Hi there,

Just managed to install GalCiv II on Windows 7 by bypassing Impulse. I managed to get into the game and play a turn, haven't tried any further (other stuff to do today). The game complains I don't have DirectX compliant drivers (I have an ATI) and then says it disables DirectX, but runs fine, and seems to be using DirectX anyway.

It's quite easy to do. Still, ONLY DO SO AT YOUR OWN RISK.

1) You have to get the archives you need off of Impulse Anywhere. Log in, download what you need.

2) You get some files called xxx.im01, xxx.im02. You have to merge these files in their order. You can use HjSplit for this; rename them to xxx.001, xxx.002, ... respectively, then load .001 up in HjSplit, click "join" and you're set.

3) Rename the joined file (it is called xxx. - no extension) to xxx.7z.

4) Download 7zip from some site and open the file with it, and extract using path. Command-line parameters would be "7za x xxx.7z". It will extract the files in the directory you are working in.

5) look in the "base" folder it has created - those are the files you need. Just run "GalCiv2.exe", activate the game as usual, and play.

Hope this helps.. It would actually be manageable to recompile the installer and remove some OS checks, but I'm not going to go there. (Regardless, the installer (including Impulse) is .NET, in case you were wondering.)

I hope Stardock does not mind my posting this - keep in mind that this is unsupported so don't come complaining if Dread Lords eat your system files.. Stardock, in case it is a problem for you, I apologize and invite you to remove this post. But it would be nice of you to leave it this way for now.