The Deluxe Edition of Privateer 2 uses Microsoft's DirectX 5.0 technology in Windows 95. For DirectX games to work properly, all of your hardware components must be 100% compatible and certified for use with DirectX 5.0. If you have a component that is not certified, you will need to contact the manufacturer for a DirectX 5.0 driver, if one is available at this time. Following these instructions to find out if all of your components are certified:
Left-click on the Windows 95 'START' button, then on 'Find', and then on 'Files or Folders'.
In the 'Named' box, type 'DXSETUP.EXE'.
In the 'Look in' box, make sure that your C:\ drive is selected.
Left-click on 'Find Now'.
In the 'Name' column, double-click on the small icon beside 'DXSETUP.EXE'.
Once DXSETUP has loaded, look at the column on the right-hand side. If you see any blank lines or lines that say 'No hardware support', you will need to contact your hardware manufacturer for a certified DirectX driver.
Always start Privateer 2 with CD #1 in your CD-ROM drive, regardless of how far you have made it into the game. Make sure that you don't have DOS CD-ROM drivers loading in your CONFIG.SYS because they will often conflict with Windows 95's 32-bit drivers and cause problems with DirectX games. Also make sure that you have 50-100 MB of hard drive space available so that Windows 95 can create the swap file that it needs.
Also, close all other applications before you enter the game. If you <Ctrl> <Alt> <Del> in Windows, you will be able to see any active programs - just 'End Task' on every program except for Explorer, and then enter the game. Disable your screen saver as well in case it is conflicting with the game.
You can avoid some crashes by disabling Video Transitions in the Options menu (Alt-O in the game).
You can also prevent some crashes, lockups, and video problems by disabling DirectX 3D acceleration in the DXSETUP program. You might also be able to avoid problems by turning down your hardware acceleration. To adjust your hardware acceleration:
Click on the Windows 95 'START' button, then on 'Settings', then on 'Control Panel'.
Double-click on the 'System' icon in this window, then click on the 'Performance' tab at the top.
Click on the 'Graphics' button and then adjust your hardware acceleration to 'None'.
Click on 'OK', then on 'Close', and let Windows 95 restart your machine.
When you are back up to Windows 95, try to run the game.
If the game runs well, keep the hardware acceleration set to 'None' until you install a certified display driver. If the problem persists, adjust your hardware acceleration back to 'Full' and contact your manufacturer for a certified driver.
