Tiberian Sun has a few known issues with newer operating systems. The issues usually revolve around the direct draw component of Tiberian Sun, and unpatched versions of the game. Common issues include heavy lag, frequent freezes and crashes and a host of menu related issues. In order to get Tiberian Sun on Windows 8 working follow these steps:
- Make sure you have the TFD freeware version installed. The freeware First Decade version of Tiberian Sun comes fully patched and includes both Tiberian Sun and Firestorm. It is also bundled with a few patch files that set you up for online play so there’s no reason you shouldn’t be using it at your main installation of the game. You can get the First Decade version from one of the links here.
- Download the Windows 8 fix. This fix provides patched version of direct draw libraries used by Tiberian Sun.
Download link 1 <– tore.cnc-comm.com
Download link 2 <– bitpatch.com (in ddrawfix\wined3d)
Download link 3 <– Local Mirror - Copy the patched libraries into your root Tiberian Sun directory. Copy the following files into your SUN directory, making sure to overwrite any existing files with the same names:
ddraw.dll
libwin.dll
wined3d.dll - Run in Windowed mode. While this is less than ideal it is necessary for a large majority of people running Tiberian Sun on Windows 8. For whatever reason, if you don’t run the game in windowed mode you’ll likely experience several menu related issues and crashes and/or heavy lag. To run Tiberian Sun in windowed mode follow the instructions here.
- Run as administrator with Windows 98 compatibility and reduced 16bit color mode. Right click on your Game.exe located in the SUN directory and select properties. Select the compatibility tab check off the following options:
- Run this program in compatibility mode for: Windows 98 / Windows Me compatibility
- Reduced color mode: 16-bit (65536) color
- Run this program as administrator
If you’ve followed the above steps and are still having issues running Tiberian Sun on Windows 8, please post in the comments below. To increase your chances of a solution being found include as much detail as possible (which version of the game you’re running, what operating system you have, what video card you have and steps to reproduce the issue). Screenshots are also very useful!
Sorry but not work correctly…
Can you be more specific about the issue? What kind of error message/issue are you running into? If nothing here got the game running, try taking a look at this post as well:
http://www.desura.com/tutorials/tiberian-sun-windows-8-fix-at-high-resolution
Still getting the more dll files are damage / missing error
Have you had a look at this post?
http://www.thegameengine.org/tiberian-sun/tiberian-sun-dll-files-missing-or-damaged/
Richt click on Game.exe and run ass administrator
Thanks ruokuo, I’ve re-installed the game with all the described options and your ‘fix’ worked for me!
after hrs at this i found this directory for help but have a ??? can you tell me where i need to go to copy files because i cant seem to find the sun directory to overwrite the files… seems i am just skitzing at this point. i am on windows 8 and have completed every other task needed to play except this 1 thing. thanks for any help you can give
If you downloaded the Freeware version of the game, when you unzip it you’ll get an EA Games folder. The Sun directory, where you should copy the patched DLL files is located inside this directory at:
EA Games\Command & Conquer The First Decade\Command & Conquer(tm) Tiberian Sun(tm)\SUNThank you! I will try that and hopefully be playing soon…
I’m about to give up on ever experiencing this game, ehhh…
“One or more DLL files were missing…”. Windows 8 64 bit. AMD A8-4500M APU w/ radeon hd processor/graphics card. Have AMD Catalyst Control Center but it wasn’t installed yet when I went through all the troubleshooting:
Tried from disk originally, C&C TS is only game that doesn’t run, got “DLL files” error (also please insert disk error at some point).
Downloaded freeware (http://cnc-comm.com/community/index.php?action=downloads;sa=view;down=41).
Set as admin. UAC, firewall, Windows defender are all off, no 3rd party antivirus.
Installed in correct directory (C:\Program Files (x86)\EA Games\Command & Conquer The First Decade\Command & Conquer(tm) Tiberian Sun(tm)\SUN) and replaced original SUN folder.
Unzipped win8fix and dragged the 3 files into SUN folder. “Game” & “SUN” exe files are set to Windows 98/Me, 16 bit color, and run as admin. Still getting DLL files error.
Windows 8.1 btw.
Thanks for posting such detailed steps. There may be one more thing that you need to do. In your C:\Program Files\EA Games\Command & Conquer The First Decade run the tibsun_regadd.reg file. See this post for more details:
http://www.thegameengine.org/tiberian-sun/tiberian-sun-dll-files-missing-or-damaged/
No problem. I did remember seeing the registry step somewhere but I can’t for the life of me find it. I’m not sure if anything is supposed to show up in Program Files x86 AND Program Files but nothing does for EA games or C&C. Tried searching C: & C&C the first decade for “tibsun_regadd.reg” but nothing. Show hidden files and folders is selected for file explorer too.
i have install it in windows 8 ..when i run it as admin ,,getting a popup as “unable to set the video mode “,pleasE tell what to do?
You might have to switch the game resolution to 640×480. You can also try setting your monitors refresh rate to 60hz. See here for more info (search for “Unable to set the video mode”): http://answers.ea.com/t5/Command-Conquer-The-Ultimate/Common-Problems-Read-This-Before-Posting/td-p/222052
I have a Win8 installation and followed the instructions. I did install the fix and set compability, color and admin rights accordingly
=> game starts, I hear that old nice sound of that ancient time, when I was still top 14 (when there were still alot of player and scorpi0n was around), I even sometimes am able to enter a Skirmish for some seconds, but its so slow, and I can not open any menu items.
I have to kill the game all the time to get out.
==> any ideas? want to play it again!!!
The menu problem should be fixed by the Win8 fix if installed correctly. Also if you’re still experiencing heavy lag try running the game in windowed mode by adding the
-winoption to your shortcut.See this link for some additional info and solutions: http://www.moddb.com/games/cc-tiberian-sun/tutorials/tiberian-sun-windows-8-fix-at-high-resolution
if you do all steps and it does not work, you have probably the same issue like me…
=> the game folder is read – only and you did not copy the new files in (win8 fix files).
As you can not remove the read-only, you have to give to your user all rights and then copy in the files…. voila… it works..
thanks guys
Well, everything is working fine on W8.1. Only when I stop or save the game freeses…?
Even ctrl-alt-del won’t help
Ah do you mean the game crashes when you try to open the menu? If you’ve properly installed the Windows 8 patch in step 2 that “should” fix the menu crashes. If it doesn’t another solution is apparently to run the game in windowed mode. You can do this by adding the
-winoption to your Tiberian Sun shortcut.Source: http://xwis.net/forums/index.php/topic/178725-windows-8-tiberian-sun-working-with-it-so-far/
Let me know if that works for you
Well, the game itself runs fine. I already added the -win to the shortcut and that is a good solution. There is no problem when start the game, open and run the Menu. And saved
levels load normaly.
The main problem: after I save a game the grafics freezes. I hear the background music
and I can move the cursor. But nothing is responding and I have the close the game
using Ctrl-alt-del to continue.
Hmm its a good sign that it’s getting better. I found this thread talking about some similar issues: http://cnc-comm.com/community/index.php?topic=1987.15
One thing in specific I would suggest is to download ddwrapper and extract it into your SUN directory. There should be two files you need: aqrit.cfg and ddraw.dll. If installing this patch doesn’t fix the issue immediately, try switching some of the options, namely:
ForceDirectDrawEmulation = 1NoVideoMemory = 1
I did instal the ddwrapper, but nothing chances. I also tried the switching of options, but also no result. But it is no grafics problem.
Only when I save a game in skirmisch I can’t play anyfurther bequase the game freeses and won’t continue.
– I play
– go to the menu and save
– pop up screen says: game saved and then it’s returns to menu
– the menu however stays in the screen for 1 second and then disapeares
– then the game freeses
– even the menu won’t respond
Try also setting the following options in aqrit.cfg:
ColorFix = 1DisableHighDpiScaling = 1
SingleProcAffinity = 1
Also add the following options under the [Video] section of your ts.ini file:
AllowVRAMSidebar=noVideoBackBuffer=no
Just to be sure are you running the game as Admin, with Win XP compatibility?
I’ll stop the efforts to make it work. I tried everything you’ve discribed but it won’t solve the problems and I don’t want to spend more time for it. Thanks to help the game work (y)
I’m sorry to hear you couldn’t fix the issue :( Thanks for being patient and trying all my suggestions :)
I had similar issues. My way to get around it is running it under “-win” mode and whenever you try to save the game, simply minimize the game window and restore it back. You will then see the hidden menu for you to continue.
Thank you, for help ^_^
Hi
Doesn’t work. I’ve unzipped the patch, done the reg thing, done the ddwrapper thing and i cannot get past the main menu, where only the ” sneak peak ” works.
Windows 8.1 Samsung NP350V5C
Norton screwed it up it said it’s unsafe then it deleted damaging my game how do I fix this with Norton in the way?
Norton is just god awful. You can maybe set the specific files as Norton exceptions so it doesn’t delete them though I haven’t used that particular piece of software for years so I can’t tell you how :(
IT FUCKING WORKS HAHAHAHAHAHAH I CAN SCRIMMAGE AGAIN
LOL
Got it working on Windows 10. Omitted step 4, but followed the rest of the Win8 directions to T. I also ran the .reg file. Also, people, ‘installing’ is you manually copying the files in the download package so that game.exe would end up being here: c:\program files\EA Games\Command & Conquer The First Decade\Command & Conquer(tm) Tiberian Sun ™\SUN
Hi bro I downloaded the game in window 8
It open but problems i face are
menu is not visible at all .
I randomly click on screen it work but after one minute game get held !
Can u tell me how to fix it that plzzz I really want it work properly
Did you follow the steps in the post above? What version of Windows are you running and what video card do you have?
Thank you . It worked like magic
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