Why won't this damn thing work?   -------------------------------------------------------- "Have you tried turning it off then on again?" Edition --------------------------------------------------------   Distant Worlds is a picky beast. It likes a very specific set of things otherwise it just doesn't play at all.   First up here is the minimum requirements from the game dev:       OS: Windows XP SP2, Windows Vista, Windows 7, 8, 10     CPU: Pentium 4 @1.5 GHz     RAM: 1Gb RAM     Video/Graphics: minimum 1024 x 768 resolution, 32 bit     Sound: DirectX 9 compatible     Hard disk space: approx 500Mb     DVD-Rom: not required, except if installing from DVD     DirectX version: 9.0c or later     Peripheral hardware: Mouse     Other: Microsoft .Net Framework 4.0 or later, Microsoft XNA 4.0 (both included with installer), Windows Media Player,            Internet Explorer     If you're reading this and have spotted that your spess pewpew gaem actually requires IE and Media Player and have done a spock eyebrow, you are not alone. It needs WMP for the intro movie, and the handler for the soundtrack. It needs IE for the "help" database. Fortunately WMP is still present in all versions of Windows so far, just in 8 & 10 it's buried (but still active). So it shouldn't be a problem. IE also shouldn't be a problem as it's part of all versions of Windows. 10 will prefer you to use Edge, but IE 11 should still be there and that should be enough. If you can get IE to run via the start bar DW should accept it.   Note the minimum res. Anything less than 1024 x 768 will just dump you back at the desktop. Why would you be running less than this I do not pretend to know.   The other three things DW needs to work at all are:     DX9.0c     .Net 4.0     XNA 4.0   DW comes with a fuckton of support files "just in case". If you bought it direct or pirated it:     C:\\redist\ If you steamed it:     C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\Distant Worlds Universe\redist\   Run "dxsetup" to get DX9.0c. You can install later versions over the top, DW just needs some of the earlier dlls. Run "dotNetFx40_Full_x86_x64" to get .Net Framework 4.0 Run "xnafx40_redist" to get XNA Framework 4.0.     So that's FIVE things you need to make sure you have installed before you can even start the game. And everyone always forgets about the XNA.   -------------------------------------------------------- A helpful thing that's not mentioned anywhere, is the dumptext DW generates whenever it throws a tant and doesn't work. It can be found here:     C:\Users\\Documents\My Games\Distant Worlds Universe\DW_CrashDump.txt Note: Win7 path   This will tell you all sorts of things about what DW is struggling with, from missing software/assets to the exact file and line entry of the shit attempt at modding you just made. First stop for any troubleshooting should be here. Even if most of it looks like gibberish, there will be some lines at the end of the entry telling you what the problem is.   -------------------------------------------------------- Further points if you're still having problems: --------------------------------------------------------   Check that Windows Management Instrumentation Service is running. Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services In the list of services you should look for one named "Windows Management Instrumentation". The status column should say "Started".   If this is present in the list but not started, click the "Start" link to the left of the services list. If the game still will not start and you receive the same error, then you may have a broken installation of WMI. You can use the tool here to fix it: http://windowsxp.mvps.org/repairwmi.htm If "Windows Management Instrumentation" does not exist in the services list then you will need to enable it in Windows. http://computerstepbystep.com/windows_management_instrumentation_service.html   If you're having problems with .NET even though you've have it installed, it might be worth grabbing an earlier version to see if it plugs any holes. v3.5 is recommended. Fortunately, this is included in the support files DW comes with. It can be found in the redist folder as above and is labelled "dotnetfx35.exe" Uninstall all your .NET entries on the control panel, then restart. Install 3.5, then install 4.0 over the top of it.   If .NET is still being flaky you can try the MS repair tool here: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=30135   Bit of a long shot, but try temporarily disabling your anti-virus package and see if it makes a difference. Also check the vault/quarantine area just in case it's snagged any of the game files by mistake.   For Win10 Check Control Panel > Programs > Turn Windows Features On/Off Go down to Legacy Components and make sure Direct Play is active.   If all else fails, uninstall .NET, XNA, DirectX and Distant Worlds. Then restart. And install in the following order:    Distant Worlds    dotnetfx35.exe    dotNetFx40_Full_x86_x64.exe    DXSETUP.exe    xnafx40_redist.msi    Restart   -------------------------------------------------------- Back to Guide Index:    https://pastebin.com/hubsc3ZS