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I am having trouble installing PC games in Windows Vista. Any suggestions?

2007/04/27 15:26:01

Question

I am having trouble installing PC games in Windows Vista. Any suggestions?



-- Submitted by: Julie K

Answer

Answer by:
Dan Chiappini

Putting games on your copy of Windows Vista should be exactly the same as installing applications under Windows XP. Getting them to play properly on the other hand may present a few more technical hurdles.

Despite Microsoft's claims that Vista would be completely backwards compatible with DirectX 9 games that work on Windows XP, there are some known issues with certain titles. Some of these problems have been resolved by updating to the most recent graphics drivers for your hardware by visiting www.ati.com or www.nvidia.com. You may also want to check the game developer's Web site to see if a patch has been released to add or improve Vista support.

Some people report being able to get their games running by disabling the User Account Control (UAC) or running games as an administrator instead of as a non-privileged user. These aren't recommended workarounds, but they may help if you can't find any other way to get your games running.

This page also has a good list of Vista compatible games, and describes some of the known issues. It's based on the RTM release (the build used to make the final retail copies) so it should be quite accurate.

If all else fails, there's always the option to dual-boot your system with Windows Vista and Windows XP if you have a second licence lying around. It's not ideal, but if you have games or applications that simply refuse to operate and you really want to make them work/play, it may be your only choice.

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faline
02/10/2007 07:13 AM

I really think it sucks that I spent all that money on something called Microsoft Windows Vista, and I could not get another OS on my computer, just to find out that the older PC games I bought and were expensive to boot, are useless on this new computer that has all these "great" advancemants. Well. whooptie doo, if I could I would send this piece of junk back to Gateway and tell them xzvdnchoe.YUCKK!! How could you do this to me???? and my trust in you................At least give me a patch or a work around. I feel cheated and robbed by Microsoft. No wonder Mr Gates is wealthy, with Dummy's like me he will just get richer. I just told a friend of mine DON'T GET VISTA, she didn't she got one from Dell and got XP. I am sorry I didn't go to Dell..........I will for my laptop. I know programs have "bugs", but why should I have to put up with them. That is not what I spent my money on..........they should be worked out before they go on the market. So there!!

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intrepi
20/10/2007 11:04 AM

I do believe in reading as many reviews as one can to get enough information to form an opinion good enough to act on. I don't believe anything MS has to say about anything as Windows ME was more than enough to educate me on ME

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drew
19/11/2007 07:14 AM

OK first off don't be retarded Mr. Gates is just a man and I'm pretty sure anything produced by anyone is gonna have plenty of flaws and bugs when it gets to the market anyhow. So stop your stupid complaining and just download the latest updates for vista

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Redstar
21/11/2007 03:24 PM

hmm. QuakeII (1997), NeedforSpeed (2000), Juiced(2005) all work on my Vista Home Premium. All installed through the "Run as Admin" Can't really say "old games don't work"

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mazz
16/01/2008 03:47 AM

any1 wanna explain why i installed battlefield 2 on my vista..it all installed but when i go to start game it does nothing?

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Whatsit2ya
16/01/2008 01:13 PM

Vista Sucks. End of story.

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teddya
02/02/2008 02:11 PM

I installed Hitman 3, but when I try to play it...I doesn`t play at all. Suck Vista. I think I have to move to XP.

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jason
07/02/2008 04:02 AM

i am trying to instal supreme commander on vista ..... any ideas.

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bigdog
16/02/2008 06:21 AM

Will the original Age of Empires and the Rise of Rome expansion install and run on Windows Vista?

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wk21030
28/02/2008 08:53 PM

To the person who installed Battlefield 2. I bought that but saw that Joint Task Force loaded but wouldn't play. Another game did the same damn thing.

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Voodoo Priestess
29/02/2008 02:51 AM

Vista sucks. period.

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baz
18/03/2008 03:32 AM

I think Vista was not thought through properly by microsoft, they just rushed it to make money quickly. I found not only my games were useless, but also lots of hardware such as printers, joysticks and wireless modem. I was offered a free upgrade to Vista on my new lap top, but have decided to keep it on XP.

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tattus
02/04/2008 04:37 AM

i think it is weird cos i can play some install some old games but some of them will not install. can anybodi help me thanx

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Rawrk
01/09/2008 01:30 AM

Vista sucks. Hah. I have it on both my laptop and new desktop, however, most of my old games work with a patch/run as admin/select compatibility to xp, 2000, 98, 95. *shrug* Just the way it is I guess.

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