BF2/BF2142 won't load in Win XP Pro

[Baron]

I have a spare drive and decided to install Win XP Pro-32+SP3.
Once I had knocked it into shape with endless MS updates and latest 11.5 ATI drivers etc I installed BF2 and patched it up to v1.5

If I run the game the screen flickers as usual for a bit and then just reverts back to the desktop.
I installed a mod called AIX2 and tried to run that..same thing.
I installed BF2142, patched it up and that wouldn't run either.

I uninstalled the video drivers and reverted back to an older set v9.2 but it made no difference.

The reason was that I figured that nearly all of my games are DX8/9 and they might run better on XP.
With Win7-64 they run ok but seven won't allow me to change the in-game video options.......like turning on AA.
If I do, then the game runs ok but the ground is missing.......turn off AA and the ground is back again.

Anyone any thoughts on why the games just won't run ?
Many thanks....

[mariush]

Check control panel > administrative tools > event viewer - if there's a crash you should at least see it there.

add rule in windows firewall to allow it to connect to internet.

download visual c++ runtimes and direct x latest offline setup from microsoft.com and run them...

[Baron]

Thanks for taking the time to reply......and the tips.

Ok....I clicked on start/BF2 and the game loaded and I changed the settings...keyboard/video/sound...to how I want them.
So quit the game for the settings to take effect.

Used the same method to start the game again.........screen flickered and back to desktop.
Desk top icons don't work, and neither does the game in the start menu now.
BF2142 splash screen comes up, but then reverts to the desktop.

So I got the game to load once.......and that's it......weird.
I looked in event viewer, and 'error' noted, but unfortunately the 'properties' made no sense to me.....even a quick google of the report didn't come up with anything.
It's all way over my head....

[MrWicked1968]

you're not running a whole lot of memory

you're also using onboard sound, since you've tried re-installing the video drivers, it couldn't hurt to try the sound drivers as well.

[Baron]

This Xp Pro is running on my i7 920 machine with 6 x 1GB memory on a 300GB V-Raptor. I use an external Creative 5.1 USB sound card, and the sound works just fine.....onboard audio is disabled.
Sorry, I should have pointed out which machine I installed it on.....

I did manage to get BF2 to load once........by using the icon in the start menu.........just enought to apply all the settings I prefer....keyboard/video/sound etc...........then closed it for the settings to take effect, then used the start menu icon again and I am back to square one where the screen flashes for a bit then just reverts back to the desktop.
So the desktop icon do not work, the start menu icon does not work, and the BF2 .exe does not work used from the game files.
At least with BF2142 the splash screen displays and then it crashes back to the desktop.
Tis a bit annoying........

[mariush]

Have you tried right clicking on the executable and selecting "Windows 98" or "Windows 2000" in compatibility?

Sometimes it helps...

[Baron]

Originally Posted by mariush

Have you tried right clicking on the executable and selecting "Windows 98" or "Windows 2000" in compatibility?

Sometimes it helps...

Thanks for the tip mate.
I booted up and tried those two options, but it didn't cure the non-start.

However it has cured the ground going missing in BF2/AIX2/Mercs v10 using Win 7-64bit by setting the compatability to 'XP Pro SP3' so I can now apply 4 x AA in the video options and it now plays happily........so thanks again for the tip...at least it has fixed one thing.

Only trouble is now trying to fix XP.....pffft...

[MrWicked1968]

it could just be EA's piss poor coding not wanting to run on your hardware.

they do great console games, but sometimes their PC games are bug infested nightmares that no amount of patches ever solves.

[Zero82z]

Originally Posted by MrWicked1968

it could just be EA's piss poor coding not wanting to run on your hardware.

they do great console games, but sometimes their PC games are bug infested nightmares that no amount of patches ever solves.

Except both BF2 and BF2142 were developed before EA absorbed DICE, so there goes that argument.

[MrWicked1968]

Originally Posted by Zero82z

Except both BF2 and BF2142 were developed before EA absorbed DICE, so there goes that argument.

does that mean that they're immune from software bugs?