cant install the patch. when i double click on the .exe file from totalwar.com, i get the install wizard starting up. it asks when language and i pick english. it then comes up on a new screen with an error message popup saying 'Setup could not not locate an existing installation of Rome - Total War (TM). Please reinstall the game and try again.' i click ok, and the install setup quits.

i do not have any no cd cracks. i've tried putting the .exe in various folders, the rtw root, activision root, c: drive root and all to no avail. it always comes up with the same message. i've downloaded a 2nd copy just to make sure the first wasnt a corrupted file. same thing. i got the 2nd copy from totalwar.com. the first i think i got from ign.com. i even tried to go to fileplanet and use their download and auto-install routines, but i'm having trouble logging into fileplanet with my existing accounts. and this may be due to having recently installed gamespy 2.0. it may also be why i'm having trouble with installing the patch manually if the patch is looking for a particular version of gamespy, for some reason. i mean, this patch was mostly for multiplayer, and gamespy is where the game is played multi mostly. but i dont know this for sure. might just be some oddball setting on my machine, or maybe the patch is hardwired for a particular drive. my game installation is on the I: drive, not c:. it's the full game, bought and paid for retail.

i also checked activisions tech support pages, but they had no info on this bug. i also checked the tech support forum on the totalwar.com site. others had this same bug reported but no consistent solution. vanya recently reported this same bug with his patch in the apothecary, but we've got no solution for him. i have not yet tried to 'reinstall the game' as that just seems a bit weird. i have altered a few .txt files, but nothing major like the main game file or anything. i even put the original .txt files back in place and tried the patch again with the same results.

i also thought maybe the patch wanted a cd key in place and i hadnt tried multiplayer yet, so hadnt entered the cd key yet. so, i tried entering the cd key and login name to play multi. the cd key was accepted but when i get to the point of actually logging into the gamespy, rome server, it tells me i need the patch. well, that at least verifies that my cd key is ok and my login is ok. i just need the patched version now and cant patch.

my rtw game works fine. i can play the campaigns. i can play custom and quick battles and i've not modified the desktop shortcut or any other critical game file. i've not modified the registry either. so, i'm at a loss here.

i do have one other bug that might be related and might be preventing me from patching. when i first installed the game, everything went ok. all 3 cd's seemed to copy just fine, but at the end of the installation when the menu asks if you want to play now, i hit that and all that happened was that the menu disappeared, the little 'Wise' installer banner showed for a couple of seconds and then nothing. no disk activitiy, nothing. this happens every time i insert disk one to play. i get around this by simply using the desktop icon for rtw and that works fine. but, if this bug is somehow telling the patch that i've got no copy installed, i dont know. quite odd.

if anyone knows or finds a fix for this, please post it in the apothecary thread that vanya started about not being able to install the patch, or send me a private message.

thanks,

K.