Jeff Waynes The War of The Worlds - Misc - Win - EN - Solutions For Usual Issues
Jeff Waynes The War of The Worlds - Misc - Win - EN - Solutions For Usual Issues
Jeff Waynes The War of The Worlds - Misc - Win - EN - Solutions For Usual Issues
These instructions have been tested on a PC, with the hardware set-up indicated in the
Important Notes section, found at the end of this document. (Point 2)
◊ The information in this document is available under the following forum thread.
Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds Website – Games Forum Thread:
http://www.thewaroftheworlds.com/messageboard/shwmessage.aspx?ForumID=12&MessageID=4674
Suggestion 1:
Replacing the original program executable (.exe)
There is available, an amended version of the games executable file. This can be found
searching the Internet, or using the link from the forum thread above.
As of the date of this document, the link in the forum thread is:
http://www.unethicalcoffee.com/wow.exe
◊ Using the above link, “Save” the file to your PC’s desktop.
1
th
Created: 19 March 2011 Version: 2
◊ The initial starting point is to locate the games installation folder on your PC Hard Drive.
Typically:
Folder Location: %programfiles%\Jeff Wayne's 'The War Of The Worlds'
(%programfiles%) = your main default ‘program files’ directory
For example, on the test PC* being used, the default installation path is:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Jeff Wayne's 'The War Of The Worlds'
*Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit system
◊ Find the file named ‘wow’ in the games installation folder and rename it ‘wowold’.
Change from
‘wow’ to
‘wowold’
◊ Return to the new ‘wow’ file you saved/extracted earlier to your desktop.
(Use the “Windows” … and “M” Key at the same time)
◊ “Right Click” the file on your desktop and “Left Click” on “Cut” from the list that displays.
2
th
Created: 19 March 2011 Version: 2
◊ The new ‘wow’ file should insert itself into the games installation folder.
◊ Insert the “Human” Game Disc, and it should now run correctly, using either the ‘Auto Start
Menu’ that loads from the Game CD or the short-cut in your ‘program list’.
3
th
Created: 19 March 2011 Version: 2
◊ “Right Click” on this new short-cut and “Left Click” on “Cut” from the list that displays.
Return to your desktop. (Using the “Windows” … and “M” Key at the same time)
◊ “Right Click” anywhere on the desktop and “Left Click” on “Paste” from the list that
displays. Rename the short-cut, to a more suitable description. You can now also use this
desktop short-cut to launch the game.
4
th
Created: 19 March 2011 Version: 2
Suggestion 2:
Windows 98/ME Compatibility Mode
If suggestion 1 doesn’t initially help, you can try setting the program to work in “Windows
98/ME” Compatibility Mode. Go to the games installation folder.
Typically:
Folder Location: %programfiles%\Jeff Wayne's 'The War Of The Worlds'
(%programfiles%) = your main default ‘program files’ directory
For example, on the test PC* being used, the default installation path is:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Jeff Wayne's 'The War Of The Worlds'
*Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit system
◊ “Right Click” on the ‘wow’ file, then “Left Click” on “Properties” from the list that displays.
5
th
Created: 19 March 2011 Version: 2
Suggestion 3:
Advanced Settings (Registry Entries) - Only useful if the game is installed and working
because the game needs to have set the initial registry values.
WARNING: This section will be working with your Windows Registry. Only attempt the
following suggestions if you are comfortable making changes. Save a “Restore Point”
or “Back-up” the Registry. Incorrect amendments can lead to an unstable or even non-
functioning Windows PC.
If you have the game installed and up-and-running, sometimes the in-game menus/screens
do not show correctly. This can be in the form of anomalies such as unusual screen colours
or screen sizes. The following changes to the games registry settings may help.
◊ Hold down the “Windows” … and “R” Key at the same time.
In the window that pops up, type regedit then click “Run” or “OK”.
◊ Locate the registry entry referencing the installed game, and find the ‘Screen’ folder.
You may need to do a search through the registry for the correct path.
Normally:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Rage\Jeff Wayne's 'The War Of The Worlds'\1.00.000\Screen
6
th
Created: 19 March 2011 Version: 2
Step 1:
‘Colour Distortion’ – Colour depth of in-game Menu Screens:
(This step deals with changing the ‘Screen Colour Depth’ from 8Bit to 16Bit)
◊ When you play the game, the in-game menus, should display correctly.
Step 2:
‘Game Screen Size’ – Allowing resolutions above ‘800x600’:
(This step deals with changing ‘Screen Resolution’ sizes)
◊ When you play the game, the in-game screen (excluding menus), should resize correctly.
** IMPORTANT: Don’t try to set the size bigger than the game will allow. (1152x864)
Doing so, will most likely lead the game to crash when it tries to load the map of Britain.
When trying to set it to the resolution of the test PC (1680x1050), the following errors were encountered:
DDERR_NOCOOPERATIVELEVELSET (Not sure why this one shows)
Create Surface Failed (This one is understandable)
7
th
Created: 19 March 2011 Version: 2
Note:
There is an entry in the registry labelled “Support Screen Size (REG_SZ)”.
This should always be left at its current value. (Default ‘640,480’). If it’s changed, it will cause
issues with screens resizing incorrectly. This is what can happen if you try to change the
value for example, to ‘1024,768’. (Menu background resizes to the top left of the screen)
For Reference:
This is a screen capture of the ‘Screen’ folder in the games registry, via the test PC.
These settings appear to enable the game to run stable, without any issues.
8
th
Created: 19 March 2011 Version: 2
IMPORTANT NOTES:
Point 1: Windows Vista/7 Security can be over restrictive at times. You shouldn’t need to, but
you may need to change the “security access settings” to the “program files” folder, if you
cannot make changes to the games installation folder.
Point 2: Most PC’s (if not all) are unique in their set-up. There's a chance that the instructions
in this document, will not work at all on certain systems.
Point 3: All Internet web addresses in this document are subject to change/web-page
closures. All links were working as the date of this document.
Point 4: This document is for General Public Use. Any images, programs, websites, etc used
for the purposes of this document, have been used for a non-commercial (unofficial) purpose,
and are the intellectual property of their original owners.
This document has been created with the intention for it to be used as a potential source of
support to cover possible technical issues, in regards to the software being covered by it.