Big surprise, huh?

Bought Civ4 from Gamestop online. Downloaded. Played a bit and all was ok. Wanted to play with friend. Downloaded 1.74 patch. Tried installing and said it couldn't find vanilla install. Verified it I could see in via control panel software "install/uninstall".

Uninstalled, reinstalled, uninstalled, installed demo, blah, blah, blah ... tried everything I could find that was recommended and even some other wacky ideas. Verified drivers, DirectX correct ... blah blah blah

Any new ideas anyone? Anyone know if a patch is in the works that actually WORKS?!?!?

Consider youself lucky if you got it to work!

I loved the early incarnation of the game but Sidney has slacked and apparently doesn't care. Very sad days we find ourselves in.

*respect level ratcheting down every minute*

:sad:

I also downloaded from gamestop van civ 4 Long ago and never was able to get it to patch but just played a few mods and gave up well today i wanted BTS and went to direct 2 drive for it Now..i cant install BTs becouse civ 4 is not up to date.I have spent at least 12 hours going from patch to patch (online versions and reg ones).Nothing is working!!!!!please someone I want to play I need a link to a patch that will get civ 4 updated so i can install Bts and play!I have tryed all the early direct to drive patches i get the No version of civ 4 found error with a big stinking red x on these patches 1.61 digital,1.71 dd,1.52 dd...i get a error when trying to install BTS when it attempts to patch..i cant patch in game via val civ 4...This is driveing me BONKERS!am i doomed?If i go buy a retail civ 4 will the problem be solved?will BTS install or should i just bash my head into my monitor?

Oh forgot to say i updated all my drivers and my directx is the 9c one also uninstalled and reinstalled the game Oh ya i even *cough*wrote zeros to drive and did a clean windows install with min. system installed LOL this is just Bs.

download versions from steam and d2d require patches tailored for those versions by the vendors - does gamestop offer anything at all like this?
What is the default install path of the gamestop install?
Edit: and Welcome to CFC :)

Thank you Yes i understand i need The DD patch but none of the d2d works with the gamestop download of civ4 and gamestop only has this listed on the site as far as patches go for the game http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=646074 what bothers me is on the main page of civ 4 this is the first site im directed to to buy the game.I dont understand why Firaxis would not support online downloads to this game if thats where they send me to buy the game. The patch on gamestop isnt even for the online version of the game gack.I know someone has bought the game from them and knows a link to a patch they know works.please reply TIA.

and the patch they link to does not work?

no i sure wish it did i get the error mess."The setup has detected that no version of Sid Meier's Civilization 4 is installed. This update requires that a previous version of the application be installed. same with every patch i attempt to apply.

I see that only the 1.74 patch is available on their site - this patch seems to have a problem patching games that are not patched to 1.61. Have you tried this?

hey thanks for spendin a bit of time with me Yes i have attempted to apply this patch from here http://www.fileplanet.com/159579/150000/fileinfo/Civilization-4-1.61-Patch-[Digital-Distribution] and i get the mess. that it doesnt detect the Bloomin game.....so kinda seeming im S.O.L?you think if i buy a retail civ 4 my troubles will cease?i really want to install and play BTS.

I would first try to ask gamespot for the 1.61 patch.
The thing is that usually the retail version is less cumbersome than the download versions (they really screwed with those) OTOH the Tech support of Steam and D2D is much better than Take2's so it may level out.
If I understand you correctly you bought Bts from D2D so if you want to spend more money you might be better of buying Vanilla from them as well, mainly since this a) should work (and in most cases does) and b) makes sure that any necessary troubleshooting is only necessary within one version not cross-versions.
That said the retail Vanilla version is compatible with d2d BtS so there *should* be no problems either, but you never know...

Got it all sorted out..I went ahead and followed youre advice and after not hearing back from Gamespot went and got it at D2D...was already patched as was BTS so it was a no brainer...was a expensive expansion for me but hey its the game i play by far the most..and with the mods out there its well worth it anyhow i just wantted to say thank you for giveing me a hand:goodjob: