Installation VISTA - Only for experienced hardcore installer

to the game itself, I do not want to write much, because most of it was already mentioned here actually.

My focus is more on how to install the game. What actually is a cinch with Windows XP provides under VISTA is a real challenge.

First one is from EA politely at the beginning of the installation noted that this game has only been tested on Windows XP. A notice that a right at the beginning of the installation is real courage.

The installation itself then seems very straightforward to expire. The add-on Special Forces still quick with it, the current patch 1.41 the other two add-ons Amored-Fury and Euro Force afterwards, finally again the patch and already appears the installation to be completed successfully.

But looks can be deceiving. For now only begins once the challenge to get the game up and running well. Once you start the game, so you can after setting up a player account with no problems starts a single player round, however, when attempting to start the beloved multiplayer mode, making a game kindly reminded that the disc number is invalid. How nice, you had this yet entered carefully during installation. In several forums on the Internet changes the registry are called, of which I, however, advise against inexperienced VISTA users. For all those who now consider the reason to reinstall into consideration must be said, can be found in the installation directory of Battlefield 2 in the Support folder "tool Battlefield2_code" with which you can enter the serial number after the fact. For Special Forces, the same tool is in the directory Support XP1 'under the name Battlefield 2 Special Forces_code ", which fulfills the same function. An attempt is worth it. Another point under VISTA seems to be the problem with the rights. Thus, for example problem has been found that the function Run this program as an administrator ", the serial number. Resolves to 99%. This setting can make in which one chooses to the desktop icon of Battlefield with the right mouse button the Properties menu and then "Run the permission level program as an administrator" enabled under the Compatibility tab. If this function is grayed out, you do not have rights to it and this function then must show among the underlying button settings for all users "make.

So far so good, the game in multiplayer mode appears to be running, however, the fun was short-lived, either you will be kicked again immediately after entering the Servermap or does not even come to a server. Instead, you will be showered with PunkBuster error messages. Again, a Vista problem. The PunkBuster service was not set up properly when installed. So manual use is again necessary. This hilt a PBSVC.exe the tool "continue, which can be found relatively quickly via Google. The tool reinstalls the PunkBuster services and checks at the same time if it is correctly installed. Then you should also simultaneously following the PunkBuster to the latest version bring, also is a tool available, which can be found relatively quickly by entering pbsetup.exe "under Google.

Now the game was supposed to run smoothly. Should a Logitech G5 mouse call his own and does not want to give up the right / left function of the mouse wheel, so you stand, however, a new problem. Although the administrator mode run the game, but the function of the key assignment for the mouse wheel does not. Without admin rights runs the mouse, as it should, but the multiplayer mode does not (you will again politely pointed out that the serial number. Micht true). When a friend told me the installation was successful, however, this led me to countless new installations to the frustration reaction that I bought another mouse, which recognizes the other keys as a normal Windows keyboard.

So, now I hope that the Vista users get the full benefit of BF2.

This installation guide refers to the Vista Home Premium 32bit version if there are other hurdles in the 64bit version, is still undecided.

So, nu have fun on the battlefield soldier.