Windows 10: How do you install directplay on windows 10 to play old games?

Please help me! Trying to play theme hospital on windows 10 and when I try to play it says I need to install directplay. It then says it needs to restart the pc to do so. It restarts and then nothing happens and it hasn't installed. Tried this over and over. Read many other threads online for this problem and none of the advice helps. I have tried going into windows features and turning directplay on by ticking the box but it then says about restarting the pc, which again I do and it restarts, nothing has happened and the box is unchecked again. Going round in circles!
I would be grateful for the help!
Thanks in advance.

:)

 

DirectPlay in windows 10

Hello,

I actually have a problem in windows 10: I need Directplay to play Age Of Empires III but it requires DirectPlay to launch. I cant run AoE without DirectPlay, but I dont know how to install it, as it became obsolete, and not part of directx anymore...

Thank you for reading my question.

***Post moved by the moderator to the appropriate forum category.***

 

my directx 11.2 rollback to directx 10 after install directplay

I tried to play my GTA: San Andreas, but it was requested the directplay, after I install the directplay my directx was rolled back to directx 10. how to getting back my directx 11.2 ?. please help

 

Welcome to TenForums @lyds84

DirectPlay is a deprecated feature, which is why it's not included in Windows 10 by default. It can however be enabled if you need it. NB: you must be signed in as an administrator to be able to turn it on. See this tutorial.

*Arrow Turn Windows Features On or Off in Windows 10

 

It shouldn't do that. I have turned DirectPlay on in windows features without being asked to restart (nor do I need to restart if I turn it off again). The problem may be that you let your game try to install its own version. Try fully uninstalling the game, making sure it tries to uninstall DirectPlay too. Then you may be able to turn it on in windows features before reinstalling the game.

 

Hi,

Thanks for your prompt reply. I have checked and my account is definitely showing as an administrator.
I can't actually install the game as windows 10 doesn't even seem to be compatible with the disc I have (hard to explain on here but I click install and nothing happens), so after looking it up on other forums I downloaded a file for a newer version of theme hospital (I think) and it isn't installed but you can click on it and it looks as if it will start up and you'll be able to play the game but that's when the issue of directplay comes up and stops it going any further. So I can't see that there is anything to uninstall right now. If that makes sense?! Sorry for the confusing explanation but I am not a computer expert so struggle to explain. Not sure if I am a lost cause and this issue is unresolvable!
Thanks again.

I have attached a screenshot of what comes up when I try to load the game up from the file on my computer.

 

You should be able to turn on DirectPlay in Windows Features, it should not ask for a restart when you do so. What happens when you try? What errors or messages do you see?


*Arrow Turn Windows Features On or Off in Windows 10

 

I have tried to do a screen shot to show you but I can't seem to be able to?!? I don't understand computers!!
It says "Windows completed your requested changes" and then below it says "windows needs to reboot your pc to finish installing the requested changes." so then I can click reboot and when it comes back on nothing has happened and directplay is unticked again. Or I can choose not to reboot and again, nothing has changed.

 

Theme Hospital -75% on GOG.com

 

Thank you, I would go for it but I doubt it will work on my laptop with this issue with directplay....

 

GOG made old games to work as simply as possible. I do not even have directplay installed and it is working.

 

Thanks, I'll do that!!