When starting age of empires II on my laptop I get a "Could not initialize graphics system. Make sure your video card and drivers are compatible with DirectDraw". Now DcDiag.exe says everything’s fine with my directdraw but the game seems to disagree.

Now, so far I have;

Updated directx with 9.0c components as vista's directx 10 is missing a few files as I've been told
Changed the screen res to lowest before running
Ran as admin
Ran in compatibility mode for 98, xp etc.. and in 256 colour
Updated my nVidia card with the latest driver
Hit the thing (for good measure)
Tried all the crazy suggestions on microsofts support site


So as you can see, I'm in a pickle and I need help!

You got me stumped too because that's an *old* game and should run on pretty much any Windows system.

Apparently your system is too new?? --> I've Installed Age Of Empires 2, But My Video Card Isn't Compatible With 'Direct Draw' (More Vista Help Please) / Social // Drowned In Sound (http://drownedinsound.com/community/boards/social/4145442)

wow.. an oldie...

pulling up the sys requirement:



Multimedia PC with Pentium 166 MHZ or higher processor
Microsoft Windows 95 or Windows 98 operating system, or Windows NT Workstation operating system version 4.0 with Service Pack 5 or later
32 megabytes (MB) of RAM
200 MB of available hard disk space (an additional 100 MB of available hard disk space is required for the swap file)
Super VGA monitor capable of displaying 16-bit color at a screen resolution of 800 x 600 pixels
Local bus video adapter with 2 MB of video memory capable of displaying 16-bit color at a screen resolution of 800 x 600 pixels
Quad-speed or faster CD-ROM drive
Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device
Sound card with speakers or headphones recommended

Requirements for multiplayer play:
28.8 Kbps modem (or higher recommended) for Internet or head-to-head play
Internet access required for Internet play. May require payment of a separate fee to an Internet service provider (ISP). Connect time charges may apply.


try setting your screen res to 800x600 16bit color. Win 98 computability, run as admin too...
it may just not be able to talk to DX9...

I did find an update: http://download.microsoft.com/download/aoeaok/Update/2.0a/W9XNT4/EN-US/Age2upA.exe
cant hurt.. right?

I know vista can run old games like that.. I have the Orig UT running without a hitch.

I did try that update but I don't have the "retail" version of the game... and the patch was in like 2000 WAY before vista

I did try that update but i don't have the "retail" version of the game.What does that mean?

Well that's what comes up when I try to install the patch... so ask Microsoft, I didn't buy the cd, I bought a download of a partner site

A pirated version then?

You paid for a download from where?

I would say u need a refund.


I found these:

Right click on your desktop>click on properties (Display properties will launch up)
Click on settings>Advanced
Click on the Adapter tab
Click on properties
In the General Tab, down below there is "Devie usage"
Click on that device usage list, and select"Do not use this device(disable)"
Click on OK to confirm (leave the display properties and all)
It'll ask you to rest, restart your machine
And voilà you can play age of empires without that dumb direct draw problem.


Or
Problem with Age of Empires II - Vista Forums (http://www.vistax64.com/vista-games/96269-problem-age-empires-ii.html#post679601)

you paid for a download from where?Well there is this:
https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/internet-web/internet-connection-flawed-81629.html

LOL - I can't imagine the amount of "garbage" that has been installed along with stuff downloaded with those apps :)

Hey, I have the same problem. AOE II runs fine on my new laptop, featuring Windows 7, with DirectX 11. But on my new PC (had it two days) with the very same Windows 7 and DirectX 11, I get that error message, too: "Could not initialize graphics system. Make sure your video card and drivers are compatible with DirectDraw". I've been looking for fixes all day and nothing works.