So, I start to play Morrowind on a relatively new Windows 7 box, and it runs great and I feel like I did 4 years ago. Only hitch is, whenever I try to load a past save in-game, it would freeze up and ultimately stop running, and I'd have to restart the game.

For a while, I put up with this. But, after a while, it got kinda old, so, I looked into the problem. After hours of lurking multitudes of forums, and staring at my ceiling, I somehow reached the conclusion that is was the operating system that was the problem. So, I made a new, nicely sized partition called "Morrowind", and grabbed my XP disk.

I had a couple hurdles to jump when dual booting, like, reinstalling drivers for every goddamned thing you could think of, from speakers, my mouse, the monitor and last, but not in the least the least, my wireless adapter. So, after about six hours of horrible clutter and a messy desk-space, I declared that it was so not worth it, I'd just get over the little hiccup I had with Windows 7.

So, in my drowsy 3 am daze, I just delete the "Morrowind" partition and reboot.

The outcome is quite sincerely the most awful thing I've encountered with my PC. Windows will not launch. I frantically look through my BIOS and boot sequence and try to find a solution. But, alas, I am stranded, no Morrowind, or anything game-related, on my 5 year-old lap.

Fortunately, I have a new DnD group to fall back on until I get my PC figured out. I have the satisfaction of building a nice monk.

Anyone think they could help?

No, but can I join your group?

Thank you for reminding me that it was a good decision simply to stick with XP....
I can understand buying a new computer loaded with Windows 7, but if it were me, and if it's even possible with new computers, I would just reformat using XP.
However and neither here nor there, the primary reason I have to stick with XP is that M-Audio never upgraded drivers beyond XP for my Delta 1010 sound card.

Are you saying that your past saved games were created on another Op sys like XP, and Win 7 doesn't like them? Good luck. I would reformat back to XP as a primary Op sys.

But you may have other reasons weighing against that decision.

Why not just install Morrowind in XP mode in virtual box on Windows 7? It should work perfectly in the XP environment. That being said though, I play Morrowind on W7 without any problems...

I suppose a virtual box would have been a good idea. I'll just have to try that.

I suspect it'll run slowly in virtualbox, but it would be interesting to hear if it works well for you.

Step One: Uninstall 7.
Step Two: Return to the glory that is XP
Step Three: ???
Step Four: Profitsss

Yea that sounds like a crappy situation. :sadvaultboy:

Id like to second (third?) the virtualbox suggestion. Might run slowly, but since Morrowind is a fairly light on game, you shouldnt have any problems.

Use it as an excuse to buy a new computer

Strange. I have never had any problems with Morrowind on Windows 7. I don't do any tricks with the install or compatibility mode (like I had to with some other games). I ran it under the original RC Windows & Ultimate release, and now on Windows 7 Home Premium, on the same laptop (that originally came with Vista Home Premium installed--I wiped that, formatted and repartitioned the drive for a clean Win 7 install). I would think you would want to run it under Windows 7, since XP is more of a resource hog than 7. I would wipe the drive, reinstall 7, update to all the latest drivers, install Morrowind, then start a new game, instead of reverting to old savegame files. I bet you have no problems and Morrowind runs better than ever before. Forget about XP. It was a step up from Win 98, and a viable alternative to Vista, but Windows 7 is the clearly superior OS.

EDIT: I know there was a Windows release between Win 98 and Win XP. But there's no reason to even mention that steaming pile of Stilt Strider mess, is there?

1) The Boot manager used by Windows XP doesn't like Vista/7. When you install Windows XP after Vista/7, the Windows XP boot manager overrides the WIndows Vista/7 boot manager. In order to fix your problem now, simply insert the Windows 7 disc and enter its boot menu. When in the boot menu, repair the Windows install.

This should fix the Windows 7 install and allow the Windows 7 boot manager to boot into Windows.

2) The usually reason for Morrowind (or many other games) not working in Vista/7 is because of UAC and the Program Files/Program Files (x86) directories. Do not install any games to this directory. Windows has severe access restriction on those directories and Running in Administrator mode, doesn't fix this problem. Installing an application to Program Files also changes the savegame directory location to a folder under C:\Users\\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files (x86)\ --- or similar.

If you install Morrowind elsewhere it should fix your problem. It is also recommended that you run: Morrowind.exe and Morrowindlauncher.exe under the following compatiblity modes to prevent the aero visual theme from causing graphical errors.

• Disable Visual Themes
  
• Disable desktop composition

That's why I never try to do anything like that myself. Pay someone who is guaranteed to know what they're doing. And if they don't know what they're doing, at least you'll have someone to sue when it all goes to hell. If it were me, I'd just say "screw it" to my old save files and start over. BEING strong is boring. GETTING strong is the fun part

You're an absolute doll, Ni-....Neh...you!

It's booting up nicely. I'll come back with an update on the game's performance after using you're advice.

Still experiencing the loading CTD, but, I'll get over it. It plays fine otherwise.

You may have to mitgrate some of the saves over (outside of the appdata directory). Also you can try using a save game cleaner utility to repair any corruption (if its only a few saves that crash).

And why not changwe the start-up option of the application to start in XP compatible.