Running Command & Conquer Generals on Windows 7

Question

I have recently upgraded my computer to Windows 7. I have played this game before on this computer before the upgrade. I have tried running the program compatability and upgrading my DirectX. Is there a patch or something I could do to play this game? It is one of my favorites. Thanks.

Answer 1

I FOUND THIS POSTED BY SOME GENIUS CALLED DARKRAJIN AND IT WORKS ON GENERALS AND GENERALS ZERO HOUR

This I found on another page and thought I would share it here as it worked for me.

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!

Answer 2

Casey,

    C&C Generals shows to be compatible with Windows 7.  Make sure that all your hardware drivers are up to date and then try.  If you have a problem after updating all the drivers then you should contact EA support to see if there is a patch\update for the game.

---

Mike - Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

Answer 3

Now i am running Windows 7 Ultimate x64  i7 Nvidia Geforce 460M and after installation the program didn't run.

so here is what you should do to make it run, and countless amount of reinstallations and will work or you are Doing Something Wrong!

Make sure you have the latest Direct-X 9.0c installed, you can Google it or get it from Microsoft

Make sure you also have Microsoft Direct X SDK 2008 Installed!

You can google that too

make sure you have windows 7 service pack 1 at least installed!

make sure you have the LATEST Graphic Drivers installed for your VGA Card and that meets the game's requirements!

make sure that both Generals and Zero hour its on its latest patch version which at this time is v1.08 (12/2015)

(must be a CLEAN INSTALLATION no other MODS etc!)

When installing the game run the setup in the CD as ADMINISTRATOR! (Look in CD for SETUP and RUN)

into your "user" directory (named with your user account yeah you know there where you see the folder my pictures, my music etc)

in there go to "My Documents"

well there after trying to run the game you would see a Command and Conquer Generals Data folder (Including Zero Hour).

open it.

right click and create a new empty .TXT file and rename it options.ini

(make sure you see the extension .txt and you don't end up having a stupid file named options.ini.txt!) (In windows 7 move .Txt to ALL Files) if you dont know how to see the files extension in windows 7, Google it or get an Xbox to play 

now copy the following lines inside and Save it!

**warning in the resolution section put your resolution*********

***also some LOD settings may not work with your VGA card! remove those lines if you cant run the game!****

AntiAliasing = 1
BuildingOcclusion = yes
CampaignDifficulty = 0
DynamicLOD = yes
ExtraAnimations = yes
GameSpyIPAddress = 0.0.0.0
Gamma = 50
HeatEffects = yes
IPAddress = 0.0.0.0
IdealStaticGameLOD = Low
LanguageFilter = false
MaxParticleCount = 5000
MusicVolume = 55
Resolution = 800 600
Retaliation = yes
SFX3DVolume = 79
SFXVolume = 71
ScrollFactor = 60
SendDelay = no
ShowSoftWaterEdge = yes
ShowTrees = yes
StaticGameLOD = Custom
TextureReduction = 0
UseAlternateMouse = yes
UseCloudMap = yes
UseDoubleClickAttackMove = no
UseLightMap = yes
UseShadowDecals = yes
UseShadowVolumes = yes
VoiceVolume = 70

Then Right Click on your Generals / Zero Hour shortcut (if you don't have make one), in Widows 7 most games make there shortcuts into the "GAMES" menu in Start Menu

and in the Compatibility Tab just select Windows XP SP3 and click "Run as administrator" option too (if you are not an admin)

that's it go inside change your settings and restart the game.

Another issue: in installed windows updates there may be an U pdate KB3086255 that doesnt let your computer files change from read only. Uninstall it (Control Panel, Uninstall program, View Installed updates) and make sure your Computers Windows Update lets you know which updates to install, before it installs as it may Reinstall it Automatically!

Another issue: If you are reinstalling Command and Conquer from an older time and have maps. Delete the MAP Cache file in the map folder as it kept on being the issue why the serious error kept popping up and not letting me play the game! If you dont understand this then delete all your whole Command and Conquer Generals Data Folder and do a CLEAN INSTALL as something may be giving you an error from the past.

other alternative simpler solution:

Windows 7 x64 SP1 (service pack1 is crucial!)

Clean Install of the game and patch to latest versions!

Change Compatibility of the main .exe to Windows XP sp3 (so that the main menu shellmap works ok)

run the game for 1st time and during this run go to setting and change everything you want! (besides resolution)

then exit game and locate the options.ini i told you before in your Documents\Generals Zero Hour data\ folder

change there only the resolution line to your screen's native. (ex Resolution = 800 600)

save and rerun the game. you are done! This worked for me!

Have fun that's an order!

Answer 4

Man.. This is my only comment on anything on anywhere. This was really heplful. I hope to find orginal author though.

Answer 5

this did not work for me any other suggestions?