Trouble installing ETW? Please read!

[TosaInu]

Because ETW uses Steam for copy protection the game will only become active on Wednesday 4th March. This means it is impossible to install a boxed retail edition of the game before this time - the install will shut down at the point where you validate your CD key with Steam. This is not a fault with the disc or CD key; it is purely a restriction placed on the game by Steam. There is no way around this, unfortunately.

[Polemists]

Hi random mod who I have never seen in this section of the forum :2thumbsup:

Yes , CA has stated this many times. You can get the game on the 3rd but you can't play it till the 4th

[Sir Beane]

Hi random mod who I have never seen in this section of the forum :2thumbsup:

Yes , CA has stated this many times. You can get the game on the 3rd but you can't play it till the 4th

TosaInu is no 'random mod' sir! He is our lord and master, the highest authority here at the Org! You should bow deeply when you address him, and he may not have you executed. :clown:

He isn't just posting that the game cannot be played until the activation servers go online, but that it also cannot be installed. I was under the impression I could install it now and valiate it tomorrow, but alas this appears to not be the case.

[Greyblades]

Is there any way of knowing the exact time they will allow us lowly peasants of the .ORG to start installing?

[Marten]

So maybe i could be the first to fulfil master polemists wishes; But he wants an austrian screen ... nah! :no:

We will see ... Steam says to me approximately 4 hours. :inquisitive: 2 hours left for work, 1 for buying rabbit food
and 1 just looking out of the window, counting trees and birds ... slurping a nice cup of coffee ... :beam:

Marten

[pevergreen]

I hate you all. :grin2:

I just spent nearly an hour watching a speed run of an old Nintendo 64 game. Ah, memories.

Sir Beane, thats a pretty darn good idea you sent me in that PM.

Well, those of you who have the game at unlock, enjoy it.

[LostLegion]

wait...im kinda confused....so i cant even play single player campaign today?..i have to wait fo steam?...sry jus confused!:dizzy2:

[Andres]

I got this from the official .com site:


Release dates and activation times


If you have purchased Empire as a digital download...You will be able to activate your digital copy and play Empire on Tuesday 3rd March from 18:00 CET / 09:00 PST.

If you have purchased a boxed copy...You will be able to activate your boxed copy of Empire and play on Wednesday 4th March.

:bow:

[pevergreen]

Think of it as a midnight release for a game on a console, like the XBOX or Halo 3.

You might have the boxed copy in your hands, or the digital copy downloaded on your computer, but since your computer has to launch the game through steam (console, from our example) and it requires a one-off connection to the internet to validate your game to your account, no one can play before the release time.

I hope that helps...I dont think it will, ask again if you need a proper clarification :laugh4:


edit: ^*&$^(*#&^)#$)^&!)&@^)#^_^ what is it with all these random cool members from other parts coming in and posting in the same minute I am, but before me. :gah:

Just while you are here Andres, are you the Godfather? :laugh4:

[Andres]

edit: ^*&$^(*#&^)#$)^&!)&@^)#^_^ what is it with all these random cool members from other parts coming in and posting in the same minute I am, but before me. :gah:

It's a conspiracy pevergreen. We decided to constantly watch your profile and post in the threads you are replying to.

Only a registered TinFoilHat (tm) will save you. For a modest fee, I'll send you the required activation code.


Just while you are here Andres, are you the Godfather? :laugh4:

No comment :devil:

[pevergreen]

:laugh4: Even if you are, its too late! Beefy is doomed!

I knew it! So thats why Tosa won't promote me :tongue: I'd catch on to the secret pevergreen watching forum.

Oh well, back to the senior members forum and improved Babe Thread. :smoking:

[Marten]

I got this from the official .com site:

Release dates and activation times

If you have purchased Empire as a digital download...You will be able to activate your digital copy and play Empire on Tuesday 3rd March from 18:00 CET / 09:00 PST.

If you have purchased a boxed copy...You will be able to activate your boxed copy of Empire and play on Wednesday 4th March.

:bow:

And i got this from SenseiTW (on Yuku):

"Empire will begin loading upon release. There will not be a pre-load due to the staggered release dates throughout the world. We will be activating Empire throughout the world between Tues, March 3 17:00 GMT and Weds March 4 9:00 GMT."

We will see ... :beam:

Marten

[Necceh]

Gutted :(.

I go back to work on Thursday as well, boo-hoo.

Oh well, i can go back to get my ass handed to me in Hearts of Iron 2. Anyone know where i can find a good forum with tips on that game? Its damn hard heh.

[pevergreen]

www.google.com

:grin2:

[Polemists]

Ah time zones,

by the time 9:00 pm PST hits it will be mid day wed for me...so it will only be a hour or two i'll have to here other people comment on how much they enjoy playing etw before I play it :)

Oh and I never said you had to play Austria, just I would like to see the Choose a Faction screen with the Austria info.

That's all :)

[Necceh]

www.google.com

:grin2:

yeah had a look matey but only really came across cheat codes and the paradox interactive forum that doesnt have a strategy section annoyingly enough :(.

[Andres]

yeah had a look matey but only really came across cheat codes and the paradox interactive forum that doesnt have a strategy section annoyingly enough :(.

Hi Necceh, maybe you should post your question in the Arena (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=46) where we discuss non TW games.

If your junior member status would prevent you from posting there, then don't hesitate to drop me a pm and I'll post a thread for you.

:bow:

[pevergreen]

Theres a hearts of iron 3 thread? https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=113506

:laugh4:

[Sir Beane]

This is exactly what it says in the title. If you have a problem installing Empire post here for advice and guidance. This is an attempt to stem the inevitable tide of Help! Threads which will flood the forum once the game goes live.

I do hope that none of you need to however. :2thumbsup:

EDIT: As pevergreen rightly points out this thread was also his idea :tongue:.

[pevergreen]

Oh so I get credit for the other thread but not this one? :grin2: Its ok I still love you. ~:pat:

[Rhyfelwyr]

I put my disk in and after I clicked to install it did something few minutes, and then asked for the activation code. So I typed it in, a loading bar came up saying activating for steam or something like that, however nothing happened after that... I can't see anything in Steam and I don't know what to do...:help:

EDIT: Never mind, I just realised I can't install it until tomorrow. I actually read the threads that said that, but for some reason I thought it was Wednesday. :wall:

[Sir Beane]

I put my disk in and after I clicked to install it did something few minutes, and then asked for the activation code. So I typed it in, a loading bar came up saying activating for steam or something like that, however nothing happened after that... I can't see anything in Steam and I don't know what to do...:help:

If you bought a boxed copy (which I presume you did to get the disk) you cannot activate it until tomorrow. Any attempt to do so will crash the install.

It sucks, but you will have to wait until an undisclosed time tomorrow where they allow activation for boxed versions of the game.

[Maleficus]

So..... ETW can be activated and played on the 4th, even though it doesn't come out until the 6th?

[pevergreen]

It comes out now.

[Maleficus]

?????


But games always comeout on a Friday.


Don't they? ~:confused:

[pevergreen]

Nope. The game can be activated tomorrow (weds)

[TosaInu]

Hello Polemists.

[pevergreen]

Hes scarily formal isnt he? Almost like a robot. :laugh4:

I imagine him as the Terminator.

[Divine Wind]

Hello!

I just purchased Empire on steam so I thought I would be able to download the game straight away (I believe it states you can download the game from 17:00 GMT time). However each time I click "install game" on the steam menu, the bar begins to load, steam hangs, and then I get a little prompt which states my "Your steam ticket has expired" which asks me to enter my account name and password. After doing that...nothing happens.

Any ideas?

:edit: Seems that the steam servers are a bit overloaded. I changed my server download region to east coast america and I'm now downloading at 700kb/s :)

[RTKBarrett]

Because ETW uses Steam for copy protection the game will only become active on Wednesday 4th March. This means it is impossible to install a boxed retail edition of the game before this time - the install will shut down at the point where you validate your CD key with Steam. This is not a fault with the disc or CD key; it is purely a restriction placed on the game by Steam. There is no way around this, unfortunately.

Just to let u know that ppl are playing it now mate if they have the boxed version... You may be thinking American only?

[Namarie22]

I were able to install my boxed copy this morning??


Been playing all day, it's sweet.. now though, time for food.. :o

[Sir Beane]

I were able to install my boxed copy this morning??


Been playing all day, it's sweet.. now though, time for food.. :o

Apparently you can install it right now :2thumbsup:.

[Rufus]

Those who have the game, any comments about the load times and performance compared to the demo would be greatly appreciated!

[Sir Beane]

Those who have the game, any comments about the load times and performance compared to the demo would be greatly appreciated!

I doubt any of them will be able to tear themselves away from the game to comment until tomorrow :laugh4:.

[Rufus]

I doubt any of them will be able to tear themselves away from the game to comment until tomorrow.

True enough, and that in itself could be a good sign, since they'd be running to the forums to complain if it didn't run well!

[RTKBarrett]

From what ive heard load screens are alot better here...

[khaos83_2000]

For anyone who manages to install from STEAM

http://worldofwarcraft.mmocluster.com/img_achievements/ce158217011b4909a4a414349e2712fb.jpg

[A Very Super Market]

I don't get the hate about steam, but this is hardly the right place to diss them

[Zoring]

So i have the boxed version of the game, i try to install it says my copy is validated. However it then says 'Steam Servers are too busy, please try again' it has been 2 hours now. I have tried changing servers, i have deleted registery files clientblobs. Nothing doing.

[Zoring]

So, Steam servers being busy? Is just lies cause its really that the boxed version isn't activated yet? When is it. 9am GMT?

[pevergreen]

Its a staggered release throughout the world. Expect it by 4pm in your local timezone. I doubt they could be that slow, but midday should be the likely latest point.

[Zoring]

Ok, the solution was, Special Forces, evidently i had to use the code on the back of the manual, and use the special forces key later! Holy crap!

I always read the manuals, and now cause i was so excited i didnt bother and have been sitting here for the last 2 hours going mental about Please Try Again Later!

[pevergreen]

Yeah, the instructions on the leaflet help, or that other thread where the guy had the same "problem" :grin2:

[pevergreen]

Problem fixed in other thread.

[miniwally]

mine worked yesterday

[Yun Dog]

mine appears to be stuck on Download starting and 0%

is this thing going to work, is it worth waiting?

any help appreciated

[pevergreen]

Does it give you a speed?

[Yun Dog]

no it just says 0% and theres no activity on my modem

[Yun Dog]

ok sorry it has just strated working

thankyou anyway

[pevergreen]

Always good to hear it starts working. Especially for a fellow Aussie. :2thumbsup:

[Haudegen]

I have just received the boxed version. How and where can I change the harddisk-partition for the installation. Steam apparently wants to install everythin on c: :no:


Edit:
Hmm, it seems I shouldn´t have installed Steam on c: in the first place. Uninstalling Steam and re-installing it on d: seems to help.

Nevermind :oops:

[Lord of the Isles]

So i have the boxed version of the game, i try to install it says my copy is validated. However it then says 'Steam Servers are too busy, please try again' it has been 2 hours now. I have tried changing servers, i have deleted registery files clientblobs. Nothing doing.

"The Steam servers are too busy to handle your request" is the error message I'm getting, just after typing in my activation code. Otherwise the same as Zoring reports above (I have the boxed version, Special Forces, with the Death's Head Hussars special unit).

This is exactly the sort of crap that using a DRM system puts ordinary innocent customers through. Meanwhile, pirates will already be playing their cracked versions of the game I expect. I want to swear. :furious3:

[Lord of the Isles]

"The Steam servers are too busy to handle your request" is the error message I'm getting, just after typing in my activation code. Otherwise the same as Zoring reports above (I have the boxed version, Special Forces, with the Death's Head Hussars special unit).

And every time I select reinstall from the DVD menu, it asks for my product activation code again. I have to type in 25 characters (it won't let me skip this step) and then it tells me I have already registered this code, and I didn't need to type it in again. If a Computing Science undergraduate of mine designed a user-interface like that, I'd fail them.

[Monk]

And every time I select reinstall from the DVD menu, it asks for my product activation code again. I have to type in 25 characters (it won't let me skip this step) and then it tells me I have already registered this code, and I didn't need to type it in again. If a Computing Science undergraduate of mine designed a user-interface like that, I'd fail them.

Try restarting steam, if this fails to solve the problem you can try a hard restart of your system, or delete the clientregistry.blob file in the Steam directory and then restart .

clientregistry.blob is effectively, to put it in simple terms, Steam's cookies file. Its the file that steam writes to on your machine that tells it what your account is allowed to have. Deleting it will force Steam to create a new one, and thus "refresh it".

A new file should be generated that has all your details set.

[Lord of the Isles]

Try restarting steam, if this fails to solve the problem you can try a hard restart of your system, or delete the clientregistry.blob file in the Steam directory and then restart .

clientregistry.blob is effectively, to put it in simple terms, Steam's cookies file. Its the file that steam writes to on your machine that tells it what your account is allowed to have. Deleting it will force Steam to create a new one, and thus "refresh it".

A new file should be generated that has all your details set.

Thanks Monk, I really appreciate the help. I tried removing the .blob file above and rebooting, but no change to the error message about busy servers. I've also googled the Steam error message and that produced some suggestions that some firewall/anti-virus/anti-spyware stuff may be a factor. So I tried a number of things:

1. I uninstalled ETW from the Add/Remove Programs Control panel (even though my install never even got as far as creating a folder in C:\Program Files for ETW, it was listed in the Control Panel). Or at least I tried to: it started up Steam in the My Games section, where no games were listed. So, on to...

2. I uninstalled Steam from the Control Panel. This seemed to work. Then went back to ETW to try to remove: I told me it couldn't find Steam but at least removed itself from the list in the Control Panel. Then I removed the C:\Program Files\Steam folder completely. Then deleted Steam from my Zone ALarm program list, so that it would ask me for permissions next time it ran.

3. Rebooted. Should have a fairly clean system now - though I didn't check/delete anything from my registry so there may have been stuff remaining there.

4. Install ETW. It all seemed to go promisingly at first, including installing Steam from scratch, then asking me my Steam a/c details, then Zone Alarm asking me to give permission for Steam to act as a Server (granted). Then enter the activation code (I have all 25 characters just about memorized now), the usual stuff about it already being registered. Then the usual Steam servers busy please try again later message.


So no further forward. I may try turning off all my security programs and attempting again, but to be honest I doubt they are the issue. And in any case, why the (*"£^% should I need to risk my PC on the Internet w/o any protection just to install a game that I have the DVD for in front of me that I have just legally paid for?

Sigh.

[pevergreen]

Yup. The explanation, if you wanted it, is that Steam wants all of its games in the steam/steamapps folder.

[Lord of the Isles]

Fixed, I think.

I was using the 25 character Special Unit activation code, and not the 25 character code that is printed on the back of my manual. I'll take some of the blame for being stupid, but only some. When it asked for the code first time I did look at my DVD case, DVDs, Manual and box as ordered, but didn't see the relevant box. Also, surely the Steam registration process could have figured out what the likely problem was and given an error message more helpful than "Steam servers busy" (by "more helpful", I really mean "not completely wrong"). Also, I looked in the Installation section of the Manual, the STeam Help pages, the Total War official web site about installation/Steam activation and threads here and at the other fan site. At no point I could find did Sega ever mention this activation code system.

[Monk]

Fixed, I think.

I was using the 25 character Special Unit activation code, and not the 25 character code that is printed on the back of my manual. I'll take some of the blame for being stupid, but only some. When it asked for the code first time I did look at my DVD case, DVDs, Manual and box as ordered, but didn't see the relevant box. Also, surely the Steam registration process could have figured out what the likely problem was and given an error message more helpful than "Steam servers busy" (by "more helpful", I really mean "not completely wrong").

Unfortunately Steam's errors are not that descriptive. A common error is "Game is Unavailable, please try again later" Which really just means "Hey, I need you to restart your system!" :sweatdrop:

Glad to hear everything is fixed. :yes:

[Maleficus]

I've installed the game, but when I try to launch it I just get an error report.


What's going on?

[Greyblades]

From the "its here!!!!!" thread

"This game is currently unavailable please try again at another time"

...


*Chokes from swearing*

Yeah...

[NagatsukaShumi]

Sat here with "Download starting...." taunting me. I have got my new PC set up, desk tidied etc and just want to play the game now but seems I will have to wait some more, blimey what a overly complicated release.

[Maleficus]

I've installed the game, but when I try to launch it I just get an error report.


What's going on?




Ha! It turns out I just needed to restart my PC, which I have now done and it appears to be working fine. :oops:





How stupid do I feel now? ~:rolleyes:



Answers on a postcard please......

[Rhyfelwyr]

Well, I installed the game, went to run it, and a steam bar flashes up saying 'preparing to load' or something along those lines. Then it disappears, and I get a message saying an error caused ETW to stop working. :furious3:

EDIT: Gah just had to restart my PC!

[Paltmull]

Yargh! After installing, an update was automatically downloaded. Now another one is going to be installed, but it's been on "download starting" for half an hour. Could this be because of busy servers, or is there something wrong?

[Greyblades]

Hey guys I have found a fix to my "stuck at 0% update" issue. Turns out steam doesn't like being put on a portable hard drive. I moved it to the regular hard drive and voila its working like a dream.

[MD2020]

I'm at 1% and the approximate time until I can play is 14 hours. Is it really going to take that long? I just want to play the game that I spent $55 to enjoy. This seems like alot of uneeded waiting and sloppy engineering of the whole process.

[The New Che Guevara]

Not really sure where to post this... Feel free to direct me...

but I've installed the game, but it wont load the campaigns... it gets to halfway and then jitters around and doesn't move.:help:

[Greyblades]

... I just cannot understand why my computer keeps trying t0 stop me from playing... every fugging time I try to log in to the steaming pile of smeg that I have to call steam it says :"could not connect to steam network"... just after I had gotten the damn thing to update and restarted my pc this came up and I cannot play the damn game.:furious3:

[Bronze Corsair]

greyblades, just start steam in offline mode.

[Greyblades]

If that had worked I wouldnt have posted the problem in the first place... It may surprise you but I do not consider this site as the first place to go if i have a problem.

[Subotan]

I bought the boxed version, but Steam says it needs to "update" it. Is this just another way of saying installation, or is Steam trying to pull a fast one on me?

[TomPaine]

Hi guys,

I just picked up a hardcopy (US version) today, and I'm trying to install it now. But hell if I can find my product activation code -- sounds like some people have one of the back of their manuals, but all I have is an add for Space Siege and some other games. There were no other documents in my jewel case, other than the tech tree map. Am I missing where the code is? If it's right in front of my eyes, please let me know.

Thanks.

[MD2020]

Seriously, how long did it take you all to d/l the update to play? And what update is it that we are fored to download before playing, is it what actually activates it?

[Subotan]

Seriously, how long did it take you all to d/l the update to play? And what update is it that we are fored to download before playing, is it what actually activates it?

Mine's been going a couple of hours, and it's on 20%

[MD2020]

wow, what a let down. I took the day off today planning to rush over to best buy and purchase it, install and play it. I had it all planned out, the kids are gone today, the wife is at work...it was supposed to be perfect. Instead I've wasted my day off and haven't even got to so much as click play. Oh well, I've waited many months for this to come out, I guess I can wait another day.

[Subotan]

HINT: Don't pause it, whatever you do! It sends the update back to the beginning!
CURSE YOU STEAM
CURSE YOU

[MD2020]

Lmao been there, done that:wall: I was at 11% but thanks to my temper I'm now back at 3%.

[TomPaine]

Hi Guys -- Just an update on my CD key woes. I just returned it to Gamestop, and traded it in for a copy that did, in fact, have a CD-key; in my new copy, it's pasted onto the inside back cover of the jewelcase. My new copy also has a flyer advertising an alienware/empire:total war pc, which my previous copy didn't have.

So, long story short, one of two options: either this is a case of petty Gamestop fraud, where they stripped the CD key for their own pleasure (certainly possible), or not all US versions have all the pieces in the box they're supposed to have. Hope it's the former!

[Quickening]

I got my copy of Empire: Total War Special Forces Edition today and can't even get it installed. When it asks me to insert disk 2 I do but everything just freezes. If I put the disk in without starting the installation my PC also freezes then. I have the exact same problem with Medieval 2 Kingdoms but these are the only games I have this problem with. My PC is in perfect working order and more than capable of running this game.

UPDATE: Borrowed disk 2 from a friend of mine who also got it today and it does the same thing to. My friend also had the same problem and eventually got it to work but it just isn't happening for me. Not happy.

[A Very Super Market]

There was a post-release patch released.

It isn't a conspiracy guys....

[peacemaker]

gah. I was installing it, I think it was around 10ish percent, then it just said "download starting". Then, I figured it was nothing, I tried to launch ETW and then the "update" restarted

[Yun Dog]

Just some information for those who have installed the box version of the game.

Once it installs steam will download the patch

mine sat on download starting and 0% for a couple of hours

then it magically said 100% and actually did download the patch which only took 10mins

then the game started

in that two hours I had done due dillegence and open ports on my router, checked that my firewall/norton wasnt interferring (actually I turned it off - Viruses bah!! you can trust the internets)

It appears to me that either my timezone was awaiting its turn to be allowed to launch the game and then when they opened the port it all happened pretty quick, alternately it had been downloading in the background all that time but giving me bogus 0% messages. I favour the first suggestion.

Also if you bought special forces, dont use the key on the special forces flyer to activate the game use the key on the back of the game manual.

There was a wait but it was worth it

[Yun Dog]

Ok I seem to have shot myself in the foot by putting the activation code from the manual and not the sf flyer :oops:

when/how do I activate the special forces component

do I need to re-activate the game with the SF code?

do I need to start again? reinstall etc this time using the sf code rather than the vanilla one??

:help:

[pevergreen]

Ok, you install the game, then under the My Games tab, click Activate a Steam product or whatever it is. go through that and put the SF code in, it will download like 10kb, and then done.

[PrimusPilus]

Steam validated game but it is really catching and running slow. ARRGGHH!

[A Very Super Market]

Lower settings?

Steam can't possibly be making your game slow..

[CyberPhalanx]

i just installed ETW and everything was going fine untill i clicked on the shortcut, which is when a white screen apered for afue seconds and then an error message came up that sed empire total war has encountered a problem and needs to close. :furious3::furious3::wall::skull:

:help::help::help:

[pevergreen]

restart your computer.

[A Very Super Market]

Reboot your computer and try again.

[CyberPhalanx]

i restarted the computer but its still not working. :wall:

[Quickening]

Ok, you install the game, then under the My Games tab, click Activate a Steam product or whatever it is. go through that and put the SF code in, it will download like 10kb, and then done.

Hi. I did that amd according to the FAQ on totalwar.com I should see them listed under the DLC tab in the games properties on Steam yet I do not so I'm not sure what that means.

By the way in the end I had to download the rest of the game through steam. After four hours of trying neither my second disk nor my friends would work.

[A Very Super Market]

You bought the boxed vs. right?

Reinstall, then restart again.

[A Very Super Market]

Ouch.

If your friend installed it, he could put it on two flashsticks, and you could move them to the steamapps folder...

[pyradyn]

I am having a problem when I play the grand campaign it crashed my whole computer and it restarts. However RTI works just fine in map and battles. I am running at just under Recommended requirements and well above minimum anyone seeing the same problems or know a way to fix. I hope it is not re-install it is a 2 hour install :( any help please

[LostLegion]

I have the same problem with my whole game crashing.....plus i cant have my game on anything but medium...i just bought a new computer this winter!:(...wats goin on??

[pyradyn]

I do not know but so far I have paid 70 dollars for the RTI campaign and not very happy I hope it is fixed soon

[LostLegion]

I hear ya man....im not too impressed yet either...i never had this problem with any other total war games

[Polemists]

Sadly guys, your best bet may be to e-mail CA's customer support.

The fact you can run RTI but not the grand campaign leads me to believe it is either a file error or a error with the disk.

The only way to know if your disk is damaged that I know of is the old fashioned way. Which is to copy and paste the entire contents of the grand campaign map to another file folder and see if they copy.

If that fails you, I'd say your two hopes are either a reinstall or hope the patch next week with graphical fixes addresses your issue.

[Fisherking]

I merged a couple of threads here…we are getting too cluttered.

Problems belong in hardware/software

I realize this is game specific but please try to keep these sorts of threads to a minimum.

Every single problem on every machine having its own thread is a bit much to deal with and doesn’t leave room for any other topics.

Thanks All!

[Gazius]

yeah had a look matey but only really came across cheat codes and the paradox interactive forum that doesnt have a strategy section annoyingly enough :(.

Just post in the main HoI2 or HoI2: DDA forum as appropriate, the community is pretty friendly. I'd also recommend www.paradoxian.org.

[Sir Beane]

Several threads involving installation problems are being merged with this thread. Expect some temporary turbulence before normal service resumes.

Any installation problem thread posted in this Fourm will be merged with this one to prevent clutter.

[pfmodel]

I am a great fan of the Total War series of games and it was total horror i discovered you need to use the highly annoying, buggy and unreliable steam to actually install the game and probably to play it. After having a terrible time getting the equally crappy Galactic Civilisation equivalent of steam (I can't remember its name as I have totally uninstalled it and no longer play any of those games which require it). Can I please beg the designers of the game to not use steam's - or at least offer those who buy the boxed game the option of avoiding it.

Perhaps this is suitable in countries which charge for bandwidth rather than downloading data, but in my country the updates can take several hours to download and it can end up costing me a fortune, which makes the game valueless.

I have always avoided steam based games, but my love of Total War overcome this - unfor7nbtaly the experience has been so awful I will probably return the game and will never purchase any others which require steam. (Or scream)

Now for some useful hints. If you are installing the game from the boxed version remeber to use the registration code at the rear of the game manual and not the special forces units. Once installed, it will take several hours to download the updates. You may find yourself getting a "The steam servers are too busy to handle my request?" before the installation occurs. Unfortunately you will have to keep on re-trying until the inital patches down load. The system may try and download the full game, which will take multiple hours if you don't live in the US or UK (or Korea). You will have to kill it and re-try. If you search for "empire total war The steam servers are too busy to handle my request?" on goggle you will find the web is filled with other folks who are experincing the same issue. You can find some useful hints.

My final comment is, if you find steams annoying, please voice your concern.

[foop]

A cautionary tale...

I should have been more worried when I put DVD 1 in and instead of seeing "Install Game", I got the options to Play, Reinstall or Uninstall Empire: Total War. I haven't played the demo, and although I use Steam I have nothing Empire-related installed on it.

To cut a long story short, after much weirdness I've had to reinstall Steam. This means that should I wish to play any of my Steam games I will have to download them again. Not exactly a disaster, but not the best of outcomes either.

[pevergreen]

simply save your steamapps folder.

[foop]

simply save your steamapps folder.
The important bit, of course, being to do this before the installation process breaks the stuff in your steamapps folder. I've no idea what happened - things were still in there, but steam wasn't recognising them.

Still, it's not as if I'm going to be playing anything other than E:TW for a while, so it's not a disaster.

[moonshiner57]

I actually have the same problem as Quickening - when Steam prompts me to insert the second disc from my boxed special forces edition (from amazon.co.uk), the install freezes and appearently my windows explorer as well. It's as if the drive can't read the disc.

What to do now? I'll try to 'update' the botched install via Steam and see what that will break. It's not as if installs were nice and easy with Medieval, RTW or Med2... no karma points here, CA!

[AussieGiant]

Well I seem to be royal *&%^*&%.

Boxed copy, Special Forces edition.

Install.

Firewall blocks.

I lower the security settings.

Steam installs account created.

Auto Run Disk 1. It provides me with progression and I enter the code off the back of the manual NOT the Special Forces flyer.

Then I get Steam servers are busy.

Then I get a notification that it will install my files from Steam online and it will take 16 hours at 256kb.

I can't uninstall as it hasn't even created a Sega folder and from add/remove programs it has a remove button.

When I press the remove button it and I get taken to my Steam account.

I'm essentially being forced to down load if from Steam!!!

HOLY E$^% JESUS!!

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Murf the Less than Average]

Do I have to have internet access on the computer I install the game on?

[Marquis of Roland]

Sigh......my copy of ETW special forces doesn't even contain the cd-key. I've been typing in the special forces download key for an entire day.....

Anyone else missing their cd-keys (other than tom paine a few posts above)? I live in California, I don't know if its a regional product release issue or what. Anyway, I guess I'm going back to the store for another copy. I sure feel bad for those people that skipped work, this sucks more than all the bugs in M2TW combined.

[AussieGiant]

:drama3:

Ok belay that order gentlemen.

The game upon settling for some minutes has finally recognised I have a local copy and has gone ahead and installed.

I'm just defragmenting my HDD now before jumping in.

[kingnathers7]

Well I seem to be royal *&%^*&%.

Boxed copy, Special Forces edition.

Install.

Firewall blocks.

I lower the security settings.

Steam installs account created.

Auto Run Disk 1. It provides me with progression and I enter the code off the back of the manual NOT the Special Forces flyer.

Then I get Steam servers are busy.

Then I get a notification that it will install my files from Steam online and it will take 16 hours at 256kb.

I can't uninstall as it hasn't even created a Sega folder and from add/remove programs it has a remove button.

When I press the remove button it and I get taken to my Steam account.

I'm essentially being forced to down load if from Steam!!!

HOLY E$^% JESUS!!

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

lol you are lucky says it will take me 1 day and 7 hours to install
it just got to 2% installed and then the servers got busy:thumbsdown:
back to the store for me i think

[AussieGiant]

Yeah, the download option from Steam is not an option.

I'm actually wondering how close they have been to "going down" since the game came out earlier in the week...I'm sure there has been a few hairy moments. :yes:

[crushinator]

I've had all sorts of trouble with steam wanting to download the whole game (even though i have a cd version).

Found a guide that gets around it. The important part is:
6. Now create a shortcut on your desktop by right mouse click>>>new>>>shortcut, now a box will appear for you to enter some text.

7. Click and paste the following:

“C:\Program Files\Steam\Steam.exe” -install e:

press next, name the shortcut press ok.

(please note the e: should be the drive letter of where your installation dvd is inserted, this is dependant on how your system is set up)

For example if your DVD drive is d, then the only amendment to the above code would be:

“C:\Program Files\Steam\Steam.exe” -install d:


full guide here:

http://howdoiinstallempiretotalwar.wordpress.com/

[crushinator]

Just to follow up, I also had the problem where the installation froze half way through installing the second disc. Tried reinstalling 2-3 times and it froze at the exact same point.

So i copied both discs onto a spare hard drive, and used the manual install command "steam.exe -install t: "

but pointed it towards the hard drive I had copied both DVD's too. Installed first time without a hitch.

I hope this helps anyone with the same issues.

[Polemists]

You'd think with CD's it would know just to install from the CD's.

That'd be pretty upsetting.

All in all i'm not sure what happened or is happening. I went home, had 20-30 min lunch. Popped in disk one, steam booted up, no busy message or anything, got a message preparing local cache or whatever, then the box poped up for install, (With the guy and the flag) that bar completly filled and in steam, under app, it read Installing. There were no percentages or anything tho, so hopefully it's working fine.

[Dalthius]

Well all I know is the game runs like CRAP. I'm running a Quad Core (see my stats page a few posts up), but I think a lot of my problems are due to my 7950 GTX.

I can't seem to find the proper balance with my resolution, either. 1920 x 1200 is just way too much for my crappy card to handle. I'm running somewhere around 1600 now, but I'm not happy with it. The game is certainly playable, but I have everything on low and it looks TERRIBLE. The campaign map still stutters slightly, the occassional video is almost unwatchable (duelling videos I can't watch, and the last video in the RtI campaign....but all the others are fine, weird), and every now and again I get lag in battles.

When I was toying with settings, the game looked GREAT on high but was just unplayable.

Other than sending the computer (laptop, Sager) back for a %^&*#$@ $900 upgrade or building a desktop, anybody have any recommendations for settings?

[A Very Super Market]

I've got this too, but my computer is significantly worse than yours.

2.4 Dual-core
geforce 6150 (!)
4 Gb RAM

I've gotten used to low...

[pevergreen]

Well all I know is the game runs like CRAP. I'm running a Quad Core (see my stats page a few posts up), but I think a lot of my problems are due to my 7950 GTX.

I can't seem to find the proper balance with my resolution, either. 1920 x 1200 is just way too much for my crappy card to handle. I'm running somewhere around 1600 now, but I'm not happy with it. The game is certainly playable, but I have everything on low and it looks TERRIBLE. The campaign map still stutters slightly, the occassional video is almost unwatchable (duelling videos I can't watch, and the last video in the RtI campaign....but all the others are fine, weird), and every now and again I get lag in battles.

When I was toying with settings, the game looked GREAT on high but was just unplayable.

Other than sending the computer (laptop, Sager) back for a %^&*#$@ $900 upgrade or building a desktop, anybody have any recommendations for settings?

Lower res.

Or deal with it. Mine is on low, but its just annoying...I tried a lower res, but it just looked worse. So I put up with lag, until I get a stable job and build my first ever custom built :smitten:

[Daie123]

I am a great fan of the Total War series of games and it was total horror i discovered you need to use the highly annoying, buggy and unreliable steam to actually install the game and probably to play it. After having a terrible time getting the equally crappy Galactic Civilisation equivalent of steam (I can't remember its name as I have totally uninstalled it and no longer play any of those games which require it). Can I please beg the designers of the game to not use steam's - or at least offer those who buy the boxed game the option of avoiding it.

Perhaps this is suitable in countries which charge for bandwidth rather than downloading data, but in my country the updates can take several hours to download and it can end up costing me a fortune, which makes the game valueless.

I have always avoided steam based games, but my love of Total War overcome this - unfor7nbtaly the experience has been so awful I will probably return the game and will never purchase any others which require steam. (Or scream)

Now for some useful hints. If you are installing the game from the boxed version remeber to use the registration code at the rear of the game manual and not the special forces units. Once installed, it will take several hours to download the updates. You may find yourself getting a "The steam servers are too busy to handle my request?" before the installation occurs. Unfortunately you will have to keep on re-trying until the inital patches down load. The system may try and download the full game, which will take multiple hours if you don't live in the US or UK (or Korea). You will have to kill it and re-try. If you search for "empire total war The steam servers are too busy to handle my request?" on goggle you will find the web is filled with other folks who are experincing the same issue. You can find some useful hints.

My final comment is, if you find steams annoying, please voice your concern.


I found this post after having posted a quite similar rant on the Steam issues post (also stickied). I'm happy to see that I'm not the only one having problems with this very crappy installation process!

[Sun Tzui]

Having read this thread, i realise no one got the error i did.....and that is still puzzzling me!:furious3:

I bought the boxed version on launch day, they delivered the code to me, but, due to work related issues i only got around to TRYING to instal the :furious3: game today!

1.i put dvd1 in drive,

2.i install steam and log to account,

3.i enter activation code,

4.i get message "you're about to install empire total war" and go :2thumbsup: ,

5.i click next and get message "this game cannot be installed" :wall: :thumbsdown:,

6.i come here and yell :help::help::help::help::help::help:.

Sorry about the frustration, but its just one of those days......

[Camulodunum]

I realise I must be very lucky. I have been reading the horror stories here for weeks, so today I finally - with some trepidation - got round to putting the DVDs in the drive and setting up the game. I must say it all went lucky clockwork; the Steam process was faultless, downloaded updates very quickly, and got through the download from the disks quickly. I was soon playing the tutorial battles, and being blown away by the graphics! It is certainly the most complex TW game I have played, but gradually getting the hang of it.

[A Very Super Market]

*Sigh.

The players who are having troubles are the minority. However, because of the fact that they are having trouble in the first place, they are more vocal about it, for a good reason. The majority of players who do not have problems, generally have nothing to say.

[lenin96]

I have bad problem, the CD key will not work, I have tried it so many times. And in case you ask, I used the CD key and not the Special Forces unlock code, so I'm am doing the right thing but it is not working.

Can anyone help?

[Pratriall]

I just purchased Empire on steam so I thought I would be able to download the game straight away (I believe it states you can download the game from 17:00 GMT time). However each time I click "install game" on the steam menu, the bar begins to load, steam hangs, and then I get a little prompt which states my "Your steam ticket has expired" which asks me to enter my account name and password. After doing that...nothing happens.
________________
pozycjonowanie (http://www.arteria.org.pl/)

[Nelson]

Sounds like you need to contact the Steam folks.

[Northnovas]

Sounds like you need to contact the Steam folks.

There appears to be some issue with Steam for a lot of users. I started using Steam with ETW release and never had an issue. However, I have temporarily lost my library and now find how frustrating it can be not to have access to your games. I don't know what the issue is but I do believe it is on Steam and not the users end.

[Nelson]

I don't know what the issue is but I do believe it is on Steam and not the users end.

Too right. This is account related and the Steam people will need to clear it up. If something has expired it will need to be reset. It's unlikely that this is something a user can do.

[Northnovas]

I stand corrected it is the user end if they installed Obit Advance Care (freeware) there is some conflict; some files have to be updated there is a fix on the Steam forums Cannot Connect/Advance System Care Fix.
Who knew???!