Jane's Longbow 2

A Speichts.com install guide.

RAM

Almost everyone needs to adjust their PCs RAM settings (memory tweaking) to make this game work on XP. You did remember to do the CA.INI edit from the Basic Install right? If so, try the game, if you have issues come back here again.

Back so soon? ;-)

I would suggest that you try the WAC adjustment to start, just as a quick test. If your game starts OK using it, you may not need to enable any other tweaks.

I'd like to point out that each RAM adjustment method has its benefits, some of these work OK for some systems, some don't. So your mileage may vary.

Here are the methods, listed in order of most reported effectiveness.

Windows Application Compatibility Toolkit (WAC)
System Configuration Utility via the MSConfig method (plus optional Boot.ini tweak)
No Swap File

On my system, I don't need to use MSConfig (+boot.ini), I simply use the WAC method! Others have to try a couple of these fixes in conjunction to make their game work. I don't recommend using the MSConfig method as a permanent solution to run this game, unless you couple it with the boot.ini option.). However, as a quick test it's good (remember to reboot after making the change). After you adjust MSConfig, move onto the Software Graphics adjustment. If your game works (MSConfig + Software), you have hope that you can tweak it to run with another memory trick + the D3D or Glide Modes.

Windows Application Compatibility
Toolkit 5.0 Method

Thanks to lawyer237 for his initial thoughts on this one.

It motivated me to continue to troubleshoot and rework the documentation! Using this method, as a result, myself and many others do not have to make any other memory adjustments on thier PCs to make this game work on XP.

The game must be installed to C:\Janes\Longbow2 for this tweak to work (using the basic instructions listed earlier). This tweak creates additional Windows XP compatibility information for this single game. So when you launch Longbow2 from now on the operating system knows to treat it specially. This tweak does not affect any other programs on your system.

The Quick and easy way to do it!

Download this file -> WAC-LB2.ZIP

Unzip it into a folder then run install. To remove the fix, run uninstall. It's that easy!

You do not need to run the game in any compatibility mode (right clicking on the shortcut, it's not needed!).

Done!

Move on to the graphics settings.

Notes: Here is a detailed explanation of what this zip file does. This is for curious and techie types only. If you've installed the WAC-LB2.ZIP file you DO NOT need to install the full kit.

To create these fixes you need the Windows toolkit, it can be downloaded here.
Microsoft Windows Compatibility Tool-Kit 5.0! PS - NEW LINK!
Install it.

Now download this file, and unzip it somewhere safe, (like in your LB2 directory).
PositiveGs-database.zip

Run the Compatibility Administrator tool; load the file you just unzipped above. You should see a screen similar to this;

Right click on the Yellow AH64-LB2 "drum" and select Install.

That's it, your LB2 file is now patched, and it'll be fooled about MaxMem permanently (via GlobalMemoryStatusLie). There is no need to use any other Windows compatibility modes for the LB2.EXE program (including Windows 98 and 98/ME modes, they are NOT required now).

Further details;

GlobalMemoryStatusLie: "This compatibility fix modifies the memory status structure so that it reports a swap file that is 400MB in size regardless of the true swap file size."
EmulateHeap: No longer needed, it's been REMOVED! Thanks to the [Backdoor] CA.INI fix above!

This older compatibility fix emulates the functionality of the Windows 9x heap manager. It is a full implementation of the Windows 9x heap manager ported to Windows XP. Applies to: Windows 95, Windows 98

The old MC fix is listed here (includes Emulate heap) WAC-LB2-OLD.ZIP

System Configuration Utility method

This method is useful for quickly testing a memory adjustment.
It's a semi-permanent change that'll affect your entire system, it does not harm hardware, it's a software RAM limiter; I wouldn't use it all the time, unless you add a boot.ini file option (explained later).

Go into your System Configuration utility, START => RUN => MSCONFIG (enter).

You'll see something similar to Figure 1 below.

MSCONFIG, boot.ini/advanced section, figure 1.

Next, go under Advanced Options and set it to 366 as shown in Fig. 3 below.

MSCONFIG, boot.ini/advanced section, figure 2.

Remember after adjusting this, you HAVE to reboot your PC.
You can try other RAM settings later; others have had luck just capping their RAM to higher amounts, like 512MB. if this method is the only one that works for you, consider implementing the bool.ini file option or learn to live with adjusting the /MAXMEM numbers.

BOOT.INI file method

*** BE CAREFUL, IF YOU MESS THIS FILE UP, YOUR SYSTEM MAY NOT START! UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE DOING, I WON'T BE RESPONSIBLE IF YOUR PC DOESN'T BOOT! ***

If the MSCONFIG method above worked for you, then you can make this type of memory change show up as a system boot up option instead. You select this option when your PC boots from the bootloader menu (you may not even have known this existed, google around to learn about it). First undo the MSCONFIG method steps (they won't be required). You can add this additional boot option by adjusting a small text file. Your c:\boot.ini file (you can edit it using Notepad). This is a hidden system file located at the root of your C:\ drive.

Once adjusted, when Windows XP boots, you'll get prompted to select one of these two boot methods, the new one will limit your memory so LB2 will run. As mentioned, if you use a modified boot.ini file, you can remove any MSconfig method settings you have made previously.

Click here's for a sample of my c:\boot.ini file.

The NO SWAP FILE method

I'd recommend this ONLY IF you have more than 1GB of RAM.
Simply disable and remove all swap files on your system.

Here's how I disabled my swap file.

Right click on Start -> select Explore
Right click on "My Computer" -> select Properties
Click the advanced tab.
Select the performance button.
Select the advanced tab.
In the virtual memory section, click the change button.
Select the "no paging file" radio button, then click the SET button.

Reboot! If this works for you no other memory tweaks required, move onto the Graphic adjustments steps. Note that running your PC with no swap file can cause issues for other programs, so your mileage may vary

NEW & Experimental, thus I can't recommend it yet!
The Memory Allocation Tool Method

By SaurweinAndreas http://www.codeproject.com/tools/alloc.asp

Consult their forum if you have questions and issues.