GameBanshee Forums

I decided to install Planescape: Torment on my XP Home system, tonight. Hit the button to install, got the hourglass for about 2 seconds on my desktop, then nothing else. Tried clicking the setup.exe; same effect. The setup.exe shows up in my task manager, but using 0 CPU. I'm using the 4-CD PS:T version, if that's any help.

Just tried starting up an install of BG2, and it worked fine. That at least I know the Windows installer isn't at fault.

Did you try running the installer's executable in windows 98/95 compatibility mode? That's how I have to install System Shock.

Tricky wrote:Did you try running the installer's executable in windows 98/95 compatibility mode? That's how I have to install System Shock.

The executable is read-only and won't change, so engaging compatibility mode is impossible.

No no, it can be done. You just have to create a shortcut to it first. Just rightclick-drag the executable to your desktop.

After requiring me to drop several other files from the installation disc on the desktop, setup informed me that it required a different version of Windows to run.

I seem to remember something else about this. I have run into this before, I'm certain of it. If memory serves certain setup executables won't work if they think they're being run on Windows NT, even when they're not. There should be a workaround of some kind, give me some time to find it.

I certainly can do that. I suspect the game would run if installed; it's just the installation that messed up.

Found it. I didn't actually experience this problem before, apparently it was something I once read about while looking for something else.

A certain type or brand of premillenial installation software has this weird detection problem. To circumvent it, run the executable with the parameter "-lgntforce". System Shock and the first Lara Croft games used similar software and have the same problem. I can't tell for sure if this will help as I have no idea if they used that installation software for Planescape Torment. You'd think someone else would have reported the same problem during the last.. oh, six years. But it doesn't hurt to give this a try anyway.

Supposedly it comes down to the installation software detecting an unfamiliar OS. It then automatically assumes it being executed on Windows NT, which lacks the appropriate DirectX version to run the game. It's kind of stupid when you consider that Lara Croft had a software rendering mode too.

How would you place the added parameter? If I put "-lgntforce" after setup.exe, leaving a space between them, in the Properties screen of the executable, Windows wants to know what kind of file it is. If I try running the desktop shortcut executable with that flag, it says the file cannot be found--presumably because the file itself is an executable. If I move the flag part outside the quotes to try running it again from the commandline, it goes back to giving me the message about being run on the wrong type of Windows.

Oh, how many times did I try to figure out how to add "developer" or "cheatmode" .. heheh flashback, sorry.

I honestly don't remember, but I figure it has something to do with the quotation marks. You have to add -lgntforce in some way.

This should work too. Go to Start, Run, then type d:\setup.exe -lgntforce. Avoid that whole punctuation nonsense.

Tricky wrote:Oh, how many times did I try to figure out how to add "developer" or "cheatmode" .. heheh flashback, sorry.

I honestly don't remember, but I figure it has something to do with the quotation marks. You have to add -lgntforce in some way.

This should work too. Go to Start, Run, then type d:\setup.exe -lgntforce. Avoid that whole punctuation nonsense.

By all the gods of the Kievan pantheon, I think that worked! I'll let you know if the installation finishes, in a bit.

If it does, don't forget to add it to the FAQ..

Yes, it worked. Thanks very much!

By FAQ, you mean here at the site?

I do. The one on this subforum shows up fairly easily on Google.

*edit: I mean the FAQ on the PST forum