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Q242227: Age Of Empires II: Command Line Parameters

Article: Q242227
Product(s): Microsoft Home Games
Version(s): 2.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbdisplay kbsound aoe kbimu msgame
Last Modified: 21-DEC-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings, version 2.0 
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SUMMARY
=======

You can use command line parameters to customize the startup process for Age of
Empires II 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 II.

To install these shortcuts, double-click the Age2lnks.exe file for Age of Empires
II.

The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

  Age2lnks.exe
  (http://download.microsoft.com/download/aoe/info/1/WIN98/EN-US/age2lnks.exe)

Release Date: Sep-22-1999

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
II folder.

To play Age of Empires II normally, use the shortcut for the program that is
installed on the Microsoft Windows desktop or<A0>on the Start menu.

For more support information about Microsoft Age of Empires II, 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 you can use to start Age
of Empires.

  Parameter        Description
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------

  NoStartup        Skips all cinematic sequences before the game starts.

  800              Sets the screen resolution for the game to
                   800 x 600 pixels.

  1024             Sets the screen resolution for the game to
                   1,024 x 768 pixels.

  1280             Sets the screen resolution for the game to
                   1,280 x 1,024 pixels.

  Mfill            Fixes horizontal line display issues 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 a problem where the computer stops responding
                   with some SoundBlaster AWE configurations.


To manually add parameters to the command line in the Age of Empires II
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 II folder.

5. Right-click the Age Of Empires II 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
  that you want to use. If you want to use an additional parameter, press the
  SPACEBAR, and then type the next parameter.

  As an example, the following sample command line includes several parameters:

  "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Age of Empires II\empires2.exe" nostartup
  800 mfill normalmouse nosound noterrainsound nomusic msync

  NOTE: Parameters are not case-sensitive.

8. Click Apply or OK.

Additional query words: 2.00 msgame aoe ages aok tshoot troubleshoot ts switches

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbdisplay kbsound aoe kbimu msgame 
Technology        : kbHomeProdSearch kbGamesSearch kbAOESearch kbAOE2Kings
Version           : :2.0
Issue type        : kbinfo

=============================================================================

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