Help with installation from CD

[MrShoggoth]

Hey there all,

I've owned the retail version of M2:TW for a few years now, and I was able to activate it on Steam with the CD key today. When I try and install the game from CD, it doesn't install.

I've tried the method shown here - https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=5357-FSQM-0382 - several times now and all it does is restart Steam and not install from the CD. I've tried dragging files from an installed version into the Steam folder. I've looked at the .exe's in the Steam folder to see if anything was preventing it from starting the install - nothing works.

I'm from Sydney and have an ADSL connection and I really don't want to spend six or seven hours waiting for the game to install from the internet when I have it on a disc that can install in less than twenty minutes.

Any idea what to do or how to fix it?

[Dark Angel]

Just right click the game and 'verify system cache using 'properties\local files\verify game cache'. Steam will complete any missing files for you. The disc version may not run as it isn't patched to V1.5, which Steam is.

Your CD version should load and run off the disc drive without steam as before. You may have to select C:/Program Files/SEGA/Common/Medieval 2 Total War/Medieval 2.exe to start the game from CD. (or your own version of this string) You can create a desktop shortcut from there.

[Shadow of the SPQR]

The instructions do not apply. The CD has absolutely no relations to steam.

I haven't tested this - I just let it download a seperate copy of medieval 2 for my own reasons - but if you are OK with 2 installations, then you could try copying data files from an existing game folder into the steam one so that you can verify cache and time to make things work is shorter. Otherwise you will have to install the game via download.

[MrShoggoth]

Again, I can install the game from CD just fine as a standalone, but I can't make it install on Steam with the same CD. Making it install by manually prompting Steam to install from the disc does ♥♥♥♥-all and it's really testing my patience because I don't fancy spending days waiting for this thing to download when I've already got it here in my hand.

[Shadow of the SPQR]

Unless you plan to play multiplayer, what's wrong with just using the CD version without trying to force steam to work with something the CD isn't coded for?

[Dark Angel]

Originally posted by CommodusIV:

The instructions do not apply. The CD has absolutely no relations to steam.

I haven't tested this - I just let it download a seperate copy of medieval 2 for my own reasons - but if you are OK with 2 installations, then you could try copying data files from an existing game folder into the steam one so that you can verify cache and time to make things work is shorter. Otherwise you will have to install the game via download.

You can do this simply by creating a blank Medieval 2 Total War Folder and renaming the game file something else, then Steam will populate it for you with no risk of corruption, BUT this is equivalent to a full download from Steam, including the updated patched version to V1.5