WinXP: do I need to worry about codecs?

[DinkumThinkum]

I'm using WinXP with SP2, with the latest updates.

I've already used VirtualDub to fix the town .avi files so I can enter all the buildings and use both gates in the starting town, and, from a little running around outside the town and fighting one battle, things seem to be working OK so far.

However, I've seen a lot of posts here about problems with WinXP not having codecs needed to run the game properly. Most of the posts seem to refer to problems with the intro movie and getting the game to start at all.

My game starts OK, and the intro movie works fine. Does that mean I already have all the codecs the game needs, or are there other specific problems I should check for?

[Radek]

Check whether you can enter buildings in the town and leave the town. If you can then it does not mean that you won't have any problems but it indicates that you won't have the most serious probles. What to do:

1. Create some character. It's only for testing, not for playing so that don't waste time. You will delete it later, after the test.
2. Leave the inn and wait until Garesh finishes his lenghtly speech.
3. Now, try to enter all guilds (3 guilds are in Valeia, the Mages Guild, the Temple, and the Warrior's Guild), enter the buildings and leave them, do not join the guilds. Enter also the townhall and the pub. Then try to leave Valeia through both gates. Leave the town, turn back, and return, do not try to explore the wilderness.

If the test passes, then you won't have the most serious problems with William Setag's Neanderthal Technology in W&W. At least, you can start the game, play, and wait for further events [img]graemlins/hehe.gif[/img]

If the test fails, then post your findings

[bsftcs]

Welcome to the board, DinkumThinkum. [img]graemlins/happywave.gif[/img] Hope you will your technical difficulties sorted out soon if there are any. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 03-31-2005, 06:34 AM: Message edited by: bsftcs ]

[DinkumThinkum]

Thanks for the quick response!

As I said in my first post, I've already done the tests you suggested: they worked fine. [img]smile.gif[/img]

From seeing so many posts from people with problems running the game with WinXP, I'm just wondering if there are any other checks I should do for missing codecs or other known WinXP problems.

[Bungleau]

Using virtualdub eliminates the codec problem, so you should be set there. You may want to make sure you've done the other things on the list -- fixing virtual memory, defragging, and so on. They can only help...

And Radek, what do you think this is... MM7? William Setag has been slain many times there...

[Wyvern]

Welcome to the board, DinkumThinkum!!!

Sounds like you have been very thorough in preparing your game to run on your XP system! At this point, having done the basic checks, follow Bungleau's recommendations and then play!!!

Should you experience any problems later, we're here!

Keep us posted on how your game is going!

Wyv

[Radek]

Bungleau, do you know the hidden sense of the whole story about William Setag? [img]graemlins/biglaugh.gif[/img]

[Bungleau]

Perhaps not, friend Radek. I do know that he was placed in MM7 as the promoter to become a villain. I also understand the significance of his name. But as for anything related to something going on at NWC 3DO at that time that would have prompted his inclusion as a statement or something, no, I don't.

Please enlighten me, o wise one

[Radek]

Okay, okay I shall write in details because not everybody has played MM7.

In MM7, every class has 3 ranks. You begin at the lowest one and then you can improve your rank by doing promoting quests. The class of our interest will be the Paladin class.

You begin as a Paladin. Then you can go to Erathia and take promoting quest from Sir Qixcote (explanation isn't needed). When you finish the quest, you become a Crusader.
Next, you will need to decide, whether you want to play the Path of Light (the path of good) or the Path of Dark (the path of evil). After the decision, you can take the second promotion quest.
If you play the Path of Light, you will go to Qixcote again. He will send you to the orcich land, where you must free Alice Hargreaves (who knows the stories about the ADA programming language, knows who she was) from the tyranny of William Setag (read backwards). After finishing the quest, you will become a Champion.
If you play the Path of Dark, you will go to William Setag, who will want you to kidnap Alice Hargreaves and bring her to him. After finishing the quest, you will become a Villain.

[img]graemlins/blueblink.gif[/img] ... ... [img]graemlins/heee.gif[/img] ... [img]graemlins/hehe.gif[/img]

[Bungleau]

I don't know the stories about ADA, so I'm unfamiliar with Alice. Guess I'll have to go googling

Thanks for the reminders, and the full story [img]smile.gif[/img]