Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2, released in 2000, is a beloved real-time strategy game that has captivated players for decades. However, many fans looking to relive their glory days on modern operating systems like Windows 10 and 11 encounter various issues. This article aims to provide a comprehensive guide on how to troubleshoot and resolve these problems, ensuring a smooth gaming experience.
Understanding Red Alert 2 Compatibility Issues
Windows 10 and 11 have made significant strides in improving OS functionalities, but they can also introduce compatibility problems with older games. Red Alert 2’s architecture predates many of the security and operational protocols we take for granted today. Common issues that players encounter include graphical glitches, sound problems, and installation complications.
The root cause often lies in the following areas:
- Compatibility Modes: Windows does not automatically apply compatibility settings for older games.
- Resolution and Scaling: Modern displays can result in distorted graphics due to incompatible resolutions.
- Access Permissions: Restrictive user account settings can prevent the game from functioning correctly.
- Driver Issues: Outdated video and audio drivers can lead to severe performance problems.
Pre-installation Considerations
Before attempting to play Red Alert 2 on Windows 10/11, you need to ensure that your system is capable of running the game. Here are some prerequisites:
-
Check System Requirements: While most modern machines should be capable of running Red Alert 2, it’s wise to check the minimum and recommended system requirements.
-
Game Version: Make sure you are using a legitimate version of the game, preferably the one installed through platforms such as Origin, which sometimes includes patches for compatibility.
Installation Steps for Red Alert 2
Step 1: Installing the Game
Most players will likely install the game using a compatible platform. Here’s how to install it through Origin:
-
Download Origin: If you don’t have it already, download and install the Origin client from the official website.
-
Purchase Red Alert 2: Search for Command & Conquer: The Ultimate Collection and add it to your library. Red Alert 2 is included in this collection.
-
Install the Game: Click on the game icon in your library and select “Download.”
Step 2: Compatibility Settings
After installation, you must adjust the compatibility settings:
-
Locate the Game Application:
- Navigate to the installation folder, typically found in
C:Program Files (x86)Origin GamesCommand and Conquer The Ultimate CollectionRed Alert 2
.
- Navigate to the installation folder, typically found in
-
Access Properties:
- Right-click on
ra2.exe
orRA2MD.exe
for the multiplayer version and select «Properties.»
- Right-click on
-
Set Compatibility Mode:
- Go to the Compatibility tab. Check «Run this program in compatibility mode for» and select «Windows XP (Service Pack 3).»
- Also, check «Run this program as an administrator.»
-
Apply Changes: Click “Apply” and then “OK.”
Step 3: Adjusting Graphic Settings
If you experience graphical issues, try the following steps:
-
Resolution Settings:
- Open the game’s settings from the launcher.
- Set the resolution to match your desktop resolution or a common resolution like 1280×720.
-
Editing Configuration Files:
- For advanced tweaking, locate the
ra2.ini
file in the installation folder. - Adjust the
ScreenWidth
andScreenHeight
values to match your desired resolution.
- For advanced tweaking, locate the
-
Disable Fullscreen Optimization:
- Go back to the
ra2.exe
properties. - In the Compatibility tab, check «Disable fullscreen optimizations.»
- Go back to the
Step 4: Sound Issues
Sound problems can also plague players. Here’s how to fix them:
-
Update Audio Drivers:
- Ensure your audio drivers are up to date. You can do this through the device manager.
-
Configure Audio Settings:
- In the game settings, look for audio options and ensure all options like “Enable Sound” and “Enable Music” are checked.
-
Adjust Sample Rates:
- Sometimes, adjusting the sample rate in the Windows Sound settings can rectify issues. Go to Control Panel > Sound > Playback, select your audio device, and click Properties. Under the Advanced tab, try lower sample rates like 16 bit, 44100 Hz (CD Quality).
Fixing Network and Multiplayer Issues
Multiplayer functionality is a significant draw for Red Alert 2, but network conditions may affect your experience.
Step 1: Setting Up a LAN Game
If you want to play on a Local Area Network:
-
Open the Game: Start the multiplayer mode in Red Alert 2.
-
Host a Game: One player must create a game room.
-
Direct IP Connection: If players are on different networks, use the Direct IP feature to join each other’s games.
-
Firewall Settings: Make sure your firewall is not blocking Red Alert 2. Go to your firewall settings and ensure that
ra2.exe
andRA2MD.exe
are allowed through.
Step 2: Using CnCNet
For online play, consider using CnCNet:
-
Download CnCNet: Visit CnCNet’s official site and download their launcher designed for Red Alert 2.
-
Install and Launch: Run the installer and follow simple setup instructions.
-
Join Games: CnCNet will allow you to join a wide range of online multiplayer games seamlessly.
Common Issues & Solutions
Game Crashes
- Solution: Verify your game files through Origin or reinstall the game. Also, ensure your DirectX is updated.
Black Screen on Startup
- Solution: Ensure your graphic drivers are updated. If the problem persists, try launching the game in windowed mode by adjusting settings in the
ra2.ini
file.
Error Messages
Common error messages might include issues launching the game or problems related to DirectX. To troubleshoot:
- Ensure DirectX is Updated: Go to Microsoft’s official website to download the latest version.
- Run as Administrator: Sometimes, simply running the game with administrative privileges can resolve error issues.
In-Game Glitches
- Solution: You can often resolve glitches by changing the game’s resolution settings or applying patches found in community forums.
No Sound
If you encounter a total absence of sound in the game:
- Check Volume Mixer: Ensure that the game is not muted in the Windows Volume Mixer.
- Restart the game: Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve sound issues.
Conclusion
Playing Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 on modern systems can be a fulfilling but challenging experience. Despite its age, with the right preparations and adjustments, you can relive the strategic battles and nostalgic gameplay that defined a generation.
By following the steps outlined in this guide— from ensuring proper installation and compatibility settings to resolving common issues—you should be well on your way to enjoying this classic title in Windows 10 or 11. The CnC community is vibrant, filled with resources and support, ensuring that this beloved game continues to live on for years to come.
Enjoy your time in the Red Alert universe, and may your strategies be ever victorious!
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In this guide, we’ll show you how to fix the Red Alert 2 game if it’s not working on your Windows PC.
Whether the game is crashing, lagging, freezing, or running slowly, follow these steps to get Red Alert 2 up and running smoothly again.
How can I fix Red Alert 2 not working on Windows?
1. Open the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter
- Enter troubleshoot in the Taskbar and open Troubleshooting settings.
- Select Other troubleshooters.
- Select the Program and Compatibility troubleshooter.
- Press the Run the troubleshooter button to open the window in the snapshot below.
- Then select Red Alert 2 in the troubleshooter’s software list, and press the Next button.
- Wait for the Troubleshooter to investigate the problem.
- Check whether the Red Alert 2 not working issue is gone or not.
2. Run Red Alert 2 in Compatibility Mode
- First, open the Red Alert 2 folder in File Explorer.
- Then right-click the gamemd.exe in File Explorer and select Properties to open the window.
- Select the Compatibility tab in the snapshot directly below.
- Select the Run this program in compatibility mode for option.
- Then select WinXP (Service Pack 3) on the platform drop-down menu.
- Select the Run this program as an administrator checkbox on the Compatibility tab.
- In addition, adjust the graphical settings by selecting Reduced color mode and 16-bit color from the drop-down menu.
- Then click Apply to confirm the new settings, and press the OK button.
- Repeat the above guidelines for every exe in your Red Alert 2 folder, such as Ra2.exe, game.exe, YURI.exe and RA2MD.exe.
Red Alert 2 returns a FATAL String Manager failed to initialized properly error for some players who can’t get the game up and running.
Running RA 2 in compatibility mode is a fix more specifically for that error message. You can run RA 2 in compatibility mode as shown above.
3. Configure the Game’s Resolution
- Open the Red Alert 2 directory within File Explorer.
- Then right-click the RA2.INI file in the Red Alert 2 directory and select Open with.
- Select to open RA2.INI with Notepad.
- Then edit the ScreenWidth and ScreenHeight values in the RA2.INI file to match your current display resolution.
- In addition, edit the VideoBackBuffer attribute to no value. The attribute should be configured as VideoBackBuffer=no.
- Click File > Save to save the RA2.INI.
- Make the file Read-Only
Red Alert 2 was designed for lower resolution monitors. Some players have fixed the game by adjusting its resolution to match their current VDU resolutions.
4. Adjust Red Alert 2 Game Settings in Origin
- Open Origin in Windows and click My Games.
- Right-click Red Alert 2 to select Properties on its context menu.
- A window will then open that includes a command-line arguments text box. Enter -Win in the text box.
- Select the Disable Origin in Game for this game option on the window, and press the OK button.
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5. Play Red Alert 2 Multiplayer Games at CnCNet
If you can’t play any RA 2 multiplayer matches in a local network, check out this page on CnCNet. CnCNet provides a fresh multiplayer client for Red Alert 2 that you can download.
Note that Red Alert 2 is not included with the CnCNet multiplayer client download.
That was all. We hope that your issue with Red Alert 2 not working on Windows 10 or Windows 11 and needing a fix was solved by now.
We also have a great guide on how to fix Command and Conquer Generals on Windows 10, so don’t miss it.
Let us know in the comments section below how the process went and whether you have any further questions.
Matthew Adams
Windows Hardware Expert
Matthew is a freelancer who has produced a variety of articles on various topics related to technology. His main focus is the Windows OS and all the things surrounding it.
He is passionate about the tech world, always staying up-to-date with the latest and greatest. With an analytical view, he likes problem-solving, focusing on errors and their causes.
In his free time, he likes to read and write about history and tries to always develop new skills.
#1
Posted 18 September 2015 — 11:56 PM
C&C Red Alert 2 — Windows 8, Windows 10 Fix
The following should fix the functionality of Red Alert 2 on Windows 8 and Windows 10. Please follow the instructions in this thread.
Note that this fix should work with the Origin version of Red Alert 2 as well. Although the ALT+TAB functionality does not work.
1. Download the files needed to apply the fix from below.
> Download C&C Red Alert 2 Compatibility Fix <
2. Install the compatibility database by opening it’s folder and double clicking the file called «Double Click Me».
3. Copy the game files from their folder (that is named «game files») into the folder that you installed your game in.
4. Apply the compatibility settings to all of the .exe game files as shown in the image «compatibility settings».
5. Try to run the game (ra2.exe). If the game doesn’t run, post back with the following format.
What worked :
What didn’t :
System specification :
The download is sponsored by cncftw.com and the hosting is provided by Dylan Van Antwerpen.
Edited by FReQuEnZy, 13 January 2017 — 10:20 PM.
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#2
Steffen
Steffen
- Location:Germany
-
XWIS Name:
GanXster
Posted 19 September 2015 — 02:14 PM
Thank you Martin! Did you fixed the lag? Good Job!
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#3
hardman
Posted 19 September 2015 — 02:47 PM
It would be good if as many people with windows 10 as possible could try this and report back.
Thanks Martin.
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#4
fmrguitar
fmrguitar
- Location:Brazil
-
XWIS Name:
fmrguitar
Posted 19 September 2015 — 03:19 PM
It would be good if as many people with windows 10 as possible could try this and report back.
Thanks Martin.
I will wait for the same. I used windows 8/8.1 and it worked fine but no alt+tab at all.
When I uploaded to win10 the graphics doesnt work propely and I decided down to win7.
My laptop is a Dell Precision M3800 w/ Quadro K1100 graphic card.
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#5
hardman
Posted 19 September 2015 — 03:27 PM
If alt tab doesn’t work you could run in windowed mode.
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#6
FReQuEnZy
Posted 19 September 2015 — 03:59 PM
First post has been updated at 19/9/2015.
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#7
hardman
Posted 19 September 2015 — 04:38 PM
Could this be applied to Windows 8 users having problems as well?
Edited by hardman, 19 September 2015 — 04:38 PM.
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#8
FReQuEnZy
Posted 19 September 2015 — 05:09 PM
Yes. It’s built from a Windows 8 fix.
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#9
ZiGZaG
ZiGZaG
- Location:Scotland, Glasgow
-
XWIS Name:
Freedom
Posted 19 September 2015 — 05:37 PM
I installed ra2 on win8 yesterday for shuk and apparently it runs perfect with auto SS. All I did was install the XWIS version and change the game.exe file to an old version of ra2 I have. Does the win10 fix run flawless? Does alt-tab etc work Martin?
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#10
FReQuEnZy
Posted 19 September 2015 — 06:51 PM
Everything should be in the first post.
When I installed RA2 from XWIS it worked the first time I ran it, but the 2nd time the menus dissapeared and alt-tab doesn’t work for me.
I got it working after that by using TS-DDRAW, but only on the skirmish side, as the game menus got very laggy when entering the lobby, but only sometimes.
Eventually the game would just freeze in the lobby. When I did manage to get into a custom game the gameplay was very slow.
I tried a lot of different configurations to get it working.
The changes that I made are as follows.
- Patched the executable files with the graphics patcher from. http://www.stuffhost.de/files/cnc/
- Made a compatibility mode with compatibility administrator toolkit specifically for game, ra2, red alert 2, executables. Enabling modes 16BitColor and 8and16BitTimedPriSync.
- Removed AllowModeToggle=no, AllowVRAMSidebar=no, VideoBackBuffer=no from RA2.ini as they were causing weird lag and inconsistent performance.
- Added a more recent WOLAPI.dll v1.20.0 as opposed to v1.16.0.
- Used compatibility modes from properties, disabled display scaling on HIGHDPI, enabled 16BitColorMode (probably redundant), run as admin.
Some of the changes are in this seemingly mixed up order, because I was trying everything and anything.
In some cases the game would crash/freeze and I was unable to open the task manger or alt-tab back to desktop, forcing me to restart the game.
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#11
cokeziiz
cokeziiz
- Members
- 1 posts
New Conscript
Posted 22 September 2015 — 11:20 AM
It’s work fine for RA2, but what about Yuri? Do you have any solution for it?
Thanks
Edited by cokeziiz, 22 September 2015 — 11:20 AM.
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#12
FReQuEnZy
Posted 22 September 2015 — 05:20 PM
It’s work fine for RA2, but what about Yuri? Do you have any solution for it?
Thanks
I’ll have to convert the same fix for Yuri’s Revenge.
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#13
CnCYaoi
Posted 24 September 2015 — 09:15 PM
i tried your patch… still laggs…
the game in single player runs super fast, have to set it to speed 4.
ra2 works great on GR for windows 10
Yuri works Great on CNC with windows 10
but when i log into xwis server i cant get higher then 30 fps 1v1 or 2v2 doesnt matter…
join games is lagg
when i deploy power plant or any building for that matter the game pauses for a good second
the units respond with a big delay like 2-3 seconds
im running 50mb internet download and 25 mb upload im connected directly with lan cable
like i said internet is not the issue or firewall its something to do with server settings and windows 10.. cant figure it out.
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#14
FReQuEnZy
Posted 25 September 2015 — 05:07 PM
Nothing really happens on the server side while you play.
At the connecting screen the game forms a direct connection to your opponent.
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#15
CnCYaoi
Posted 25 September 2015 — 06:42 PM
why do i get 50+ fps on GR and 30 fps on xwis then?
also vs same player
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#16
CnCYaoi
Posted 25 September 2015 — 11:44 PM
OK soooo
i just got done playing CM’s i lowered monitor resloution and we got 57 fps
soo with that being said.. why does it cause lagg with resolution of 1920 ??
windows 10 doesnt recognize my monitor…
i have samsung 27″ se390 and win 10 recognizes it as a Generic pnp monitor..
could driver issues with monitor be causing lagg?
Btw i play Yuri on CNC net with 1920 resolution with no problems….
ooh and RA2 plays at 50+ fps on GR with 1920 reso
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#17
FReQuEnZy
Posted 26 September 2015 — 11:37 AM
OK soooo
i just got done playing CM’s i lowered monitor resloution and we got 57 fps
soo with that being said.. why does it cause lagg with resolution of 1920 ??
windows 10 doesnt recognize my monitor…
i have samsung 27″ se390 and win 10 recognizes it as a Generic pnp monitor..
could driver issues with monitor be causing lagg?
Btw i play Yuri on CNC net with 1920 resolution with no problems….
ooh and RA2 plays at 50+ fps on GR with 1920 reso
High resolutions cause a performance drop in all applications & games.
Seeing as it puts a higher strain on the system and due to the game being so old, it can’t leverage the full power of your graphics card.
There’s probably some configuration issues with the way you have set up the game.
If the game works fine in GR then I’m assuming that you have multiple game installations for different networks.
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#18
jahmmhan
jahmmhan
- Members
- 1 posts
New Conscript
Posted 05 October 2015 — 08:08 PM
The fix worked perfectly for RA2 (Origin version); I’m getting full framerates at 1920×1080. No rush, but is there any ETA for the Yuri’s Revenge fix? Thanks a bunch.
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#19
FReQuEnZy
Posted 05 October 2015 — 09:04 PM
Hmm, I’ll make one tomorrow.
Thanks for posting back.
Edited by FReQuEnZy, 05 October 2015 — 09:04 PM.
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#20
naWb
naWb
- Location:USA
-
XWIS Name:
naWb
Posted 10 October 2015 — 01:23 AM
doesnt work for me sucks…ive been trying to play red alert for the past 4 years lol fucking windows 8 and windows 10
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#21
FReQuEnZy
Posted 10 October 2015 — 09:59 AM
You know, it would start working for you, if you just posted where the problem is, instead of just moaning.
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#22
Olaf
Posted 10 October 2015 — 06:02 PM
doesnt work for me sucks…ive been trying to play red alert for the past 4 years lol fucking windows 8 and windows 10
Why don’t you install W7?
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#23
hardman
Posted 10 October 2015 — 08:00 PM
It isn’t convenient for some people/ set ups.
I myself resorted to buying an old desktop with XP installed. Guess what… no problems!
Edited by hardman, 10 October 2015 — 08:01 PM.
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#24
M4lkavian
M4lkavian
- Members
- 2 posts
New Conscript
Posted 13 October 2015 — 11:46 AM
I installed and did according to plans. Problem for me was that when i launched the Game the menu was gone all together and nothing could be clicked. I tried the sulution described in the Troubleshooter thread and it did not work.
Edited by M4lkavian, 13 October 2015 — 11:47 AM.
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#25
FReQuEnZy
Posted 13 October 2015 — 12:15 PM
Post your system specification.
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На новых системах Windows 10, 11, 8, 8.1 можно столкнуться с проблемой запуска Red Alert 2 либо Red Alert 2 месть Юрия, игра не запускается — либо выдаёт ошибку при запуске, если поставить режим совместимости со старой ОС (через свойства запускаемого ярлыка) это не поможет, проблема связана с графикой, игра делалась на старой графике которая полноценно не поддерживается на новых системах. Чтобы решить данную проблему надо закинуть содержимое архива CNC-DDRAW_1.rar в папку с игрой, скачиваем данный архив:
СКАЧАТЬ
Распаковываем и содержимое закидываем в папку с игрой.
Так же в версиях Red Alert 2 и в Yuri’s Revenge при игре в сетевую игру (локалка) не получится зайти в меню сеть, как будто это опция не активна, нажимаешь на подменю сеть , а она дальше не заходит, слышно тока звуковой эффект, а на Windows XP сеть может прекрасно работать, это связано с не поддержкой сетевого протокола ipx который был на старых windows системах, а в новых его убрали, чтобы решить данную проблему надо будет скачать этот архив:
СКАЧАТЬ
распаковать архив и полученный файл wsock32.dll поместить в папку с игрой, тогда режим сетевой игры активируется и можно будет создавать игру сетевую и присоединяться. Если у вас старые версий Виндумс скорей всего у вас не будет таких проблем с сетевой игрой и графикой и игра будет работать сразу изначально нормально.
Так же на сегодняшний день существует возможно поиграть в Red Alert 2 Yuri’s Revenge Месть Юрия по интернету с другими людьми с помощью программы «CnCNet5 YR», её можно скачать по ссылке ниже:
СКАЧАТЬ прямая ссылка с моего яндекс диска
ТУТ с оф сайта
ТУТ 2 зеркало
Файл под названием CnCNet5_YR_Installer.
Скачиваем, устанавливаем, если надо указываем путь к игре где она установлена, обычный Red Alert 2 не подойдет, нужна именно Месть Юрия, карты не достающие CnCNet5 сама докачает при необходимости, эта платформа очень интересная CnCNet5, но учтите играют задроты)). Много интересных карт где к примеру нету золота, а только есть нефтяные вышки, есть карты где нужно тока обороняться, острова с картами и т. д. есть чаты для общения, карты определённые где запрещены или на оборот разрешены такие страны для выбора как Франция или фракция Юрия, либо разрешено или запрещено супер оружия, много денег или мало для старта и т.д., в общем выбор разный. Платформа на английском, но интуитивно понятная. Когда заходите в созданную игру ознакомьтесь с условиями стартовыми для игрока, там указано сбоку условия старта и дальнейшие правила игры данной конкретной карты.
Если при запуске игры выходит ошибка: **FATAL** String Manager failed to initialize properly из-за особых особенностей клиент CnCNet для Yuri’s Revenge не использует файл gamemd.exe, а вместо него использует специально для CnCNet файл gamemd-spawn.exe. Укажите запуск с правами администратора для файла gamemd-spawn.exe
и совместимость с самой старой версией Windows (к примеру XP) , который находится в папке игры с установленным CnCNet. Если не помогло или вы хотите играть игру без этого клиента просто по сети локальной (не через интернет) или с ботами, то сделать необходимо то что выше описал для следующих файлов: game.exe, gamemd.exe, RA2MD.exe., Ra2.exe, YURI.exe (совместимость с XP и запуск с правами администратора), чтобы выставить совместимость и запуск от имени администратора нажимаем по файлу правой кнопкой мыши, заходим в свойство, там вкладка совместимость выставляем:
Саму игру полностью Red Alert 2 Yuri’s Revenge нужной версий можно скачать по ссылкам ниже:
ТУТ 1 ССЫЛКА
ТУТ 2 ССЫЛКА
игра пригодна для игры по интернету с помощью CnCNet5, уже содержит множества карт, скачиваем два архива и распаковываем.