DOCUMENT:Q175347 21-DEC-2001 [homegame] TITLE :Age Of Empires: Command Line Parameters PRODUCT :Microsoft Home Games PROD/VER::1.0 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbgraphic kbsound kbui aoe kbimu msgamekbfaq ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Age of Empires, version 1.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY ======= You can use command line parameters to customize the startup process for Age of Empires and to resolve certain problems you may encounter when you attempt to start or play the game. Microsoft Product Support has created a number of shortcuts that include the command line parameters you can use when you start Age of Empires or The Rise of Rome. To install the shortcuts, double-click the Agelinks.exe file for Age of Empires or the Rorlinks.exe file for The Rise of Rome. The following files are available for download from the Microsoft Download Center: Agelinks.exe (http://download.microsoft.com/download/aoe/info1/1/WIN98/EN-US/agelinks.exe) Rorlinks.exe (http://download.microsoft.com/download/aoe/info40/1/WIN98/EN-US/rorlinks.exe) Release Date: Aug-24-1999 For additional information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Q119591 How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services Microsoft used the most current virus detection software available on the date of posting to scan this file for viruses. Once posted, the file is housed on secure servers that prevent any unauthorized changes to the file. To use these shortcuts, double-click the appropriate file in the "Age of Empires" or "The Rise of Rome" folder. To play Age of Empires normally, simply use the shortcut for the program that is installed on your desktop or in your Start menu. For more support information about Microsoft Age of Empires, please visit the following Microsoft Web site: http://support.microsoft.com/support/games/aoe/default.asp MORE INFORMATION ================ The following table lists the command line parameters for Age of Empires. Parameter Description ---------------------------------------------------------------------- NoStartup Skips all cinematic sequences before the game starts. 640 Sets the startup screen resolution for the game to 640 x 480. 800 Sets the startup screen resolution for the game to 800 x 600. 1024 Sets the startup screen resolution for the game to 1,024 x 768. Mfill Prevents horizontal line problem that may occur with some Matrox video adapter configurations. NormalMouse Replaces the custom mouse pointer with a standard mouse pointer. NoSound Disables all sound playback in the game, except for sound playback in cinematic sequences. NoTerrainSound Disables terrain sound playback in the game. NoMusic Disables all music playback in the game. Msync Prevents hanging problems that can occur with some SoundBlaster AWE configurations. MidiMusic Plays MIDI music instead of CD Audio (Redbook) music from the Age of Empires CD-ROM. To manually add parameters to the command line in the Age of Empires shortcut: 1. Right-click Start, and then click Open or Open All Users. 2. Double-click the Programs folder. 3. Double-click the Microsoft Games folder. 4. Double-click the Age Of Empires folder. 5. Right-click the Age Of Empires shortcut icon, and then click Properties. 6. Click the Shortcut tab. 7. In the Target box, press END, press the SPACEBAR, and then type the parameter you want to use. If you want to use an additional parameter, press the SPACEBAR, and then type the next parameter. For example, type: "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Age of Empires\EMPIRES.EXE" NoStartup 640 NoSound NoTerrainSound NoMusic NormalMouse MSync NOTE: Parameters are not case-sensitive. Additional query words: 1.00 msgame aoe ror tshoot troubleshoot ts switches ====================================================================== Keywords : kbgraphic kbsound kbui aoe kbimu msgame kbfaq Technology : kbHomeProdSearch kbAOE kbGamesSearch kbZNotKeyword kbAOESearch Version : :1.0 Issue type : kbhowto ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2001.