How to Get a PC Game to Work

Steps

1. 
   1
   Make sure the game disk or disks will work with your drive. Sometimes, especially with collector's editions, the game disk is on a DVD and not a CD or CDs. DVDs will not work in CD drives. Check the box the game came in to see if it is a DVD. While looking at the box, make sure your computer specs are better than the minimum requirements for the game.
2. 
   2
   Close all applications and insert the disk in the drive. If a window doesn't appear after a few seconds go into "My Computer" and double click on the CD/DVD drive that the game disk is in. If something still does not happen, right click on the drive and click explore. There should be an icon named setup or install (the name may be slightly different). Go through the steps to install the game and make sure you read the EULA (End User License Agreement). Click "Finish" once you're done and restart the computer if it does not restart automatically.
3. 
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   Run the game. Double click on the desktop icon of the game if there is one, or go to the "All Programs" in the "Start" menu to find your game and click on it.
4. 
   4
   Figure out the problem.

   • If the game still does not run, make sure you have the latest version of DirectX installed on your computer. Right now it would be DirectX 10. You can download it at the Microsoft downloads page athttp://www.microsoft.com/downloads/.
   • If the game is old and does not run, right click on the game's icon and left click on "properties." Click on the "compatibility" tab. Click on the check box that says "Run this program in compatibility mode. Click the drop down arrow and then on Windows 98 / Windows Me. If the following step does not work, and you really want to play it, chances are you need a DOS emulator. The most commonly used DOS emulator is DOSBox, which is free and Open Source. (See external links)
   • If the game was made recently (like the past 8-9 years), a background program may be at fault. Temporarily turn off your firewall or antivirus program to see if that does the trick. There are many other background apps running too. To see what else is running type "services.msc" in the run box. Disable on the programs you don't want running(see warnings).
   • Another problem relates to game-protection software like SecuROM, which is used in many games.