I changed system properties as instructed, but with little success.
The game keeps shutting down my laptop without any warning
(I'd be allot happier if only the game crashed rather than the entire
system).

I even reinstalled the game (including the patch, and compatibility
settings) without any luck. It's either an xp issue, or another
program issue.

Ok I was hoping that would have done it. Ok what I will try is installing it on my home PC and see if I can get it to work again. I remember that I had it on there sometime ago but removed after not playing it for awhile. I'll let you know what I find out and will post it here.

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If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker that came along would destroy civilization.

Sounds Great !!
Thanks again for your help.

Found your conversation today as I was trying to run my old version of colonize under XP but just got a black screen. I tried the remedies above and nothing worked but by chance realised that if I set the sound card config to general midi or no sound then it works just fine. Hope this helps you...

unfortunately I have some bad news for us. I emailed
tech support at Atari regarding a colonization patch for
the xp platform. here's the response:


Unfortunately, this game is not compatible with Windows XP as it is an NT
system built on a different architecture that does not allow access the
hardware in the manner that previous operating system had. You may want to
try checking http://www.ntcompatible.com to see if others have had any luck getting
it running, but outside of that I can't offer any other help.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

Darren G
Atari North America Technical Support
http://www.atarisupport.com/
http://www.atari.com/
Phone: (425)951-7108

Ok I ran colonization on my PC without any problems. When you play does it just shutdown the whole computer or just crash to desktop? About Atari Tech Support they are unable to help you do to legal reason they have to tell you wht they did for a reasons like with hitman Eidos no longer support the game and the way I got it running Tech Support wasn't going to tell me that. So with these types of game Tech Support isn't that reliable they can sometimes be right but most maybe not all but most of the time there wrong.

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If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker that came along would destroy civilization.

It shuts down the entire computer. A google search led me to a small amount of information about audio compatibility issues with certain games, but I couldn't find a remedy. I really don't understand these unexpected crashes. I never had a single issue with my laptop since I bought it last august.

Having said that, I agree with you regarding tech support; I honestly don't think they care about a ten year old game.

Ok well then I will need to run the game then I have it install on my home PC you have the CD ROM version for Windows 3.1 right? I also need you to post your specs for the PC that your trying to play the game on I will try and run a game this weekend on my laptop and see what happens.

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If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker that came along would destroy civilization.

yeah, I have the Windows 3.1/95 version on CD.

oh I forgot to mention that I'm using an emachines M5305 laptop:

Mobile AMD Athlon XP-M 2200+, 512MB DDR SDRAM, 40GB hard drive, DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo drive, 15.4-inch WXGA display