I'm having trouble installing DragonHeart: Fire & Steel on my Windows XP laptop. I'm able to run the installer, but it gives me an error message saying it's unable to install DirectX 9.
I've tried running it under Windows 95 compatibility mode and in 256 colors, but it does not help.
I know it's kind of a crappy game, but I really enjoyed it when I was younger, and I want to be able to play it again.
Thanks!
get dx9 from here
http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/download/details.aspx?id=35
heres a question how can a game that was released in 1997 5 years before dx9 existed be trying to install it
Guardian of the Sacred Five Terabyte's of Gaming Goodness
I installed DirectX 9 from the Microsoft website, but the DragonHeart installer is still giving me the same error. It looks like it's programmed to run its built-in DirectX installer regardless of whether DirectX is already on the computer.
Strange, the game is installing w/o any trouble for me.
You only need Win98VersionLie ACT fix for autorun.exe.
OK, I've installed the Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit, but I'm not sure how to use it. Anyone got a link to a good tutorial?
ixfd64 wrote on 2013-05-18, 20:32:OK, I've installed the Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit, but I'm not sure how to use it. Anyone got a link to a good tutorial?
After having the same problem with you and after seeing this thread, I solved the problem and wanted to share it here if you're still looking for a solution 😀
I assume you have the disk image.
Mount DRAGONS.cue in Daemon tools.
Go to My computer, right click on the CD, open, then copy everything here to a folder on desktop.
Run and install ApplicationCompatibilityToolkitSetup. (downloaded from https://download.cnet.com/Microsoft-Windows-A … 4-10067306.html)
Go to installation path Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit\Compatibility Administrator (32-bit), run Compatadmin.exe .
Click Fix on the taskbar above, Enter name and vendor for the program, in program file location choose AUTOPLAY.EXE in the desktop folder, press Next.
DO NOT choose compatibility mode and click Next.
In the Compatibility Fixes window, scroll down and choose Win98VersionLie, click Next, click Finish.
Click Run on the taskbar above. Install the game to a folder (I chose a folder under D: , otherwise uninstallation gives error) .
Directx error should not appear and the game should be installed.
Run dragon.exe in the game installation folder to play the game.
Alternatively, I've found that the game can directly be played without installing. I went in the disk contents, INSTALL folder and running DRAGON.EXE . The only problem with this is, you can't save the game or custom keyboard keys. But the game presents you with level codes after each level so it is possible to finish the game without installing. Cumbersome for sure, but a good alternative if you can't manage the installation.
Hope it helps.
Edit: It seems the game requires the game image to be mounted in Daemon tools at all times to work. And I now see that why this game is hated 😁
