Links Corner Forum

Mailman and Titus,
Have you tried changing the display settings on your respective rigs? I'm not talking about changing the game display setting via Regedit, but simply changing your computer's display setting (e.g., from anywhere on your desktop, right click/display settings/display resolution (set a value that is supported by 2003, max = 1920x1200, and suggest one with the same aspect ratio as your native resolution), and then run 2003. That is what worked for me, and I tried all the things you all have tried with no joy.

And for clarity sake, the problem I was having (which sounds like your respective problems) was essentially the black screen issue where the game would load, go briefly to a black screen, and then after a few seconds minimize to my tool bar. If I went back to it from the tool bar, would again get the black screen and maybe few seconds of game intro music, but it would then minimize again. On very rare occasions, if I went back to the game enough times, the game would load, and I could play but it wasn't fully functional. And if I closed the game once in, I'd have to repeat this process oftentime without being able to get back in at all.

Good luck guys, hope this works for you!

@Mailman - Are you currently using the wrapper or no? I am not suggesting to try it, just asking out of curiosity.

Also, have you tried to Override high DPI scaling in compatibility settings (or whatever the setting is called in Win 11)? (not sure if thats what you listed earlier or not)

Have you tried 16/32-bit ("Depth" 0/1 in RegEdit)?

Have you tried windowed mode?

Have you looked into enabling windows legacy components?

Thank you for listing what you've tried.

Adelade wrote: ↑May 27th, 2025, 6:14 pm @Mailman - Are you currently using the wrapper or no? I am not suggesting to try it, just asking out of curiosity.

No - I have tried it but never got it to work

Adelade wrote: ↑May 27th, 2025, 6:14 pmAlso, have you tried to Override high DPI scaling in compatibility settings (or whatever the setting is called in Win 11)? (not sure if thats what you listed earlier or not)

Yes tried to override high DPI scaling as per Daniel's post from another thread - no joy.

Adelade wrote: ↑May 27th, 2025, 6:14 pmHave you tried 16/32-bit ("Depth" 0/1 in RegEdit)?

Yes tried going both depth modes - no joy

Adelade wrote: ↑May 27th, 2025, 6:14 pmHave you tried windowed mode?

Makes no difference and worse if anything - never got it to show in a windowed mode

Adelade wrote: ↑May 27th, 2025, 6:14 pmHave you looked into enabling windows legacy components?

Yes DirectPlay enabled and Windows firewall allows Links .exe as well

What gets me is that I have had Links working today but alas only very infrequently (maybe 5 times) considering the number of times I've tried to run it today (maybe 50 times). And this has been going on and off for nearly 2 months now. Links is the only priece of software that doesn't work reliably for me on Windows 11 (or Windows 10 either)

I am close to but thanks for the suggestions

Lobofan wrote: ↑May 27th, 2025, 6:07 pm Mailman and Titus,
Have you tried changing the display settings on your respective rigs? I'm not talking about changing the game display setting via Regedit, but simply changing your computer's display setting (e.g., from anywhere on your desktop, right click/display settings/display resolution (set a value that is supported by 2003, max = 1920x1200, and suggest one with the same aspect ratio as your native resolution), and then run 2003. That is what worked for me, and I tried all the things you all have tried with no joy.

And for clarity sake, the problem I was having (which sounds like your respective problems) was essentially the black screen issue where the game would load, go briefly to a black screen, and then after a few seconds minimize to my tool bar. If I went back to it from the tool bar, would again get the black screen and maybe few seconds of game intro music, but it would then minimize again. On very rare occasions, if I went back to the game enough times, the game would load, and I could play but it wasn't fully functional. And if I closed the game once in, I'd have to repeat this process oftentime without being able to get back in at all.

Good luck guys, hope this works for you!

1920x1200 is my native monitor resolution and ATM that is the resolution setting (mode 15) in the registry as well so these 2 are the same. Links reports this resolution in the options when it does load. What you describe in the second para resembles what I experience most times I try except I cannot hear the intro music. That was disabled when I got into Links on one the rare occasions it loads without exiting/crashing.

EDIT: Just came from a another retry and the game did eventually load and I could play @ 1920x1200 (looking very good at WhistlingHD BTW) - everything seemed to be functional until I start playing again

Hi Mailman,

1920x1200 is my native monitor resolution and ATM that is the resolution setting (mode 15) in the registry as well so these 2 are the same. Links reports this resolution in the options when it does load.

Ok, I think I got your issue confused with Titus', which was similar to mine, in that my native resolution was higher than that supported by 2003, so the fix ended up being just to dial back my rig's resolution to one that is supported by 2003. The other thing I remember is that once in things seemed more stable when I switched in game graphics to 32-bit. Don't know if that will help but you might give that a shot.

Been trying since early April with a new rig (new components and fresh installs of both Windows 11 and Windows 10 on a dual-boot setup)

I'm running Windows 10; are you booting with 11 or 10? If 11, maybe try 10?

Lobofan wrote: ↑May 27th, 2025, 9:54 pm Hi Mailman,

1920x1200 is my native monitor resolution and ATM that is the resolution setting (mode 15) in the registry as well so these 2 are the same. Links reports this resolution in the options when it does load.

Ok, I think I got your issue confused with Titus', which was similar to mine, in that my native resolution was higher than that supported by 2003, so the fix ended up being just to dial back my rig's resolution to one that is supported by 2003. The other thing I remember is that once in things seemed more stable when I switched in game graphics to 32-bit. Don't know if that will help but you might give that a shot.

Been trying since early April with a new rig (new components and fresh installs of both Windows 11 and Windows 10 on a dual-boot setup)

I'm running Windows 10; are you booting with 11 or 10? If 11, maybe try 10?

Cannot get Links to even install on my version of Windows 10

16 bit v 32 bit makes no difference - same issues on the startup of Links

Cannot get Links to even install on my version of Windows 10

16 bit v 32 bit makes no difference - same issues on the startup of Links

Well shoot. I'm not running Windows 11 (yet) and therefore have no experience to compare on that front. Starting to run out of ideas here.

It just seems like you're very close since 2003 runs sometimes . . . for me, after applying all the possible fixes on the board, the answer was far simpler and was hoping it would be the same for you, but maybe we've got enough system differences (you're on 11 I'm on 10, different video card manufacturers, etc.) that won't be the case. Frustrating.

Lobofan wrote: ↑May 28th, 2025, 5:01 pm

Well shoot. I'm not running Windows 11 (yet) and therefore have no experience to compare on that front. Starting to run out of ideas here.

It just seems like you're very close since 2003 runs sometimes . . . for me, after applying all the possible fixes on the board, the answer was far simpler and was hoping it would be the same for you, but maybe we've got enough system differences (you're on 11 I'm on 10, different video card manufacturers, etc.) that won't be the case. Frustrating.

Well I've taken delivery of a bigger monitor today (24 " to 32 ") and a uptick in resolution (1920x1200 to 2560x1440 aka 2K). When I get round to it I shall try to install Links again in the coming week as I have given up for the time being and uninstalled yet again . Not many folk appear to have got Links running on a fresh install of Windows 11 on new hardware but seemingly more have done so via the update route if that helps. I have Links running on another machine on Windows 11 via the update route.

Well, good luck with that Mailman, hope the new equipment makes a difference!

Mailman wrote: ↑May 29th, 2025, 6:11 pmNot many folk appear to have got Links running on a fresh install of Windows 11 on new hardware but seemingly more have done so via the update route if that helps.

Perhaps you are right, but I run Links fine on my laptop which came with Win 11 viewtopic.php?t=1942

I also believe Ian Wells and John_iv had Win 11 from the start and ran Links fine on their desktop systems.