Age of Empires 2 on Windows 7 has color issues

Anonymous
2009-05-15T17:57:15+00:00

Hello, i want to run Age of Empires 2 on my Windows 7 rc computer. But there are color issuse when i run it, the grass aren't green and the water isent blue. How should i do to fix this? I have try to run it complatify with windows xp service pack 2, and installd some driexct 9 drivers. but not result to better colors. I hope someone have a good answer, because i love this game.


Frozzare, Scout in Sweden

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Gaming

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments No comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2009-05-29T12:28:55+00:00

Go into task manager select the processes tab and end explorer.exe then alt-tab back into age of empires

Note: this will make your task bar disapear and any open folders

To restart explorer open the task manager agian in the aplications tab hit new task and type explorer in the box

The colours change because of the Aero theme's poor handling of colours

Edit:

You can also make a batch file with the following lines and place it in the same location as your age of empires 2 executable

taskkill /F /IM Explorer.exe

age2_x1.exe

Start explorer.exe

Was this answer helpful?

200+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments No comments

201 additional answers

Sort by: Newest
  1. Anonymous
    2012-08-27T14:21:57+00:00

    There is a nice utility on the internet called: AOE II TC W7 Color FIX.

    Search for it, it will solve the color issues with little fuss.

    Recently, AOE II has stopped working on almost all my computer with Windows 7 with some program execution error. I found that Windows Update: KB 2718523 is the problem.

    As soon as I removed that update in control pannel, uninstall a program, view installed updates (on the left hand side of windows), then WAIT a little for the list to fully populate and find this update: KB2718523 and uninstall it.

    That has solved this very frustrating issue with AOE II stopping working all together.

    Since AOE II/Conquerrors is my FAVORITE GAME of ALL Time, the color fixer and this removal update I have discovered has ensured that I can play the game for some time to come!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  2. Anonymous
    2012-08-18T04:41:50+00:00

    Had the same problem for years. Go to this link http://aok.heavengames.com/blacksmith/showfile.php?fileid=11108 and download the file (up and right). Run the exe. Problem solved.

    Doesn't anyone READ before posting.  This is the very same fix that has already been posted more than once.  NOTE:  This will NOT work on 'some' No CD patches.  It will work on the retail version every time.  Let's hope that someone does not post this same fix AGAIN......ugh!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  3. Anonymous
    2012-08-17T15:24:07+00:00

    Had the same problem for years. Go to this link http://aok.heavengames.com/blacksmith/showfile.php?fileid=11108 and download the file (up and right). Run the exe. Problem solved.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  4. Anonymous
    2012-08-02T06:40:41+00:00

    The xomicron color issue can be fixed on both.

    1. Download directdrawfix at http://www.xomicron.com/software/directdrawfix/
    2. Run DirectDrawFix.exe as administrator
    3. Browse the Age of Kings Executable to fix. Most likely it would be C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Age of Empires II\empires2.exe and press apply
    4. Now browse the conquerors Executable to fix. Most likely it would be in C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Age of Empires II\age2_x1\age2_x1.exe and press apply

    If you do it for both empires2.exe and the conquerors.exe, then the color issue will be fixed on both.

    Ok, I got this to work on AOE & Expansion, & AOE II & Expansion.  The problem comes when you use a No CD patch for your legal retail game.  Some No CD patches will work & some will not with this fix.  This fix WILL work on an untouched retail EXE of the games.

    LeAsker123

    Unzip the above file.  Click on the EXE file & then RUN.  Do it in Aministrator mode if useing Vista or Windows 7.  A window will open up that has a browse button for you to browse to the EXE file of the older game that you wish to patch.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments