[GLH]

FileForums FAQs - II.2.

What should I do if the original game doesn't work properly, not even without a crack?

1. When having problems with the original CD/DVD (crashes, video/audio problems, weird behavior, missing functionality), try the following:
   • Read the manual, documentation and/or online help. Check out, especially, the minimum system requirements, both hardware and software. Note that some (versions of) games and some (versions of) copy protections don't support 64-bit Windows. As for Windows 95/98/98SE/ME, many newer games don't support them either (although, for a few of them, compatibility hacks are available).
   • Apply the latest official update (also see the game documentation and the install CD/DVD for URL's or visit the homepage of the game or the publisher). Note that some official updates remove (the annoying part of) the copy protection.
   • Install the latest Windows service pack and other critical and/or important updates.
   • For DirectX-based games, install the latest version of DirectX. Note that current releases of DirectX have no apparent version number so it is not easy to find out if you have the latest version!
   • Update your motherboard/chipset/video/audio/Ethernet/IDE drivers (see their printed documentations or install CD's for download URL's) to the latest versions. Some common manufacturers:
     • ABIT motherboards and video cards;
     • ASUS motherboards and video cards;
     • ATI Radeon video cards;
     • Gigabyte motherboards and video cards;
     • nVidia Geforce video cards, nVidia nForce chipsets.
     For older hardware, search for their drivers at DriverGuide (requires free registration).
   • Update the firmware (the internal operating system) of your CD/DVD drive to the latest version. Visit the homepage of the manufacturer for more details.
   • If the game still doesn't work properly, contact the publisher/developer or refer to the official support forum. See the game documentation for more information on how to report problems properly.
   This question is off-topic; your thread will be closed or moved to the General Gaming forum!