Star Trek Starfleet Command II: Empires at War: Support

TREKCORE > GAMING > STARFLEET COMMAND II: EMPIRES AT WAR > Support

Install the patch! It may fix the problem you're having! Download it here. Any problems that are fixed by the patch are not addressed in this page.

If you cannot find help on this page, you may want to visit the FAQ, as it has answers to non-technical questions related to the game.

1. When I try to enter my CD-Key, all I hear is beeping and nothing appears on the screen.
2. I am getting strange video/audio/input problems or getting an error about a missing DLL file.
3. The game is crashing when I attempt to run it.
4. I am getting an error when the installer is attempting to copy files onto the hard drive.
5. I have a 3DFX based card and the textures seem wrong.

1. When I try to enter my CD-Key, all I hear is beeping and nothing appears on the screen.
This is a known issue between SFC2/OP and Windows 2000/XP. To fix the problem, simply start SFC2/OP, press ALT-TAB to switch out of the game, and press it once more to switch back in. You should now be able to use the keyboard. You can also switch out of the game by pressing the Windows key on your keyboard (between CTRL and ALT in the lower left).
   

2. I am getting strange video/audio/input problems or getting an error about a missing DLL file.
The game requires that you have the current version of DirectX installed. You will want to install DirectX from the CD before attempting to play the game. If you did not install it when prompted during the games installation, you may install it by double-clicking on the DXSETUP file found within a DirectX folder on the CDROM. You may also download the newest end-user version of DirectX from the following address: www.microsoft.com/directx

Please reference the DirectX troubleshooting guide if you continue to experience troubles with DirectX.
   
3. The game is crashing when I attempt to run it.
This could actually be caused by a few different reasons. You will want to check the following (in the order listed):
  • The game requires that you have the current version of DirectX installed and that your drivers are showing as "certified". You will want to reference the DirectX troubleshooting guide to check DirectX for proper installation.
  • Often drivers that show as certified are still incompatible with the newer version of DirectX. You will want to check your manufacturers drivers page to make sure that you are running the most current driver available for you sound card and video card.
  • Another program runnning in the background can cause a crash. You will want to do the following:
    1. Press [CTRL]+[ALT]+[DEL]. This will bring up a "Close Program" box.
    2. The only items listed should be Explorer and Systray
    3. Highlight any other item listed
    4. Click on End Task
    5. Continue back with step 1 until Explorer and Systray are the only items listed.
   
4. I am getting an error when the installer is attempting to copy files onto the hard drive.
This can be caused for a couple of different reasons. You will want to do the following:
  • Make sure no DOS based cdrom driver is loading before Windows starts. If you are unsure you may want to consider contacting your system manufacturer to make sure.
  • You will want to change the read-ahead on your cdrom drive to "no read-ahead". This may done as follows:
    1. Right click on "My Computer"
    2. Select "Properties"
    3. Click on the "Performance" tab
    4. Click on "File System"
    5. Click on the "CD-ROM" tab
    6. Under "Optimize access pattern for" select "No Read Ahead"
    7. Click on "OK"
    8. Click on "CLOSE"
    9. The system will want to restart for these changes to take effect. Click "YES" to restart.
  • Once restarted, you will want to close all background applications as follows:
    1. Press [CTRL]+[ALT]+[DEL]. This will bring up a "Close Program" box.
    2. The only items listed should be Explorer and Systray
    3. Highlight any other item listed
    4. Click on End Task
    5. Continue back with step 1 until Explorer and Systray are the only items listed.
  • Reinstall the game
   
5. I have a 3DFX based card and the textures seem wrong.
There is a problem with some of the game textures on some types of Voodoo cards. There are replacement textures available at here. The new textures need to be unzipped into the \assets\textures directory of the Starfleet Command 2 folder.