[Guide] How to Play/Launch Dragon Oath on Vista

[shallower]

How to Play/Launch Dragon Oath on Vista

Introduction

When trying to launch Dragon Oath on Vista, many people will face errors such as:

http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/1230/erroriga.jpg

This guide is to tell you how to solve it and the reasons behind it, so that if the same thing happens to any other games, you can get it to launch as well!

Vista is a very complicated OS that have been constantly upgraded to increase its security system. The reason is because Windows is compatible to so many programs out there that it even includes viruses. One of the many security functions that help us avoid these viruses is the Data Execution Prevention system, also simply known as the DEP.

“Data Execution Prevention (DEP) is a security feature that helps prevent damage from viruses and other security threats by monitoring your programs to make sure they use system memory safely.” - Windows Help and Support

DEP is a system that is used to terminate the activation of viruses that comes from virus inflicted executable applications, or also known as the .exe file. Unfortunately, because games in CBT/PCBT are in a process of bug fixing, unglitching, and etc., so it tends to have abnormalities in their script. As a result the system will automatically shut down the .exe file before it can be executed.

Another system that is established is the User Account Control System, also known as the UAC system. This system prevents the correction or writing of data on your computer from outside sources. In other word it prevents various spyware and malware.

“User Account Control (UAC) is a feature in Windows that can help prevent unauthorized changes to your computer. UAC can help prevent malicious software (malware) and spyware from installing or making changes to your computer without permission.” - Windows Help and Support
I do not know why a game will be considered as a spyware except due to the use of anti-hacking programs as well as cookie registry and so on. However apparently this could also be the root of the problem when you can’t launch a game.

After the launch of Vista, Microsoft noticed that due to the complex nature of Vista’s registry and other programming “stuff”, a lot of people find making programs compatible to Vista to be somewhat of a problem. Also after the launch of Vista, many programs are still at a transitional stage where barely anyone released a Vista version of their own programs. As a result Microsoft released and update where Vista users can run older programs or non-Vista compatible programs through the activation of program compatibility mode.

There are many free online games that need this feature. The main reason for that is because they are free. They have no obligation to make any of their games Vista compatible what so ever. As a result, some games tend to crash if this mode is not on.

Due to the image limitation of the posts I will need to do multiple posting.

[shallower]

The Method

The method is really a guess and test method. We will try to fix the problem through doing each of the above steps in the order of probability, meaning that, in the order of the most possible reason for the error to the least.

Step 1: Making the program bypass UAC
There is an extreme way of doing this as well as a medium and easy, but annoying way to do this. In the first step we do not need to make the program bypass UAC in the extreme way, because the need to do that is very rare and it can easily expose your computer to virus if you do not have a good anti-virus program. Therefore we will do this the easy way and the medium way. The difference is that, by doing it the easy way you have to go through the steps every time you launch the game, but through the medium way you will only have to do it once. Because we have to launch Dragon Oath through a patcher the easy way is not even possible, because the command have to be set directly on the .exe that is the actual game itself, however for the sake of example I will still show you how to do it.

The Easy Way:

Step 1.1.1: Right Click on the .exe file that need to be open.
Step 1.1.2: On the drop down menu click on “Run as Administrator”

Like I said, this will not work for Dragon Oath since you have to open the game through a patcher, but this step can be used if you have problems with patching.

Here is a picture for example:
http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/2808/39549470.jpg

The Medium Difficulty way:
This will make sure the game always run as administrator.
Step 1.2.1: go to the game’s .exe file. Since this works for Dragon Oath so I will use Dragon Oath as the example from now on. For Dragon Oath the game’s .exe file should be at C:\dragon oath\Bin or whatever directory you installed the game into. The .exe file for Dragon Oath is named Game, so the file is Game.exe

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/7918/89986818.jpg

Step 1.2.2: right click on Game.exe and press “Properties” on the drop down menu.

http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/2606/50090403.jpg

Step 1.2.3: the “game properties” menu will pop up. Click on the “Compatibility” tab and under “Privilege Level” check the box “Run this program as an administrator” and click “Ok”.

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/2281/65894373.jpg

Step 1.2.4: Try to launch the game again. If it doesn’t work continue to step 2.

[shallower]

The Extreme Way:

Since I want to keep the guide organized I will right the steps to do it here. However, do not try to do this until you have tried all other steps mentioned in this guide.

Warning: By doing this WILL get you a VIRUS if you don’t have a good ANTI-VIRUS program.

Step 1.3.1: Go to the “start up” menu and open “Control Panel”. In “Control Panel” double click on “User Accounts and Family Safety”.

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/624/15556068.jpg

Step 1.3.2: Press on “User Accounts”. Click on “Turn User Account Control On or Off”

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/1865/26584820.jpg

Step 1.3.3: Uncheck the box “Use User Account Control to protect your computer” and press “Ok”


http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/6351/30144609.jpg


Step 1.3.4: To get the changes to work, Vista will tell you to restart your computer, so restart and try to launch the game again.

[shallower]

Step 2: Running the Program on Compatibility Mode

Sometimes the problem has nothing to do with the UAC; it has to do with the fact that the program is not compatible to Windows Vista. Since this is the second highest possibility I will teach you how to turn on XP compatibility mode. This method can also make the Vista compatible with many other Window OS.

Step 2.1.1 through 2.1.3 is the same as 1.2.1 through 1.2.3, except now instead of checking the “Run this program as an administrator” you check the “Run this program in compatibility mode for:” and in the drop down menu by default should be Windows XP, you can change the OS if the program runs on Windows 98 instead of XP.

http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/7455/68519264.jpg

Step 2.1.4: Try and Launch the game again. If it doesn’t work please go to the next step.

Step 3: Making Program Bypass DEP

Apparently this is the real problem that prevents many people from playing Dragon Oath.

Step 3.1.1: Open “Control Panel” press “System and Maintenance”, and then go into “System”. So, on the browser command it should be: Control Panel\System and Maintenance\System

Step 3.1.2: Press on “Advanced System Settings” on the left hand side.

http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/7643/81223745.jpg

Step 3.1.3: This will open the System Properties Window. By default it should be opened to the “Advanced” tab. If somehow it isn’t, change it now. Under the title “Performance” Click “Settings”.

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/2640/56998017.jpg

Step 3.1.4: Go to the “Data Execution Prevention” tab. Click on “Turn on DEP for all Programs and Services except those I select”.

Step 2.1.5: Press add and look for Game.exe, which should be at C:\dragon oath\Bin or any other drive you saved it at and Open.

Step 2.1.6: Check “天龙八步” and press Ok.

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/7186/56911736.jpg

Step 2.1.7: Relaunch the game. It should work now, if it doesn’t than do the extreme UAC. If that doesn’t work either please contact game support.

Please post comments and replies so this post will be bumped up.

Yeah I know the pictures are too big, but I'm too lazy to edit the size. Plus if its any smaller you probably can't see the pictures clearly.

[Jackie]

Awesome job!! Gongrutalations to you! :D
And anyone who has such installing errors now has the solution now. Thank you for your efforts Shallower :):)

[igor0071]

You guys ROCK...with REAL ROCKS!! I did the DEP approach and all is well thanx much :) :D

[ahnonamis]

Thankfully I installed it in Vista and it worked from the beginning. I hate hate hate HATE having to re-download games, re-install, and jump through hoops to get them to work with vista. Happens all the time, too, since I use 64-bit.

[shallower]

glad this helped you all XD, and yeah.. if you used this guide and it helped please post replies so this gets bumped up, this way it wont get lost in all the other threads out there, or maybe a Forum moderator can sticky this???

[Jackie]

glad this helped you all XD, and yeah.. if you used this guide and it helped please post replies so this gets bumped up, this way it wont get lost in all the other threads out there, or maybe a Forum moderator can sticky this???


np! Thanks again for the work:p

[shallower]

The work was worth it. I am enjoying the game so far. It's just that the fixed camera angle is getting on my nerves.

[WxIxCxKxExD]

Great guide, even though I have vista and didn't have any problems playing.

[hallen]

This work is defenitely worthwhile and thank you for your excellent job, you are doing us great help in solving the problem of client installation on VISTA system!

[Ouch]

Wee ooO!!!!!

[shadow678]

This was very good help. I kept getting that error. I tried the dep method and it worked. So now I am creating my character.

[vegasman28]

I had the same problem because i have vista when i was tryn to start it got the error message was like wtf. so i went through ur guide and it worked! thx bro!!:)

[blizako]

i know how to fix it, if you only put game *** allowed add launcher *** allowed too.

[nitindung]

Still i am getting the same error after doing all the settings which mentioned above, please suggest.

[Hsinchu]

Still i am getting the same error after doing all the settings which mentioned above, please suggest.

Please provide screenshots or a more specific description of your issue. Without more information, giving you additional solutions is like throwing spaghetti at the wall. Sometimes it sticks, most of the time it doesn't.

Also, I posted a workaround for the less technically minded. Search for Post Titles containing 7750. It should still work all things considered.

And if your vista ever blinks into security mode while you are trying to run DO asking if you want to allow something, please click allow and not block.

The exception is, of course, if you don't keep your computer clear of viruses and spyware, in which case you have bigger problems and ought not be trying to play DO while your computer is a hazard to itself and other machines on the net.

[nitindung]

Kindly find the error screen shot, please me out...earlier when i had Windows XP it use to run smoothly but after installing Vista i am not able to play.

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/9756/errorul.jpg

[Hsinchu]

Kindly find the error screen shot, please me out...earlier when i had Windows XP it use to run smoothly but after installing Vista i am not able to play.

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/9756/errorul.jpg


Okay, it looks like you are running your text through a poor translator so my help is limited to how much english I can decipher.

I suggest you can also try my workaround. Run the latest patch (downloaded from the website) and patch it as normal. Then the client splash page should run from there. Most importantly, you should be "run as administrator" and when the screen gets dark asking if you want to continue, say yes. Then attempt to run the program as normal. If it still says it stopped working, then try the following.


It looks like your client is failing before it runs, which usually happens if you are running more programs than your processor can handle. Shut down your chatting programs and ANY other applications. If it doesn't work then, you probably need to either sweep your computer of spyware and viruses, or upgrade your RAM.... which would be unusual.

Since you said you used to be XP, I'm tentatively worried that you may have upgraded an XP machine to Vista... which no one really does given Vista's bad rep. Additionally, few machines specced for XP can really handle vista really well... because of memory specific issues which cause said problem.

[nitindung]

Below is my system configuration, using 2 MBPS internet connectivity...rest i had not opened any chat or other applications

http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/6238/configuration.jpg

[guo9810]

I did everything correctly then after you choose the low,high, medium or recommended quality, it crashed and said the stuff below. Can anybody tell me how to fix that by pming me?


TLBB:0.50.7780
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Process: C:\dragon oath\Bin\Game.exe
Module: C:\Windows\syswow64\kernel32.dll
Date Modified: 09/24/2009
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C++ Exception

Expr: File: ../Data/Brushes.axp open error.
ErrorCode:3
ErrorDesc:File=../Data/Brushes.axp, WinErr=2
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Call Stack:
757B0000 C:\Windows\syswow64\kernel32.dll
+0002F328 Exception Offset
7C360000 C:\dragon oath\Bin\MSVCR71.dll
+0001A7BC (E06D7363, 1, 3, 17DE84, 17E5D8)
04410000 C:\dragon oath\Bin\OgreMain.dll
+00078C8C (17DED8, 46A8D10, EC53D8, EC6500, 18)
+0001B5CB (EA1B54, EB2A10, EBE6C8, 17E9B8, EC3A90)

[jonny1759]

darn you it crashed my laptop

[Solace]

I tried everything here, all the methods except for the administrator privilege level thing.

I can't check the box in privilege level for some reason. I have UAC turned off, added it onto the DEP thing, etc. Still crashes when I run.

Yes, I'm using vista, obviously. Any fixes? Thanks.

[shallower]

darn you it crashed my laptop

I don't know what you did to crash it. All the steps I posted above other than the completely shutting down UAC thing will not crash your laptop. As for the shutting down UAC thing I did warn you it would cause problems to your computer. So if it crashed due to that, I already gave you the warning.

I tried everything here, all the methods except for the administrator privilege level thing.

I can't check the box in privilege level for some reason. I have UAC turned off, added it onto the DEP thing, etc. Still crashes when I run.

Yes, I'm using vista, obviously. Any fixes? Thanks.

I have no idea what you are talking about unless you show me what the error is. Usually just by doing the DEP is enough to get the game to run. However knowing this game runs a Chinese text data background thingy, you might want to change up your regional setting a bit, but usually you don't need to do that. Just like a previous poster said, you need to show us the exact error for us to know what you're talking about.

I did everything correctly then after you choose the low,high, medium or recommended quality, it crashed and said the stuff below. Can anybody tell me how to fix that by pming me?


TLBB:0.50.7780
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Process: C:\dragon oath\Bin\Game.exe
Module: C:\Windows\syswow64\kernel32.dll
Date Modified: 09/24/2009
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C++ Exception

Expr: File: ../Data/Brushes.axp open error.
ErrorCode:3
ErrorDesc:File=../Data/Brushes.axp, WinErr=2
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Call Stack:
757B0000 C:\Windows\syswow64\kernel32.dll
+0002F328 Exception Offset
7C360000 C:\dragon oath\Bin\MSVCR71.dll
+0001A7BC (E06D7363, 1, 3, 17DE84, 17E5D8)
04410000 C:\dragon oath\Bin\OgreMain.dll
+00078C8C (17DED8, 46A8D10, EC53D8, EC6500, 18)
+0001B5CB (EA1B54, EB2A10, EBE6C8, 17E9B8, EC3A90)

Yeah that's not the normal crash sequence, so I have no idea how to fix it. But I would suspect it is due to installation issue.

[Keywing]

I had to go through every step and finally at the last step I got a bit of progress.
Before doing these steps I could only open the launcher but as soon as I hit start the game would say it stopped working.
After doing all of these steps the game will now come in a window but after opening the window won't go any further.
Here is a screen shot of what it happening.


The window in which the game should be opening in holds the image of whatever window was most recently above it. In this case my web browser.
It lingers on this screen and won't progress any further.
As I said I did all the steps posted on the first page.
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa126/th-xodiaq/error-1.jpg


And here are my PC specs.
Let me know if you need any others.
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa126/th-xodiaq/specs.jpg

[Vroom]

-snip-

Yeah that's not the normal crash sequence, so I have no idea how to fix it. But I would suspect it is due to installation issue.

The error msg as given w/stack and files involved point heavily toward a corrupt DO install, I have to agree there. I would highly recommend you uninstall DO, run scandisk so it flags any bad sectors and wont put any data in them which can lead to this sort of corruption, then reinstall DO.

Tez

[giltpear]

Thanks so much! I'm glad you are a generous person to share your knowledge like this.

[Heartbreaker]

It wnt run for my vista either :x and yeash i tried everything above

error
Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: Game.exe
Application Version: 0.85.0.0
Application Timestamp: 4b541392
Fault Module Name: StackHash_336b
Fault Module Version: 0.0.0.0
Fault Module Timestamp: 00000000
Exception Code: c0000005
Exception Offset: 00e0e5fe
OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.768.3
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Information 1: 336b
Additional Information 2: 27eb358fe674a6f15dafe56d42bb9bf3
Additional Information 3: 2e58
Additional Information 4: 2f06c18113e6d7c00e6b91fa1fde84b6

x.x any ideas? tell me if u need more info ><

[oppoggyy]

hi, Heartbreaker

we have checked the problem for you, it's may caused by some system issues . you can try the methods shallower provided in the first page.sorry if it doesn't work.

[Heartbreaker]

errr i tried them. they dnt work :x

What kind of system issues exactly? o_o

[oppoggyy]

please to try and click the “Repair” button on the launcher. If that still does not work,please let us know,thx for the report.

[poinkted]

y my acc got banned although i just registered my acc.. can't play bcos i said my account banned

[jessie]

Dear poinkted,

Dragon Oath has the following Regions blocked in your country. Please have a look at the detailed information by the link: http://do.us.changyou.com/bbs/announcement.php?f=&a=82
We are really sorry for the inconvenience.

[darkstalker]

thanks for the help:),but after i tried to login but it says network connection error!please check internet connection and try again:eek:.when i put the courser on account id it says " you cannot add to the blacklist for awhile":(.Any advice on what to do?

[Fayblix]

I had to go through every step and finally at the last step I got a bit of progress.
Before doing these steps I could only open the launcher but as soon as I hit start the game would say it stopped working.
After doing all of these steps the game will now come in a window but after opening the window won't go any further.
Here is a screen shot of what it happening.


The window in which the game should be opening in holds the image of whatever window was most recently above it. In this case my web browser.
It lingers on this screen and won't progress any further.
As I said I did all the steps posted on the first page.
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa126/th-xodiaq/error-1.jpg


And here are my PC specs.
Let me know if you need any others.
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa126/th-xodiaq/specs.jpg

THIS IS WHAT MINE IS DOING, THE GAME STARTS NOW... BUT WONT GO ANY FURTHER ONCE OPENED AND HOLDS MY BACKGROUND IMAGE. PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO THIS ONE. Thank you :)

[darkstalker]

Dragon oath still can't find my internet connection someone please help me !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[akuji43]

I already did everything in the 1st page, the UAC and DEP method, I've also manually downloaded the patches from http://do.us.changyou.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=3723

but still can't start the game. :(

http://i39.tinypic.com/r7j91i.jpg

please help, i really want to play.

[ktjkill]

please give me a key to enter this ****ing Dragon Oath online what ever game

[akuji43]

Hi there, how do I deal with this? I've already downloaded sa recent patch available, and it says:

http://i43.tinypic.com/2j2dszq.jpg

I really don't know what to do, I'm stuck with the client starter. I can't press Start, Repair or Settings.

http://i39.tinypic.com/r7j91i.jpg

I've already turned off my UAC and did the other method with the DEP, placed the Dragon Oath in the list of exceptions but still the same result. v_v

please help me.

[Untamed]

I'm curious as to why this isn't stickied. It appears to be the only post that explains everything so deeply, and it does work.
It took me all the way to

Step 3: Making Program Bypass DEP
to make it work, but it does work. On W7 64Bit it wasn't running, I followed this and now it does.

[Painrinnegan]

Hi there, how do I deal with this? I've already downloaded sa recent patch available, and it says:

http://i43.tinypic.com/2j2dszq.jpg

I really don't know what to do, I'm stuck with the client starter. I can't press Start, Repair or Settings.

http://i39.tinypic.com/r7j91i.jpg

I've already turned off my UAC and did the other method with the DEP, placed the Dragon Oath in the list of exceptions but still the same result. v_v

please help me.
This means either ur internet is going through a slow connection ( dont think much - it sometimes happens with me - u see that ur google will also not open) or any upgradation is going on.:p

[pas92]

hi. im using windows 7 and cant get it to run :/ is there anyway i can alter one of these to get it to run on win7?

[hiuaskar]

hi. im using windows 7 and cant get it to run :/ is there anyway i can alter one of these to get it to run on win7?

can't run on win7? my laptop uses win7, and it works perfectly. maybe check your internet or system specs

[shallower]

For people that can't get into the game because of their launcher not connecting or anything like that... that is probably because you are playing from a Banned IP country...

find the link to a thread that a GM posted on this thread that tells you the places where the IP are banned...

This post is ment to help those people that get Program errors.. if its connectivity issues I can't help..

I'm curious as to why this isn't stickied. It appears to be the only post that explains everything so deeply, and it does work.
It took me all the way to

to make it work, but it does work. On W7 64Bit it wasn't running, I followed this and now it does.

It was Stickied, but later was removed after DO got more organized and moved my post to the FAQ forum

[sifatmasum]

its ok for me with vista.

[sifatmasum]

whts with this forum titles?

[Odiseo15]

shallower ROCKS!

ty so much now i can play and post in the same notebook lol