CIV IV won't work on my laptop - Help Please

[SupremeClientele]

I'm new here so if this has already been posted, let me know.

Civ IV doesn't work on my laptop and it's driving me crazy.
I'm given a prompt asking if I want CIV IV to make changes to my device. I hit yes, nothing happens.

Some details that I think matter

1. Windows 8 laptop HP laptop

2. Bought the game at a pawnshop lol

3. Bought the laptop at a pawnshop lol

I've read that older versions of the game don't work on some computers but this is where I knowledge ends. Anyone else face this issue and if so how did you resolve it?


Moderator Action: Moved to correct Forum --NobleZarkon

 

[Kryxal]

The first thing to do would probably be to go to the Civ 4 forums instead of Civ 6, relevant help seem more likely.

 

[SupremeClientele]

of course, thanks

 

[s.bernbaum]

Since you say that you bought CIV at a pawnshop, I presume that it is the disc version. A bit over a year ago Microsoft released a system patch that improved security by blocking, among other things, the disc protection scheme used by many older games, including CIV. That is why you can't get the game to launch. There are three solutions.

1. Look at the threads that have likely titles in the CIV4 - Technical Support forum, which is where we are now. One of them has a detailed work around to get the game working. I would either tell you which one or post the work around but I am out of state from where I live and the computer with that info is at my home. Perhaps someone else will post the info here.

2. If you have the Beyond The Sword expansion for CIV (aka BTS), download the 3.19 patch and install it. The patch eliminates the need to access the disc on launch of the game, which eliminates the problem with the copy protection scheme.

3. Download the game form one of the legit online sites. Those versions don't use the copy protection scheme. If you contact the CIV game publisher, they will send you a code to get the download for free, once you send them proof that you own it on disc.