General help:
- Where to download the latest UPatch HD version? Just click Download above.
- What do I need to install UPatch HD, which AOE versions are supported? The requirements are posted on the Download page.
- How to change game resolution and other settings? What each option does? Visit Settings for all the information regarding the new options.
- For details about the new features, improvements and bug fixes - click on Features.
- Updated technology trees for all civilizations are available in Features - under "Civilizations" section.
- For information about the Mod Manager and the new modding system - go to Using Mods.
- How to open the UPatch HD Launcher (to access Settings or the Mod Manager) - a desktop shortcut named "Age of Empires HD Launcher" is available or you can also open it from start menu (under Programs -> Microsoft Games -> Age of Empires Expansion -or- Age of Empires Gold).
How to quickly check for new UPatch HD version: open the Launcher, click on "About" and then click on "Update Check". If you don't see "Update Check" button in About, then you have the oldest version and you need to update! Always use the latest version.
- What do I need to install UPatch HD, which AOE versions are supported? The requirements are posted on the Download page.
- How to change game resolution and other settings? What each option does? Visit Settings for all the information regarding the new options.
- For details about the new features, improvements and bug fixes - click on Features.
- Updated technology trees for all civilizations are available in Features - under "Civilizations" section.
- For information about the Mod Manager and the new modding system - go to Using Mods.
- How to open the UPatch HD Launcher (to access Settings or the Mod Manager) - a desktop shortcut named "Age of Empires HD Launcher" is available or you can also open it from start menu (under Programs -> Microsoft Games -> Age of Empires Expansion -or- Age of Empires Gold).
How to quickly check for new UPatch HD version: open the Launcher, click on "About" and then click on "Update Check". If you don't see "Update Check" button in About, then you have the oldest version and you need to update! Always use the latest version.
IMPORTANT: If you have any problems with the patch, please first follow these steps:
1. Make sure you have the latest UPatch HD version! You can check for updates directly from the Launcher (explained above).
2. Run the File Check (and get a result "Passed") to make sure you have clean game/patch install - follow the instructions here. Then start the game again and check if the problem still exists. Do not set any compatibility options on the game, compatibility is taken care of by the patch.
3. From Launcher - Settings: turn Windowed Mode ON or if it's already ON, turn it OFF (different settings work best for different systems).
4. Run the game as admin - instead of opening the game directly, right click on any game shortcut (or empiresx.exe in game folder) and select "Run as administrator".
5. Download and install the latest drivers for your video card - directly from the manufacturer's website (ATI/NVIDIA/Intel), not from Windows update (default Windows drivers can be problematic).
6. Make sure you are not using "Supersampling"/"Virtual Super Resolution" (NVIDIA/ATI) in your video card settings. These options (enabled by default on some high end cards) may interfere with the game and prevent it from running properly. Check the NVIDIA/ATI help documentation for more info.
1. Make sure you have the latest UPatch HD version! You can check for updates directly from the Launcher (explained above).
2. Run the File Check (and get a result "Passed") to make sure you have clean game/patch install - follow the instructions here. Then start the game again and check if the problem still exists. Do not set any compatibility options on the game, compatibility is taken care of by the patch.
3. From Launcher - Settings: turn Windowed Mode ON or if it's already ON, turn it OFF (different settings work best for different systems).
4. Run the game as admin - instead of opening the game directly, right click on any game shortcut (or empiresx.exe in game folder) and select "Run as administrator".
5. Download and install the latest drivers for your video card - directly from the manufacturer's website (ATI/NVIDIA/Intel), not from Windows update (default Windows drivers can be problematic).
6. Make sure you are not using "Supersampling"/"Virtual Super Resolution" (NVIDIA/ATI) in your video card settings. These options (enabled by default on some high end cards) may interfere with the game and prevent it from running properly. Check the NVIDIA/ATI help documentation for more info.
Installation is stuck at X% (usually 100%) when trying to install the game under Windows 8.x/10:
If you encounter such problem, you will need to run the AOE setup again in compatibility mode for Windows 98/ME: go to the main directory of the AOE disc, right-click on AOESETUP.exe, select Properties - Compatibility. Check "Run this program in compatibility mode for" and select "Windows 98/Windows ME" from the list. Then start AOESETUP.exe and install. Do not set compatibility mode for other game files, only the setup and only if you can't install otherwise. If this doesn't help, you may have a problem with your disc, it could be dirty or damaged (try cleaning it).
I have the game on disc, but I don't have a disc drive, can I somehow install the game?
Yes, you can copy the contents of your disc to a flash drive using another computer and install from the flash drive. Then install the patch.
If you encounter such problem, you will need to run the AOE setup again in compatibility mode for Windows 98/ME: go to the main directory of the AOE disc, right-click on AOESETUP.exe, select Properties - Compatibility. Check "Run this program in compatibility mode for" and select "Windows 98/Windows ME" from the list. Then start AOESETUP.exe and install. Do not set compatibility mode for other game files, only the setup and only if you can't install otherwise. If this doesn't help, you may have a problem with your disc, it could be dirty or damaged (try cleaning it).
I have the game on disc, but I don't have a disc drive, can I somehow install the game?
Yes, you can copy the contents of your disc to a flash drive using another computer and install from the flash drive. Then install the patch.
Other game problems (not related to the patch)
I still have corrupted colors in-game (color bugs), even after installing the patch. What can I do?
The reason for this is usually some incompatibility of your graphics card with the 8-bit graphics used by the game. First of all - update your graphics card drivers! This may be enough to solve the problem. If you still have corrupted colors - open the Launcher, select Settings and check "Windowed Mode" then Apply. This should solve it. If your game resolution is the same as your desktop, the game will not be in a window even with this option On.
The reason for this is usually some incompatibility of your graphics card with the 8-bit graphics used by the game. First of all - update your graphics card drivers! This may be enough to solve the problem. If you still have corrupted colors - open the Launcher, select Settings and check "Windowed Mode" then Apply. This should solve it. If your game resolution is the same as your desktop, the game will not be in a window even with this option On.
Virtual Store related – I can't find my scenarios, campaigns, save games or other files in game directory:
This is caused by Windows (Vista/7/8/8.1/10 with U.A.C. on), any programs that save files directly in system directories (like Program Files) have their files redirected to Virtual Store (Compatibility Files). You can find all your custom files in this location:
C:\Users\<your user name>\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\<game path>
Replace <your user name> with the account name on your PC and <game path> with the path to your game directory. For example, if the game is installed in "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Age of Empires" and your account name is "John", your Virtual Store path for the game is "C:\Users\John\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Age of Empires". In Windows Vista/7 you can click the Compatibility Files button (in Windows Explorer) from game directory to go directly to the Virtual Store directory.
Remember that this applies to all files saved from the game.
I get an error message on game start and I have the latest Windows 10 version (build 15063 and later)
You must be signed in as an administrator in Windows. Type "Turn windows features on or off" in Start Menu or Cortana search, then open the link at the top, select "Legacy Components" and make sure there is a checkbox in front of "DirectPlay". Press OK.
If you still get an error, go to game directory, right click on empirex.exe, select Compatibility tab on the top and check "Disable Fullscreen Optimizations".
My custom campaigns are not saved by the game:
This is another Windows related problem (Vista/7/8/8.1/10 with U.A.C. on), for some reason .cpx files (Rise of Rome campaigns) are not allowed. You can solve this by running the game as Administrator - right click on the game or its shortcut (or even the Launcher) and select Run As Administrator - do this only when you want to save a campaign, you should not run the game as admin otherwise. If you can't find your scenarios while running as Administrator - check the Virtual Store (information above). Move the scenarios you need from Virtual Store to original scenarios directory before saving your campaign.
This is caused by Windows (Vista/7/8/8.1/10 with U.A.C. on), any programs that save files directly in system directories (like Program Files) have their files redirected to Virtual Store (Compatibility Files). You can find all your custom files in this location:
C:\Users\<your user name>\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\<game path>
Replace <your user name> with the account name on your PC and <game path> with the path to your game directory. For example, if the game is installed in "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Age of Empires" and your account name is "John", your Virtual Store path for the game is "C:\Users\John\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Age of Empires". In Windows Vista/7 you can click the Compatibility Files button (in Windows Explorer) from game directory to go directly to the Virtual Store directory.
Remember that this applies to all files saved from the game.
I get an error message on game start and I have the latest Windows 10 version (build 15063 and later)
You must be signed in as an administrator in Windows. Type "Turn windows features on or off" in Start Menu or Cortana search, then open the link at the top, select "Legacy Components" and make sure there is a checkbox in front of "DirectPlay". Press OK.
If you still get an error, go to game directory, right click on empirex.exe, select Compatibility tab on the top and check "Disable Fullscreen Optimizations".
My custom campaigns are not saved by the game:
This is another Windows related problem (Vista/7/8/8.1/10 with U.A.C. on), for some reason .cpx files (Rise of Rome campaigns) are not allowed. You can solve this by running the game as Administrator - right click on the game or its shortcut (or even the Launcher) and select Run As Administrator - do this only when you want to save a campaign, you should not run the game as admin otherwise. If you can't find your scenarios while running as Administrator - check the Virtual Store (information above). Move the scenarios you need from Virtual Store to original scenarios directory before saving your campaign.
UPatch HD related problems
Problems installing the patch:
First of all, you need The Rise of Rome Expansion - it's usually installed separately after the original AOE, but with AOE Gold they are installed together from one setup. You can easily distinguish the Expansion by its blue icon.
The UPatch HD setup program will always work if you have proper original game installation and meet the requirements. The game is detected automatically by the patch. If you get an error "Game not found" then you do not have proper installation of the game! The patch can't work without such, even if you were able to install it (that's why there is automatic detection). Reinstall the game and it will work. If you have problems installing the game, check the solution posted above.
I changed my language from Launcher - Settings (or during installation), but some campaigns/scenarios are in another language:
This is not a problem of the patch. Scenarios and campaigns have their own language, which is not flexible. So it can't be changed without reinstalling the game from another disc and losing all campaign progress at the same time.
Also, the original campaigns "Reign of the Hittites", "First Punic War" and scenarios "Multiplayer Rumble", "Multiplayer Mediterranean" are installed by UPatch HD and are available in English only.
© 2015-2017 UPatch HD. All rights reserved.
First of all, you need The Rise of Rome Expansion - it's usually installed separately after the original AOE, but with AOE Gold they are installed together from one setup. You can easily distinguish the Expansion by its blue icon.
The UPatch HD setup program will always work if you have proper original game installation and meet the requirements. The game is detected automatically by the patch. If you get an error "Game not found" then you do not have proper installation of the game! The patch can't work without such, even if you were able to install it (that's why there is automatic detection). Reinstall the game and it will work. If you have problems installing the game, check the solution posted above.
I changed my language from Launcher - Settings (or during installation), but some campaigns/scenarios are in another language:
This is not a problem of the patch. Scenarios and campaigns have their own language, which is not flexible. So it can't be changed without reinstalling the game from another disc and losing all campaign progress at the same time.
Also, the original campaigns "Reign of the Hittites", "First Punic War" and scenarios "Multiplayer Rumble", "Multiplayer Mediterranean" are installed by UPatch HD and are available in English only.
© 2015-2017 UPatch HD. All rights reserved.
