OK, I know how to run the game under XP, but XP + hardware acceleration is another matter. There's a fan patch, which is supposed to make this possible, but it also somewhat backfires (for me at least) - while improving the effects of the spells, it reduces the quality of the monsters' textures (making one Goblin totally indistinguishable from a Hobgoblin for instance), the overland objects and... well, it seems almost everything. Which is kinda not what's supposed to happen. I've ransacked half of the Internet and still no good solution. And thus I humbly ask - does anyone know how to make this thing obey the XP and run with hardware acceleration at the same time (without lowering the quality of the graphics, which is the exact opposite of the big aim)? I'll greatly appriciate any clue.

That is why I have asked to make Ubisoft version of MM 6 to 8 ,patched to new OS.
Because there're people who have problems-I have to play without any music for example,etc

When I play MM VII on XP, I do so without the hardware acceleration, as it isn't possible. And I haven't found any patch to fix it.
But still the usual Software 3D is good enugh for me, so I don't complain.

i just use compatible mode, it's just like playing on 98

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Originally posted by Dergos:
i just use compatible mode, it's just like playing on 98

Tried that already, doesn't help.

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And I haven't found any patch to fix it.

I'm talking about this thing: http://strony.aster.pl/mokmtg/mm7_eng_xp.exe
It creates a new .exe file and allows you to start the game with 3D sound and hardware acceleration (in theory). And while the game really does start after you re-adjust the config back to hardware acceleration and 3D sound (supposingly you "bypassed" the XP problem with software 3D + disabled 3D sound in the first place), the actual performance, at least on my computer, seems worse than with software 3D and no 3D sound. The effects of the spells are improved - say the flying red spot, which turns to multiple falling red spots when it hits the target, becomes something much more similar to my concept for "Firebolt". BUT! At the same time the textures of the terrain, the trees, the vegetations, etc. become blurry and while that's not so bad, the textures of the creatures are even more messed up, making two monsters of one "race" (Goblin - Goblin Lord or Shade - Specter and so on) totally similar in appearance, which makes the battles quite uncomfortable. Also - some sound glitches appear. And I turned back to the Software acceleration.
I don't mind the old graphics (I started playing games years before the release of M&M VII, so this is by far NOT the worst-looking game by today's standards I've seen), but this inconformity between the somewhat good quality of the terrain, the buildings and such on one hand and the bad quality of the spell animations on the other is irritating sometimes.

It's not Mok's patch fault - it is problem from original game. From some reason colour pallet in hardware 3D is meesed (in patched or not game) - so creatures looks worse then in software 3D. If you don't install this patch and somehow run game, you probably (99%) will have same problem with colours in hardware 3D.

quote:

I'm talking about this thing: http://strony.aster.pl/mokmtg/mm7_eng_xp.exe
It creates a new .exe file and allows you to start the game with 3D sound and hardware acceleration (in theory). And while the game really does start after you re-adjust the config back to hardware acceleration and 3D sound (supposingly you "bypassed" the XP problem with software 3D + disabled 3D sound in the first place), the actual performance, at least on my computer, seems worse than with software 3D and no 3D sound. The effects of the spells are improved - say the flying red spot, which turns to multiple falling red spots when it hits the target, becomes something much more similar to my concept for "Firebolt". BUT! At the same time the textures of the terrain, the trees, the vegetations, etc. become blurry and while that's not so bad, the textures of the creatures are even more messed up, making two monsters of one "race" (Goblin - Goblin Lord or Shade - Specter and so on) totally similar in appearance, which makes the battles quite uncomfortable. Also - some sound glitches appear. And I turned back to the Software acceleration.
I don't mind the old graphics (I started playing games years before the release of M&M VII, so this is by far NOT the worst-looking game by today's standards I've seen), but this inconformity between the somewhat good quality of the terrain, the buildings and such on one hand and the bad quality of the spell animations on the other is irritating sometimes.

That's weird. I've never had that problem when I play, with the other .exe, which is the only way I've figured out how to play the game on XP.