Draconious' original TASupport page has bad/missing links. This is an updated version. |
This is the way I recommend players to install or re-install the game and its add ons.
Why the instructions? There are a few simple problems that can arise that will cause annoying things to happen when your done installing.
Or to keep it simple, install the game fresh, install the patch, copy the ccx files from the addons, and install the 6 newest units.
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Whatever your reason, there are a few legitimate reasons to by pass the CD usage of the game, this is how I do it. This will change TA to look to the current folder were TA is installed instead of the CD for the game files. This will still play the music off of the TA CD, as well as any other CD you insert into the drive!
Just download the cd crack, unzip it into your TOTALA directory, and run crack.exe. |
Total Annihilation has a direct-play path entry in the registry, which is often not correctly pointing to were the game is installed. This is usually because of installing the game into a non default folder or hard drive which is usually the C:\CAVEDOG\TOTALA\ folder. For example the MS Gaming zone will often say GAME NOT FOUND, when entering the lobby, by changing this to point to were the game is actually installed the zone will find and let you play the game. The registry is not a thing you really want to mess with if your not the sliest bit familiar with windows and a computer, so be VERY carful not to change anything but this registry entry. You can get to the registry by going to the start button, and clicking on RUN, then typing in REGEDIT and hitting ok. Browse the tree structure to find the settings that need to be changed. PATH: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ DirectPlay \ Applications \ Total Annihilation \ CHANGE: CURRENTDIRECTORY and PATH to both point to were ever you have the game installed, the full drive and path.
If you do not wish to do the steps above, the alternative is to download and run (double click)
this file.
If you have TA installed on a different disk drive or folder other then the default folder, pick any one of them, and alter it with notepad, change the drive letter and path as needed before running it.
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When trying to join or host a multiplayer game, the Time Out error might occur if one of the players, has a firewall or router setup wrong, needs to install the 3.1c patch, or needs to install or reinstall directX.
If using a firewall or router some Direct-X games require these ports to be open, or forwarded to the IP of the computer that is playing the game.
TA will only allow one computer per outside IP to join/host a multiplayer game.
If its not a firewall or router, try installing the 3.1c patch again, or correctly, see: my installation instructions above . It may also be Direct-X is old, or needs to be installed again, you can get that from microsofts directX page . I currently use Direct X 7.0a for use with TA. Direct X 8 works, but has been known to have goofy problems. Also ME users although having the most problems with DX8, are suppose to be able to have multiple players locally on a firewall when using DX8.1a, I have yet to see this work though. You can also find help at http://www.portforward.com/routers.htm for configuring your router for TA. |
First of all do NOT use DMZ, this opens all the ports to the given computer, not a wise thing to do on cable and dsl connections.
Instead you should forward the required ports for the game or application.
Either way, until linksys releases a firmware that supports it, only 1 local computer on your lan will be able to play a game with online players.
This is because you can only forward ports to one IP, and TA requires the directX ports to be open, so do other games so this will help some of them work too.
TA only allows one set of ports, or so this is the popular belief at the time I write this.
The direct X ports are 47624 for DirectX 7, and 6073 for DirectX 8, you may or may not need to open them both (I use 7 and only have the 47624 port open).
TA also requires another set of ports to be open, these are ports 2300 through 2400, other sources say to open more, but thats all TA apears to need.
For those that know how to forward the ports on the router your probly all set now, but for those that don't or if its still not working read on.
To forward the ports listed above load your routers advanced options menu.
1 Go to Internet Explorer and type in 192.168.1.1 in the address prompt.
2 Enter your password, the default is name:(leave it blank) and password: admin , if you did not change it yet you REALY should.
3 Click on Advanced, and then PORT FORWARDING, and your screen should look very much like this screen shot.
If you have less input boxes upgrade your firmware so you can use port ranges.
4 Input the ports as shown, but the IP should be that of the computer that is going to play TA.
To get that ip, on that computer, goto start, then run, then type winipcfg or ipconfig, this will tell u the IP to that computer.
If your using DHCP the IP will likely change, one reason I dont use DHCP.
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Total Annihilation and the way its many different patches are installed have created many duplicate files in the games virtual folder files. These files on top of the already unused files in the game folders, create a lot of wasted drive space. This wasted space is not enough to worry about with the large hard drives out, but the game has potential to load a little bit faster if it doesn't have to mess with the extra files. The following are steps to compressing your TA folder down a little bit. This is ONLY for the more advanced computer users, don't attempt this if you have any doubt in your ability to do so. This also takes a while to do, depending on the speed of your computer it could take a really long time. You will need HPI Viewer and HPI Packer, or an equivalent program to compress and un compress TAs virtual folders. It is also recommended that CC and the 3.1 patch already be installed (see above: Installation).
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