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bunk3rk1ng · 29-02-2008

Hello, I'm new here, I just registered specifically to help with this topic. I was having the same exact problem. I've been messing around with installing AOEIII for about a week now and finally figured out a solution.

Please follow these steps IN ORDER, or it probably will not work.

1. Install the game on another computer. I used an old laptop that doesn't even have sound drivers or a graphics card. As long as you can get it to install somewhere, then you are in business.

2. On the computer that you were able to install it on, go to:
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games. Copy the Age Of Empires III folder and paste it into an external hard drive.

3. Connect the external hard drive to the computer that you wish to play on. Find the C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games directory. If you do not have the directory, just create one. Paste the Age Of Empires III folder from the external hard drive, into the Microsoft Games folder.

4. Double click on the age3 shortcut located in the Age Of Empires II folder to launch the game. If it says you need d3dx9_25.dll go ahead and download it here:
http://www.dll-files.com/dllindex/dl...shtml?d3dx9_25

5. Once you have downloaded the file, unzip it. Copy and paste the d3dx9_25.dll file into your C:\WINDOWS\system folder.

6. Now go back to C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Age of Empires III

7. Double click on the age3 shortcut. Hopefully the game launches. So far, so good. The only problem is, you cannot play online, it will say there is a problem with your installation. Now lets fix this.

8. Exit the game and insert Disc 1. Select Install. Hopefully since all of the files are already on your computer it will not get hung up on art3.bin or any other file for that matter.

9. After installation has completed, launch the game. You will notice that almost all of the textures are missing. NOTE: DO NOT INSTALL ANY PATCHES YET OR YOU WILL HAVE TO START OVER.

10. Go back to your external hard drive. Go into the Age Of Empires 3 folder and highlight all of the files. Copy them into the C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Age Of Empires 3 folder that is already on your computer. If it asks you if you want to overwrite any files, say "Yes to all"

11. Now double click on the age3 shortcut. Hopefully the game will launch and all the textures will load. Now you can install any patches at your leisure.

I hope this helps, have fun everyone.

29-02-2008	#13 (permalink)
bunk3rk1ng New on Forum Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1	Re: Age of Empires 3 install problem Hello, I'm new here, I just registered specifically to help with this topic. I was having the same exact problem. I've been messing around with installing AOEIII for about a week now and finally figured out a solution. Please follow these steps IN ORDER, or it probably will not work. 1. Install the game on another computer. I used an old laptop that doesn't even have sound drivers or a graphics card. As long as you can get it to install somewhere, then you are in business. 2. On the computer that you were able to install it on, go to: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games. Copy the Age Of Empires III folder and paste it into an external hard drive. 3. Connect the external hard drive to the computer that you wish to play on. Find the C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games directory. If you do not have the directory, just create one. Paste the Age Of Empires III folder from the external hard drive, into the Microsoft Games folder. 4. Double click on the age3 shortcut located in the Age Of Empires II folder to launch the game. If it says you need d3dx9_25.dll go ahead and download it here: http://www.dll-files.com/dllindex/dl...shtml?d3dx9_25 5. Once you have downloaded the file, unzip it. Copy and paste the d3dx9_25.dll file into your C:\WINDOWS\system folder. 6. Now go back to C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Age of Empires III 7. Double click on the age3 shortcut. Hopefully the game launches. So far, so good. The only problem is, you cannot play online, it will say there is a problem with your installation. Now lets fix this. 8. Exit the game and insert Disc 1. Select Install. Hopefully since all of the files are already on your computer it will not get hung up on art3.bin or any other file for that matter. 9. After installation has completed, launch the game. You will notice that almost all of the textures are missing. NOTE: DO NOT INSTALL ANY PATCHES YET OR YOU WILL HAVE TO START OVER. 10. Go back to your external hard drive. Go into the Age Of Empires 3 folder and highlight all of the files. Copy them into the C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Age Of Empires 3 folder that is already on your computer. If it asks you if you want to overwrite any files, say "Yes to all" 11. Now double click on the age3 shortcut. Hopefully the game will launch and all the textures will load. Now you can install any patches at your leisure. I hope this helps, have fun everyone.