The QfG5 Windowed Thread

[Zetawilk]

This thread is where we gather to produce all manner of methods, tips, and configurations for running Quest for Glory V: Dragon Fire in a proper windowed mode.

I'll start us off with my attempts to use DXWND as alluded to in a different, semi-unrelated thread. I opened DXWND and dragged the QfG5 executable into its window, but the window that popped up had all sorts of befuddling settings that weren't exactly intuitive in their descriptors. Attempting to run the game forces the default monitor into a 640x480 resolution which cuts off the bottom of the window. The window is, as reported, unmovable, further defeating one of the functions of playing a game in a window. Unfortunately, this method is not rated as a success.

How to fix some of these issues? First, check DXWND's README.FIRST.txt file. Be sure to uncheck the QfG5 executable's compatibility for 640x480 mode (Right Click > QfG5.exe > Properties > Compatibility > Uncheck "Run in 640 x 480 screen resolution"). Also try running the dxwnd executable with administrative privileges. This alone sadly doesn't allow the end user to move the window around on his or her monitor somehow, but it is, perhaps, a partial success.

A slightly easier method of resizing and repositioning the window from this point on is to start up DXWnd and reposition and resize the window as desired. Say, for example, you move it to the upper right of your right monitor and resize it to take up maybe 75% of the screen. Open the "target" window by clicking and dragging the QfG5 executable or right-click the game's name in DXWnd and choose "Modify". Under the Main tab, find the square reticule graphic toward the lower right-hand side of this window. Click and drag the mouse over to the DXWnd window. It may not look like anything's happening, but when you release the mouse button, DXWnd will derive a new position and resolution from this window, more or less. The game's new window may not account for the DXWnd's window's borders. Again, still an obtuse method, but a partial success, anyway.

Do you have any other methods that have worked for you, or do you wish to offer help to other players regarding ways to make their nonworking attempts now work? Post that in this thread here.

[mistermiller]

I have it working ALMOST perfectly on DXWND, but gave up eventually (and deleted DXWND, so I'm working from memory). The rendering section should be set to Hybrid or GDI or something along those lines, and I can play through about... 99% of the game with no major issues. Switching to GDI or something along those lines will also stop the screen resolution setting to 640x480 without messing with the properties of the shortcut for QFG5.

But the 99% only works I get to the endgame. When the cutscene with the dragon awakening happens, the game will crash entirely when the cutscene ends. It's a hook problem, apparently, because when I head into the 'Tweaks' section and prevent the main window from shutting down, I can get past that glitch... except the cursor is totally messed up our hero uncharacteristically tries to run into a corner.

I discovered that the reason for this is that the game's mouse has become bound to some strange coordinate off of the window, so everything tries to click the far left or bottom left. If I could get past this problem, I could play the entire game in windowed mode.

[Zetawilk]

As it's been a year, I would like to bump this thread as a check-in on any new developments in emulating older games in windowed mode.

[mistermiller]

Valid. Maybe there's some new version of DXWND? I don't have time to check anymore, but it would certainly make streaming this game much, much easier. Even on my dual-monitor set up it's far from intuitive.

[Heckin' computer]

I've tried a variety of combinations including using the 64-bit update manually applied after extraction from failed-executable installer via 7-zip. It launches nicely, can get to Char Sel screen and then poof switch chars or OK it and it crashes silently. Also ScummVM doesn't find it at all (probably inapplicable anyway.) Finally DxWND was attempted with numerous variations on hooks and GDI, output, DirectX etc etc settings and it gives windowed launch performance on par with the successfully-run (straight from the Exe, I might add, bypassing DosBox or the Launcher-applies to all above testing) Exe however the same crash at Char Sel phase occurs.

I suspect this is owing to a video trying to play that is not playing. I also went ahead and ran it with and without the MOV folder renamed. No effect. Finally, I installed and ran Quicktime 7.x for testing purposes midway though the DxWND experimentation. This seemed to worsen the situation with the game refusing to load, to which I promptly uninstalled Quicktime again.

Alright. If it was easy I imagine I'd've got it.

Win 7 Pro x64
Admin / Admin Privs applied to DxWND + QfG5 exe
Outside \Progra~1 or ~2 installation (separate Steam folder is installed on separate drive Internal SATA)