Help with CMBO and Win XP

[iconbob]

Greetings All!

Well, I am new to the forum and need help with a problem (yes, another newbie). I recently upgraded to Windows XP and for the longest time, I couldn't get CMBO to load!!! After a bazillion Microsoft updates, the games finally loads, but "cannot find the CD-ROM." Hence I still cannot play.

According to the CM Support FAQ, the "problem" is due to faulty CD-ROM drivers. But CD-ROM drivers are native to Win XP, so there isn't anything that I can do about that. Does anyone have a workaround for this problem? I really want to play CMBO! Help. Please?

My system: P4 2.4 GHZ, 512 MD RAM, GeForce 4 TI4200 Graphics (128 MB RAM), Plextor CD-Writer, Creative CD-ROM, SB Live! Sound Card, Integrated LAN connector, 56k Modem. All the latest drivers and updates; no problems with any other games or applications; no lock-ups or crashes.

I'm open to any suggestions! Thank you in advance!

Regards,

"Captain" Bob.

[Schrullenhaft]

Which particular drive do you put the CD in when you attempt to play ?

If you're excessively lucky there may be a firmware update for your drives that may affect this issue. The problem is that some drives are affected while others aren't. Apparently the ATAPI/SCSI drivers in XP are reporting back different info to CM that is causing it to fail the copy protection check. Which drives will report back incorrectly seems to vary between models. No list has been or will be created to find out which ones are doing this (this then seems to be a problem between the changes the Microsoft has introduced in the latest ATAPI drivers and CD/DVD firmware).

I'm not aware of any workarounds since you can't loadup real-mode drivers in XP. The only answer seems to be to get another CD drive that hopefully doesn't have this problem - preferably a model that has been release only after XP had been released.

[ February 26, 2003, 07:04 PM: Message edited by: Schrullenhaft ]

[iconbob]

Thank you very much for the advice, but....

- the problem happens on both CD-ROMs.

- I've already updated the Plextor's Firmware.

- I can't find firmware for the Creative CD.

Bummer.

SoapBox Comments:

This is really aggravating! :mad: Probably due to a stupid copy protection scheme, I can't play my $50 game. So either I wait for another Microsoft or BattleFront update, or I shell out another $50 on a different CD, hoping it fixes the problem. Too bad copy protection never stops the "bad" guys...they just figure a way around it, which really solves nothing. If someone really wants to steal something, they're gonna find a way....

OK...I'm off my soapbox now.

Thanks for the help, though. It is appreciated!

[Glenn]

I have to think this is a fault of the drivers for the CD ROM you have. I have almost the identical system to you, and I have had no problems starting or running either CMBO or CMBB. My CD ROM's are different to yours though. Perhaps take your machine into your local friendly (and trustworthy) computer store (maybe best to take it where you bought it) and have them try another CD ROM and/or drivers then try loading the game right there in the store. If one doesn't work, then they may have another brand they can try. If they won't do this without you first purchasing the CD ROM, then ask where their nearest competitor is and how to get there. That should get some results at least. Good luck!

Glenn

[iconbob]

Hi, Glenn!

Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately, there is nothing that I can do about the CD-ROM drivers. In Windows XP, the drives use Microsoft drivers that are native to the OS. My only choice would be to get a drive that "works".

If you don't mind my asking, what brand of drive are you using?

FYI: My PC is home-built, and swapping a CD-ROM is pretty easy (except for the expense of the drive). I just don't really want to play "musical drives," and knowing which brands work (or don't) would most helpful.

I am still perplexed as to why this issue only affects certain CD drives. Very strange. :confused:

Well, anyway, if you can email me or post what model CD-ROM you are using, it would be very helpful.

Thanks for replying! Have a great weekend everyone!!!

[Madmatt]

Right click on the executable you use to launch CMBO, I assume its on your desktop. Now select Properties. Now click the Compatability Tab. Make sure that NO compatability options are selected. Nothing on that page should be checked.

If any are, uncheck them, now try and launch the game.

When you UPGRADE from an earlier copy of Windows to XP it sometimes thinks CM needs to be run in Compatability Mode. It does not.

Why do you get the NO CD FOUND Error then? Because CM uses a very basic CD check routine when it is launched. It looks at file count and file size. Between Win 9x/Me and XP Microsoft decided to change slightly how CD's read themseleves when they run in compatability mode just enough for that CD check to fail.

When you turn off Compatability Mode, you should be able to see the CD fine.

This is usually only a problem for people that upgrade from Win 9x/ME to XP.

Madmatt

[ February 28, 2003, 03:07 PM: Message edited by: Madmatt ]

[Glenn]

Give Madmatt's idea a try there (will probably work). However, in case you still have problems, I have a Mat****a CD-ROM CR594 (32 speed I think) and an ATAPI CD-RW 48x16. Both these use the native Win XP Pro drivers listed as: Microsoft 5.1.2535.0. Now I do have a few issues with the ATAPI in that once I've been on the internet a couple of times in a session, Windows doesn't seem to recognize that there is a disk in the tray. I usually have to reboot to get it working again. I am now normally running off the Mat****a which works all the time.

Hope that helps, and you're most welcome Let me know how it works out.

Glenn

[EricM]

Icon Bob,

Was anything resolved? Was thinking of getting rid of present computer and gettin a new one. But is XP causes problems with running CMBO then maybe I will have to find somewhere for my old one.

Eric

[Redrobin]

EricM

I am running windows XP,and both CMBO and CMBB work fine less the fog which is a vid card issue (ATI)

The way i read the original post was that the upgrade to XP was from another version of windows and not from a new PC which is what i assume you are considering.

Hope this helps

NFR

[iconbob]

Bad News Update:

Ok, here's the deal:

I am running the game in "compatibility mode" because it will not run at all under the Win XP native mode. All I get is a black screen and my monitor light flashes. The only thing I can do is ALT-TAB back to the desktop or ALT-CRL-DEL and shut down the program.

For those who suggested it, you are correct in that I upgraded my machine to XP Pro from Win ME (which I hated....Win 98 SE is much better).

I just today received CMBB and it does the same thing! :mad:

The only way either game runs is in Win98/ME compatibility mode, but then the CD cannot be detected. I am not at all happy about this! :mad:

My PC is a top-notch computer with all the latest drivers and updates. There are NO (I repeat NO) other programs that give me even the slightest amount of trouble!

An anonymous person helped me out with CMBO by sending me a NO-CD crack (which I do not condone, but it did work).

Looks like I now need one for CMBB as well.

Do the Battlefront guys read these forums? Are there any "fixes" planned for this problem? I am certain that I cannot be the only one having this problem. {sigh}

And now I'm out another $50 for the new game.

This used to be my favorite game.

Help? Anyone? Help?

Regards,

"Captain" Bob

[Schrullenhaft]

DO NOT RUN CM IN COMPATIBILITY MODE !

Doing so will cause the problems that you're seeing (CD not being detected). Madmatt explained quite adequately above why doing this causes problems (it is beyond BFC/BTS's control).

If you can't see the screen because it is black, then you have a video driver problem. What does your documentation for your monitor saw when its LED flashes - is this a possible indication that it is 'beyond range' ? When do you see this problem ? Has a Prefs file been generated already or do you see this only when there is no Prefs file ? If you change the compatiblity mode back to none, do you still have a problem ?

Both versions of CM run in 'native mode' under WinXP. Outside of the upgrades to XP setting CM to compatibility mode (because Microsoft doesn't recognize the executable and therefore automatically assigns it 'compatibility mode'), neither program should have an inherent problem with XP.

One other solution in the past regarding XP was to 'turn off the indexing' that is done in the background for the file system. I forget what this fixed/helped, but it is another thing to possibly change.

Which NVidia drivers are you using ? The 4x.xx series have some problems and it is highly recommended that you use the 30.82/30.87 drivers. Are you aware of the 'WM_TIMER' patch problem (it's possible that running in 'compatibility mode' circumvents this patch) and the black screens that it can cause with some drivers ? There are several posts that mention the original thread (though it may or may not be part of your problem).

If you've Alt-Tab'ed to the desktop to minimize CM, can you remaximize CM or does it still appear 'black' ? What is your FSAA set to ? You may want to 'manually' turn it off.

[ March 12, 2003, 06:18 PM: Message edited by: Schrullenhaft ]

[iconbob]

Well, thanks again for all the help and suggestions.

I fully understand two things now:

1). Running in compatibility mode causes the "CD cannot be found" problem. No solution other than not to run in compatibility mode, or run in compatibility mode with the NO-CD crack installed (which works perfectly well). Doesn't help with CMBB though. Bummer.

2). My real problem appears to be with my NVIDIA Drivers. I cannot get the program to run, with antialiasing or not. In fact, nothing that I have tried has worked. I must say that this is the first time I have ever had problems with the "latest" drivers not helping. Usually, driver updates "fix" problems. Unfortunately, I don't want to revert back to the older set of drivers since I do have other software that gives me problems with the 30.82 drivers. Sheesh. A veritable "no-win" situation.

As suggested, I will review the other forum posts in great detail now that the 'real' problem has been discovered. If that doesn't solve the problem, then CMBB goes on the back-burner until then next NVIDIA release or CM patch. C'est la vie, I guess.

My warmest thanks to everyone for their comments and suggestions. Solutions aren't always easy, and sometime having help finding the problem is a step in the right direction. Thanks again!

Regards,

Bob :cool: