"Freespace2/Fred2 cannot be run from a drive root directory!"

[alls to the Wall]

I installed the game to my steam folder in C:/ drive.
I click on desktop icon of Freespace 2, a message pop up saying
"Please configure your system in the Launcher before running FS2
The Launcher will now be started!"
I click OK, a error message pop up to say
"Freespace2/Fred2 cannot be run from a drive root directory!"
Is there a solution to it?

[ebecraft]

See other comments for answer.

[deathspeed]

Move the entire FreeSpace2 directory to something like c:/games/
hopefully this will resolve your issue!

[tinhat]

pat your head and rub your tummy

[General Battuta]

Follow deathspeed's advice, then install FSO if that doesn't fix it. Fsoinstaller.com

[Aegis]

and if neither one of those fixes worked?

[Xeno-Life-Form]

Have you tried either of these?
http://steamcommunity.com/app/273620/discussions/0/540744475231413899/
or
http://steamcommunity.com/app/273620/discussions/0/540744475152850046/

[Jakesnake5]

OH FOR THE LOVE OF MIKE. Will you goofs at LEAST try to give a sensible answer?

Xenon, in order for the game to run on your computer, do the following.

A) Go to the directory that the game was installed in
B) Go to the 'data' folder
C) DOUBLE click on the file 'FS2.reg'
D) Click 'Yes' When asked if you want 'Registry Editor' to make a system change
E) Click 'Yes' When Registry Editor asks if you are sure you want that change
F) Click 'OK' when Reg Edit says it's done
G) Run the game and enjoy

[Xeno-Life-Form]

OK, seems there seem to be some confusion regarding the steam-FS2 fixes:

Xenon asked for help nearly two months ago. Going by the answers he got, the registry fix didn't even exist back then.

I.Burgess posted in this thread regardless, despite the presence of more recent instructions to get the game working (I blame steam's forum search). My answer was to point out the presence of these more recent solutions, in case he wasn't aware of them. Note that I started by pointing out the 1-step instruction set, aka what you posted. My expectations were that he would do that and be done with it, possibly without even bothering looking up the second url.

Granted, I could have pointed out exactly what these two forum threads were about, as I've done in another thread you bumped, blame it on evening after-work lazyness.

[KookiePoo]

Thx dcjacobs this worked.

Originally posted by dcjacobs:

OH FOR THE LOVE OF MIKE. Will you goofs at LEAST try to give a sensible answer?

Xenon, in order for the game to run on your computer, do the following.

A) Go to the directory that the game was installed in
B) Go to the 'data' folder
C) DOUBLE click on the file 'FS2.reg'
D) Click 'Yes' When asked if you want 'Registry Editor' to make a system change
E) Click 'Yes' When Registry Editor asks if you are sure you want that change
F) Click 'OK' when Reg Edit says it's done
G) Run the game and enjoy

[Brother Ned]

thanx dcajobs that fix worked perfectly! except on my system (Windows Vista 64bit) the FS2.reg is located in the "Registry" folder not the "data" folder hope this very small addition helps Been waiting 20 years to play the sequel to this awesome game as it was pretty unavailable back then and didnt even know about the "Silent Threat" addon
if anyone is interested there is a another game very similar to this series called "Starlancer" and its much newer and not very good sequel "Freelancer" Both games were done by Microsoft Studios

[GreyWalker Zero]

Originally posted by dcjacobs:

OH FOR THE LOVE OF MIKE. Will you goofs at LEAST try to give a sensible answer?

Xenon, in order for the game to run on your computer, do the following.

A) Go to the directory that the game was installed in
B) Go to the 'data' folder
C) DOUBLE click on the file 'FS2.reg'
D) Click 'Yes' When asked if you want 'Registry Editor' to make a system change
E) Click 'Yes' When Registry Editor asks if you are sure you want that change
F) Click 'OK' when Reg Edit says it's done
G) Run the game and enjoy

Worked for me, however I discovered the file in the:
...steam\steamapps\freespace 2\Registry

Same file name, same solution - just thought I'd mention that this might be a new location worth looking in to for those even newer to the game (like myself, today... :D)
Nice one DCJABOBS... :)

[LuciferSPB98]

Originally posted by dcjacobs:

OH FOR THE LOVE OF MIKE. Will you goofs at LEAST try to give a sensible answer?

Xenon, in order for the game to run on your computer, do the following.

A) Go to the directory that the game was installed in
B) Go to the 'data' folder
C) DOUBLE click on the file 'FS2.reg'
D) Click 'Yes' When asked if you want 'Registry Editor' to make a system change
E) Click 'Yes' When Registry Editor asks if you are sure you want that change
F) Click 'OK' when Reg Edit says it's done
G) Run the game and enjoy

thanks!

[LuciferSPB98]

Originally posted by GreyWalker Zero:

Originally posted by dcjacobs:

OH FOR THE LOVE OF MIKE. Will you goofs at LEAST try to give a sensible answer?

Xenon, in order for the game to run on your computer, do the following.

A) Go to the directory that the game was installed in
B) Go to the 'data' folder
C) DOUBLE click on the file 'FS2.reg'
D) Click 'Yes' When asked if you want 'Registry Editor' to make a system change
E) Click 'Yes' When Registry Editor asks if you are sure you want that change
F) Click 'OK' when Reg Edit says it's done
G) Run the game and enjoy

Worked for me, however I discovered the file in the:
...steam\steamapps\freespace 2\Registry

Same file name, same solution - just thought I'd mention that this might be a new location worth looking in to for those even newer to the game (like myself, today... :D)
Nice one DCJABOBS... :)

to

[Korpiklaani]

Originally posted by mb278:

thanx dcajobs that fix worked perfectly! except on my system (Windows Vista 64bit) the FS2.reg is located in the "Registry" folder not the "data" folder hope this very small addition helps Been waiting 20 years to play the sequel to this awesome game as it was pretty unavailable back then and didnt even know about the "Silent Threat" addon
if anyone is interested there is a another game very similar to this series called "Starlancer" and its much newer and not very good sequel "Freelancer" Both games were done by Microsoft Studios

Finally some posted this ugh, been looking for this for ages! THX!

[Samuel Mumm]

Originally posted by Lucifer:

Originally posted by GreyWalker Zero:

Worked for me, however I discovered the file in the:
...steam\steamapps\freespace 2\Registry

Same file name, same solution - just thought I'd mention that this might be a new location worth looking in to for those even newer to the game (like myself, today... :D)
Nice one DCJABOBS... :)

to

but it doesnt works for everyone because i did it like that guide told but still i get this error message