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

did this all and still it asks to insert the right cd, pity i just got First Decade pack and other games works fine except generals and zero hours

Answer 4

hi guys ... i was just wondering if any of you can help me with C&C on line, when ever i try to play someone on line i keep getting msg saying Firewall stuff ... whats that about? and how can i fix it ??

many thanks

Answer 5

Hi All,

I had no luck with just changing the Options.ini but I did something else and it worked for me:

1. Tried the options.ini method
2. Ran the uninstaller (on 7 just type in "generals uninstall" into the bottom search bar on the start menu)
3. Chose Repair

Up to here it still didn't work but then randomly decided to

4. Create a copy the "game.dat" file
5. Delete the old "game.dat" file
6. Rename the copied file which should be "game - Copied.dat" to "game.dat"

Did the same thing for the "generals.exe" file

miraculously worked.

let me know if it works for you