Re - Schizm

Having seen the recent posts concerning Schizm - a game that I remember playing several long years go - I tried to install it into a Windows 7 machine.
It is the old 5-CD version which takes Schizm an age to perform a full install but even when installed it will not run correctly. I have sound but the picture seems to be only about 2mm high and it does not improve, usually locking up completely when I try anything.

I put it down to incompatibility between old CDs and Windows7.

I have an old XP computer into which I loaded disc 1 of Schizm. which seemed to load OK but the message I get is

'Data Execution Prevention
To help protect computer, Windows has closed the programme.'

Now this old machine still runs other old CDs so this seems to be a separate problem associated with the CD itself.

I don't have internet access on the XP machine, so I know that there was no inadvertent conflict between unwanted input while loading the game.

I appear to be up the proverbial creek in a paddle-free configuration.

Has anyone any bright ideas that could help?

peter

I didn't realize XP had DEP (Data Execution Prevention), but apparently it was introduced by Microsoft in XP SP2. It helps protect computers from being infected by virus or malware, but since the computer is offline that's not such a problem.

Try the instructions for disabling it for a particular program are described here
http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/566/xp-sp2-how-to-turn-off-the-data-execution-prevention-feature-dep/



You should also be safe using the
"Turn on DEP for essential Windows programs and services only"
option for Step 7 (which is the default).


The problem with the Windows 7 computer sounds like your video card isn't resizing the game to fit your monitor. This might be a 640x480 resolution game. I know the DVD version had higher resolution (1024x768 I think). Check compatibility options for the game shortcut (right-click, Properties, Compatibility tab) to see if there's a checkbox for running the game in 640x480. Your monitor may also have an option for scaling the screen.

And if you don't feel like tinkering with it further, I would purchase the game from GOG here. No messing with multiple CDs, the price is quite reasonable, it will run on newer operating systems, and it's the DVD version.

Just for comparison, on my WinXP SP3 system, Schizm both CD and DVD versions run perfectly. I have DEP set as follows, "Turn on DEP for essential Windows programs and services only."

My thanks to all three of you.

Jenny100 - the game is now running OK on the XP machine. Haven't yet tried resizing on the W7 machine.
Marion - seems to be an excellent fall back position.
Robert - thank you for the tip but I am not sure if I have SP3 as I rarely use the machine.

Onward and upward.

petert