Win10 and CFS2 and CFS3

S

simfreek

Members +
This may be the wrong category, but I post it anyway. I've heard both good and bad things about installing and playing CFS2 and 3 on WIN 10.
I currently use Win8.1 and both games and a lot of other games and all run fine. I Have backed up every install of both games as well as other that I have. I know you can't upgrade to Win10 for
free anymore ,but I bought a Win10CD and key a while back. I just nervous about doing the upgrade because I might lose and not be able to play
either game or my other games. I really don't see a reason to upgrade. Only to purchase newer games on Steam or other games that only play on Win10 or higher. I know that they say that any games you play on Win8.1, 7, 8 will play on Win 10, but from what I have read on various post I'm not so sure.
Any insight on this or comments on this would be appreciated. Thanks.
 
Hi simfreek, this is my opinion (but who am I ??):

If you can afford still playing everything on your Win 8.1 and keep your WinX cd in stock, do so. CFS2 and 3 do play well in WinX, but a lot depends on your graphic card and the possibility to play in 32bit mode, though the ddraw.dll helps a lot.

hertzie
 
You can check out the Windows 10/11 snafu / content thread
https://sim-outhouse.org/sohforums/threads/windows-10-11-snafu-content-thread.95345/

CFS2_Win10_Win11_Install_Tutorial.

CFS2_Win10_Win11_Install_Tutorial.zip

This guide should help you make a install of CFS2 on Windows 10/11 (Win 7 and 8 as well). Applying patches/fixes. Making Mission Builder desktop icon and a list of known bugs and oddities that CFS2 has with Win 7, 8 and 10 plus latest info for...
sim-outhouse.org

Know Bugs and Oddities with CFS2.

Know Bugs and Oddities with CFS2

This is list of know bugs and oddities with CFS2 that I have put into one place. This surely isn't all know know bugs and oddities but should cover most of the well know ones and give some ways that you may be able to fix them. Comes as PDF or HTM.
sim-outhouse.org

Win 7+ TLDR: No CD patch is needed as Microsoft removed SafeDisc and with out SafeDisc CFS2 can't run so you have to run a patched/updated .exe. Make sure when you install CFS2 you do a full install of everything from the CDs during the install of CFS2.

Win 10 TLDR: When Win 10 came out change were done to new graphic card made for Win 10 that broke CFS2s Enable Hardware Acceleration check box so for a long time we had to manual edit the CFS2.cfg to set graphic. For the most part we now use dgVoodoo 2 installed into the main CFS2 folder that fixes the problem.

Win 11 TLDR: AMD APU/integrated graphics systems seem to works best for CFS2. No need for any add-on like dgVoodoo 2. Nvidia graphics cards seem to need the DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer and DDrawCompat to work. Intel graphics dose NOT like CFS2. Normal Win10 fixes like DDrawCompat and DxWrapper do not help. The only known fix is dgVoodoo 2
 
I'd just like to add some personal experience here for all to consider.

1) Upgrading your o/s
NEVER a good idea.
Much better to do a "clean" install because there is allot of CRAP DATA retained from the previous install.
A "clean install" will operate FASTER & SMOOTHER than "owl snot on a doorknob".
Virtually the same as when the PC was new.

2) Your hard drive
Is it an older mechanical HDD or a newer SSD?
HDD's have an operation lifespan of of only 27,000 hrs. (3 years) on an OEM HDD (WD Blue) or 44,000 hrs. (5 years) on a premium HDD (WD Black)
- calculated with the PC running 24/7/365
- I am currently replacing HDDs with SSDs on my clients older (5 years +) PC's while upgrading them to Win10

But this is 2025 and SSDs are the new standard with MANY advantages:
- price is about the same as HDD's or slightly less.
- operational lifespan is approx. 1.5 million hours - that's OVER 100 years! (so they claim)
- read/write speeds are DOUBLE that of HDD's ... which is why they run faster.
- NO MAINTENANCE ... does not require regular "defragmentation" ... SSD software runs "TRIM" (garbage collection & purge) automatically.
This is a HUGE time-saver!

This is a BIG ONE:
HDD's require 40% free space to operate efficiently. At 37% I CAN NOTICE THE PC SLOWING DOWN.
Means you can only use 60% space for your data as the remaining 40% is needed for "swap space" during defrag.

SSD's allow the use of up to 90% mainly because you do not defrag them EVER.
The 10% is needed for "reserve space" as cells in the SSD will fail over time and need to be replaced.

Kinda makes the choice a "no brainer" eh?

I have NEVER had ANY PROBLEM what so ever when transferring or running CFS2 on ANY new o/s regardless of HDD or SSD.
- WinXP to Win11 Pro
Recently I have upgraded my external data storage to SSD (17 TB) and can run ANY CFS2 install (I have 8) directly off the external SSD.
- includes 3x 20 year old installs built in WinXP.
BTW I don't do CFS3 since 2006

Finally, I was an "inner ring" tester for MS on Win8. I have a certain love of the o/s because I was part of its development.
But after installing and using Win10 ... found Win8 & 8.1 to be a slow running "PILES OF CRAP" ... Win10 runs circles around them.

simfreek:
You can only install your OEM Win10 ONCE. After which your key number is USELESS.
Do you REALLY want to WASTE it on an ancient HDD with limited life left? HELL NO!

Welcome to SOH and our forum.
I hope this info will be of use to you & the other "inmates" here at the Asylum!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top