Forum Discussion

slyswine1's avatar
10 years ago
Solved

Command and Conquer Red Alert 1 Terrain Editor requires CD install?

I recently purchased the Ultimate Collection, and wanted to use the terrain editor located within the game files.  The file is EDWIN.exe, once I open it, the window opens and appears to be loading, but then a message pops up asking me to install game disc to run.  There is no game disc obviously since this is a digital purchase/download.  Does anyone out there have a clue what I might be able to do?  Thanks

  • @slyswine1

    Like the game itself, it needs to be started with command line parameter "-cd." to work without CD. It's a system that's always been in the game, so they never changed it for the full hard disk versions; they just used what was there. To use it you'll have to make a shortcut to edwin.exe, open its properties, and add that "-cd." (minus the quotes) to the end of the Target field.

    A much easier option, however, is to patch your game with the community patch over at cncnet.org; it adds enhanced versions of both the original map editor, and of the fully-fledged mission editor RA-Ed. Command & Conquer 1, Red Alert 1 and Tiberian Sun have all been upgraded with community-created unofficial patches that fix a lot of their bugs and compatibility problems. For Red Alert 2 there's a more general patch that solves a lot of its graphics problems. You can find them here:

    Command & Conquer 1:

    Red Alert 1:

    Tiberian Sun:

    Red Alert 2:

    • The graphics system patch DDWrapper is known to solve the "black screen" issue.
      Download the zip file and extract "ddraw.dll" and "aqrit.cfg" into your game folder. Then, open the configuration file "aqrit.cfg" in Notepad, change the "ForceDirectDrawEmulation" option to 1, save the file, and the game should work.

2 Replies

  • @slyswine1

    Like the game itself, it needs to be started with command line parameter "-cd." to work without CD. It's a system that's always been in the game, so they never changed it for the full hard disk versions; they just used what was there. To use it you'll have to make a shortcut to edwin.exe, open its properties, and add that "-cd." (minus the quotes) to the end of the Target field.

    A much easier option, however, is to patch your game with the community patch over at cncnet.org; it adds enhanced versions of both the original map editor, and of the fully-fledged mission editor RA-Ed. Command & Conquer 1, Red Alert 1 and Tiberian Sun have all been upgraded with community-created unofficial patches that fix a lot of their bugs and compatibility problems. For Red Alert 2 there's a more general patch that solves a lot of its graphics problems. You can find them here:

    Command & Conquer 1:

    Red Alert 1:

    Tiberian Sun:

    Red Alert 2:

    • The graphics system patch DDWrapper is known to solve the "black screen" issue.
      Download the zip file and extract "ddraw.dll" and "aqrit.cfg" into your game folder. Then, open the configuration file "aqrit.cfg" in Notepad, change the "ForceDirectDrawEmulation" option to 1, save the file, and the game should work.
  • Thank you very much for the reply and answer. I will try this once I get home from work. Very much appreciated.

About Command & Conquer Franchise Discussion

Chat about your favorite games in the Command and Conquer franchise and get help from the player community.13,563 PostsLatest Activity: 3 hours ago