[SOLVED] Doom 3 on Windows 7 64-bit ?

[meeshu]

Doom 3 can be run under Windows 7 64 bit IF using a mod patch (version 1.3.1) which allows Doom 3 to run on later operating systems after Windows XP.

I have managed to get Doom 3 running using this patch, but there may be the occasional bug such as inability to use console commands and cheats, and inability to fire weapon and other issues.

There have been posts here (I believe) and elsewhere that suggests that Doom 3 can be run under on Windows 7 (64 bit) and even Windows 10, without the use of a patch, but the posts did not specify exactly how others got Doom 3 running under on Windows 7 (64 bit) and Windows 10!?

Tried installing, uninstalling Doom 3 several times and also changing Windows desktop theme to basic mode (as suggested by others in order to get Doom 3 to run on Windows 7 without the use of a patch) . And, of course, tried running Doom 3 in Windows XP compatibility mode and as administrator, but all these attempts to get Doom 3 to run under on Windows 7 64 bit on my system failed!

So is there a method to get Doom 3 to run under on Windows 7 64-bit without the use of a patch? If so, how please??

 

[TerryLaze]

The installation works but it doesn't create needed config files, in your game folder there is a folder called base and in there there is supposed to be a default.cfg and a doomconfig.cfg file holding the configuration.
You will have to create those files and put some config in them.
This is what is in my config file for a very basic low quality.
You can check out pcgamingwiki for anything more.
https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Doom_3

Spoiler

unbindall
bind "TAB" "_inventory"
bind "ESCAPE" "toggleMainMenu"
bind "SPACE" "_moveUp"
bind "1" "_weap0"
bind "2" "_weap1"
bind "3" "_weap2"
bind "4" "_weap3"
bind "5" "_weap4"
bind "6" "_weap5"
bind "7" "_weap6"
bind "8" "_weap7"
bind "A" "_moveLeft"
bind "C" "_crouch"
bind "D" "_moveRight"
bind "E" "_use"
bind "F" "_attack2"
bind "G" "_quick3"
bind "Q" "_changeWeapon"
bind "R" "_reload"
bind "S" "_moveback"
bind "T" "_supermeter"
bind "W" "_moveforward"
bind "X" "_weapnext"
bind "Z" "_weapprev"
bind "a" "_moveLeft"
bind "d" "_moveRight"
bind "e" "_right"
bind "q" "_left"
bind "s" "_back"
bind "w" "_forward"
bind "CTRL" "_moveDown"
bind "SHIFT" "_speed"
bind "F1" "_quick0"
bind "F2" "_quick2"
bind "F12" "screenshot"
bind "MOUSE1" "_attack1"
bind "MOUSE2" "_zoom _altfire"
bind "MOUSE3" "_quickuse"
bind "MWHEELDOWN" "_weapprev"
bind "MWHEELUP" "_weapnext"
bind "JOY1" "_jump"
bind "JOY2" "_crouch"
bind "JOY3" "_quick3"
bind "JOY4" "_supermeter"
bind "JOY5" "_quickuse"
bind "JOY6" "_changeWeapon"
bind "JOY8" "_attack2 _use"
bind "JOY9" "toggleMainMenu"
bind "JOY10" "_inventory"
seta radiant_entityMode "0"
seta gui_mediumFontLimit "0.60"
seta gui_smallFontLimit "0.30"
seta net_socksPassword ""
seta net_socksUsername ""
seta net_socksPort "1080"
seta net_socksServer ""
seta net_socksEnabled "0"
seta win_ypos "22"
seta win_xpos "3"
seta sys_lang "english"
seta s_decompressionLimit "6"
seta s_useEAXReverb "0"
seta s_useOpenAL "0"
seta s_libOpenAL "openal32.dll"
seta s_numberOfSpeakers "2"
seta s_doorDistanceAdd "150"
seta s_globalFraction "0.8"
seta s_subFraction "0.75"
seta s_playDefaultSound "1"
seta s_volume_dB "0"
seta s_meterTopTime "2000"
seta s_reverse "0"
seta s_spatializationDecay "2"
seta s_maxSoundsPerShader "1"
seta r_debugArrowStep "120"
seta r_debugLineWidth "1"
seta r_debugLineDepthTest "0"
seta r_cgFragmentProfile "best"
seta r_cgVertexProfile "best"
seta r_forceLoadImages "0"
seta r_shadows "1"
seta r_skipBump "0"
seta r_skipSpecular "0"
seta r_skipNewAmbient "0"
seta r_renderer "best"
seta r_brightness "1"
seta r_gamma "1"
seta r_swapInterval "0"
seta r_useIndexBuffers "0"
seta r_customHeight "486"
seta r_customWidth "720"
seta r_fullscreen "1"
seta r_mode "3"
seta r_multiSamples "0"
seta image_downSizeLimit "256"
seta image_ignoreHighQuality "1"
seta image_downSizeBumpLimit "256"
seta image_downSizeSpecularLimit "64"
seta image_downSizeBump "1"
seta image_downSizeSpecular "1"
seta image_useCache "0"
seta image_cacheMegs "20"
seta image_cacheMinK "200"
seta image_usePrecompressedTextures "1"
seta image_useNormalCompression "2"
seta image_useAllFormats "1"
seta image_useCompression "1"
seta image_preload "1"
seta image_roundDown "1"
seta image_forceDownSize "0"
seta image_downSize "1"
seta image_lodbias "0"
seta image_anisotropy "0"
seta image_filter "GL_LINEAR_MIPMAP_LINEAR"
seta gui_filter_game "0"
seta gui_filter_idle "0"
seta gui_filter_gameType "0"
seta gui_filter_players "0"
seta gui_filter_password "0"
seta net_clientDownload "1"
seta net_master4 ""
seta net_master3 ""
seta net_master2 ""
seta net_master1 ""
seta net_clientMaxRate "16000"
seta net_serverMaxClientRate "16000"
seta m_strafeSmooth "4"
seta m_smooth "1"
seta m_strafeScale "6.25"
seta m_yaw "0.022"
seta m_pitch "0.022"
seta sensitivity "5"
seta in_toggleZoom "0"
seta in_toggleCrouch "0"
seta in_toggleRun "0"
seta in_alwaysRun "0"
seta in_freeLook "1"
seta in_anglespeedkey "1.5"
seta in_pitchspeed "140"
seta in_yawspeed "140"
seta gui_configServerRate "0"
seta com_guid "KoounWRsEiY"
seta com_preloadDemos "0"
seta com_compressDemos "1"
seta com_product_lang_ext "1"
seta sv_punkbuster "0"
seta cl_punkbuster "0"
seta com_videoRam "0"
seta com_showFPS "0"
seta com_purgeAll "0"
seta com_machineSpec "0"
seta g_decals "0"
seta g_projectileLights "0"
seta g_doubleVision "0"
seta g_muzzleFlash "0"
seta net_serverDlTable ""
seta net_serverDlBaseURL ""
seta net_serverDownload "0"
seta mod_validSkins "skins/characters/player/marine_mp;skins/characters/player/marine_mp_green;skins/characters/player/marine_mp_blue;skins/characters/player/marine_mp_red;skins/characters/player/marine_mp_yellow"
seta g_mapCycle "mapcycle"
seta g_voteFlags "0"
seta g_gameReviewPause "10"
seta g_countDown "10"
seta g_password ""
seta g_showBrass "1"
seta g_showProjectilePct "0"
seta g_showHud "1"
seta g_showPlayerShadow "0"
seta g_showcamerainfo "0"
seta g_healthTakeLimit "25"
seta g_healthTakeAmt "5"
seta g_healthTakeTime "5"
seta g_useDynamicProtection "1"
seta g_armorProtectionMP "0.6"
seta g_armorProtection "0.3"
seta g_damageScale "1"
seta g_nightmare "0"
seta g_bloodEffects "1"
seta r_aspectRatio "0"
seta ui_showGun "1"
seta ui_autoReload "1"
seta ui_autoSwitch "1"
seta ui_team "Red"
seta ui_skin "skins/characters/player/marine_mp"
seta ui_name "Player"
seta si_serverURL ""
seta si_spectators "1"
seta si_usePass "0"
seta si_warmup "0"
seta si_teamDamage "0"
seta si_timeLimit "10"
seta si_fragLimit "10"
seta si_maxPlayers "4"
seta si_map "game/mp/d3dm1"
seta si_gameType "singleplayer"
seta si_name "DOOM Server"
seta g_spectatorChat "0"
seta net_clientLagOMeter "1"

 

[meeshu]

Thanks for the detailed reply!

Perhaps I should have mentioned that the Doom 3 version I have is the 2004 (I think) retail/boxed version and not the Steam version. Not sure if that makes any difference?

Copied the Doomconfig.cfg file and also the default.cfg file (this was from pak000.pk4 within the installation directory) and pasted them within the base sub-directory.

Unfortunately Doom 3 still will not run!? Even tried administrator and Windows XP compatibility modes, but Doom 3 will not run!

I've had a look at the wiki, but I can't see anything related to Doom 3 failure to start.

Any other suggestions?

 

[TerryLaze]

I also have a physical copy (3 cd-roms)
Have you installed the official 1.3.1 patch that is linked on pcgameswiki?
Click on the spoiler I included and see if your config files have the same(ish) commands in them.
Obvious thing, you do need to install directX 9 since newer version of windows have newer versions of directX that do not include the directX 9 stuff.

I do not have to use admin or any sort of compatibility.

 

[kerberos_20]

that CD version is using secure drive protection...which is not compatible with windows 7 or above for security reasons
https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/windows-update-disables-safedisc-drm-7-8-vista
here is a way how to enable it, but it will make your pc less secure

other than that, you have to patch it, i believe in 1.2 patch was DRM removed

 

[TerryLaze]

that CD version is using secure drive protection...which is not compatible with windows 7 or above for security reasons
https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/windows-update-disables-safedisc-drm-7-8-vista
here is a way how to enable it, but it will make your pc less secure

other than that, you have to patch it, i believe in 1.2 patch was DRM removed

Nope, just installed it today on win11 and it doesn't need anything disabled.
(I opted out of pankbuster though, I don't know if that's what needs protection)

 

[meeshu]

I also have a physical copy (3 cd-roms)
Have you installed the official 1.3.1 patch that is linked on pcgameswiki?
Click on the spoiler I included and see if your config files have the same(ish) commands in them.
Obvious thing, you do need to install directX 9 since newer version of windows have newer versions of directX that do not include the directX 9 stuff.

I do not have to use admin or any sort of compatibility.

I do have the 1.3.1 patch, but not currently installed. As mentioned in my first post, Doom 3 does run after applying 1.3.1 patch. But due to some issues with the patch, I am wanting to run Doom 3 without any applied patches, if possible.

So, I don't wish to use the 1.3.1 patch nor any other patches as far as possible to avoid any issues with running the game.

I copied the spoiler Doomconfig.cfg data to my Doomconfig.cfg, but again Doom 3 will not run.

Actually I tried to install directX 9 from the Doom 3 discs but it would not install, possibly because I have the newer directX 11 installed already, and my computer would not allow an older version of directX to be installed(?)

Is it possible to install different versions of directX on the computer at the same time? If so, how?

Anything else that needs to be done?

 

[TerryLaze]

I think you have to apply that patch.
Maybe all your problems come from the config not having key bindings for most of the stuff.
You can edit the config or use the options inside the game to bind the mouse click to attack and the key to open the command and anything else you might have to change.

 

[meeshu]

So the only way to get Doom 3 to play under Windows 7 64 bit is to use the 1.3.1 patch?

Actually I have Doom 3 installed on an older computer running Windows XP SP3. Doom 3 runs fine on that computer. So I copied the Doomconfig.cfg file from the older computer to the Windows 7 installation of Doom 3. But still Doom 3 will not start (without the patch applied).

I basically got Doom 3 to start after applying the 1.3.1 patch just now on my Windows 7 installation, but as soon as I made some changes to the options/settings, Doom 3 becomes screwed up after restarting with overbright display, loss of sound and frozen mouse cursor!

With Doom 3 on the older computer running Windows XP, I can make changes to settings and add mods without any issue!

Frankly I don't like this 1.3.1 patch at all owing to apparent limitations on what you can change in the settings(?)

That is why I am after a means of running Doom 3 under Windows 7 64 bit WITHOUT the use of patches.

A quick online search found that in theory it is possible to have several instances of DirectX installed simultaneously, but in my case, earlier versions can't be installed (apparently) because my system has a later version (11) already installed.

IF I can can directX 9 installed, I'll try to run Doom 3 again under Windows 7. But for now, it is not looking promising!

 

[TerryLaze]

A quick online search found that in theory it is possible to have several instances of DirectX installed simultaneously, but in my case, earlier versions can't be installed (apparently) because my system has a later version (11) already installed.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8109

This DirectX End-User Runtime does not change the version of DirectX, but does install a number of optional side-by-side technologies from the legacy DirectX SDK that are used by some older games. For a detailed explanation see https://aka.ms/dxsetup.

 

[meeshu]

Thanks for the links.

Downloaded and installed the runtimes, but still can't start Doom 3!

Given up on this for now, unless someone can can up with a certain way of getting Doom 3 to run under Windows 7 64 bit without the use of patches.

PS: Another possibility is running Doom 3 in a virtual machine environment. I have seen this being done successfully, but I have not been able to get Doom 3 to run in a VM so far!

In the VM environment, Doom 3 seems to be unable to locate Doom 3 disc one within an optical drive to enable to game to start and run despite successfully installing Doom 3 from the same optical drive!? This is very strange that Doom 3 can't find the disc!?

Comments?

PPS: I can't get Doom 3 to run under a VM environment due to inadequate graphics driver/hardware. Apparently VM does not use system video hardware and software to run VM software. The only video drivers that can be used are those supplied by the VM vendor, and those drivers are totally software function only that does not use the system video hardware (apparently)!?