW label, so alot of people don't know about this.

Hi necbone.

If Firaxis can tell me which specific folder permissions to grant, I will happily do so.

On the other hand, if anyone thinks I should disable computer-wide security escalation mechanisms for the benefit of a game that (for no obvious reason) does not follow Windows application guidelines, I'm afraid that is not good advice at all....

@Sam: sounds like it's getting past the security check and then bombing out when it starts to load. Hmm, wonder if it's something to do with registry access... does anyone know of a tool that allows you to find out exactly what permissions a program needs so that I can manually configure persistent permissions? UAC prompts aren't exactly rich in technical detail.

Hmm, wonder if it's something to do with registry access... does anyone know of a tool that allows you to find out exactly what permissions a program needs so that I can manually configure persistent permissions? UAC prompts aren't exactly rich in technical detail.

Regmon from Systernals is a free tool that allows you to see which registry entries a program is making. I'll need to have a play with it.

I'm on home premium and I've got the same problems.
- Civ-Vanilla starts without problems.
- Civ-Warlords iirc used to have a UAC but now doesn't (maybe due a later patch)
- Civ-BTS does not start without UAC interference.

I've looked all over the net for tips and tricks with UAC, but so far I haven't been able to come up with much.
- You can disable the UAC in the control panel, but that is not really a solution to this problem.
- It seems that in Ultimate and Business you can also decrease the security policy so that you do not have elevated UAC warnings as an administrator and you can automatically continue.... however, that is also not a solution as it effects all programs.


It's easy to see which programs have UAC interference, namely, the windows shield icon hovering over the program icon. If I check the Civ-Vanilla and Civ-Warlords executables, I see no such icon. When I check the Civ-BTS executable I do see the UAC windows icon hovering over it. Of course, the shortcut just inherits the status of the executable so that requires UAC permission as well.

It should be possible to have a safelist of individual programs which can by-pass UAC because this is sort of rediculous. I know UAC enhances security and therefore I do not wish to disable it permanently, but it should at least be editable to allow execution of those programs which YOU trust.

If anyone can come up with a "windows only" resolution to this problem I'd like to hear it (I will not use third party programs to bypass the UAC).
I'm certain that Firaxis can fix this in the next BTS patch, since UAC checks can be coded, probably in a dll or such.

I'm on home premium and I've got the same problems.
- Civ-Vanilla starts without problems.
- Civ-Warlords iirc used to have a UAC but now doesn't (maybe due a later patch)
- Civ-BTS does not start without UAC interference.

I've looked all over the net for tips and tricks with UAC, but so far I haven't been able to come up with much.
- You can disable the UAC in the control panel, but that is not really a solution to this problem.
- It seems that in Ultimate and Business you can also decrease the security policy so that you do not have elevated UAC warnings as an administrator and you can automatically continue.... however, that is also not a solution as it effects all programs.


Correct on both counts. Also, that latter solution only works for people who are running admin accounts already; I prefer the extra robustness of authenticating rather than just clicking "Continue". (Of course, this means that I'm suffering slightly more than most Vista users from this problem due to my own choices. I accept this.)


It's easy to see which programs have UAC interference, namely, the windows shield icon hovering over the program icon. If I check the Civ-Vanilla and Civ-Warlords executables, I see no such icon. When I check the Civ-BTS executable I do see the UAC windows icon hovering over it. Of course, the shortcut just inherits the status of the executable so that requires UAC permission as well.

Interestingly, the shield only shows up the first time you run BTS; the icon doesn't have it until it triggers UAC for the first time. Hmm, idle speculation time: I wonder if Windows assumes that a program which needs UAC once will always need it in the future, or checks each time?

It should be possible to have a safelist of individual programs which can by-pass UAC because this is sort of rediculous. I know UAC enhances security and therefore I do not wish to disable it permanently, but it should at least be editable to allow execution of those programs which YOU trust.

Interesting idea... maybe in Vista SP1? :)

If anyone can come up with a "windows only" resolution to this problem I'd like to hear it (I will not use third party programs to bypass the UAC).
I'm certain that Firaxis can fix this in the next BTS patch, since UAC checks can be coded, probably in a dll or such.

I agree that in principle, Firaxis should be able to fix this. It's certainly my preferred solution. I'm a little concerned that this thread hasn't made it into the consolidated bug list. Don't the forum admins consider this behaviour a defect of the software?

Heh. I just thought of something "funny".

One of the requirements mentioned earlier of the "Games For Windows" logo is that the game support & implement Vista's parental controls system. Ie, a parent should be able to say that kids can only play games of a certain rating, or set time limits as to when the game is accessible. I haven't explored the full capabilities much because I have my own computer and am a single adult.

But BTS requires admin privileges to run, which means that anyone capable of starting the game knows the logon credentials for an account with full control of the computer. Which means that anyone who can start the game, can turn off the parental controls. And anyone who would be affected by parental controls, can't start the game.

So... requiring admin rights defeats one of the selling points of Games For Windows. Ironic.

This bug also means that the game can't be used in net cafes, etc. (I know, I know, the EULA forbids that anyway). Hardly any net cafes would give their customers admin privileges...

Interestingly, the shield only shows up the first time you run BTS; the icon doesn't have it until it triggers UAC for the first time. Hmm, idle speculation time: I wonder if Windows assumes that a program which needs UAC once will always need it in the future, or checks each time?I don't understand the triggers for the enabling of UAC because some random tools which I have from work are never checked and they're not likely to be recognised by Vista/UAC as safe. I'm more inclined to think that this issue arose because BTS is made exactly for Games For Windows and as such requires some sort of Administrative Powers to set the parental controls. Subsequently it would mean that Firaxis overlooked something in that process and BTS triggers the UAC.


I agree that in principle, Firaxis should be able to fix this. It's certainly my preferred solution. I'm a little concerned that this thread hasn't made it into the consolidated bug list. Don't the forum admins consider this behaviour a defect of the software?It's probably because the admins have many threads to check, or they didn't read through this entire thread, or they are only taking note of gameplay bugs. Whatever the case, I hope for all us Vista users and future Vista users, that this issue will not be overlooked.

It's by design, Microsoft wants the program to do that in their Games for Windows titles. If you don't like the pop-up asking for permission, turn User Account Control off.

:woohoo:

I tried giving the Users group Full permissions to the BTS directory. No difference. :(

However I then had a look in the registry and gave the Users group Full permissions over the key and sub-keys of "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Firaxis Games\Sid Meier's Civilization 4 - Beyond the Sword". Success! :D

Note this was on Win XP SP2. Vista may be different but hopefully not. Looks as though it's some sloppy coding where they want to open the key in write mode rather than just read mode.

It's by design, Microsoft wants the program to do that in their Games for Windows titles. If you don't like the pop-up asking for permission, turn User Account Control off.Actually, there is a lot of mumbo-jumbo about Games For Windows and User Account Control on this microsoft development page which might be a good read.

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb173456.aspx

In it I found the following quote:
Summary of Games Requirements

1.2 Support Family Safety / Parental Controls
Requirement

Games must fully support Windows Vista Family Safety by adhering to the following rules:

* Games must not require administrative credentials to play. Installation, patching, and removal can require administrative credentials, subject to the requirements in section 3.

...
...
Installation and patching requiring administrative powers, that is fine. Playing the game requiring administrative powers.... that's wrong.

Thanks Sam_Yeagar and Iroumen!

I was stunned by necbone's assertion that Games For Windows are *supposed* to trigger UAC, I couldn't believe that MS would cripple the parental controls they're insisting on that way. I'm glad that you've found evidence to the contrary.

But, I'm even more glad that we now have a solution! Woohoo!

Hopefully an upcoming patch will fix it anyway, but now I don't need to wait.

:woohoo:

I tried giving the Users group Full permissions to the BTS directory. No difference. :(

However I then had a look in the registry and gave the Users group Full permissions over the key and sub-keys of "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Firaxis Games\Sid Meier's Civilization 4 - Beyond the Sword". Success! :D

Note this was on Win XP SP2. Vista may be different but hopefully not. Looks as though it's some sloppy coding where they want to open the key in write mode rather than just read mode.I will check this in Vista tonight, but as I recall the Firaxis location is further down the registry in Vista than simply in the \SOFTWARE\ bit. I hope this will fix our problems (be it at least unofficially).


Thanks Sam_Yeagar and Iroumen!

I was stunned by necbone's assertion that Games For Windows are *supposed* to trigger UAC, I couldn't believe that MS would cripple the parental controls they're insisting on that way. I'm glad that you've found evidence to the contrary.I couldn't even be true because then Microsoft would have truly missed the point of providing Parental Control with Games For Windows. ;)

Glad to see I'm not the only one with this problem. I also wish there was a way to safelist specific programs in Vista. But I still love this game! Dealing with the UAC every time I run it doesn't bother me so much, but then I have a lot of older games installed that require UAC to run also...

Have they fixed the issue of unusable voice capture device? I'm running Vista 32 bit and everytime I start Warlords, I get 3 prompts about an unusable voice capture device. I click OK on the warnings and then the game plays fine, it's annoying. I was hoping for better Vista support.

I had this problem as well, but managed to fix it. You can correct the voice capture prompts by going into your BTS ini file and changing the "Enable Voice Capture = 1" (not sure about exact phrase) from 1 to 0. For some reason it stays 1 even if you change the in game options...

I'm at work now, so can't check the exact path for the ini file, but for less computer savvy people, you can follow the steps below:

1) Make sure you have quit the game.
2) Open "My Computer" and navigate to your BTS folder (inside your Civ4 install directory)
3) Open the shortcut to the saved games folder (can't remember what it's called)
4) From the save directory, move up directory levels until you get to the "Beyond the Sword" folder
5) There's an ini file in there, with "Civ4" or "BeyondtheSword" in the filename, something like that. Open the file with Notepad
6) Scroll down until you find the line that says "Enable Voice Capture = 1" (I'm not sure about the exact phrasing but it should be fairly self evident).
7) Change the "1" to "0" (zero).
8) Save changes and exit
9) Launch CIV!

Well, I'm sorry to say that granted full access permissions on the Firaxis\Beyond The Sword registry keys & the Program Files\SMCivIV\BTS folder hasn't done me any good in Vista.

I might try granting full access on the entire Civilization IV folder... I'll post here again when I've got some info on that.

Well, I'm sorry to say that granted full access permissions on the Firaxis\Beyond The Sword registry keys & the Program Files\SMCivIV\BTS folder hasn't done me any good in Vista.


Sorry to hear that this workaround doesn't work for Vista. :( I've raised a formal bug report here (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=235199). Perhaps it may be worth doing the same thing for Vista?

Well, I'm sorry to say that granted full access permissions on the Firaxis\Beyond The Sword registry keys & the Program Files\SMCivIV\BTS folder hasn't done me any good in Vista.

I might try granting full access on the entire Civilization IV folder... I'll post here again when I've got some info on that.I have tried fooling around the registry as well as granting full access to folders and programs, but neither attempt have been successful. Other than disabling the UAC (not an option) it seems it cannot be done.


Sorry to hear that this workaround doesn't work for Vista. :( I've raised a formal bug report here (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=235199). Perhaps it may be worth doing the same thing for Vista?I'd like to thank you for your effort. It was worth checking out.
I think the moderators of this forum should just confirm this bugthread. They do it with all the other threads that start out as tentative bugs.

Yeah, I agree. Thanks again Sam_Yeagar :)

I'm guessing that the game has a UAC manifest that requests admin rights (who knows why, or how it got Games For Windows certification like that...)

But if that's the case, there's nothing we can do but wait for a patch.

I'll give this another couple of days and if there's still no acknowledgement, I'll raise a new thread following the "official style".

This is definitely a bug because the game as released does not comply with the Games For Windows logo requirements.

I, also have the "run as administrator" problem on bts. If there is a solution, please post it here.

Same problem here on vista 64. nothing to add to a problem that is already well described :(

I expect BtS to run as CIV IV vanilla and Warlord on a standard account as I did not see any warnings on limited rights (funny ... 'must be' an Admin is a limitation of my rights) nor did I see any change or indication of change of such rights on my BtS box.

I'm on Vista 64-bit as well, but it's not related to that.

By now I've tried a dozen approaches to fix this, but I still haven't figured out how to change it. It can only be ascribed to BTS. Someone needs to acknowledge this as a bug already.

i'm just stating a fact as i did'nt try it on vista 32bits :) even though the only difference should be on the driver side not the gaming side.

I deeply agree for the need of acknowledgement.

I sent a bug report to Firaxis linking to this thread. Maybe it helps.

One of the requirements for GFW is that the game can be played without administrative credentials (UAC)

see http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb173456.aspx
section 1.2

Yes, I linked to the same page a few posts above.

Shameless bump until one of the bugforum team recognises this as a bug (or at least acknowledges our investigations).

I found another workaround for Vista. I just remembered using the Windows program gpedit.msc to set a few things for the Bit-Locker drive encryption. gpedit has something to do with the UAC. It is really hard to describe since I am using the German version of Vista, so I just added a screenshot of my desktop and you can see where I changed things (the symbols should still be the same). At a certain point in this progress the program is telling you to create something new, which you have to do in order to have all the options.
I know this is a real vague discribtion, but I am using the German version and so I have no idea what the right expressions are :(

About the sound device bug. That is also a problem caused by Vista. Vista is by default installing it's own audio software/driver whatever. You can read about this here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technical_features_new_to_Windows_Vista). Why do you think Sound Blaster User have been so mad at Vista (and there is another irony, since BTS is supposed to sound best on X-Fi Soundblasters ;) )?
Anyway, just install the driver for your soundcard and the problem should be solved (at least that worked for me)

Kind of vague, but I will try to figure this out in the English version.
Thanks for your reply :)

The 303 patch has fixed the Vista UAC issue. Some other things (pedia crashes, graphic glitches) may make you think twice about installing the new patch, but the UAC issue has been cleared up.

Not on my Vista, it hasn't...

Update:

Ok I downloaded the English pack for Vista to give you a good describtion on what I thought might be a sollution. Unfortunately Microsofts Patch Day must have been recently, which is why I can't reproduce what I did some days ago. I mean I can still do all the same settings, but the UAC still pops up as it usually does :mad:

The 303 patch did nothing for the UAC issue. I installed it the moment it came out but all it had was graphical stuff which I had no problems with anyway.
I've tried to do the regedit thing you described too Galatian, but I cannot get that to work either.
I guess it's just waiting for the right patch or just pressing an extra ok every time we play BTS.

I haven't tried the 3.03 patch. I'll have a go this evening.

I find it worse than just clicking the extra "Ok". My standard user is just that, a standard user... so escalating to super user means that all my save games get stored in the wrong user's documents folder. It is quite the pain, especially since I play in several play-by-email games and therefore need to transfer save game files around the place.

I was going to set myself up as a standard user on my computer, but having fumbled around a lot of strange things in Vista I've chosen to remain administrator with UAC warnings on. Sadly this still means that I'll be clicking that button for BTS. I hope you have more luck with 303 than me.

I am pleased to say that the patch has fixed the permissions issues for me.

The patch changelog did mention "Microsoft Fix for Manifest Requirements". The manifest is a part of a program that can request admin privileges, as I recall from my reading up on UAC earlier on in this thread.

So my guess would be that they made it stop requesting rights it doesn't really need. It's certainly worked for me!

Very strange that it worked for you but not for me.