Step-by-step guide to installing Arcanum under Windows 10, 64-bit

Important update, see below

A step-by-step guide to getting the Steam version (GOG might work as well) to work under Windows 10, 64-bit with better graphics, higher quality music, higher level-cap (optional) and no slow-downs. The existing guides did not entirely cover all my problems and I ran into some situations that were ambigious.

This guide is largely based on the one written by Drog[terra-arcanum.com] with a few adjustments that worked for me and weren't mentioned there.

Important update:

Grog has released a new unofficial patch (1.5.1 as of this writing) that you can obtain from his website[terra-arcanum.com]. This patch might make my guide obsolete as it includes the following:

• UAP Base
  All the bug fixes plus Extra Animations, Extended Ambient Tracks, HQ Townmaps and HQ Music.
  
• High Resolution Patch
  Allows the game to be played at any resolution. Defaults to 720p. Improves Windows 10 compatibility.
  
• Official DLC
  Adds 7 additional mini-campaigns. You can choose them in Options -> Game -> Module.
  
• Beta Content
  Various things restored from pre-release versions of Arcanum.
  
• Misc Mods
  Various miscellaneous mods and additions.

Preparing

First, we'll have to download a few files and you'll need a program to unpack some of them.
I recommend 7-zip. It is free, open-source and comes without advertising.

Shopping list:

• 7-Zip file archiver[www.7-zip.org]
  
• Unofficial Arcanum patch version 091225[terra-arcanum.com]
  
• High Quality Townmaps[terra-arcanum.com] Mirror available in the comments
  
• High quality music pack (MP3)[terra-arcanum.com]
  
• Universal level cap remover[brededor.narod.ru]
  
• High resolution patch 1.5[terra-arcanum.com]
  
• DDrawCompat[github.com]

I will also make some assumptions:

• You have Arcanum installed in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Arcanum\Arcanum
  
• You want the character level-cap to be altered (if not, skip that step)
  
• You want better graphics, higher quality music and the latest version of the unofficial patch.
  
• You realize that there is a folder called 'arcanum' inside the 'arcanum' folder (this is important).

Installing

Tip: Creating a shortcut inside your downloads folder pointing to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Arcanum\Arcanum will save you some going back and forth.

1. Unofficial patch

Execute the unofficial patch (UAP091225.exe) and point it to:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Arcanum\Arcanum\

2. HQ Townmaps

Install HQ_Townmaps.exe and point it to:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Arcanum\Arcanum\

and tell Windows the program installed correctly if prompted (if not prompted, don't worry)

3. HQ Music pack

Install HQ_Music_MP3.exe and point it to:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Arcanum\Arcanum\

and once again tell windows the program installed correctly if prompted

4. Level-cap remover

Unzip arcanum50patch-0.0.1-127.zip (Right click on the file > 7-Zip -> Extract to "arcanum50patch-0.0.1-127\") and do the following:

1. Copy arcanum50patch.exe to:

   C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Arcanum\Arcanum\

   
   
2. Go into the below folder and create a new folder called rules:
   

   C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Arcanum\Arcanum\

   
   
3. Copy xp_level.mes and xp_level-100.mes into:

   C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Arcanum\Arcanum\rules\

   
   
4. Execute arcanum50patch.exe in:
   

   C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Arcanum\Arcanum\arcanum50patch.exe

   
   The following menu should appear:
   
   Type in whatever level cap you desire (maximum is 127) and press enter

5. High resolution patch

Unzip HighRes1.5.zip (Right click on the file > 7-Zip -> Extract to "Highres1.5\") and do the following:

Note: it is important to NOT copy the HighRes1.5 folder! Only its subfolder HighRes.

1. Copy the folder HighRes that is inside

   Downloads\HighRes1.5\

   and paste it into

   C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Arcanum\Arcanum\

   
   
2. Open the file config.ini with notepad:
   

   C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Arcanum\Arcanum\HighRes\config.ini

   
   adjust the following lines to reflect your desired resolution:
   
   
   
   
3. Execute install.bat

   C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Arcanum\Arcanum\HighRes\install.bat

   
   Note: The screen will quickly disappear again. If you notice a directory not found error it is most likely because the batch file checks for directories that are likely to not exist. This is not a problem

6. Ddraw wrapper

Unzip ddraw.zip (Right click on the file > 7-Zip -> Extract to "ddraw\") and copy the file ddraw.dll from

Downloads\ddraw\ddrawl.dll

to

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Arcanum\Arcanum\ddraw.dll

Say yes when it asks you whether or not you wish to overwrite the existing file.

7. Creating a shortcut to Arcanum.exe

For some reason, the launcher will not work for me when executing the game after applying the high resolution patch but launching Arcanum.exe directly does:

Right click on Arcanum.exe in

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Arcanum\Arcanum\Arcanum.exe

and Copy to -> Desktop

Wrapping it up

Arcanum should now launch. There are a few things you can still tweak and need to know that you will find in the notes below.

Notes

• The ddwrapper included with the high resolution patch does not work for me
  
  
• You can no longer launch the game through Steam, only through the shortcut you created in step 7.
  
  
• Videos will still be low-resolution and so will the GUI.
  
  
• Each time you make a change to config.ini in the high res folder, you have to run uninstall.bat, make your changes to config.ini and run install.bat again. There are a few things you can configure here that I did not mention in the guide:
  
  • ScrollDist to 0 allows for infinite scrolling
    
  • DoubleBuffer is set to 1 by default. This negates the need to add it to the launcher.
    
  • You can set Logos and Intro to 0 to skip them each time you start the game
    
  • Increasing DialogFont to 2 might make text a bit more readable for you
    
  • Do not set DDrawWrapper to 1
  
  
• If the game refuses to launch after having re-installed the high resolution patch, re-apply the ddraw wrapper (step 6) and make sure you're using arcanum.exe and not the launcher.
  
  
• Some mention that adding -no3d and -doublebuffer to the launcher by editing SierraLauncher.ini with notepad will help prevent slowdowns. Unfortunately, the launcher doesn't work for me but having DoubleBuffer set to 1 with use of the high resolution patch should solve half of that.
  
  

  C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Arcanum\SierraLauncher.ini

Troubleshooting

Having problems? Perhaps someone else has solved the same problem already. Comments edited for brevity.

Nvidia users with G-sync enabled:

Problem:

Originally posted by MeanManMyers:

Everything works completely fine if the high-res patch isn't installed. As soon as I install it everything stops working. I run Arcanum.exe and I get a black screen for a few seconds with no sounds and it crashes and takes me to my desktop

Solution:

Originally posted by MeanManMyers:

I have a G-Sync monitor. I disabled G-Sync completely in the NVIDIA control panel. Worked immediately.

[Durucita]

Update: I checked out the link you shared below & downloaded the all-in-one patch. Installed successfully. Followed the instructions on Drog's ReadMe & so far no lags or slowdowns. Fingers-crossed it continues this way.

BTW on the readme it says for the steam version to work you have to disable steam overlay and as stated here before: turn off g-sync, and DELETE old save files (or just don't use them). Once I did all of this I successfully launched on steam

[Raptor]

It seems that the Mp3 pack and the high quality town pack is currently unavailable. I reckon that this is temporary, though.

[Durucita]

I can't seem to download anything from the terra-arcanum website, such a shame, I really wanted to play this game without the slowdown and lags :(

[Johnny Casey]

It would seem that the game refuges to run if I set BitDepth to 32, and I have to set it as 16, but it runs fine with setting DDrawWrapper to 1. I have no idea what could this mean to my system.

[Raptor]

Unfortunately I can not get the game to work under Windows 10 (1909) with AMD driver version 19.11.3 using my own guide. I'll have to look into this but I also noticed that Grog brought out a new patch that includes most (if not all and more) of the enhancements that I mention above.

It can be obtained from his website [terra-arcanum.com]

I also added a troubleshooting section to the guide which I intend to expand upon. Thanks MeanManMyers for your first contribution. ;)

[MeanManMyers]

I'm playing on Windows 10 Pro Version 1909 with NVIDIA graphics.

[MeanManMyers]

Yes it was just NVIDIA G-Sync having a strange interaction with the High-Res patch. Disabled it in the NVIDIA control panel and everything worked as intended. I tried changing resolutions and refresh rates and different settings. Disabling G-Sync seems to be the only thing that fixes the black screen and crash on startup.

[Raptor]

Thanks for the update, so you're saying it was the G-Sync associated with Nvidia?

I only run AMD cards but I'll see post an update to see if it still works with Windows 10 1903, just don't have the time at the moment

[MeanManMyers]

Just found the fix...

I have a G-Sync monitor. I disabled G-Sync completely in the NVIDIA control panel. Worked immediately.

I deleted the rules folder and HighRes folders. Went into the steam library and verified the integrity of the game files. Followed this guide's instructions. Everything works perfectly.

[MeanManMyers]

Cant get this to work. Everything works completely fine if the high-res patch isn't installed. As soon as I install it everything stops working. I run Arcanum.exe and I get a black screen for a few seconds with no sounds and it crashes and takes me to my desktop. Tried multiple configurations and I have the same results. It currently works fine on my laptop, just not my desktop. Maybe has something to do with windows updates like others have mentioned.