Darkstone + Windows XP

[JohnE.]

I just bought a used copy of Darkstone and keep getting the error, “C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\AUTOEXEC.NT. The system file is not suitable for running MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows applications. Choose ‘Close’ to terminate the application.” when I try to install it.

According to the packaging Darkstone was written for Windows 98 and is copyrighted 2002 so I don’t understand why it wouldn’t be able to run under Windows XP as well. Is there some workaround or fix I can apply to make it install/run under Windows XP?

I tried “Compatibility mode for Windows 98” and that didn’t help. I tried the FAQ at the Take-Two Interactive website and spent 2 hours searching through Google results and various forums but found nothing helpful in getting the game to install. I have the latest drivers for graphics and audio, etc, DirectX 9.0b and my system more than meets the minimum requirements: Windows XP Pro, Asus A7N8X Deluxe v2 (nForce2 audio), Athlon XP 2200+, 512 MB PC3200 ram, Radeon 9600 Pro. Maxtor 120 GB & 60 GB 7,200 RPM drives, Lite-On DVD writer, Lite-On DVD ROM. Lian-Li PC61B, Antec TruePower 430.

I was so looking forward to playing this... I played the demo ages ago when it first came out. I'm guessing the game thinks I'm trying to install on Windows NT and doesn't like that. Anyone have similar error messages with this or other games and find a way to fix it? Could installing from a DVD-ROM rather than a CD-ROM be a problem?

[JohnE.]

Hmm... did a Google for "C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\AUTOEXEC.NT" and it turns out this isn't game related at all: Microsoft KB 324767. Clued in when I tried to install a small downloaded application from the hdd that I know for a fact works in WinXP (had it installed before) and got the exact same error. My guess is a tweak utility I installed recently "backed up" my Autoexec.nt and removed it from the System32 folder at the same time, heh.

Now I can finally play this game

[jman01pa]

Congrats for solving a difficult problem. I am sure you were quite frustrated.

[BlackFriday]

I'm having a similar problem except I still have that file in the system32 folder.