Win7 64-bit post-install: I'm going insane.

I'm pulling my hair out trying to figure out why Arcanum will not run. I've followed all the compatibility instructions (no UAC, running for XPSP2 compatibility mode, 640x480, I'm the administrator on the machine, etc).

I can see the process (Arcanum.exe*32) running in Task Manager (consistently using about 50% CPU and 2000k of memory), but nothing else seems to be happening. Well, something is happening, because it will change the resolution to 640x480, but no icon appears in the taskbar.

I've tried this on two different 64-bit Win7 machines now with the exact same issues. I'm tempted to think it's a disc error, but they've only been used one other time to install on an XP-machine, no scratches or errors when the disc is read, and all the files seem to be intact.

So, any suggestions?

 

Is the PC you're attempting to run it on connected to the internet?

 

Sounds like a video card driver bug. Anyway, try to run Arcanum with parameters -no3d and/or -doublebuffer.

Edit: Arcanum is 800x600 32bit, do not even try to run it in 640x480 256-color

 

How would it be a "video card driver bug" if it doesn't run at all? And it's 16 bit, not 32.

 

Yep, connected to the internet. The reason I tried 640x480 is because that's what DarkFool recommended in the original W7 post. I've tried most other permutations as well, including with and without the 1.0.7.4 patch, but always have the same issue.

One of the computers has an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650 card, the second machine I tried only has an integrated software graphics driver. So, I don't think it's a graphics issue just because it's the same problem on two totally different machines.

And I definitely tried -no3d and -doublebuffer (actually one of the first things I checked).

I'm no stranger to making .exe configuration changes, but this one has me stumped. I'm wondering if I should give up and shell out $6 for the GOG version, but

1) I'm a cheap bastard and don't want to pay again for software I already own,
2) I'm taking this as a personal affront at this point, and
3) I figure the same issue will occur, since it's happening on multiple machines

 

Two things.
1) The compatibility settings do nothing. Arcanum works fine on Vista/7 without any compatibility settings.
2) The GOG version is just the retail US/UK release, except pre-patched and pre-cracked (they didn't get the source code, so they just used a crack from the internet). Do you really want to pay money for this?

Do other games run fine on your system(s)?

Actually, come to think of it, it might be a SecuROM issue. Try downloading a crack (google tca-a174.rar for the 1.0.7.4 version) or installing the UAP (it also removes the copy protection).

 

Ha! Well, what do you know - it was SecurROM! I didn't know Arcanum even used it. I had MagicISO/MagicDisc installed, so I think that was the problem. I had tried the UAP the other day without luck. So, I uninstalled MagicISO and MagicDisc, applied the UAP and it worked!

I reinstalled MagicDisc after the successful run and tried again for good measure and it seems to be fine for now.

SecuROM would have never even come up on my radar. Thanks!