I got StarCraft working perfectly in VMware XP Mode!

[HughShaw]

Here's what I did to get StarCraft working perfectly in Windows 7.
1. Install VMware Player 3. (It's free).
2. Install a virtual Windows XP in VMware. (Through ISO, CD, or by converting your Windows XP mode base VHD file)
3. Install VMware Tools and increase the virtual RAM in VMware to 64. Info to do this here.
4. Install StarCraft and Brood War in the virtual Windows XP and apply latest patch.
5. When you run the game, press Ctrl + Alt to input to desktop. The window will be small so just press the Windows Key and "+" to zoom in or "-" to zoom out to get it how you like it. (The graphics are good once you zoom in)
6. Go into the magnifier options settings and put in 25% in the slider to get a more accurate zoom.
7. Then click the 1st and 3rd box under "Tracking" and re-adjust the zoom to fit your monitor.
8. Once you have the screen where you want it, move the magnifier icon out of the way, click the settings and unclick the "Follow mouse pointer" box to lock it in place.
9. Play the game!

 

[hax]

it works for me now too, without any VM.

what did I do? install ALL windows updates, newest chipset + gpu drivers (both nvidia for me) and close skype running in the background. no more freezes for me, without any VM.

btw. I run win7 32!! bit

 

[HughShaw]

I have all the latest drivers running Windows 7 x64, and Starcraft just would not run for me no matter what. Maybe it's a 64-bit issue?

I'm pretty sure someone will come out with a fix sooner or later. Whether it's Blizzard or Microsoft.

 

[KnowledgeWorker]

This again shows it is a x64 issue. It is too much hassle for me, I don't want to work around just to not bug Microsoft and Blizzard! They shouldn't deny it (I mailed them, denial), but work on it!

 

[HughShaw]

It really only takes 30 minutes to set it up if your semi-familiar with Windows. Having a virtual XP is very cool!

For anybody that tries this, be sure to update your virtual RAM and VMware Tools. (I added it to the first post) More info can be found here.

 

[squall leonhart]

its not a x64 issue, its a Windows 7 Race issue in regards to DDraw overlay and DWM.

The games run fine if run in a window, mudlord is going to install windows 7 again and this time hes going to go all out with a DDraw to D3D wrapper which will bypass the windows 7 ddraw overlay entirely.

 

[Aral]

I just dont know how to zoom out and in

you say windows + "+" or "-" but it doesn't work for me

i can't find the magnifier options either

 

[HughShaw]

Maybe your keyboard doesn't have a windows key or maybe you disabled it?

Edit: You can also try using the On-Screen Keyboard by going to All Programs/Acessories/Ease of Access.

 

[Aral]

sorry dude but its unplayable, mostly because you cant use the sides of the screen to move on the map..

 

[HughShaw]

Sorry didn't work out for you. It works fine for me.

 

[sapphiraa]

is there a particular reason the screen is so small for starcraft when running it in vmware? also i tried using the magnefier but it was just as small oddly enough, ill try it agian once ive updated my virtual xp

 

[RhapsodyOfFire]

Guys try running it with compatibility option for Windows XP SP3 .