Tutorial: Getting Sins of a Solar Empire to work on Windows2000

I will give this a try also when I get my copy.

Awesome! You're my hero, Rider! Thanks a bunch, this really helps.

Now I'll just have to track this game down in the stores!

Updated the tutorial, I made a small error in the registry bit which is now fixed.

Also, could this be stickied as an unofficial workaround or something?

Yes, a sticky would be handy for those who still use windows 2000.

Please sticky, dear moderators. Pretty please?

Very nice. The only thing I think you need to do is explain to people where to get the files that are in w2kpatch.zip.

-HM

They're on the site that the tutorial is hosted at (I placed 2 mirrors there) so I think that's obvious enough

Ah gotcha. I went straight to your text file and didn't notice!

A small question - has anyone tried, via Win2k, buying the game on-line and installing through Stardock Central? If so, will it just work after dropping the two extra files in? Common sense tells me yes, but that's probably a bad assumption.

-HM

It is flagged so you can not install with stardock central if it detects you have win2k. I bought the game and then got a refund because of this.

Ah...unfortunate. I guess you can buy the box if you really want to play under Win2k.

It's all so maddeningly irritating, but thankfully work-arounds exist in most cases for the modern games that simply refuse to install under anything but WinXP and Vista.

-HM

How to install Sins of a Solar Empire (SoaSE) on Windows 2000 (W2K) using Stardock Central (SDC)


In SDC, buy the game as usual but do not install (it demands XP)
Instead right click on the game and 'Download and Archive'
While waiting for that to finish go to the archives storage location (ie C:\Program Files\Stardock\SDCentral\BACKUP)
Once SDC says it is done rename the .sdc (ie Sins of a Solar Empire_1.02.018_02.08.2008.sdc, although exact name will likely change with versions) file to .zip
Optional step: make a backup copy of the .zip before editing it.
Open the .zip and extract data.ini
Open data.ini and change the OS= line from OS=5.1 to OS=4.10
Note: While 5.1 appears to be XP, 4.10 might not be W2K, but it does work.
Save changes to data.ini and replace the old version in the .zip
Rename the .zip back to .sdc
In SDC, restore archive (Ctrl+r) for SoaSE
Wait while it installs, crossing fingers/praying/etc as needed
Note: Sometimes the install will get stuck at a certain point. If you made a backup of the .sdc before editing data.ini you could try again, if not you have to download from the start.
Once install is done, copy the modified xinput1_3.dll and faultrep.dll into the game directory (ie C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\Sins of a Solar Empire)
Note: The version of xinput1_3.dll that is installed by the game can be modified following directions at http://www.techspot.com/blog/87/fix-for-running-bioshock-in-windows-2000/
faultrep.dll can be found at http://www.dlldump.com/download-dll-files_new.php/dllfiles/F/faultrep.dll/5.1.2600.2180/download.html
Or both can be found at http://www.freewebs.com/riderpe/Tutorials/W2Kpatch.zip or http://www.mediafire.com/?dyjvwmzs2nq or google for more information

And there you go, game should now be installable (and playable) on Windows 2000 (assuming all other system requirements are met of course). It would be nice if SDC would give you a message like 'game won't work on your system are you sure you want to install anyways' instead of just not installing. Having said that, good game Ironclad and Stardock.

Thank you RiderRockon! It worked like a charm.

Thank you too Danny Bassette. I had already gotten a refund on tokens and picked up the boxed version but that is good info for future purchases. I too wish it would just give you a warning popup and let you install anyway.

Danny Basette, would you mind if I added your explanation to the tutorial on my own site? Naturally I'll give props.

It might be a good thing to have both explanations in one place

RiderRockon: Whatever you think would be the most helpful, that was why I posted. Personally I'd reedit the first post of this thread, consolidating both install methods (and the needed .dlls) with a link to any off site copies (ie your site) at the end. That way all information needed is in one easy to read source at the developers forum, with a link elsewhere should a backup copy ever be needed. But that's just me...

Allright, I decided to add the other method to the end of the existing tutorial. That way it'll be a "complete guide" in and on itself. I also agree that an additional copy elsewhere might be a good idea.

Anyone care to mirror this tutorial?

Also: apparently this isn't sticky-worthy just yet. Shame really...

OK it seems you have to do the archive and re download for EACH update! and each time change the flag from NT5.1 to NT5.0. Really is a .1 change in windows that much? could you not just sneek the flag down one small 0.1? Please

OK archiving did not work as this archived my 1.02 copy heh I think I may have to remove from stardock and re download the whole game and change the flag just to get 1.03. If I do this for each patch am not just wasting your bandwidth?

OK seems that re downlaoding the whole thing is ok bit of a clumsy way to patch though

https://www.sinsofasolarempire.com/update.aspx is much quicker and is not flaged thanks Stardock as ever you amasing off to play now!!!

Has anyone else tried this had a problem?? I am I cant seem to get it to work.

Has anyone had the problem of the graphics in game not displaying the background or the ships? It's still functional except these things.