Help getting SMAC(X) to run

[David Bedlam]

I'm going to assume that you're running Windows 7 and using Notepad to edit the ini file. You need to run Notepad as the administrator (even if you're logged in with an admin account). You then should be able to save the file. Let me know if you need more detailed instructions.

I think I might. I can't seem to find an open as adminsitrator option either by right clicking or in properties.

I'm not great with the fiddly bits of computers, so I may need the big letter version of help, with clewable pages.

 

[Petek]

No problem. Click on the Start button. In the Search programs and files box type notepad. At the top of the resulting menu you should see the Notepad program. Right-click on it and you should see the Run as administrator option. That should do it.

 

[David Bedlam]

Okay, I managed to get the

[PREFERENCES]
ForceOldVoxelAlgorithm=1

into the ini file, but whenever I try and start up crossfire, I still get a message that terranx.icd has stopped working.

The ici file now reads

[PREFERENCES]
ForceOldVoxelAlgorithm=1
[Alpha Centauri]


is this right, or is something else now wrong?

 

[Petek]

Other than the odd character at the end of the file (which I don't think is causing the problem), your ini file is fine. Have you installed the most recent patches? If not, look for them here. You should first install the Alien Crossfire v2.0 update, followed by the SMAC Win 2000/XP Update (install the latter update even if you're running Vista or Windows 7). You can install these updates even if you're not sure whether you already have them. If that doesn't help, please post again and mention what OS you're running. Also post your systems specs. Thanks.

 

[David Bedlam]

Even with the patches terranx.icd isn't working. Alpha Centauri worked fine without crossfire added, so this is rather annoying.

Now, I'm using Windows Vista with a AMD Turion x2 64 and nvidia graphics (at least that's what the logos on my laptop say). Does that help?

 

[Petek]

Next step is to try changing the compatibility settings:

Right-click on the shortcut used to start SMAX, select the Compatibility tab and apply these options:

* Run in Windows 2000 emulation mode,
* 256 colours,
* No visual themes, and
* No advanced text services

If these settings don't work, try other variations.

Please post again if that doesn't help.

 

[David Bedlam]

Now it's saying that Terren.icd isn't working, rather than terrenx.icd. Which is progress I guess.

 

[Petek]

Yep, a different error msg usually denotes progress.

Are you starting the game with axstart.exe? Instead, use either terranx.exe (for SMAX) or terran.exe (for SMAX). Those are the files whose shortcuts should have the compatibility settings. (Terran.exe wouldn't necessarily need compatibility settings if it worked without them.)

 

[David Bedlam]

Hmm. All three are getting failure messages.

Also, I tried setting compatability back to Windows 98, as I actualy have the boxed sets, and not a modern re-release. Still no go.

 

[Petek]

OK, now try following the suggestions here. You may have already tried some of those suggestions.

 

[David Bedlam]

Good news! I got the game up and running!

In the end, I used (...).

Thanks for all your help and patence as I fumbled around my computer Petek.

Moderator Action: Link deleted. This forum's rules do not allow linking to the unofficial patch.
Please read the forum rules: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=422889