Windows 8 and Red Alert 2 Yuri

[jonnyollet]

Hi Guys,

I am desperately trying to get Red Alert 2 working on my two laptops at home to I can play/beat my housemate over a LAN game.

He has a Windows 7 laptop whilst I am running Windows 8.

Originally, I successfully managed to install RA2 (from The First Decade) on both laptops and both ran the game. We managed to get a networked game started using the wsock32.dll patch to get over the IPX issue. However, after about 5 minutes, my laptop (Win 8) would hang and the connection drop out (I'm not sure why this was??).

I am now trying to run the game in a WinXP VirtualBox. I've installed the VirtualBox on both laptops with WinXP SP3; and also the IPX network driver.

My network settings for VirutalBox are "Attached to: Bridge Adapter" and these are connected to the wireless adapters on both laptops.

I have also manually set the IPX adapter settings to the following on both laptops:
Internal Netwokr Number: 00000000
Frametype: Ethernet 802.3
Network Number: 00000001

However, when I start the game, I cannot see the other laptop (I can ping the other laptop from the cmd prompt, so they can see each other).
Are there any other settings that I need to change or am I overlooking anything??

Any help would be much appreciated.
Many thanks,
Jonny

 

[Hopachi]

You are one step ahead here Jonny: I never used LAN game over VirtualBox on 2 PC's.

The network address range has to match between the two pc's VM's... I would try NAT besides Bridged as well.

In VBox, there are different networking settings to test, see this too:
https://blogs.oracle.com/fatbloke/entry/networking_in_virtualbox1

Apart from that, make sure the game uses 2 different keys for the 2 installations in order for the games to see each other.

Good luck.

 

[Hopachi]

I am now trying to run the game in a WinXP VirtualBox. I've installed the VirtualBox on both laptops with WinXP SP3; and also the IPX network driver.

Don't forget the XP VM's default firewall (on/off) and in case it's ON to allow the game.

I recommend you keep using wsock in the VM's as well, UDP is faster than IPX and you have less delay between the two connections.
I believe you already have the official RA2 1.006 patch installed. In case of yuri's revenge, try applying Npatch after v1.001 to fix some extra general issues.

Is this also networking? I've checked all options even firewall.
Here on 2 pc's: trying to create a LAN lobby between two machines named PC1 and PC2.
During the game, PC1 is not able to see PC2 but PC1 can create a new game and PC2 can join and it will work this way.
Try to switch between the one who creates and the other who joins to see if this applies.

 

[Graybeard]

Yuri's Revenge possible solution for ManwithDog:

Hi Manwithdog,

I had exactly the same issue as you and even tried all the same things you had, and it was enough for me to go back to Windows 7 as well...

However, I recently thought I might have another go at fixing this, and I have discovered that Microsoft has removed Directdraw under Windows 8, and that games that use 16 bit colour can have this sort of problem. They have, however added an emulation layer for Directdraw.

Long story short, you can force games under Windows 8 to use Directdraw emulation with a registry setting.

Here is a cut and paste of the settings that fixed the problem for me:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00


[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers]
"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Command And Conquer Red Alert 2 Yuri's Revenge\\RA2MD.exe"="$ DWM8And16BitMitigation Layer_ForceDirectDrawEmulation"
"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Command And Conquer Red Alert 2 Yuri's Revenge\\gamemd.exe"="$ DWM8And16BitMitigation Layer_ForceDirectDrawEmulation"
"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Command And Conquer Red Alert 2 Yuri's Revenge\\Ra2.exe"="$ DWM8And16BitMitigation Layer_ForceDirectDrawEmulation"


This assumes that RA2/Yuri is installed in the "C:\Program Files (x86)\Command And Conquer Red Alert 2 Yuri's Revenge" folder. I'm guessing that you would know how to import the above into the registry, but if you didn't, you simply open notepad, paste the above in and save it as yuri.reg, then exit notepad and double click on the yuri.reg file.

I apologise in advance if someone else has already posted this fix, but was so pleased with myself for finding a solution that I had to tell someone !

 

[samoer]

Hi Manwithdog,

I had exactly the same issue as you and even tried all the same things you had, and it was enough for me to go back to Windows 7 as well...

However, I recently thought I might have another go at fixing this, and I have discovered that Microsoft has removed Directdraw under Windows 8, and that games that use 16 bit colour can have this sort of problem. They have, however added an emulation layer for Directdraw.

Long story short, you can force games under Windows 8 to use Directdraw emulation with a registry setting.

Here is a cut and paste of the settings that fixed the problem for me:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00


[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers]
"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Command And Conquer Red Alert 2 Yuri's Revenge\\RA2MD.exe"="$ DWM8And16BitMitigation Layer_ForceDirectDrawEmulation"
"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Command And Conquer Red Alert 2 Yuri's Revenge\\gamemd.exe"="$ DWM8And16BitMitigation Layer_ForceDirectDrawEmulation"
"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Command And Conquer Red Alert 2 Yuri's Revenge\\Ra2.exe"="$ DWM8And16BitMitigation Layer_ForceDirectDrawEmulation"


This assumes that RA2/Yuri is installed in the "C:\Program Files (x86)\Command And Conquer Red Alert 2 Yuri's Revenge" folder. I'm guessing that you would know how to import the above into the registry, but if you didn't, you simply open notepad, paste the above in and save it as yuri.reg, then exit notepad and double click on the yuri.reg file.

I apologise in advance if someone else has already posted this fix, but was so pleased with myself for finding a solution that I had to tell someone !

Thank u very much!!!!U r great!!But when I minimizar YR to side bar,YR can't back to window,how to slove this?

 

[Hopachi]

Hi Manwithdog,

I had exactly the same issue as you and even tried all the same things you had, and it was enough for me to go back to Windows 7 as well...

However, I recently thought I might have another go at fixing this, and I have discovered that Microsoft has removed Directdraw under Windows 8, and that games that use 16 bit colour can have this sort of problem. They have, however added an emulation layer for Directdraw.

Long story short, you can force games under Windows 8 to use Directdraw emulation with a registry setting.

Here is a cut and paste of the settings that fixed the problem for me:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00


[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers]
"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Command And Conquer Red Alert 2 Yuri's Revenge\\RA2MD.exe"="$ DWM8And16BitMitigation Layer_ForceDirectDrawEmulation"
"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Command And Conquer Red Alert 2 Yuri's Revenge\\gamemd.exe"="$ DWM8And16BitMitigation Layer_ForceDirectDrawEmulation"
"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Command And Conquer Red Alert 2 Yuri's Revenge\\Ra2.exe"="$ DWM8And16BitMitigation Layer_ForceDirectDrawEmulation"


This assumes that RA2/Yuri is installed in the "C:\Program Files (x86)\Command And Conquer Red Alert 2 Yuri's Revenge" folder. I'm guessing that you would know how to import the above into the registry, but if you didn't, you simply open notepad, paste the above in and save it as yuri.reg, then exit notepad and double click on the yuri.reg file.

I apologise in advance if someone else has already posted this fix, but was so pleased with myself for finding a solution that I had to tell someone !

Thank u very much!!!!U r great!!But when I minimizar YR to side bar,YR can't back to window,how to slove this?

Good question.
I have the same issue with Dune 2000 too. The resolution switches to 32bit when the game is minimized and DOESN'T switch back properly or at all to 16bit when maximized again...

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers]
"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Command And Conquer Red Alert 2 Yuri's Revenge\\RA2MD.exe"="$ DWM8And16BitMitigation Layer_ForceDirectDrawEmulation"
"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Command And Conquer Red Alert 2 Yuri's Revenge\\gamemd.exe"="$ DWM8And16BitMitigation Layer_ForceDirectDrawEmulation"
"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Command And Conquer Red Alert 2 Yuri's Revenge\\Ra2.exe"="$ DWM8And16BitMitigation Layer_ForceDirectDrawEmulation"

Those registry entries look interesting, might give those a try. But DirectDraw is available in the features in 8.1.

We are a few who noticed this issue, I'll post here If I find something.

Cheers!

 

[Hopachi]

About Graybeard's registry entries...
See link for more details:
Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 Operating Systems

I didn't had time to test it yet.

 

[Hopachi]

About Graybeard's registry entries...
See link for more details:
Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 Operating Systems

I didn't had time to test it yet.

I've tested those for Dune 2000 which requires 16bit color: it doesn't help out in this case with the minimizing thing. I guess this will have not much effect for Ra2 Yuri either since those entries (DWM8And16BitMitigation) add some support that the compatibility mode adds, but not for minimization (toggle the 16bit mode on/off is needed). The Layer_ForceDirectDrawEmulation doesn't work for Dune 2000 (black screen) but it's worth a try in Yuri, ONLY to fix some display (directdraw) issues. I still guess it has no effect for window/game minimization. If you use Npatch or Ares.dll then some of the serious directdraw issues will be fixed so the game ought to work better on Win7 and 8 with these patches.

The fix for minimization and correct restoration for 16bit fullscreen color mode programs still has to be discovered on Win8/8.1.

 

[DarkForceX]

Have you guys tried Ares?
Ares - A Yuri's Revenge Expansion DLL

This should be the most compatible "patch" available. Replaces ddraw and npatch.

See readme file they provide in download.

I'm gonna post my results for this one on Win8 after I test it.

Dear Hopachi. Thank you very much. the Ares patch solved the biggest problem (YR Lag on Windows 8.1 x64). But now i have a second issue. i used to have a screen resolution patch for YR. ( the one where you need to write ''hires'' in main menu of YR to have more resolution options in the Options ). There i can select 1920x1080. When i start a game. The game runs on full speed. The screen is ajusted correctly as 1920x1080. But now i have a problem with the mouse pointer. i can select the mcv and deploy it. but i cant move my mouse to the right side of my screen. Also when i open in game options with clicking on ''ESC'' on my keyboard i cant click on '' abort game'' or ''resume game'' Any ideas why? and how to fix this. I can feel i am near. almost done. after i fix this problem it means that i can fully use YR on windows 8.1 like i want to. Thanks for reading. I will wait for a response.

 

[Hopachi]

Have you guys tried Ares?
Ares - A Yuri's Revenge Expansion DLL

This should be the most compatible "patch" available. Replaces ddraw and npatch.

See readme file they provide in download.

I'm gonna post my results for this one on Win8 after I test it.

Dear Hopachi. Thank you very much. the Ares patch solved the biggest problem (YR Lag on Windows 8.1 x64). But now i have a second issue. i used to have a screen resolution patch for YR. ( the one where you need to write ''hires'' in main menu of YR to have more resolution options in the Options ). There i can select 1920x1080. When i start a game. The game runs on full speed. The screen is ajusted correctly as 1920x1080. But now i have a problem with the mouse pointer. i can select the mcv and deploy it. but i cant move my mouse to the right side of my screen. Also when i open in game options with clicking on ''ESC'' on my keyboard i cant click on '' abort game'' or ''resume game'' Any ideas why? and how to fix this. I can feel i am near. almost done. after i fix this problem it means that i can fully use YR on windows 8.1 like i want to. Thanks for reading. I will wait for a response.

Hello DarkForceX, welcome to the forums!

Seems to be a weird issue and I'm not sure I fully understand the mouse part. If this post(s) info still don't fix it, try posting a screenshot if it might help out showing the issue.

Ok, first of all, make sure the resolution is added in the RA2MD.ini file (see previous posts for the ini) because the ingame menu's will use it too. I'm not aware of any resolution patches so far because it simply worked in the ini. The main menu's use always 800x600. Other issue is that the game starts in 16bit color so you'll have to use compatibility mode with reduced color mode to 16bit. I don't think Ares was designed to accept other patches since it's a patch by itself. Once you add the resolution to the ini, the game should be OK with it. Some game-mods may add other ini files or set extra resolution settings but a normal-flavored game works fine with the usual ini, be it in full-hd.

Cheers!
Hopachi

 

[DarkForceX]

Have you guys tried Ares?
Ares - A Yuri's Revenge Expansion DLL

This should be the most compatible "patch" available. Replaces ddraw and npatch.

See readme file they provide in download.

I'm gonna post my results for this one on Win8 after I test it.

Dear Hopachi. Thank you very much. the Ares patch solved the biggest problem (YR Lag on Windows 8.1 x64). But now i have a second issue. i used to have a screen resolution patch for YR. ( the one where you need to write ''hires'' in main menu of YR to have more resolution options in the Options ). There i can select 1920x1080. When i start a game. The game runs on full speed. The screen is ajusted correctly as 1920x1080. But now i have a problem with the mouse pointer. i can select the mcv and deploy it. but i cant move my mouse to the right side of my screen. Also when i open in game options with clicking on ''ESC'' on my keyboard i cant click on '' abort game'' or ''resume game'' Any ideas why? and how to fix this. I can feel i am near. almost done. after i fix this problem it means that i can fully use YR on windows 8.1 like i want to. Thanks for reading. I will wait for a response.

Hello DarkForceX, welcome to the forums!

Seems to be a weird issue and I'm not sure I fully understand the mouse part. If this post(s) info still don't fix it, try posting a screenshot if it might help out showing the issue.

Ok, first of all, make sure the resolution is added in the RA2MD.ini file (see previous posts for the ini) because the ingame menu's will use it too. I'm not aware of any resolution patches so far because it simply worked in the ini. The main menu's use always 800x600. Other issue is that the game starts in 16bit color so you'll have to use compatibility mode with reduced color mode to 16bit. I don't think Ares was designed to accept other patches since it's a patch by itself. Once you add the resolution to the ini, the game should be OK with it. Some game-mods may add other ini files or set extra resolution settings but a normal-flavored game works fine with the usual ini, be it in full-hd.

Cheers!
Hopachi

Thank you for your fast response. I managed to see that i had edited the ra2.ini file and not ra2md.ini. i thought that ra2.ini was for both ra2 and yr i did not even know that there was a ra2md.ini file :S how genius am i ?. so that was the mistake . i dont even have to use Ares patch because i added the VideoBackBuffer=no ​line (under Video) in ra2md.ini. and dont even need to use the resolution patch since you teached me to edit the resolution of the screen simply in the ra2md.ini. Thank you very much for helping this out This is absolutely a great helpful forum!. i can play Yuris Revenge on Windows 8.1 Pro x64 without any problems!:thumb:.

 

[Zaref]

1. thumbs up for you as you still play this awesome game
2. i had the same problem but i got it solved -check ingame options-
3. my problem which do still exist is that yuri's revenge exe is working but RA2.exe doesn't work

 

[Hopachi]

Thank you for your fast response. I managed to see that i had edited the ra2.ini file and not ra2md.ini. i thought that ra2.ini was for both ra2 and yr i did not even know that there was a ra2md.ini file :S how genius am i ?. so that was the mistake . i dont even have to use Ares patch because i added the VideoBackBuffer=no ​line (under Video) in ra2md.ini. and dont even need to use the resolution patch since you teached me to edit the resolution of the screen simply in the ra2md.ini. Thank you very much for helping this out This is absolutely a great helpful forum!. i can play Yuris Revenge on Windows 8.1 Pro x64 without any problems!:thumb:.

It works! Nice! :thumb:

You're welcome.

 

[Hopachi]

3. my problem which do still exist is that yuri's revenge exe is working but RA2.exe doesn't work

RA2 is a bit older but the same or related settings should still apply.
You should try the RA2.ini and add settings there (videobackbuffer and resolution). Also check the compatibility settings (16bit color mode and if it still fails, compatibility XP SP2/3 or Win98/ME).

 

[Hass]

Hopachi,
Thanks for the guide. I have a slight issue:
Setup:
Host New iMac 27" running mavrick
VM: VirtualBox
Guest: Windows 8

Issue:
I have the game working, game speed is good, only issue is the mouse courser when on the battlefield. I get 2 coursers, the in-game green one as well as a windows courser. Not a biggie, but for the fact that the windows courser runs at full speed but the RA2 courser lags behind.

I have had possible 2 improvements (but not 100% solutions):

1. reduce the resolution. I'm using the resolution tool to get full resolution of the iMac. This is the worst lag. If I reduce it, it improves. However, reducing the resolution does not stretch the screen. So the courser will go off the game window and not scroll the map. (I know about the right click scroll, but still you can still lose the mouse off the game window). But the whole point is to play FULL screen.

2. turn off mouse integration from VBox. I like this solution, because I believe it is the root cause of the issue. However, by doing so, I lose the mouse in the RA2 menus and pause menus. Therefore, almost impossible at such high resolution to even try to guess where the "Start Game" button is , etc.. However, once inside a battle, I only get the in-game courser and no lag, which is good! But the problem remains, no menu screen courser = for ever to even start a game.

Anyone else with this dilemma?

Thanks in advance

 

[Hopachi]

Hass, welcome to the forums.

1. Reduce the resolution
VirtualBox doesn't stretch, scale mode is half-stretch sibnce you still keep window borders... The stretch has to come from the host OS (Maverick) and not the guest (Win8).
I don't know if you have Retina display or what the native resolution is you're using but OS X allows to change resolution to lower not-native mode: in case that succeeds, try some from the list during the game of course. So you'll have to apply the same lower resolution in the VM, ra2md.ini.

2.Turn off mouse integration
It's an idea but you should try all modes before deciding: USB/tablet/absolute-pointing-device or PS2 mouse modes.
The thing is that the native resolution is pretty high so the lag might not be fixable by just changing mouse settings. First things you should try to increase graphic memory size in the VM.
For example: for a 2560 x 1440 I'd go above 32mb for sure. Running 3D acceleration might not fix it since the accelerated VM drivers are not quite stable. You can also test it out in a XP VM and see if it's snappier as a VM for the game.

Good luck.

Regards,
Hopachi

 

[Tony1A]

Hello, I am new to these forms and I created this account to try and get Red Alert 2 to work on my laptop. I have a Windows 8.1 64 bit with 8 gb ram and intel core i7-4800Mq 2.7GHz.

I downloaded Ra2 from the Ultimate edition and I initially had a lot of problems. I added VideoBackBuffer=no and that fixed almost all of my problems. I also installed the CNC fixed launchers (found herehttp://www.commandandconquer.com/forums/index.php/topic/26695-fixed-launchers-for-the-ultimate-collection/) so that I could add argument modifications to the game launchers.

I must first state that the game runs perfectly in almost all scenarios. I have only one issue, windowed mode. I did have to edit the properties of all the exe files to be in windows xp package 3 compatiblility mode with 16 bitto even get windowed mode to work. When I run the game with "-win" I get these issues:

imgur: the simple image sharer
imgur: the simple image sharer

As seen in the screenshots, the color pallet is almost solely green and purple. Also, the visible screen is always half the screen resolution the right side. The input,however, is still positioned for the full resolution. Is there any way to possibly get this game to work in windowed mode for me? I ideally don't want to use an more 3rd party programs (I love using the mental omega mod with ra2, and it also works fine, but not in windowed mode.

 

[chaotix000]

Iv'e been trying to play YR on a Dell Venue 8 Pro and I can't get the game to start without a mouse. I get "A mouse is required to play Red Alert 2(Yuri's Revenge)" message depending on the game I'm trying to run. Anyone get these games to work with a Windows tablet?

 

[Hopachi]

I must first state that the game runs perfectly in almost all scenarios. I have only one issue, windowed mode. I did have to edit the properties of all the exe files to be in windows xp package 3 compatiblility mode with 16 bitto even get windowed mode to work. When I run the game with "-win" I get these issues:

imgur: the simple image sharer
imgur: the simple image sharer

As seen in the screenshots, the color pallet is almost solely green and purple. Also, the visible screen is always half the screen resolution the right side. The input,however, is still positioned for the full resolution. Is there any way to possibly get this game to work in windowed mode for me?

Thank you for the input.

The posted screenshots are exactly what I get on Dune 2000 but ONLY if I minimize the fullscreen game and then maximize again (colors get distorted with gray and purple, and half the screen). Basically that's how 16bit color games look on 32bit resolutions.

I didn't find a solution either.

It seems that 16bit resolutions are entirely gone for the W8 desktop modes so I believe the game in windowed mode will never run properly if it can't support the available 32bit color modes.

You'll have to stick to full screen or run the game from a VM that can be windowed without issues (check other posts about running it in VirtualBox or VMware Player).

 

[Hopachi]

Iv'e been trying to play YR on a Dell Venue 8 Pro and I can't get the game to start without a mouse. I get "A mouse is required to play Red Alert 2(Yuri's Revenge)" message depending on the game I'm trying to run. Anyone get these games to work with a Windows tablet?

Interesting!

Never tested that one without a mouse...

If the game itself reports that a mouse is required than it looks like there is an internal check: mouse events are probably the only thing implemented + some keyboard buttons but it's an old game so there is no way touch events would get recognised.

Theoretically you'll have to install a mouse emulator that can translate mouse input to touch. I don't know anything in particular but that already exists for keyboards and joysticks so it is possible to get something similar for a mouse, an app for that.
(discussed here: http://www.eightforums.com/tablet-touch/38864-emulating-mouse-touch.html)

Good luck.