Forum Discussion

Mrleeandrews's avatar
Mrleeandrews
10 years ago

Windows 7 Command and Conquer issue

Hi i have installed C&C generals and C&C Zero hour on my pc. When i click to launch the program nothing happens ? i have full admin privalages i have allowed access for the program to run past the windows firewall, and i have tried all compatability modes for this to run to no avail. After some research i found this ..

Thanks to PieEater for the solution found here:
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/8721c469-3e4d-41d8-a0bb-675bed42688e/win7-x64-command-conquer-generals-does-not-work-in-any-compatability-mode-or-with-xp-virtual?forum=w7itproappcompat

I have a core i5 laptop running windows 7 home premium 64-bit with an ATI graphics card and I had exactly the same problems getting C&C Generals and Zero Hour to work.
Good News - Have just successfully managed to get it working, and it IS Windows 7 that causes the problem, specifically it's to do with access permissions to folders - Windows 7 blocks access to folders that Generals uses to run.
The way I fixed it was:
In 'My Documents' (usually at C:\users\YOURNAME\documents) there should be a folder named 'Command and Conquer Generals Data' or 'Command and Conquer Generals Zero Hour Data', which was put there when you installed the game. You need to create a text file using notepad and save it into this folder. However, you must click 'save as' and change the type drop-down box from text file (.txt) to 'all files'. Then save the file as 'options.ini'
Before you save, paste this text into the file to get you started:

AntiAliasing = 1
BuildingOcclusion = yes
DrawScrollAnchor =
DynamicLOD = no
ExtraAnimations = yes
GameSpyIPAddress = 0.0.0.0
Gamma = 50
IPAddress = 0.0.0.0
IdealStaticGameLOD = High
LanguageFilter = true
MaxParticleCount = 5000
MoveScrollAnchor =
MusicVolume = 55
Resolution = 1024 768
Retaliation = yes
SFX3DVolume = 79
SFXVolume = 71
ScrollFactor = 50
SendDelay = no
ShowSoftWaterEdge = yes
ShowTrees = yes
StaticGameLOD = Custom
TextureReduction = 0
UseAlternateMouse = no
UseCloudMap = yes
UseDoubleClickAttackMove = no
UseLightMap = yes
UseShadowDecals = yes
UseShadowVolumes = yes
VoiceVolume = 100

This is simply how the game remembers what options you picked (music volume, brightness and the like) and you can change them once the game is running using the options menu.
Now the key bits - firstly, make sure that you have full read/write permissions for the Command and Conquer Generals Data folder - do this by right clicking on the folder, then properties then the security tab and change the permissions for all users. It might also be worth making sure no files are "Read-Only" in that folder.
Then change the game's compatibility mode by right clicking on the game in the start menu, clicking on properties and then the Compatibility tab. I used the "Change settings for all users" button at the bottom and changed to Windows XP (SP3), as well as checking the "Run as administrator box".
Hey presto! It worked, debunking the myth that C&C Generals will not run on 64 bit systems (as some people have been saying). In fairness, I haven't tried online multiplayer yet, just a few skirmishes.
Good Luck!

How evere the file mentioned Command and conquer generals data folder is missing ?? even after a fresh install ??? so i can't make this patch work if windows cant find the file any help on this please

Regards Lee

10 Replies

  • Nyerguds's avatar
    Nyerguds
    Hero+
    10 years ago

    @Mrleeandrews

    mrleeandrews wrote:

    How evere the file mentioned Command and conquer generals data folder is missing ?? even after a fresh install ??? so i can't make this patch work if windows cant find the file any help on this please

    Regards Lee

    The solution is simple: Create the missing folder.

  • Mrleeandrews's avatar
    Mrleeandrews
    10 years ago

    i wish it was that simple ! But that data file has the skirmish generals online map previews replays maps all this info i cant find which should be there ?? i've checked the file location and i cant find any of this stuff ? hence i cant find the folder C&C ZERO DATA file.

    I have watched videos from you tube on how to fix but cant find the folder they specify ?

  • Nyerguds's avatar
    Nyerguds
    Hero+
    10 years ago

    @Mrleeandrews Those things are just generated by the game. As long as you make the folders for it, and set the game's executables to run with the right compatibility modes, it'll make the files.

    As I said, first you go to your "My Documents" folder (paste %userprofile%\documents in your address bar in the file explorer and press enter), and make new folders in there and call them "Command and Conquer Generals Data" and "Command and Conquer Generals Zero Hour Data". Then create the settings ini files in both.

    Then, locate the actual game install folders, and in both folders, set both "generals.exe" and "generals_origin.exe" to run in WinXP SP3 compatibility mode and as administrator.

    If you don't know how to find them, open the Origin menu and select "Application Settings". In the settings screen, go to the "Advanced" section. Copy the address in the grey box, paste it in your Windows file explorer's address bar, and press [enter]. In the folder where you end up you will see the actual installation folders of your games.

  • hh_hen01's avatar
    hh_hen01
    5 years ago
    @Nyerguds i installed generals zero hour then installed gentool try changing around those options files cause that works to i installed Generalszh 104 english and it crashed need to try something oh comon guys try something
  • hh_hen01's avatar
    hh_hen01
    5 years ago

    i tried installing generals zero hour i even installed gentool and generalzh 104 patch try changing around the options files what else gota get this game working

  • hh_hen01's avatar
    hh_hen01
    5 years ago

    I installed it then ran the game created the options files run the game again then i installed gentool it worked i could play online fine then after a couple of weeks it said it needed updateing something about updateing the patch and maybe the options file to suite settings

  • hh_hen01's avatar
    hh_hen01
    5 years ago

    well i had to try 3 diffrent settings with the options files to get it to work and ive tried every setting with the new patch and the game still dont launch and after i installed the new patch nothing worked

  • hh_hen01's avatar
    hh_hen01
    5 years ago

    it worked i could go online but it said the patch needed updating 2 weeks later i updated to the latest patch then it crashed i tried changing the options files around to 

  • Diablo666Daemon's avatar
    Diablo666Daemon
    2 years ago

    My game wont run. I've tried everything. Its really annoying!!

    No C&C Games will run on my windows7 so far!! This is the one I want to play the most.

    Come on EA, look after your fans!!!!

About Command & Conquer Franchise Discussion

Chat about your favorite games in the Command and Conquer franchise and get help from the player community.13,559 PostsLatest Activity: 3 months ago