Ahhh. A lot of you complain about the annoying bits about Win2K. I wouldn't. I have Windows 98SE and because it's not based of NT. I cannot run it. I can extract it, but not run. It's most dissapointing and I'd be happy with Win2K even.

Thanks for all the help guys.

I found the Age of Empires III Trial.msi file, copied it to C:\ then ran that command. This time the hour glass pops up for 1-2 seconds like it is busy. But then nothing happens. I checked and rechecked the directory it was suppose to install to.

msiexec /a C:\ao3.msi /qn TARGETDIR="C:\aoe3"

Update. It popped up after about 5 minutes. I now have the Age of Empires III folder with all the game files. But when I run age3.exe a get an error message. Actually it is just the red circle with the x in it, there is no message.

To ES:

I've tested several versions of AoE3 on Windows 2000. It works, trust me. So why not just let it install? You can leave in a warning: "Age of Empires III is not supported on Windows 2000".

Many thanks to TheExecutor :-)

[This message has been edited by IIIsherlockIII (edited 09-08-2005 @ 05:11 PM).]

Quote:

I'm getting this empty error message too. Anyone have any idea what it could be or how to fix it?

I'm on windows 98 :/
No idea how to find that .msi file, can't find it by using find.

Run the setup, and search when the dialog is still up. Tell me what happens please.

Located file and copied to C: and renamed aoe3.msi
What now :s

Edit: I've been trying the command and it simply won't work

[This message has been edited by Neon_Blue (edited 09-08-2005 @ 06:47 PM).]

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Found by TheExecutor:

AOE3: Window 2k

1. Start aoe3trial.exe
2. It creates a new folder (_is(and some number)) at

"C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\<aktueller Benutzer>\Lokale Einstellungen\temp"
(Don't know what this is with an english Win2k...Maybe C:\Documents and Settings\<your username>\Local Settings\temp)

3. Wait for the error message (Note: don't click "ok")
4. Copy the "Age of Empires III Trial.msi" from the mentioned Temp folder to C:\
5. Rename the file to ao3.msi
6. Go to the command console (START>RUN>cmd) and type: msiexec /a C:\ao3.msi /qn TARGETDIR="C:\blah"

Wait a few moments.

7. Start C:\blah\Age of Empires III\age3.exe
_________________________________________________

Ykkrosh,

If you don't mind, could you post this in your original message so others out there can play the demo on win 2k?

I'm on 98. That's the problem. Commands differ sometimes I think.

Quote:

Okay, done so (or at least linked to it, to avoid confusing chronology )

Wrong link Ykkrosh . Correction:

http://aoe3.heavengames.com/cgi-bin/forums/display.cgi?action=ct&f=1,23485,0,10#post111

Quote:

Sorry I don't use Win98 anymore and therefore can't test this.
But what's wrong exactly? Did you get into the Command Cosole? (Start->Run->command (if I remember correctly)).
Have you tried renaming the msiexec into msiexec.exe?
So the command would be
msiexec.exe /a C:\ao3.msi /qn TARGETDIR="C:\blah"

Has anyone figured out what to do when you have the Age of Empires III folder and game data but when you click on Age3.exe to set it up you get a blank error message?

I tried opening it with and without the error screen you get when it won't allow you to install it because of XP.

@Vindicator:
Doesn't look like a Win2k specific problem:
http://aoe3.heavengames.com/cgi-bin/forums/display.cgi?action=ct&f=11,23515,0,365

No answer there though

Quote:

Hmm... If I click the link you gave, it shows me the top of the first page, which is entirely unhelpful; whereas the link I posted (which came from the little link button that the forums provide) takes me perfectly to the 111th message (on the third page for me)

msiexec.exe /a C:\ao3.msi /qn TARGETDIR="C:\blah"
Bad command..

Msiexec.exe isn't working, that's not a good command.

Hello, I am a Win 2000 user. When I run aoe3trial.exe it DOES NOT create the temp folder, in fact it doesn't create a local folder. It doesn't do any of that. I have no idea of where it extracted all the information before the error came up. Can anyone help me? any advice? I am desperate, I want to play this demo!

-me

Thank you very much. If you have a friend who has XP, install it on his computer, and then burn the folder "Age of Empires III", with all its contents. Do NOT use the setup. Take the cd to your windows 2000 computer, and copy the Age of Empires III folder to whereever you like. Then enjoy the game!

I have been playing the demo with my Win 2000 ^^~
i asked my online friend that has a XP to send the installed files to me, and i run it it WORKS~ XD
i have a radeon 9200 and it runs smooth but the water and shadow is not great.
ask ur online XP friend to send u the files and u will be able to play on Win2k

can someone zip the game folder and put it for download?!!?

*bump*