Upgrade to 1.29f FAILED

[krossingkhory]

I posted this in the Technical Support subforum, but no response.

I have been running CivIII 1.07f for quite some time, and I was really happy with it. However, I know that there are some things that got updated with 1.29f, like being able to set specific units to specific locations on the Earth maps. And I was told in another thread a while back that I should upgrade. So today I finally got around to trying to do that...and I can no longer player Civilization III.

I went to the following link and downloaded the zip file: https://forums.civfanatics.com/resources/civilization-iii-patch-v1-29f-english.20/

Arafurian has a post with the directions on what to do, which includes the issue to correct the "Insert CD-ROM" error message. He indicates to follow a post from sacred57 to try some site if you have that issue. Clicking that link gives you a "Page Not Found" error.

My issue here is that I don't even get the "Insert CD-ROM" error. I try to launch the executable, and it doesn't even do that. I get the spinny thing on my mouse for a few seconds, and then it just goes away. No launch, no game, no nothing.

Can someone help me here? I could uninstall and reinstall the base game with 1.07, so it's not like I'm totally dead in the water here. But I would like to upgrade to 1.29f, and it seems that the patch I downloaded above doesn't want to work. To be fair, I have looked at the Properties of the executable and:

1. I am running it in compatibility mode for XP Service Pack 2; AND
2. I have it set to Run as Administrator.

Any help here would be keen.

 

[vmxa]

It is due to Windows dropping support for SecuRom. Just get the Steam or GoG version of C3C (civ3 complete).

 

[penvzila]

That does not allow you to play vanilla 1.29f, which you may want to do (And is what OP asked about)

I ended up using a pirated executable to run 1.29f. There are also some registry keys that need to be present that don't get created by the online installer so rather than hunt them down:

1) Installed my own copy of Civ3 from CD
2) Install Civ3 Complete from GOG
3) Put cracked executable in Civ3 Complete base folder (the GOG and Steam versions do not include the vanilla or PTW executable so you can't just patch them)

This could be simplified if I figured out why you have to install the vanilla copy at all, I am guessing it is something to do with a registry key but perhaps the EXE is looking for files in specific places... but it doesn't matter enough to me to figure out.

Now i launch 1.29f with the cracked EXE and C3C with the Conquests.exe installed by GOG.

 

[krossingkhory]

Yeah, so...how does any of that actually help me fix the issue I have?

 

[tjs282]

The problem you're having is because you DL'd and installed a CD-dependent version of the v1.29 executable (which no longer works since MS disabled the driver for SafeDisk/ SecuRom). That file simply needs to be replaced with a No-CD version.

There was a legitimate No-CD file made available by Firaxis in the PCGames (German games magazine) 'Patchpaket', but although that webpage is also apparently no longer active (might even have been the one linked by sacred57?), you might be able to find an archived version via e.g. WayBackMachine. If not, I'm pretty sure the files were also uploaded to CFC at some point -- but you would have to check the Downloads section to make sure. If all else fails, I would be happy to send you a copy of mine (obtained from the Patchpaket years ago).

Since you did already install from a CD, you shouldn't need to worry about the reg-entry stuff: that should already have been done.

 

[krossingkhory]

@tjs282 I can find a whole boatload of sites claiming to have a 1.29f patch, but none of them say it is the no-cd patch. If you have the patch and can stick it in dropbox or google drive or something, I would be in your debt!

 

[tjs282]

If you have the patch and can stick it in dropbox or google drive or something

Check your messages...

 

[Aloysius 02]

I would restore the computer to a date before you patched.