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Windows Vista™ FAQ

GameSpring Games

Q. My new computer has Windows Vista installed on it. Will the GameSpring games I downloaded for my old computer work on this computer?

A. Although some games have not been tested on Windows Vista, many games are compatible with your new system. If you encounter any issues when attempting to install or play these games, please contact GameSpring customer support for assistance.

Note: when installing software on Windows Vista you will be prompted to enter the Administrator login and password for your computer. Once the software is installed, you will not need these credentials to play.

Q. The GameSpring game I downloaded opens to a black screen or an error message that mentions a .DLL file. How do I fix this issue?

A. Even though you have a brand-new computer, you may not have all the updates necessary for this system, including the latest drivers for your video card or display adapter. Please contact your computer manufacturer and ask how to obtain the latest drivers for your computer. For more information, see the following support article:

Learn how to update your computer system’s video card driver

PC Download Games

Q. I upgraded my computer to Windows Vista and now I receive a “Game Launcher has stopped working” error message when I start a game. How do I fix this issue?

A. To start your game, right click on the game shortcut, click Run as Administrator and then click Allow. You will need to enter your Administrator login and password each time you play.  

Or, you can install the latest version of the game, which is available at:

PC Download Games

Q. My new computer has Windows Vista installed on it. Will the PC Download games I downloaded for my old computer work on this computer?

A. The latest game versions are available at:

PC Download Games

If you need help in installing games on your new computer, please contact PC Download Games customer support for assistance.

Q. What should I do if the PC Download game I previously purchased is incompatible with my new Windows Vista computer system?

A. Before installing a game on your new Windows Vista computer, please check the System Requirements List on the game page, which is available in the PC Download web pages, to make sure the game is compatible with your system. For further assistance, please contact PC Download Games customer support for assistance.

Q. I upgraded my computer to Windows Vista and cannot locate the games I previously installed. Where are my games? Do I need to reinstall them?

A. If you are unable to locate your game, you may need to reinstall the game from the PC Download web pages. Once the game is installed, the game should automatically unlock. If you lost your key, please view the following article on how to retrieve it.

Lost registration key

Q. The PC Download game I downloaded opens to a black screen or an error message that mentions a .DLL file. How do I fix this issue?

A. Even though you have a brand-new computer, you may not have all the updates necessary for this system, including the latest drivers for your video card or display adapter. Please contact your computer manufacturer and ask how to obtain the latest drivers for your computer. For more information, see the following support article:

Learn how to update your computer system’s video card driver

Q. I am using Windows Vista and can’t save my progress in games. How do I resolve this issue?

A. In Windows Vista, you may experience some problems saving your in-game progress if you are a Standard User and User Account Control (UAC) is disabled.  The best way to solve this problem is to get an Administrator to enable User Account Control.  Here is how to enable User Account Control:

Step 1

Log on to Windows Vista as an Administrator user.

Step 2

Click Start and then Control Panel.

Step 3

Click User Accounts and Family Safety.

Step 4

Click User Accounts.

Step 5

Click Turn User Account Control on or off.

Step 6

Check Use User Account Control (UAC).

Step 7

Click OK.

Step 8

Close all windows and restart your computer.

Standard Users will now be able to save in-game progress when User Account Control (UAC) is enabled.

Free single-player games

Q. Some free Web games will not load. How do I resolve this issue?

A. Most free single-player Web games will work with Windows Vista. You may need to install the latest version of Adobe Flash Player and Sun Java. When installing software on Windows Vista, you will be prompted to enter the Administrator login and password for your computer. Once the software is installed, you will not need these credentials to play.

Important Note:  Microsoft cannot vouch for the security and reliability of solutions offered by other companies.

Adobe® Flash Player

http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/

Sun Java  

Install the Windows version of “Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 6.” The Java SE Runtime Environment (JRE) allows end-users to run Java applications.

http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp

Additionally, once you install this software, you need to verify the installation to initialize it. After the software installation, do not close the Sun Java download page, as the installer will need to verify that Java is working properly on your system.  This process may take several minutes. Once the messaging on the website indicates that Java has been successfully initialized on your system, you should be able to play these games without errors.

Q. Which games do not work with Windows Vista?

A. At this time, the following free single-player games are not compatible with Windows Vista:

Cinema Tycoon

Infinite Crossroads

Luxor Amun Rising

Rocket Mania (will only work with Protected Mode turned off)

Multiplayer Games

Q. Some multiplayer games will not load. How do I resolve this issue?

A. Most multiplayer games will work with Windows Vista. You may need to install the latest version of Adobe Flash Player.  When installing software on Windows Vista, you will be prompted to enter the Administrator login and password for your computer. Once the software is installed, you will not need these credentials to play.

http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/

Q. Which games do not work with Windows Vista?

A. At this time, the following multiplayer games are not compatible with Windows Vista:

Windows In-Box Games for Windows XP – Please see the Windows XP Inbox system requirements

Q. I cannot accept an invitation from a friend for a multiplayer game. How do I resolve this issue?

A. At this time, players with Windows Vista computer systems cannot accept “Invite a Friend” invitations in our multiplayer games.  However, a Windows Vista player can invite friends who are using Windows XP or Windows 2000 to a game. 

Windows Live™ Messenger

Q. I updated my computer system to Windows Vista and need to install Windows Live™ Messenger (MSN Messenger). Where can I download it?

A. The latest version of Windows Live Messenger is available here:

http://get.live.com/messenger/overview

Note: when installing software on Windows Vista, you will be prompted to enter the Administrator login and password for your computer. Once the software is installed, you will not need these credentials to play.

Windows Live Tool Bar

Q. I updated my computer system to Windows Vista and no longer have my Windows Live™ Tool Bar and MSN Games Add-in button. Where can I download them?

A. The latest version of the Windows Live Tool Bar is available here:

http://toolbar.live.com

During the installation process you will have the option to install the MSN Games Add-in button.

Note: when installing software on Windows Vista, you will be prompted to enter the Administrator login and password for your computer. Once the software is installed, you will not need these credentials to play.