Windows Vista / 7 color fix (by mudlord)

[BugA_the_Great]

Originally posted by mudlord on SevenForums.

Info: Fixes problems with colors on Windows Vista / Windows 7 permanently, without a need to kill "explorer.exe" anymore, nor try any other solutions.

DOWNLOAD w7ddpatcher-withsource.zip (source code included)

How to use:

1) Unpack the packed file.
2) Start w7ddpatcher.exe.
3) Click Patch, select your game executable (usually C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Age of Empires II\age2_x1\age2_x1.exe) and click Open.

Game will start, and as soon as all needed game info is gathered by the program, both game and program will close. That`s all, next time you start the game you won`t have any more color problems.

Additional info:

How does it actually work?

1) App gets HWND/process IDs of application being run.
2) App runs the application.
3) It kills its threads as soon as a HWND and thread ID is gathered.
4) From there, the most recent DirectDraw application ID is gathered. Since it was the app to be patched, it copies it to a variable.
5) This variable, along with the needed flags makes a compatibility profile in the Registry for Windows Vista/7 to use with that application, only. It won't affect other parts of your registry. The key name used comes from the application's window class name/IDs.

Of course the source explains the details.

.

[[wW]StrongMan_]

I do LOVE u...

[vitor]

omg, thank you 111

[COBL_Olof]

Wow, nice. This really works. No more color messed up games in GR Big thanks mudlord.

[geo_aoe]

Thank you, i hate the explorer force kill solution, too bad your solution came only on the third page of google

[FossE]

wont work for me, after the game is started nothing happens :S how long is it suppose to take before it closes itself?

[BugA_the_Great]

I can`t help much more that it says in the first post, sorry
Have you tried to right click "w7ddpatcher.exe" and select "Run as administrator"?

[puma]

works for me at first time and ever just run with my admin acount and its ok

[DayDream]

Thanks/

[NominatedMayan]

As a fellow programmer I have to say congrats! Very elegant solution, I am impressed!