Can't get even vanilla Kingdoms to run on Win 8.1 - abandon DVD and get Steam?

[Titus Marcellus Scato]

Hi.

I bought the DVD version of Kingdoms a while ago to run EB2, but I can't get any of the 4 vanilla Kingdoms campaigns to run at all (prerequisite of EB2), only vanilla Medieval 2.

Kingdoms won't even get to the Sega logo, and there's no error message - the DVD spins, but then falls silent. Searched the forums for fixes, installed in E:\M2, gave my user total control of the M2 directory, disabled UAC - no joy.

Should I give up on the DVD version, uninstall it and buy the Steam version?

Thanks,

[alex86]

Hm. I don't think you will have to buy the Steam version. When CA released the MP upgrade for Rome 1 and Medieval 2, I believe they also made it so you could redeem existing disc purchases on Steam. See if this (http://forums.totalwar.com/showthread.php/132208-ROME-amp-MEDIEVAL-II-multiplayer-now-available-on-Steam!?) helps.