This readme file provides information to help users install and troubleshoot Microsoft Age of Empires Expansion. It includes sections on hardware requirements, installing the expansion, starting the game, getting help, and troubleshooting issues with DirectX, gameplay, video, audio and performance. It also provides instructions for head-to-head multiplayer play and notes that the expansion upgrades the base Age of Empires version to 1.0B.

1. Microsoft Age of Empires Expansion Readme File
September 1998
© Microsoft Corporation, 1998. All rights reserved.
Welcome to Microsoft Age of Empires Expansion!
This file contains information to help you install Age of Empires Expansion. It also includes late-breaking information
not included in the manual or online Help.
CONTENTS
A. Hardware and System Requirements
B. Installing Age of Empires Expansion
C. Starting Age of Empires Expansion
D. Getting Help
E. DirectX Troubleshooting
F. Gameplay Troubleshooting
G. Video Troubleshooting
H. Audio Troubleshooting
I. Performance Troubleshooting
J. Head-to-Head Play Troubleshooting
K. Age of Empires Expansion Information
L. Welcome to the Best in Online Gaming!
A. Hardware and System Requirements
Multimedia PC with Pentium 90 or higher processor (Pentium 120 for Gigantic maps).
Microsoft Windows 95 or later, or Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 with Service Pack 3 or later.
Microsoft Age of Empires 1.0 or later.
16 megabytes (MB) of RAM for Windows 95 or later, or 24 MB for Windows NT (and for Windows 95 or later for an
8-player multiplayer game).
30 MB of available hard disk space.
Local bus SVGA, 256-color video display with at least 1 MB of VRAM.
Keyboard and Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device.
2X CD-ROM drive (4X recommended).
Windows-compatible sound card with speakers or headphones to hear audio.
28.8 Kbps (or faster) modem and Internet access for head-to-head play.
B. Installing Age of Empires Expansion
To install Age of Empires Expansion, you must be using Microsoft Windows 95 or later, or Microsoft Windows NT
4.0 with Service Pack 3 or later. (For information about how to get Service Pack 3, go to
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads).
Before you can install Age of Empires Expansion, you must have Age of Empires 1.0, 1.0A, or 1.0B installed. When
you install Age of Empires Expansion, your version of Age of Empires is automatically upgraded to 1.0B.
To install Age of Empires Expansion
1. Turn on your computer and start Microsoft Windows 95 or later, or Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 with Service
Pack 3 or later.
2. Place the Age of Empires Expansion CD in the disc holder (if required), and insert it into your CD-ROM
drive.
3. If AutoPlay is enabled, click Install, and then follow the instructions that appear on the screen.
-or-
If AutoPlay is disabled, double-click the My Computer icon on your desktop, double-click the icon for your
CD-ROM drive, and then double-click the AOESetup.exe icon. When the Setup screen appears, click Install, and then
follow the instructions that appear on the screen.
C. Starting Age of Empires Expansion
You must have the Age of Empires Expansion CD or Age of Empires CD in your CD-ROM drive to play single player
games or use the scenario builder. Both versions of the game work with either CD. If you start Age of Empires
Expansion without a CD in the CD-ROM drive, you must exit the game, insert the CD, and then restart Age of
Empires Expansion.

2. If you do not have a CD, you can play only multiplayer games. A multiplayer game requires the following number of
CDs: 2-3 players (1 CD); 4-6 players (2 CDs); 7-8 players (3 CDs).
You can connect only to multiplayer games created with the same Age of Empires version you are using. If you are
playing Age of Empires Expansion, only Expansion games appear in the multiplayer list. However, if you are playing
the original Age of Empires, version 1.0, 1.0A, and 1.0B games appear in the multiplayer list. Remember that
installing Age of Empires Expansion automatically upgrades your version of Age of Empires to 1.0B, so you can only
join version 1.0B games if you play the original Age of Empires.
To start Age of Empires Expansion
Place the Age of Empires Expansion CD in the disc holder (if required), insert it into your CD-ROM drive, and then
click Play.
-or-
If the Age of Empires Expansion CD is already in your CD-ROM drive, click the Start button, point to Programs,
point to Microsoft Games, point to Age of Empires Expansion, and then click Age of Empires Expansion.
You can skip the opening cinematics by clicking the mouse or pressing ENTER, SPACEBAR, or ESC.
D. Getting Help
Complete information about Age of Empires Expansion is in the manual. You can also use the Manual.pdf file in the
Docs folder on the CD to view and print the complete manual using Adobe Acrobat Reader.
To install Adobe Acrobat Reader
Double-click the My Computer icon on your desktop, right-click the icon for your CD-ROM drive, and then click
Install Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Note: Age of Empires Expansion includes the online Help for Age of Empires 1.0, but it has not been updated with the
new features and changes in Age of Empires Expansion.
E. DirectX Troubleshooting
DirectX 5.0 or later must be installed on your computer before you can play Age of Empires Expansion. If you do not
have DirectX installed on your computer and you chose not to install DirectX when you installed Age of Empires, you
will receive the message "A required .dll file, Dplayx.dll, was not found." To fix this problem, reinstall Age of
Empires and install DirectX 5.0.
If Age of Empires installed DirectX but could not update your video drivers to be compatible with DirectX 5.0, when
you restart your computer you will receive the message "Age of Empires could not initialize DirectX. Make sure that
DirectX 5.0 or higher is installed and contact your hardware manufacturer for a video driver update." To fix this
problem, either get updated video drivers from your video adapter manufacturer or install DirectX in safe mode, which
will replace the video drivers.
To install DirectX in safe mode
1. Copy the DirectX directory from the Age of Empires 1.0 CD to your desktop.
2. Click the Start button, and then click Shut Down.
3. Select Restart, and then click OK.
4. When "Starting Windows 95" appears on the screen, press and hold down the F8 key until you see a
Windows Startup Menu.
5. When you are prompted to enter a choice, select Safe Mode (number 3), and then press ENTER.
6. After Windows starts in Safe Mode, open the DirectX folder on your desktop, and then double-click
Dxsetup.exe to install DirectX.
If you experience sound or video problems using DirectX, go to http://www.microsoft.com/directx, click Pavilion, and
then click Games to get the latest troubleshooting information.
You should also check with your video or sound card manufacturer for the latest DirectX-compatible drivers.
F. Gameplay Troubleshooting
Saving Games -- You cannot name a saved game using certain operating system terms, such as COM1, LPT1, etc.

3. Uninstalling Age of Empires -- If you uninstall Age of Empires (to save disk space, for example), but you want to save
your Age of Empires Expansion campaigns and scenarios, you must select No when the uninstall program asks "Do
you want to remove saved games? This includes scenario and campaign files."
Saving Age of Empires Campaigns and Scenarios -- If you save changes to Age of Empires campaigns and scenarios
using Age of Empires Expansion, you can only play the campaigns and scenarios using Age of Empires Expansion. If
you want the changes to appear using Age of Empires, you must save the changes using Age of Empires.
Moving Campaigns and Scenarios to a Different Computer -- You can move the files for your Age of Empires
Expansion games to another computer. Expansion files have an "x" in the file name extension; for example, Rise.scx.
To transfer your campaigns, move the *.cpx files from the Campaign folder where Age of Empires is installed to the
same location on another computer. Then transfer all of the scenarios in that campaign and the Game0.nfo file as
explained below.
To transfer your scenarios, move the *.scx files from the Scenario folder where Age of Empires is installed to the same
location on another computer.
To transfer your player name and progress through the campaigns, move Game0.nfo from the folder where Age of
Empires is installed to the same location on another computer. If you are moving the Game0.nfo file to a computer
that already contains a Game0.nfo file, you may want to rename the file on the computer to which you are moving files
so you do not overwrite the existing Game0.nfo and lose the campaign information it contains.
G. Video Troubleshooting
Screen Corruption -- If you experience problems such as a black screen after starting the game, black areas on the
game screen, screen corruption when you press ALT+TAB to enter/leave the game, or other screen problems while
playing the game, contact your video adapter manufacturer for the latest drivers.
Black Screen Areas -- Some video adapters may cause black areas on the game screen. To fix this problem, you can
add the Mfill parameter to the command line in the Age of Empires Expansion shortcut. For information about adding
parameters to the command line, see "Command Line Parameters" under "Performance Troubleshooting" later in this
Readme file.
Mouse Pointer -- Some video adapters may cause the mouse pointer to disappear if you change the in-game screen
resolution or re-enter the game by pressing ALT+TAB. To fix this problem, contact your video adapter manufacturer
for the latest drivers.
Intergraph Intense 3D 1000 Video Adapters -- Intergraph Intense 3D 1000 video adapters may not allow you to view
the game in 1024 x 768 resolution. To fix this problem, check with your video adapter manufacturer for the latest
drivers.
Matrox Millennium II PowerDesk Video Adapters -- Matrox Millennium II PowerDesk video adapters may cause your
computer to lock up when you change the in-game screen resolution to 1024 x 768. To fix this problem, check with
your video adapter manufacturer for the latest drivers.
Sierra Screaming 3D Video Adapters -- Sierra Screaming 3D video adapters may cause your computer to lock up
when you exit the game. To fix this problem, check with your video adapter manufacturer for the latest drivers.
Rage Pro Turbo 2X Video Adapters -- Rage Pro Turbo 2X video adapters may only allow you to view the game in 640
x 480 screen resolution.
DirectX -- If you experience video problems using DirectX, connect to the DirectX Web site for the latest
troubleshooting information, as explained in "DirectX Troubleshooting" earlier in this Readme file.
H. Audio Troubleshooting
DirectX -- If you experience audio problems using DirectX, connect to the DirectX Web site for the latest
troubleshooting information, as explained in "DirectX Troubleshooting" earlier in this Readme file.
I. Performance Troubleshooting
Command Line Parameters

4. You can add parameters to the Age of Empires Expansion command line to customize startup or resolve problems
with certain hardware configurations.
To add parameters to the command line in the Age of Empires Expansion shortcut
1. If you are using Windows 95, click the Start button, point to Settings, click Taskbar, click Start Menu
Programs, click Advanced, and then double-click Programs.
-or-
If you are using Windows NT, right-click the Start button, select Open All Users, and then double-click
Programs.
2. Double-click Microsoft Games, and then double-click Age of Empires Expansion.
3. Right-click the Age of Empires Expansion shortcut, click Properties, and then click Shortcut.
4. In the Target text box, type the name of the parameter after the existing command line text. For example, if
you add the parameters NoStartup and NoTerrainSound, the command line will read: "C:Program FilesMicrosoft
GamesAge of EmpiresEmpiresx.exe" Nostartup Noterrainsound. Parameters must be separated by a space;
capitalization is not important.
To add parameters to the Age of Empires Expansion registry for multiplayer games using the Internet Gaming Zone
1. Click the Start button, and then click Run.
2. Type Regedit, and then click OK.
3. Double-click Hkey_local_machine/Software/Microsoft/DirectPlay/Applications/Age of Empires
Expansion/CommandLine.
4. In the Value data text box, type the name of the parameter after the existing command line text. For example,
if you add the parameters NoStartup and NoTerrainSound, the command line will read: "Lobby NoStartup
NoTerrainSound." Parameters must be separated by a space; capitalization is not important. Do not remove the word
"lobby" from the command line.
The command line parameters include:
NoStartup -- Skips all cinematic sequences before the game starts.
640, 800, 1024 -- Sets the screen resolution to 640 ´ 480, 800 ´ 600, or 1024 ´ 768. For example, 640 sets the screen
resolution to 640 ´ 480, 800 sets the screen resolution to 800 ´ 600, and 1024 sets the screen resolution to 1024 ´ 768.
You can also set the screen resolution using the Game Settings option on the Menu button. If you use a command line
parameter to set the screen resolution, the game always starts at that resolution, even if you use Game Settings to
choose another resolution.
Mfill -- Fixes horizontal line problems and black screen areas that may occur with some video adapter configurations.
NormalMouse -- Replaces the custom mouse pointer with a standard mouse pointer.
NoSound -- Turns off all sounds, except those played in cinematics.
NoTerrainSound -- Turns off all terrain sounds.
NoMusic -- Turns off all music.
Msync -- Fixes lock-up problem that may occur with some SoundBlaster AWE configurations.
MidiMusic -- Plays midi music instead of Redbook Audio music from the Age of Empires Expansion CD.
J. Head-to-Head Play Troubleshooting
Age of Empires Versions -- In a multiplayer game, all players must be using the same version of Age of Empires. For
example, if you are using Age of Empires Expansion, only Expansion games appear in the multiplayer list. However,
if you are playing the original Age of Empires, version 1.0, 1.0A, and 1.0B games appear in the multiplayer list.
Remember that installing Age of Empires Expansion automatically upgrades your version of Age of Empires to 1.0B,
so you can only join version 1.0B games if you play the original Age of Empires.
Multiplayer Chat -- The chat commands !mute and !nomute now affect only your computer, not all players' computers.
Serial or Modem Connections -- You may have difficulty joining a multiplayer game or you may be dropped from a
game before it starts when playing over a serial connection or a modem connection. To fix this problem, all players
should install DirectPlay 6.0A.

5. To install DirectPlay 6.0A
1. Open My Conputer, and then right-click the Age of Empires Expansion CD.
2. Click Install DirectPlay 6.0A.
2. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen.
K. Age of Empires Expansion Information
For more information about Age of Empires Expansion, visit our Web site at
http://www.microsoft.com/games/aoeexpansion
If you'd like to play against opponents over the Internet, check out the Internet Gaming Zone at http://www.zone.com
L. Welcome to the Best in Online Gaming!
This CD includes free software you can use to install the Internet Gaming Zone.
Check out the Internet Gaming Zone, and play games online against friends from around the world! We feature the
best in free multiplayer card and board games, like spades and backgammon, and matchmaking support for popular
retail CD-ROM titles. Build a great army from a lowly tribe in the award-winning Age of Empires. Race a motorcycle
across desert dunes in Motocross Madness. Or dogfight other WWII pilots in the spectacular Fighter Ace. With
thousands of members online at any time of day, you'll always find a worthy opponent on the Zone!
To install Zone software
1. On the Age of Empires Expansion CD, double-click AOESetup.exe. When the Setup menu screen
appears, click Previews.
2. Click Internet Gaming Zone, and then click Install Software.
You can also find the Zone software on the CD in SamplerDemosZoneZoneA501.exe.