Fallout 2 + windows XP woes

cbvtank · Post by **cbvtank** » Sun Apr 04, 2004 1:44 am

I recently got a new computer
( 3.4Ghz P4, 1 gig DDR, Radeon 9800pro 256mb, dual Raptors in RAID 0 etc) and i can't get Fallout 2 to run. I am running windows XP, every available update, and Service Pack 1.. anybody have a clue how to make this work?

i run the game.. it starts to load (i get the "Please Wait" screen) and then it just drops out back to desktop this is the US version BTW

gadreel23 · Post by **gadreel23** » Thu Apr 08, 2004 12:26 pm

XP Woes - Solution

I had this same problem, except, with me, it didn't even do the loading screen, it just went black & then back to desktop.

I did a LOT of reading of forums here, there & elsewhere, and discovered that the solution to this is either <A> Run MSCONFIG & disable ALL of the services listed under the "Startup" tab (press disable all, okay, apply, whatever, then close msconfig. it will ask if you want to restart, say yes, but when it finishes restarting don't tamper with the stuff you just deactivated again until you're done playing FO2 <wink>) or, better still, <B> Figure out...in your task manager (available by pressing ALT-CTRL-DEL), under the "Processes" tab, are you running something called "CTHELPER"? If you ARE, say to end that task (it actually DOESN'T, oddly enough), and then the game will run just fine. (Don't ask me...I do a lot of trial & error experimentation. heh.)

I hope this works out for all you XP folks out there who have been having problems running this absolute CLASSIC RPG. I was really bored recently, and had run out of "new" games to play, and I thought "What the heck" and installed FO2. And, I tell ya, a lot of the so-called "modern" games cannot compare to the depth and just "fun" quality of FO2.

So anyhow...cheers all!

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Thu Apr 08, 2004 1:35 pm

Originally posted by gadreel23
<snip>
in your task manager (available by pressing ALT-CTRL-DEL), under the "Processes" tab, are you running something called "CTHELPER"? If you ARE, say to end that task (it actually DOESN'T, oddly enough), and then the game will run just fine. (Don't ask me...I do a lot of trial & error experimentation. heh.)
<snip>

Just to add - the CTHELPER seems to be a plug-in manager for Creative drivers.

Aysix · Post by **Aysix** » Tue Oct 05, 2004 3:52 pm

Windows XP erroer

Hello, I've been trying to get Fallout 2 to run on a new computer, it's an Intel Celeron 2.8ghz processor, running Windows XP sp1, and what is happening is that I can get to the first load screen, the: "Please Wait" classic Indian head one, but then shortly after it will black out. If anyone can offer help it would be much appreciated.

OuterParadise · Post by **OuterParadise** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 11:53 am

F2 worked just fine when I set the Fallout2.exe with compatibility mode for Windows98 in Properties.

I have XP too btw.

gargantius · Post by **gargantius** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:14 am

I realize that this is a very old thread but I may have a solution if the other suggestions in this thread are not sufficient to solve the problem.

I have a AMD dual core machine and I'm running XP SP2 with all the latest patches. I also managed to find the Fallout2 1.02d patch and installed that as well. Turning on compatibility mode did not work for me: I was dumped back to the desktop just after the "Indian Head" splash screen.

It turns out that there were two problems. First the Humongous install option does not work correctly. I had to fall back to Medium (Large may work as well, but I haven't tested it). The second problem was the fallout2.cfg file. I commented out the art_cache_size=1048 line and added free_space=0. The semi-colon character ";" is the comment character.

This was sufficient to get the game running on my system.

Note that the game will overwrite the fallout2.cfg file with more detailed information once it is started successfully the first time (art_cache_size=8 in the new cfg).

kidzroxx · Post by **kidzroxx** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 10:55 am

zzz..

i also get it b4 but..

I want to ask you something , do you download from website in rar or ISO form ?

If yes , you need to burn it into CD b4 install it

MalteseFalcon · Post by **MalteseFalcon** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 10:56 pm

gargantius wrote:I realize that this is a very old thread but I may have a solution if the other suggestions in this thread are not sufficient to solve the problem.

I have a AMD dual core machine and I'm running XP SP2 with all the latest patches. I also managed to find the Fallout2 1.02d patch and installed that as well. Turning on compatibility mode did not work for me: I was dumped back to the desktop just after the "Indian Head" splash screen.

It turns out that there were two problems. First the Humongous install option does not work correctly. I had to fall back to Medium (Large may work as well, but I haven't tested it). The second problem was the fallout2.cfg file. I commented out the art_cache_size=1048 line and added free_space=0. The semi-colon character ";" is the comment character.

This was sufficient to get the game running on my system.

Note that the game will overwrite the fallout2.cfg file with more detailed information once it is started successfully the first time (art_cache_size=8 in the new cfg).

Good job m8 im using winxp x64 working great thx alot was worried i could not play my favourite game anymore

bloody champ thx again