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Q175347: Age Of Empires: Command Line Parameters

Article: Q175347
Product(s): Microsoft Home Games
Version(s): 1.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbgraphic kbsound kbui aoe kbimu msgamekbfaq
Last Modified: 21-DEC-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Age of Empires, version 1.0 
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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

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