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Alpha Centauri is not running on my Windows 7 Ultimate installation.
Whenever i start the game, i get the message box for the administration mode, confirm that, then screen turns black, flashes one time and then i'm back on desktop with the Alpha Centauri icon showing up in the task bar, but nothing else. After a minute or so, graphics switch to a weird mode, but still no game play. Can only be solved by killing the game with the task manager.
Any hints welcome. I tried runnin the game in compatibility mode for almost all common windows versions (95, 98, 200, Vista, XP). None of those is working.
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Meutrich: Alpha Centauri is not running on my Windows 7 Ultimate installation.
Whenever i start the game, i get the message box for the administration mode, confirm that, then screen turns black, flashes one time and then i'm back on desktop with the Alpha Centauri icon showing up in the task bar, but nothing else. After a minute or so, graphics switch to a weird mode, but still no game play. Can only be solved by killing the game with the task manager.
Any hints welcome. I tried runnin the game in compatibility mode for almost all common windows versions (95, 98, 200, Vista, XP). None of those is working.
You're likely missing DirectPlay, a part of DirectX 9.0c.


1. Download DirectX 9.0c redistributable from June 2010 from Microsoft’s official website.
2. Run directx_Jun2010_redist.exe.
3. Follow the instructions on the screen. This setup will extract the necessary files to the folder of your choosing.
4. Once the setup closes, open the folder to which you extracted the files.
5. Run DXSETUP.exe as administrator and follow the instructions on the screen.
6. Restart your computer.
7. (Optional) Remove the folder with the extracted installation files if you wish to conserve space. This is perfectly harmless, as the files have been installed in the proper system folders.
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Meutrich: Alpha Centauri is not running on my Windows 7 Ultimate installation.
Whenever i start the game, i get the message box for the administration mode, confirm that, then screen turns black, flashes one time and then i'm back on desktop with the Alpha Centauri icon showing up in the task bar, but nothing else. After a minute or so, graphics switch to a weird mode, but still no game play. Can only be solved by killing the game with the task manager.
Any hints welcome. I tried runnin the game in compatibility mode for almost all common windows versions (95, 98, 200, Vista, XP). None of those is working.
On top of what Plokite_Wolf suggested, check this thread as well!!!

https://www.gog.com/forum/sid_meier_s_alpha_centauri_/crash_on_startup_terranexe_has_stopped_working

Further:

Do NOT install in program files (X86)!!!!!!! Never ever!!!!! (For games)

Further, check your DAU? settings, specific for Win7!!!
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Goodaltgamer: Do NOT install in program files (X86)!!!!!!! Never ever!!!!! (For games)
This is where all my games are & they all seem to work fine. Is there a specific issue this can cause?
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T.Hodd: This is where all my games are & they all seem to work fine. Is there a specific issue this can cause?
Yeeees.....

Windows (whatever version) can NOT in any way handle properly the permission rights in this folder.
So for games always avoid installing in there, programs most of the time work, but hardly any game.
This folder is 'kind' of protected under all circumstances and if you have a game using any non-normal conditions it will fail to work. That might even include mods.

Main reason theoretically was to split 32-bit from 64-bit. 32 in X86. But if this game might be using 64-bit as well, even later down in the chain, it will fail, because of inheritance problems. (in short, reaaly short terms ;) )
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T.Hodd: This is where all my games are & they all seem to work fine. Is there a specific issue this can cause?
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Goodaltgamer: Yeeees.....

Windows (whatever version) can NOT in any way handle properly the permission rights in this folder.
So for games always avoid installing in there, programs most of the time work, but hardly any game.
This folder is 'kind' of protected under all circumstances and if you have a game using any non-normal conditions it will fail to work. That might even include mods.

Main reason theoretically was to split 32-bit from 64-bit. 32 in X86. But if this game might be using 64-bit as well, even later down in the chain, it will fail, because of inheritance problems. (in short, reaaly short terms ;) )
That'll explain why I have to edit the permissions sometimes. From now on I'll install into the other program files then, thanks for the info!
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T.Hodd: That'll explain why I have to edit the permissions sometimes. From now on I'll install into the other program files then, thanks for the info!
No prob ;)
Once again one of those nice 'hidden' features of Windooze ;)

Actually I installed all my GOG-games like this:

D:\GOGGames\whatever

Oh, and just to mention it, try to stay away from too long paths as well, some games don't like this neither. (especially older ones)
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T.Hodd: This is where all my games are & they all seem to work fine. Is there a specific issue this can cause?
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Goodaltgamer: Yeeees.....

Windows (whatever version) can NOT in any way handle properly the permission rights in this folder.
So for games always avoid installing in there, programs most of the time work, but hardly any game.
This folder is 'kind' of protected under all circumstances and if you have a game using any non-normal conditions it will fail to work. That might even include mods.

Main reason theoretically was to split 32-bit from 64-bit. 32 in X86. But if this game might be using 64-bit as well, even later down in the chain, it will fail, because of inheritance problems. (in short, reaaly short terms ;) )
There's a simple fix for that - disable User Account Control in the Control Panel.
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Plokite_Wolf: There's a simple fix for that - disable User Account Control in the Control Panel.
"Fix" a broken fingernail by cutting off a hand. Nice fix, indeed. :>
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Plokite_Wolf: There's a simple fix for that - disable User Account Control in the Control Panel.
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Kerebron: "Fix" a broken fingernail by cutting off a hand. Nice fix, indeed. :>
hmmmm the fix for this would be install an OS which doesn't use it :D

Sorry couldn't resist ;)
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Kerebron: "Fix" a broken fingernail by cutting off a hand. Nice fix, indeed. :>
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Goodaltgamer: hmmmm the fix for this would be install an OS which doesn't use it :D

Sorry couldn't resist ;)
Oh, don't be sorry - it is the best solution. :] Not in all cases, sadly, but still. :)
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Plokite_Wolf: There's a simple fix for that - disable User Account Control in the Control Panel.
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Kerebron: "Fix" a broken fingernail by cutting off a hand. Nice fix, indeed. :>
UAC just prevents the user from doing what he wants. If someone gets malware that requires UAC to be off (and hackers aren't stupid not to avoid it), then that someone needs professional help...

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Kerebron: "Fix" a broken fingernail by cutting off a hand. Nice fix, indeed. :>
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Goodaltgamer: hmmmm the fix for this would be install an OS which doesn't use it :D

Sorry couldn't resist ;)
That would be any Windows starting from Vista. Good luck running this game on modern Mac and Linux unless you have the super-old CD with the Linux port ;)
Post edited November 13, 2017 by Plokite_Wolf
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Plokite_Wolf: That would be any Windows starting from Vista. Good luck running this game on modern Mac and Linux unless you have the super-old CD with the Linux port ;)
Uh, GOG offers a Mac package for this game (Wine wrapped Windows version). For Linux you can also use Wine. IIRC & FYI, there is a thread in here that has a link for the Loki engine for AC if you want native on Linux.
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Plokite_Wolf: That would be any Windows starting from Vista. Good luck running this game on modern Mac and Linux unless you have the super-old CD with the Linux port ;)
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Gydion: Uh, GOG offers a Mac package for this game (Wine wrapped Windows version). For Linux you can also use Wine. IIRC & FYI, there is a thread in here that has a link for the Loki engine for AC if you want native on Linux.
The GOG store page states it's for 10.6.8 (Snow Leopard), unsupported by Apple since 2014. And from what I understand from other games, macOS doesn't have a habit of being backwards-compatible much.
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Plokite_Wolf: The GOG store page states it's for 10.6.8 (Snow Leopard), unsupported by Apple since 2014. And from what I understand from other games, macOS doesn't have a habit of being backwards-compatible much.
Late reply; believe it's fairly typical on GOG for that to be 10.6.8 & up (which it is in this case).
It doesn't particularly matter how backwards-compatible macOS is as it running via Wine, well Wineskin for the GOG Mac build. As long as Wineskin works for that version of macOS game will run. There is actually an issue with High Sierra and Wineskin. Which GOG fixed/worked around as noted in the changelog.