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Q179920: AOE: Error Message: Could Not Initialize Graphics System

Article: Q179920
Product(s): Microsoft Home Games
Version(s): 1.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbenv kberrmsg aoe
Last Modified: 01-DEC-2000

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Age of Empires, version 1.0 
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SYMPTOMS
========

When you double-click the shortcut for Age of Empires on the desktop, you may
receive the following error message:

  Could not initialize graphics system. Make sure that your video card and
  driver are compatible with DirectDraw.

CAUSE
=====

This issue can occur if the shortcut is missing information or contains
incorrect information.


RESOLUTION
==========

To resolve this issue, create a new shortcut to Age of Empires on your desktop.
To do this:

1. Right-click the desktop, point to New, and then click Shortcut.

2. Click Browse.

3. Locate the folder containing Age of Empires, and then click the Empires.exe
  file. The default location for Age of Empires is:

  Program Files\Microsoft Games\Age of Empires

4. Click Open, click Next, and then click Finish. The new shortcut to Age of
  Empires is named Empires.exe.

You can also work around this issue by starting Age of Empires using the Start
menu. To do this, click Start, point to Programs, point to Microsoft Games,
point to Age Of Empires, and then click Age Of Empires.

MORE INFORMATION
================

For additional information about this error message, click the article numbers
below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q198610 AOE Err Msg: Could Not Initialize Graphics System...

  Q242902 AoE II Err Msg: Could Not Initialize Graphics System...

Additional query words: 1.00 rise of rome expansion pack icon failed to initialize graphics system

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbenv kberrmsg aoe 
Technology        : kbHomeProdSearch kbAOE kbGamesSearch kbAOESearch
Version           : :1.0
Issue type        : kbprb

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