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-- FreeSpace Watch: XP FS2 Update (https://volitionwatch.game-warden.com/vwbb/showthread.php?threadid=4625)

FreeSpace Watch: XP FS2 Update

Posted by IceFire:

Word from the discussion forums is that there should be no problems running FreeSpace 1 or FreeSpace 2 on the new operating system. Here's a helping word from Admiral LSD from the forum:

I've been running XP Pro for a while and have never had a problem with either FS1 or FS2 but if you're still having trouble with FS1 heres something you might like to try: On your XP CD (at least for Pro, not sure about Home) under the \SUPPORT\TOOLS folder is a file called ACT20.EXE. These is the XP Application Compatibility Toolkit. Install it as Administrator and when its finished installing a group called, funnily enough, "Application Compatibility Toolkit" will appear in your Start Menu. I can't remember if the ACT install requires a reboot or not but if it does, reboot and again log in as Administrator and head to the Application Compatibility Toolkit group and select "Compatibility Administration Tool." A list of all the compatibility fixes built into XP will appear. Scroll down to the entry for Descent: Freespace and select it. In the right hand window a tree headed "FS.EXE" should appear. Right-click it and select "Disable Entry." Close the Compatibility Administration Tool and see if FS1 works.

So it seems that even FreeSpace 1 will run just fine under the new operating system. Enjoy!

I have a couple of other things to add: If you're going to try that make sure you've exhausted any other avenues (patching the game, upgrading drivers etc) first. The fact that that patch is in the database indicates that in some cases it may be necessary and disabling it may actually add to the problems. The reasoning behind the suggestion was that, on my machine at least, FS ran fine under 2k (in fact my copy of FS never even saw a Win9x installation its only ever been installed under 2k and XP) where the patch didn't exist. While thats fine for me, I can't speak for every other hardware configuration out there.

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