Gruntz and 64-bit OSs

[alexandgruntz]

Update: There is now an 64-bit installer available for download in the List of Utilities.

Under 64-bit Windows 7, I was not able to get the original resolution patchez working, so I have created (yet another) version for 64-bit Windows Vista and 64-bit Windows 7. (I cannot test Windows XP Professional 64-bit as I do not have access to a copy.)
The updated filez can be downloaded from here (first two linkz).

Also under 64-bit Windows, the installer doesn't work, so a workaround is needed. I have posed this before, but I will post it here as well for ease of searching:

Installing Gruntz on 64-bit versions of Windows

1. Create the folder C:\Games\Gruntz.
2. From the CD, copy the contents of the \GAME folder to the newly created folder on your hard drive.
3. Copy the contents of the \DATA folder to the Gruntz folder on your hard drive.
4. Create a new empty file and name it Gruntz.sav. (If you have file extensionz hidden, as is the default, you can either create this from a command prompt or show file extensionz in Folder Options.)
5. Create a shortcut to GRUNTZ.EXE by right-dragging to the desktop and clicking "Create Shortcut Here." Rename it if you want.

Now launch Gruntz! It will automatically create the required entriez in the registry. Moviez work, and levelz are playable.

(Tested in a virtual PC running Windows XP and 64-bit Windows 7.)

Instructionz v1.1: Added Gruntz.sav workaround


Another workaround (which I do not recommend) is using Windows 7 Professional/Ultimate's Windows XP Mode, which runs Windows XP in a virtual machine, or installing Microsoft Virtual PC/Windows Virtual PC and installing Windows 98 in that.

[GooRoo]

I have a laptop with Vista with an Athlon-X2 64 microprocessor, and Vista is the 32 bit version.

The old Vista 1024 screen resolution patch is worthless ... nothing changes from whatever screen resolution I was in when I changed the registration. The XP version of 1024 does the job ... sort of. I can open Gruntz in 1024X768, do screen grabz (usually, just once!) and the game closez in a non-friendly manner when I come back to do another screen grab. Occasionally, I can do "blinked off" screen grabz before opening a Gruntz CL, window out to save the clipboard and window back in for another screen without Gruntz quitting on me ... until I try to "Quit" the game ... then it is good-bye in that non-friendly manner. So I am looking forward to a new screen resolution patch ... but would prefer not having to unZIP an archive to get it.

[alexandgruntz]

Under Windows 7 64-bit, the appropriate 1024 patch does work, however the game crashez if you open a custom level

Best to stick with 800x600 IMO.

[archiarian]

Dec 30, 2010 10:40:55 GMT -8 alexandgruntz said:

Under Windows 7 64-bit, the appropriate 1024 patch does work, however the game crashez if you open a custom level

Best to stick with 800x600 IMO.

It works in 1024x768 resolution. Just start playing a new game and load the saved game in the game.

[GooRoo]

Mar 14, 2012 5:03:12 GMT -8 archiarian said:

Dec 30, 2010 10:40:55 GMT -8 alexandgruntz said:

Under Windows 7 64-bit, the appropriate 1024 patch does work, however the game crashez if you open a custom level

Best to stick with 800x600 IMO.

It works in 1024x768 resolution. Just start playing a new game and load the saved game in the game.

Are you saying "SAVE the game before actually doing anything, and when the game crashes, just re-load and RESTORE the game" and the program behaves properly after that? Because I have tried to use that technique when creating "View the map!" images, but Gruntz still crashes ... most of the time. I have tried using all three versions of the Vista 1024X768 screen resolution patches, but none of them have worked, for me. I really miss not being able to play in 1024X768 screen resolution mode ... so many puzzles seem to have results taking place too far away from the action to be seen in 800X600 mode.

(Plurals end in 's' in this message, instead of in 'z' to help in translation.)

[archiarian]

I have some problems with translation, but yes, it works me 1024x768. just when you start a new game and then load the saved game.
Download FLV videos as short proof

gruntz1024.flv ... this link is broken
or
gruntz1024-flv ... this link still works as-of September 10, 2015

[GooRoo]

Mar 14, 2012 10:59:42 GMT -8 archiarian said:

I have some problems with translation, but yes, it works me 1024x768. just when you start a new game and then load the saved game.
Download FLV videos as short proof

archiarian.bluefile.cz/gruntz1024.flv

This one showz Gruntz, but no crash and re-load with no more crash.

Mar 14, 2012 10:59:42 GMT -8 archiarian said:

or
uloz.to/xhnNvsa/gruntz1024-flv

This one showz nothing but advertisements.

[archiarian]

That I wrote but this video is proof That the game runs at a resolution of 1024x768.

Advertising? why? I do not understand.

[fretz]

I installed the game according to the instructions at the beginning of this thread and the game works fine except it will not play without the CD in the drive. Is this normal?

[SwordGrunt]

Yes, normally Gruntz will alwayz ask for its CD to be inserted.

[daga]

Hi there, I just installed my Gruntz on Win7, 64bit with your help and it goes well. There is only problem with save. I've created gruntz.sav file but when I click to save the game, windows arrow shows in game and game freezes. I must hit Esc to play but no save... I noticed there is file slot1.sav in Game older and it's 512kb, so it looks like it was saved there, but no luck at loading (same thing with arrow and freezing). The only thing that can be clicked as it's supposed to be is exit. Others like options, save, load, freeze my game.
Could you please help me?

PS sorry for my english

[Tomalla]

Any problems with playing Gruntz on Windows 8? Anyone?

[hailor]

i did this but whenever i try to launch the game i get:

Error: Unable to set the DirectDraw display mode. (33004)

Can u help me fix this?

[GooRoo]

Dec 13, 2012 20:59:28 GMT -8 hailor said:

i did this but whenever i try to launch the game i get:

Error: Unable to set the DirectDraw display mode. (33004)

Can u help me fix this?

I am on Vista operating system, and the only time I have received that message is when I try to open a second copy of Gruntz (when I had it running in an inactive window). It sounds like a graphics memory problem of some kind.

Please provide more information about your computer environment, and one of our wise young bucks may be able to help you.

[hailor]

OK, What information do you need?

i really wanna play Gruntz

[GooRoo]

Dec 15, 2012 5:04:54 GMT -8 hailor said:

OK, What information do you need?

i really wanna play Gruntz

The operating system on your computer, the video card, the graphics and general RAM, so that the knowledgeable people can see what your problem may be.

Perhaps the easiest solution would be to buy a working second-hand computer loaded with an older Windoze OS ... like 98, ME, XP or Vista. Gruntz workz fine on those platformz ... with a little work on the newest onez.

[greenberet]

Thanks for your sharing! I was just confused and upset about this problem.
I would like to have a try when I am not that busy.

[geekshadow]

I'm on Windows 8 x64 and the game run really slow in game (no problem in menus/video)

My graphical card is Radeon HD 3850 (though it doesn't really matter for a such old game and it used to work on Win 7).

I tried both normal and setting running as XP SP3.

Any helpz ?

[sid]

I followed all the instructions by alexandgruntz and everything works fine at the main menu. When I actually start playing it runs really slow to the point where it becomes unplayable. I can pause the game and move my cursor around at normal speed but once I unpause the game it goes back to being slow.

This is a brand new computer and it runs very smoothly except for this game. I have the 64 bit version of Windows 8.

Can someone please help me! I haven't played this game in 10 years and I really want to play it again for old times sake. I created an account just for this reason.

[simik]

Hi all, even though I am running Gruntz on win 7 32 bit and I am able to install and play the game, usually the game freezes after a few minutes of playing. Any suggestions for solving this?