Installation query - do you want to allow this app to make changes….

[Bryn Pinzgauer]

My old laptop died a couple of weeks ago and my new one has just arrived. It’s a Dell G15 with Windows 11. I’ve just started installing my games, commencing with Cold War. I figured that would be the easiest since there are no add-ons. My game was purchased from Battlefront but, with the recent takeover, I am using the installer from Slitherine for the first time. Registering my game serials was easy enough.

The installation seemed straightforward, but when I launch the game, I get a ‘Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device’ dialogue. The Matrix launcher.exe and the CMCW.exe both have ‘run as administrator’ turned on in properties and I think this is what is driving the problem. If I remove this attribute, the dialogue doesn’t appear, but the game doesn’t start. I’ve installed once, uninstalled, and installed again, but I have the same issue. The game runs but the dialogue is irritating and I don’t think it should happen. Any advice? Thanks.

[Bryn Pinzgauer]

After a bit more investigation, it looks like the installer created all of the game data folders (incoming PBEM, outgoing PBEM, Saved Games etc) in the Programmes Files (x86) folder rather than in Documents, so I guess its wanting permission to write there. Maybe I missed something in the installation but that's where it defaulted to.

[BamaMatt]

Windows 10 requires admin rights to write to that directory. I installed to a separate directory and have no issues launching games and saving games with admin rights removed.

By the way, If you create a shortcut to the game .exe you bypass the Matrix launcher.

[Bryn Pinzgauer]

Thanks. Yes I also made a shortcut straight to the game.exe to skip the Matrix launcher but the dialogue box problem stays the same. For what it is worth, the formal response from Slitherine is that you need to run the game as administrator, and that there is no away to avoid the dialogue box every time you start the game. I like your suggestion of using a different directory although Slitherine warn against installing in Documents. I might try again later today.

[A Canadian Cat]

1 hour ago, BamaMatt said:

Windows 10 requires admin rights to write to that directory.

That sounds like the root cause...

1 hour ago, BamaMatt said:

I installed to a separate directory and have no issues launching games

I do this too right now with the BFC installs and had planned to keep doing it - now even more so.

8 minutes ago, Bryn Pinzgauer said:

Slitherine is that you need to run the game as administrator, and that there is no away to avoid the dialogue box every time you start the game.

Sigh. I do think installing to a separate directory will resolve this but I have not moved to the Slitherine installers yet so I cannot say for 100% sure. I have a C:\Programs directory that I usually use for non windows stuff (portable open source) or non standard installs (like games).

12 minutes ago, Bryn Pinzgauer said:

although Slitherine warn against installing in Documents

Yes, I agree with that - I would not install this or any other program into any Documents directory. Windows' various schemes for backing up or using their file sharing service will likely freak out and make you very very sad. Worse it might not make you sad form day one but some day in the future when you were happy it will make you sad suddenly.  

[BamaMatt]

I've verified that the game launches and save games read and write fine without admin rights enabled.

For those reading this who aren't familiar with the procedure, simply right click on the shortcut you are using to launch the game, select Properties, then Compatibility. Near the bottom of the dialog box you will see "Run this program as an administrator" with a check mark. Click to remove the check mark then click Apply at the bottom.

[Bryn Pinzgauer]

4 hours ago, A Canadian Cat said:

Sigh. I do think installing to a separate directory will resolve this but I have not moved to the Slitherine installers yet so I cannot say for 100% sure. I have a C:\Programs directory that I usually use for non windows stuff (portable open source) or non standard installs (like games). 

I copied this approach and it works well for me. Thanks.

[A Canadian Cat]

23 hours ago, Bryn Pinzgauer said:

I copied this approach and it works well for me. Thanks.

Thanks for letting us know. Hope you are up and running now.

[Bryn Pinzgauer]

All games installed and running well - minus the irritating dialogue box . Thank you both for help and suggestions.