HOWTO: Do a Desktop Install of Rome: Total War

Who needs to do this Activision Desktop Install procedure? Mainly the people that have difficulties with the original CDs, or people who want to perform installs/reinstalls more quickly, especially when testing patches or mods.

SCOPE:
You are probably reading this if you have had install problems. This will explain how to install RTW from files on placed in a folder on your desktop. This is an official Activision procedure (with detail added), and in no way will allow you to circumvent or avoid Activision CD protections in RTW.

Note 1: The game will INSTALL from any set, any source, of uncorrupted install files. The files do not have to be on the original CDs. You can copy them all to a folder on the desktop, or even a DVD folder for convenience. Activision explains and recommends the Desktop Install in their customer support website, and Step 9 is their own text of the process. Doing a desktop install may solve certain install issues for some people.

Note 2: If you are trying to hack or pirate the game, or whatever, don't waste your time reading this. You must have an original, clean, unscratched, perfectly good retail CD#1, or the game will not play. CDs 2 and 3 contain only install data, and so don't waste your time trying to insert them if you think your CD#1 is scratched or corrupted or ruined, etc.

RUINED RTW CD#1:
If your CD#1 is ruined (or you suspect so), test it in a buddy's PC that has a known working RTW install. And test your buddy's known working CD#1 in your install. If your buddy's CD#1 works in your machine, then your own CD#1 is not suitable. You might:
1. Exchange it with the retailer (Activision requires retailers to exchange for defective disks within 90 days of purchase).
2. Use your legally made Title 17 personal archival backup (if you made one before the Disk#1 became damaged). Learn about the Law here.
3. Buy the game again, and use the new CD#1 to play RTW.

SPECIAL NOTE (Rootkits):
If Sony has infected your machine with their nefarious rootkit (you are infected at the moment you click "accept" to their misleading (lying) EULA), then you might want to recover damages in the class action lawsuits have been filed (google them).

WARNING:
This procedure is for an Advanced user. Some parts are based/quoted on official Activision solutions. Read/understand the whole procedure before beginning. Do not attempt registry changes if you are not comfortable editing the Registry (however, you will not be able to do the manual uninstall without Regedit). It is a good idea to back up your registry FIRST, and also KNOW HOW TO RESTORE IT! Know this: Altering the *wrong* things in the registry could result in complete operating system failure. Get someone to help you if you are not sure!

ASSUMPTIONS:
1. No overclocking
2. System has a known stable power supply
3. Motherboard BIOS and Video Card BIOS is up to date, and properly configured
4. System is clean & relatively free of dust inside (e.g., no heating/fan problems)
5. No viruses (strongly recommend NOD32 over all other AV programs)
6. No spyware or adware (suggest freeware Spybot - Search & Destroy
7. No rootkits. Since early 2005, that your have never had any Sony music CD in your computer (specifically, that the stealth Sony rootkit is not on your machine; check and remove it MS Sony Rootkit Destroyer. Direct link to the MS Malicious Software Removal Tool.)
8. Disable Anti-virus protection & close all background programs and unnecessary processes (CTRL-ALT-DEL)
9. Assuming game was installed to default C:\, with Windows XP SP2 system default directory names
10: Before beginning, back up any RTW files you want to keep, like savegames, preferences.txt, etc.
11. Normal RTW uninstall (e.g., via Control Panel) tried, but failed.

USEFUL LINKS:
Patching to 1.5, with links.
Technical Index, including how to improve RTW gameplay & system optimization, etc.
DOWNLOAD Patch 1.3, 1.5, 1.6
README for Patch 1.5/1.6
export_descr_buildings.txt - (Epona/Roman fix: only for Patch 1.5 & 1.6!) this file must be placed in the RTW Data directory (e.g., c:\Program Files\Rome - Total War\data).
Here is Patch 1.2
Manually uninstall RTW
Desktop Install RTW 1.0
Install multiple versions of RTW in one drive.

TASK ACCOMPLISHMENT APPROXIMATIONS:

TASK                       :  TIME (Typical)
==========================    ==============================================
Auto-uninstall RTW         :  about 3 minutes.
Manually uninstall RTW     :  over 1 hour.
CD-based RTW 1.0 install   :  about 20 minutes.
Desktop Install RTW 1.0    :  about 10 minutes (after 3 CD contents copied).
Install Patch 1.3          :  less than 30 seconds.
Install Patch 1.5          :  less than 5 seconds.
Install Epona Roman Fix    :  about 30 seconds (locate DATA directory).

DESKTOP INSTALL:
1. Disconnect from the Internet and ensure Anti-virus protection is disabled during install.
2. Ensure all viruses, rootkits, spyware and adware are removed.
3. Ensure all background programs are closed (check with CTRL-ALT-DEL and look in Tray).
4. Ensure no device conflicts in Settings - Control Panel - System - Hardware - Device Manager.
5. Ensure Sound & Video drivers are properly updated (generally, latest stable release) and installed correctly.
6. Do a careful, FULL manual uninstall of RTW as described here.
7. Uninstall WMP10, then reinstall WMP10; download the WMP10 standalone installer (13 MB) for free from MS here .
8. Install DirectX 9.0c and verify it is working (run DXDiag tests); download it for free here.

9. Install the game, using the official Activision Desktop Install process:
9-1. Create a new folder on the desktop (just right-click on a blank portion and select New then Folder)
9-2. Insert the first cd into the cd drive (exit any menu's it brings up)
9-3. Open my computer and locate your cd drive
9-4. Right click on the CD drive and select explore/browse
9-5. Go to the edit menu and hit "select all"
9-6. Go to the edit menu and hit "copy"
9-7. Open the folder on your desktop
9-8. Go to the edit menu and select "paste"
9-9. Use this process to copy the remaining discs to the folder you created on your desktop
9-10. If you are prompted to overwrite at any point confirm that you do wish to overwrite.
9-11. When you are done copying all three discs open the folder on your desktop and locate Setup.exe (you may not see the .exe extension depending on your windows settings).
9-12. Double click on this Setup.exe file to start the installer.
9-13. Decline when asked to install DircetX 9.0b (your OS should already have 9.0c).

10 Single-installation of RTW...
10-1. Update using RTW Patch 1.3
10-2. Apply Patch 1.5
10-3. Apply the export_descr_buildings.txt (Epona/Roman fix: only for Patch 1.5 & 1.6!) This file must be placed in the RTW Data directory (e.g., c:\Program Files\Rome - Total War\data).
11. Multi-Install of RTW (recommended method!)...
11-1. [/url=http://rtw.heavengames.com/cgi-bin/forums/display.cgi?action=ct&f=3,3504,0,365]Install multiple versions[/url] of RTW in one drive.
12. Re-enable Anti-Virus, reconnect to the Internet & test the game.

Hint: If you have the hard drive space, keep the source install files (from the 3 CDs) in a folder somewhere on your PC; they need not be on the desktop itself. You might even write them to a DVD as an installable source backup for future re-installs.

Again, YOU MUST HAVE A GOOD, RETAIL CD#1 TO PLAY RTW!!

Changes in 1.30:
- Added USEFUL LINKS
- Added TASK ACCOMPLISHMENT APPROXIMATIONS
- Changed minor formatting.
- Added 9-12 and 9-13.
- Added Detail in 10.
- Added 11.

Changes in 1.20:
- Added Roman/Epona official single-file fix.
- Added Multi-Install instructions.
- Updated single installation instruction for Patch 1.5 and Roman/Epona fix.
- Updated general rootkit info
- Added links to destroy the sinister Sony Rootkit

Changes in 1.10:
- Rewrite with more detail
- Improve readability format
- Reorder several steps
- Add backup reminder text
- Numbering
- Add more description
- Integrate better with HOWTO: Manual Uninstall

[This message has been edited by Wartrain (edited 01-04-2006 @ 08:16 PM).]