Hi guys: here's how you can get X-Com Apocalypse to work on XP and I know it works because I've just done it
from some X-com fourum I found:
WARNING: I do not condone software piracy of any kind. The following
"trick" must only be used to get a LEGALLY owned copy of X-Com Apocalypse to work under Windows XP. If any game deserves your hard earned dollar - it's Apocalypse (and that's about how much it costs so there is NO excuse for piracy). There are a variety of reasons why one must use this method - mainly because dual-booting is impossible with your current hardware configuration, or you do not wish to purchase another OS. This solution is for the "after viewing or skipping the intro movie, a blinking cursor briefly appears in the top left corner of the screen, and then returns the user to Windows with no explanation," from my observations, the most common Apoc problem. The problem arises from the fact that Windows doens't like programs to try to directly access drives without going through Windows. Also note, I will not be held personally responsible for any damage your computer or its files may suffer as a result of using this method. That said...
First, you must download the xcom3_cd.zip file.
attached
Once downloaded, unzip the file to your
Apocalypse directory. To run the game, use the "Run X-com.bat" file included with the zip. You will need to edit the properties of xcom3.bat and set the program to Windows 95 compatibility with 256 colors.
Files/Buffers Error
Apoc was made for old DOS and it requires a few things that most DOS machines already had running, including the right numbers of buffers and files that a program could manipulate at once. From the start menu, run sysedit.exe A lot of little windows will appear in the sysedit window. Find the one called config.sys Go to the bottom of the file (or the top if it is empty) and enter these commands, on seperate lines:
buffers=20
files=20
Save the file, exit the program, and restart your machine. Theoretically, this should fix the problem.
To get sound to work, go to:
http://vdmsound.sourceforge.net/
Download the newest version of VDMSound. After installing it, set up
Apocalypse to use a Sound Blaster, 220, IRQ 7, DMA 1 (the default for SB
emulation under VDMSound). Exit and save from the setup program. Finally, edit the run x-com.bat file that came with the zip from the first step. Add the command "dosdrv" on a new line between the "xcom3_cd.com" and "xcomapoc.exe SKIP" lines. This will invoke a VDMSound session inside the DOS box of the batch file, which will end when the game is exited.
Hope that helps y'all
p.s. The mouse will go at a very slow speed for some reason so set your mouse speed to max in the windows control panel.
Sun-Tzu I've seen X-Com collectors edition at
www.chipsbits.com and
www.amazon.com
