[INFO/GUIDE] Workarounds for Running Older PC Titles via EA app for PC or Steam [ Edited ]

[EA_Kent]

Hi everyone, 

We've put together a list of workarounds that may help with running some older titles in the EA app. Expand the spoiler tags below to see the details for each title: 

Batman Arkham City Game of the Year Edition

Spoiler

In order to run Batman Arkham City Game of the Year Edition you'll need to set the year in your PC clock to 2011 or 2012 before you launch the game. You can manually set the date in Windows 10 using the steps below: 

1. Log into Windows with a user account with Administrator rights.  
2. Right-click on the clock at the bottom-right corner of the screen. 
3. Click Adjust date/time in the menu. 
4. Click the Date & time tab on the left side of the new window that opens.
5. Turn Off Set time automatically and Set time zone automatically. 
6. Click Change under Change date and time. 
7. Use the drop-down menu to change the year to 2011 or 2012. 
8. Click Change. 

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Devil May Cry 4

Spoiler

When you start the installation for Devil May Cry 4 through the EA App you'll be directed to download a .zip file for the game through your default web browser. You'll also be prompted to enter a product code for the game. The steps to install the game and enter the code are below: 

1. Start the installation from your EA App Collection
2. You should see the product code, and a browser window will open
3. Download the .zip file for the game
4. Unzip the .zip file
5. Run the setup file to install the game
6. Restart the EA App
7. Launch the game from your Collection
8. Enter the product code you were given in Step 2 (make sure to include the dashes in the code)

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FIFA 2011

Spoiler

After installing FIFA 2011, run the SecuROM Removal tool. You should be able to play once it's removed. 

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FIFA 08

Spoiler

Setting the game to run in 8-bit Reduced Color Mode should allow you to play. You can set this up using the steps below: 

1. Locate the .exe file for FIFA 08 in the folder where you've installed the game
2. Right-click the .exe file and select Properties
3. Click the Compatibility tab
4. Check the box next to Reduced Color Mode 
5. Select 8-bit (256) color in the drop down menu
6. Click Apply

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FIFA Manager 14

Spoiler

Running the game in Windows 8 compatibility mode should allow you to play. You can set the game to run in compatibility mode using the steps below: 

1. Locate the .exe file for FIFA Manager 14 in the folder where you've installed the game. 
2. Right-click the .exe file and select Properties
3. Click the Compatibility tab
4. Check the box that says Run this program in compatibility mode for:
5. Select Windows 8 in the drop down menu
6. Click Apply

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FIFA Manager 13

Spoiler

Running the game in Windows 8 compatibility mode should allow you to play. You can set the game to run in compatibility mode using the steps below: 

1. Locate the .exe file for FIFA Manager 13 in the folder where you've installed the game. 
2. Right-click the .exe file and select Properties
3. Click the Compatibility tab
4. Check the box that says Run this program in compatibility mode for:
5. Select Windows 8 in the drop down menu
6. Click Apply

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FIFA Manager 07

Spoiler

Running the game in Windows Vista Service Pack 2 compatibility mode should allow you to play. Be sure to install DirectPlay if prompted by Windows. You can set up compatibility mode using the steps below: 

1. Locate the game's .exe file in the install folder where you've installed FIFA Manager 07
2. Right-click the .exe file and select Properties
3. Click the Compatibility tab
4. Check the box that says Run this program in compatibility mode for:
5. Select Windows Vista Service Pack 2 in the drop down menu
6. Click Apply

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The Godfather

Spoiler

Problems installing The Godfather may be due to an overly long folder name for the install location. Shortening the name of the folder where the game is installed may help. 

By default the EA App will install the game here: 

C:/Users/Name/Desktop/GODFATHER/godfather_1pcfg_ww_en_frrun_3origin_idjit_data_storeb7e6778a0d994c88ac83d3c115ba70f4

If you trim the name of the install folder to something like this, you should be able to run the setup.exe file and get the game installed: 

C:/Users/Name/Desktop/GODFATHER/godfather_1

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Medal of Honor (2010)

Spoiler

Before installing the game you'll need to install a more recent version of Punkbuster. The version packaged with the game is outdated, but if there's a more recent version already installed it should accept the newer version. 

You can download the most recent version of Punkbuster from the Even Balance website. 

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Need for Speed Carbon

Spoiler

The community has identified a possible workaround for running NFS Carbon, but it requires downloading and manipulating game files that are not officially supported by EA. 

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Need for Speed The Run

Spoiler

Setting a Windows connection block rule for NFS The Run can help bypass the issues with the game getting stuck on the initial loading screen. To set a block rule in Windows follow the steps below: 

1. Open your Windows Search bar and search for Windows Defender Firewall
2. Open Windows Defender
3. Click Advanced Settings, and a new window will open
4. Click Outbound Rules
5. Click New Rule
6. Under Rule Type, click Program
7. Click Next
8. Select "This Program Path"
9. Locate the .exe file for Need for Speed The Run (the default file path would be C:\Program Files (x86)\EA Games\Need for Speed The Run\Need For Speed The Run.exe)
10. Click Next, and another window will open
11. Select Block the Connection
12. Click Next
13. Leave the boxes for Domain, Private, and Public checked
14. Enter a name and description for the new rule, if you like
15. Click Finish
16. Launch the game
17. Click OK when the "failed to connect to Autolog" error message appears
18. You should be able to play the game from here 

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Need for Speed Undercover

Spoiler

Before installing the game you'll need to install a more recent version of Punkbuster. The version packaged with the game is outdated, but if there's a more recent version already installed it should accept the newer version. 

You can download the most recent version of Punkbuster from the Even Balance website. 

---

Nox

Spoiler

If you're unable to launch Nox through the EA app, running the game in Reduced color mode and setting an advanced launch option to run in Windowed mode might help. You can set this up using the steps below: 

Please note: some monitor resolutions may not work as expected when running Nox. We've confirmed that 1080p does work, but you may run into problems with higher resolutions. 

1. Locate and open the install folder for Nox on your PC
2. Right-click the Game.exe file and select Properties
3. In the Compatibility tab, uncheck the option to "run this program in compatibility mode"
4. Check the box for Reduced Color Mode and select 16-bit (65536) in the dropdown menu
5. Open the EA app and locate Nox in your game Collection
6. Click the three dots button on the Nox game tile and select Properties
7. Enter "-window" (without quotation marks) in the Advanced Launch Options field and click Save
8. Try launching Nox from the EA app

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Resident Evil 5

Spoiler

The community has identified a possible workaround for running Resident Evil 5, but it requires downloading and manipulating game files that are not officially supported by EA. 

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The Sims Life Stories

Spoiler

Launching the game through the setup.exe application rather than autorun.exe may allow you to run the game. You should be able to find the setup.exe file in the install folder where you've installed the game. Be sure to set the setup.exe application to run in Windows Vista Service Pack 2 compatibility mode as well. You can set up compatibility mode using the steps below: 

1. Locate the setup.exe file in the install folder for The Sims Life Stories
2. Right-click the .exe file and select Properties
3. Click the Compatibility tab
4. Check the box that says Run this program in compatibility mode for:
5. Select Windows Vista Service Pack 2 in the drop down menu
6. Click Apply

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The Sims Medieval

Spoiler

Setting the game to run in windowed mode should allow you to play. You can edit the game's options.ini file to set the game to launch in windowed mode using the steps below: 

1. Locate the install folder for the game and open it
2. Open the options.ini file (if asked to choose a program to open the file, select Notepad)
3. Find the "fullscreen" option and replace the 1 with 0
4. Save the file

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The Sims Pet Stories

Spoiler

Modern PCs will struggle to run this game due to hardware incompatibility. If you have access to an older PC it may be worth trying to install the game there to see if it's compatible. 

You may be able to run the game on a newer PC by using compatibility mode. Try setting it to Windows Vista SP2 and 8-bit Reduced Color Mode. You can set the game to run in compatibility mode using the steps below: 

1. Locate the setup.exe file in the install folder for The Sims Pet Stories
2. Right-click the setup.exe file and select Properties
3. Click the Compatibility tab
4. Check the box that says Run this program in compatibility mode for:
5. Select Windows Vista Service Pack 2 in the drop down menu
6. Check the box next to Reduced Color Mode 
7. Select 8-bit (256) color in the drop down menu
8. Click Apply

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Super Street Fighter IV

Spoiler

Note: Super Street Fighter IV requires Microsoft Games for Windows LIVE and Microsoft Games for Windows Marketplace to be installed in order to play. Since these are no longer officially supported, you may need to download them from a third party website. Keep in mind that you would be downloading them at your own risk if you choose to install the files from a third party. 

Running Super Street Fighter IV in Windows 8 compatibility mode should allow you to play. You can set the game to run in Windows 8 compatibility mode using the steps below: 

1. Locate the .exe file for Super Street Fighter IV in the folder where you've installed the game.
2. Right-click the .exe file and select Properties
3. Click the Compatibility tab
4. Check the box next to Run this program in compatibility mode for:
5. Select Windows 8 in the drop down menu
6. Click Apply
   

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UEFA Euro 2008

Spoiler

You'll need to install DirectPlay and set the game to launch in Windows Vista Server Pack 2 compatibility mode in order to run UEFA Euro 2008. You can set this up using the steps below: 

1. Download UEFA Euro 2008
2. Run setup.exe
3. Click through the installer screens until it shows the install file path
4. Make a note of the install location
5. Restart the EA App once the installation is finished
6. Your Collection should update to show the game is installed
7. Launch the game (you may see a message saying that hardware acceleration is required)
8. Windows Troubleshooter should open and ask you to download DirectPlay
9. Install DirectPlay from the prompt
10. Locate UEFA Euro 2008 in your EA App Collection
11. Click the three dots button on the game icon to open the options 
12. Click Open File Location (this should take you to the file location you noted earlier)
13. Right-click EURO2008.exe 
14. Click Properties
15. Click the Compatibility tab
16. Check the box that says Run this program in compatibility mode for:
17. Select Windows Vista Service Pack 2 in the drop down menu
18. Click Apply

You should be now be able to launch the game through the EA App and play. 

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Warhammer: Chaosbane Slayer Edition

Spoiler

You'll need to install the game to a non-protected directory in order to run it. You can create a new folder outside of Program Files where you can install the game. This should bypass the protected file path of Program Files. To choose the new folder as the install location follow the steps below: 

1. Open the EA App
2. Click the Options button (it looks like 3 horizontal lines) at the top left corner of the window
3. Click Settings
4. Click the Download tab
5. Look for the Downloads box and click Edit
6. Choose the new folder you created for the game install
7. Download and install the game in your EA App Collection

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Watch Dogs Standard Edition

Spoiler

When installing Watch Dogs Standard Edition through the EA App you will be asked to enter a product code. Ubisoft Support should be able to help you get the code you need. You can find more info on how to reach them at the Ubisoft support website. 

When you start the installation for Watch Dogs Standard Edition through the EA App you'll be directed to download a .zip file for the game through your default web browser. You'll also be prompted to enter a product code for the game. The steps to install the game and enter the code are below: 

1. Start the installation from your EA App Collection
2. A browser window will open
3. Download the .zip file for the game
4. Unzip the .zip file
5. Run the setup file to install the game
6. Restart the EA App
7. Launch the game from your Collection
8. Enter the product code you were given (make sure to include the dashes in the code)

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[EA_Leeuw]

Fixing the "General Protection Fault" Error for older EA games on EA app or Steam

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Hello everyone,

Recently, we have noticed an increase in threads regarding this error, and we understand that it can be frustrating. Unfortunately, due to the age of these games and the compatibility issues with modern hardware and operating systems, an immediate fix is not always possible. However, our EA app development teams have devised a workaround that should help you get back into these older games quickly.

Currently, we have observed the "General Protection Fault" error in Medal of Honor, Mass Effect 1, and Battlefield 3, all for PC.

We hope that the following workaround, which involves copying and pasting the "cudart32_65.dll" file, will resolve the issue for you.

Here is a step-by-step guide to resolve the "General Protection Fault" issue by copying the "cudart32_65.dll" file:

1. Open File Explorer on your computer.
   
   
2. Navigate to the following directory: C:\Program Files (x86)\NVIDIA Corporation\PhysX\Common\.
   
   
3. Look for the cudart32_65.dll file in that directory.
   
   
4. Copy the cudart32_65.dll file.
   
   
5. Now, navigate to the game's installation directory*.
    
   1. Typically, this can be found in C:\Program Files (x86)\[Game Name]\Binaries\.
      
      
   2. If the game was installed by the EA app, it will be in C:\Program Files\EA Games\[Game Name] by default.
      
      
   3. If the game was installed by Steam, it will be in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\[Game Name] by default.
6. Open the Binaries folder.
   
   
7. Paste the copied cudart32_65.dll file into the Binaries folder.
   
   
8. Confirm the file transfer and replace any existing file if prompted.
   
   
9. Restart the game and check if the issue is resolved.
   

*The folder location of the game binary may vary depending on the game. You might need to search for the actual executable file (exe) to locate the folder. It is important to ensure that the cudart dll file is present in the same folder as the game binary.

Note: This workaround is not directly related to the EA app.