[Updated] Making RTW or RTW:Gold work on windows10 - FIX

[Ngazi]

I don't understand why fullscreen worked fine in Windows 8 but not 10. It really sucks that the game can only be played in windowed mode. I hate the stretched widescreen. The only way to play on my widescreen monitor is to change my desktop resolution before and after playing now.

[Skizzy]

I'm not sure why it doesn't work in fullscreen, I don't like it either. Some stuff get's all pixelated in-game for me now, like general's portraits and building pictures etc.. But at least the game works, so there's that!

[Kysthan]

Hello Skizzy,

although your guide is really precise about what to do, I am struggling, finding the preferences.txt file.
First, it was not where it should have been. For Barbarian Invasion there is folder called preferences, but it is empty.
According to what I read so far, the file could have been hidden in the appdata folder, so I checked this, but it was no there either.
So, now I believe that the file was not generated at all, because I did not manage to start the game even once.

Accordingly I somehow have to create a preferences.txt file.

How do I do that?
Where precisely do I have to put it afterwards? (which folder)

I am using the disc version btw.

Help would be much appreciated.

[Adamwestisgod]

Alright Ive been playing this mod for years since its first release and I've been banging my head on my wall trying to figure out how to get it to work with Windows 10. I already know about the window 10 fix for RTW (changing the launch settings), but I cant properly install XGM because the installer says I have an out of date RTW/BI. Ive re-downloaded RTW multiple times and have verified cache multiple times, but it always says the same thing. Does anybody know how to properly install XGM on windows 10?

[GaivsSejanvs]

Hey, in this Thread is a step by step Guide how You can fix that Problem.
It does seem to work.
Here is the Link : http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...-windows10-FIX
I've try an other way - i have downgrade my System back to Win7, because of I just don't like Win10!

Hope I can help a bit!

PS: Sorry for my bad english spelling!

[Skizzy]

The link GaivsSejanvs gave above (http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...-windows10-FIX) works fine with XGM.
I used to have Win7Ult, upgraded to Win10Pro, had some issues. Fixed some issues, wrote the guide and *BAM*. RTW works fine.

I re-installed XGM again last week and had zero problems thus far.
Don't forget to first install XGM, before following the guide =]
Not sure if it matters, but that's how it worked for me. Flawlessly.

If you encounter any more problems, let me know in the thread of the guide. I'll answer any questions there and help you run your game just fine. I don't check out this forum as much.

[Skizzy]

Hey Kysthan,


The preferences.txt file should be located here:
..\Rome Total War Gold\preferences\preferences.txt
For BI it should be here:
..\Rome Total War Gold\bi\preferences\preferences.txt
For Alex. it should be here:
..\Rome Total War Alexander\alexander\preferences\preferences.txt


The first folders may vary based on your disc version of the game and how you installed the game (the "Rome Total War Gold" and "Rome Total War Alexander" ones).
However, the .txt files will only be created if you succesfully started the game at least once.
If you have a new install, you obviously haven't been able to start the game succesfully yet, and therefor you should create the preferences.txt file yourself.
Just create a .txt file called "preferences.txt" and put this in it to start out with and save the file:


NOTE: The part I put in bold text below, is what you should edit to match your own specs, according to my guide on the first page of this thread.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

SAFE_REFRESH:TRUE
USE_TRIPLE_BUFFER:TRUE
USE_WIDESCREEN:TRUE
SUBTITLES:TRUE
MORALE:TRUE
FATIGUE:TRUE
LIMITED_AMMO:TRUE
SUPPLY:TRUE
FOG_OF_WAR:TRUE
RESTRICT_CAMERA:FALSE
DEFAULT_BATTLE_CAMERA:RTS
EVENT_CUTSCENES:TRUE
SMOKE:TRUE
DESYNC:TRUE
SPLASHES:TRUE
GLINTS:FALSE
REFLECTIONS:FALSE
SHADOWS:TRUE
VEGETATION:TRUE
DETAILED_UNIT_SHADOWS:TRUE
GLOSS_MAPPING:TRUE
STENCIL_SHADOWS:TRUE
MULTI_TEXTURE:TRUE
AUTO_SAVE:TRUE
SHOW_BANNERS:TRUE
UNIT_EXPERIENCE_UPGRADE_EFFECT:TRUE
UNIT_SIZE:80
MASTER_VOL:100
SPEECH_VOL:100
SFX_VOL:100
MUSIC_VOL:70
CAMERA_ROTATE:50
CAMERA_MOVE:50
CAMERA_FOV:75.000000
ENABLE_AUDIO:TRUE
ENABLE_MUSIC:TRUE
ENABLE_UNIT_SPEECH:TRUE
DISABLE_BACKGROUND_FMV:FALSE
DISABLE_ARROW_MARKERS:FALSE
AUDIO_3D_PROVIDER:Miles Fast 2D Positional Audio
CLOUD_TRANSITIONS:TRUE
GRASS_DISTANCE:50
AA_QUALITY:AA_HIGH
STRATEGY_RESOLUTION:1440x900
STRATEGY_MAX_RESOLUTION:2048x1536
STRATEGY_32_BIT:TRUE
BATTLE_RESOLUTION:1440x900
BATTLE_MAX_RESOLUTION:2048x1536
BATTLE_32_BIT:TRUE
UNIT_DETAIL:HIGH
BUILDING_DETAIL:HIGH
TGA_CAPTURE_WIDTH:1024
TGA_CAPTURE_ASPECT:1.333333
TGA_CAPTURE_INPUT_SCALE:1
TGA_CAPTURE_RESERVE_SPACE:FALSE
LABEL_CHARACTERS:FALSE
LABEL_SETTLEMENTS:TRUE
MINIMAL_UI:FALSE
CAMPAIGN_MAP_MAX_SCROLL_SPEED_MIN_ZOOM:30
CAMPAIGN_MAP_MAX_SCROLL_SPEED_MAX_ZOOM:30
FIRST_TIME_PLAY:FALSE
ADVISOR_VERBOSITY:0
MUTE_ADVISOR:FALSE
BLIND_ADVISOR:FALSE
CAMPAIGN_MAP_CAMERA:FOLLOW_AI_FACTIONS
CAMPAIGN_MAP_SPEED_UP:FALSE
CAMPAIGN_MAP_GAME_SPEED:99
DISABLE_EVENTS:0
MICROMANAGE_ALL_SETTLEMENTS:TRUE
ADVANCED_STATS_ALWAYS:FALSE
UNIT_USE_SHADERS:TRUE
TERRAIN_QUALITY:HIGH
EFFECT_QUALITY:HIGH
VEGETATION_QUALITY:HIGH
KEYSET:0
UNLIMITED_MEN_ON_BATTLEFIELD:FALSE
CAMPAIGN_MAP_CAMERA_SMOOTHING:TRUE
CHAT_MSG_DURATION:10
USE_QUICKCHAT:FALSE
GS_PIDS:FALSE
GS_PIDS_FULL:FALSE
GS_PIDS_CUR:TRUE
ALWAYS_LOGFILE:FALSE
TIMESTAMP_LOGFILE:TRUE
32BIT_UI:FALSE
GS_LOG_RESULTS:FALSE
CHAT_COLOURS:name=ffffa0,private=ff7707,game=94aadc,public=fff777,system=ffffff,lobby=fff777,setup=94aadc,playing=ff0707
EDIT_SETTLEMENT_NAMES:FALSE

[revbyrd1]

Thank you for this fix.

[Skizzy]

Np man =]

[Flinn]

merged-in some posts

[Skizzy]

merged-in some posts

Dear Flinn, why is this thread now in the XGM subforum?
The fix works for XGM, but is originally intended for normal RTW:Gold and RTW:Alex..

[Flinn]

my bad, I must have done something wrong

moved back to the Eras Technical Help and stickied.

[Nebelkrahe29]

Gonna retrace everything as you said as i have done a few times now but seems there are some updates. My biggest issue was the admin thing. I run disc versions for rome and bi

[Skizzy]

I've been told you can activate the CD-keys from the disc versions on Steam. That might help out a bunch.

[Frunk]

There's a new solution for W10 users which involves using a program to "trust" a copy of secdrv.sys. All the info under "The cool new solution" in my thread. Feel free to add it here if you'd like: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...otal-War-games

[Skizzy]

Seems to be easier to just verify the CD-keys on Steam instead of installing *yet another* 3rd party program.
However, if it works, it works

[Frunk]

You don't have to install it. It's a 200kb download and runs straight out of its .exe. The whole process takes about 5 minutes and you only need to do it once for perfect disc functionality.

Personally, I have a severe dislike of Steam so this option might suit those like me. Each to his own. Just thought I'd post here to share the knowledge.

[Talondale]

My problem seems the same but different. I have 3 machines with RTW installed. Mine and two sons. I have an old vanilla RTW disc we patched to 1.3. All three machines were W7, but mine just got upgraded to W10 accidently recently. We have been playing RTW for years but at some point all three versions stopped working. Not sure what triggered it, I assume some Windows update/patch. Now all three just blink and go away. The preferences file (and the other 3 files mentioned) are located at the root of the RTW install. I edited according to this thread and put a copy at the root and in the preferences folder. I also edited the shortcut and the exe file itself to run in compatibility mode and as administer and added the -ne and even tried the show_err but no joy. Not sure why all stopped working. Ideas?

[Talondale]

Just to clarify: two of the machines are still Win 7 and act the same as the W10 box.

[Talondale]

PPS.... I just checked my files and we actually had patched the game to 1.5. Not sure if it makes a difference. No Steam.
PPPS... Why isn't there an edit option on this forum?