This page may require
cleanup to meet basic
quality standards. The specific problem is:
Condense the Essential improvements section. GenPatcher handles most of these fixes, decide if this level of overlap is needed. You can help by
modifying
the article. The
discussion page may contain useful suggestions.
Warnings
- The macOS (OS X) version of this game does not work on macOS Catalina (version 10.15) or later due to the removal of support for 32-bit-only apps.
- GameSpy online services have been shut down (see Network for solutions).
Key points
- Small but dedicated community.
- Framerate is tied to gamespeed: 30 FPS.
General information
- C&C:Online - fan-hosted multiplayer server replacement (Windows version only)
- EA's Official Command & Conquer site
Availability
- SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows Vista and later (see above for affected versions).
- Deluxe Edition includes the base game and the Zero Hour expansion
DLC and expansion packs
Name |
Notes |
|
Command & Conquer: Generals – Zero Hour |
Comes bundled with the The First Decade and Ultimate Collection compilations. |
|
Essential improvements
Patches
- The Origin and Mac App Store versions are already patched to the latest version.
- Retail Windows Generals patch v1.08 can be downloaded in many languages from CNCNZ.
- Retail Windows Zero Hour expansion patch v1.04 can be downloaded in many languages from CNCNZ.
- Old Mac OS X version patch v1.0.4: English, French, German [9]
GenPatcher
- Simplifies installation, includes both the official patches and most community ones found below.
Officially released extra map and mission (Generals only)
- For Generals, EA Pacific released an official extra map and mission that were not included in the game.
- Download the single-player GLA-mission Black Sheep; an official campaign mission which was cut from the final release, but was released in 2009 by EA
- Download the skirmish/multiplayer map Flash Fire for two players
- Extract the folders from the ZIP-files
- Place the folders in
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Command and Conquer Generals Data\Maps
to be able to use them in-game
- Start Generals (NOT Zero Hour)
- Go to Solo Play -> Skirmish -> Select map -> Unofficial maps
- Click on either
Black Sheep
or Flash Fire
- Click on
Accept
to use the mission or map
- Click on
Play game
GenTool
- Still actively supported and updated.
- It restores online play by linking to C&C:Online and contains many enhancements and fixes for the game.
- GenTool is compatible with all the Windows-versions of Generals as long as it and the expansion are patched to the latest release.
- The in-game Gentool menu, where you can access all the features, can be opened by pressing the
Insert
-key on the keyboard.
Gentool provides enhanced game controls, optimizations and fixes for both Generals and its expansion pack Zero Hour. The latest version can be downloaded from here.
D3d8to9-wrapper
Install d3d8to9-wrapper[citation needed]
|
- Improves compatibility and stability of the game significantly by converting all Direct3D 8-API calls and lowlevel shaders to equivalent Direct3D 9 ones.
- Compatible with Gentool and online multiplayer.
- Fixes the crash when Alt-Tab out of the game for the second time. Possibly fixes other crashes as well.
- Allows the usage of ReShade, overlays and other similar tools.
- Can decrease performance on old and very slow hardware.
- Download the latest version of d3d8to9. Thus download the
d3d8.dll file.
- If you also use Gentool: rename the file to
d3d8x.dll to make sure you don't overwrite Gentool.
- Place the file in
<path-to-game> of both Generals and its expansion pack.
- Play the game.
|
Get online play working again (Windows)
Install Gentool and use C&C:Online[citation needed]
|
- This is a direct replacement for the GameSpy servers which were used officially from 2003 to 2014.
- Your game needs to be patched to the latest version for this to work.
- GenTool is needed to redirect the login screen to the C&C:Online servers instead of the closed GameSpy ones. It also provides an anti-cheat solution for online games.
- Download and install GenTool.
- Sign up on C&COnline.
- Activate your account by clicking on the activation link in the confirmation mail your received.
- Choose a server login and password.
- Start the game.
- Login online in the game with the e-mail address you used to register, your server password and a nickname of your choice.
|
Restore mod- and command-line-parameter support (Origin, The Ultimate Collection)
- The Ultimate Collection was released with no support for command-line-parameters or mods.
- These two options can be simple undone by using the
repair
option in Origin for each game in The Ultimate Collection.
Replace the executables of the games[citation needed]
|
- The executables will be replaced with original Generals and Zero Hour executables with full support for mods and command-line-parameters, but with the CD-check disabled.
- Circumvents the annoying Generals Origin Launcher by letting you start the game directly, but you can still use the origin launcher to start the game if you want.
- Fully supported by GenTool.
- Go to the Gentool Executables page.
- Download both the
Generals108EXE.zip and GeneralsZH104EXE.zip files.
- Extract
generals.exe from Generals108EXE.zip archive and place it in <path-to-game>\Command and Conquer Generals Zero Hour\Command and Conquer Generals . Confirm that you want to overwrite the original generals.exe .
- Extract
generals.exe from GeneralsZH104EXE.zip archive and place it in <path-to-game>\Command and Conquer Generals Zero Hour\Command and Conquer Generals Zero Hour . Confirm that you want to overwrite the original generals.exe .
|
Use Medstar's fixed launchers (The Ultimate Collection)[10]
|
- An unofficial patch that provides a slight enhancement to the default launchers provided with the Origin release (fixes some registry entries and allows command line arguments to function properly).
- Download the last released version from ModDB.
- Extract the file from the ZIP file.
- Run the installer.
|
Skip startup game intro
Move, delete or rename the intro-videos[11]
|
- You need to apply this to both Generals and its expansion pack Zero Hour.
- Go to
<path-to-game>\Data\english\Movies
- Move, delete or rename the following files:
EA_LOGO.BIK , EA_LOGO640.BIK , sizzle_review.bik and sizzle_review640.bik .
|
Game data
Configuration file(s) location
System |
Location |
Windows |
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Command and Conquer Generals Data\ %USERPROFILE%\Documents\Command and Conquer Generals Zero Hour Data\ |
macOS (OS X) |
~/Library/Containers/com.aspyr.command.conquer.generals.appstore/Data/Documents/Command & Conquer Generals/User Data/ ~/Library/Containers/com.aspyr.command.conquer.generals.appstore/Data/Documents/Command & Conquer Generals Zero Hour/User Data/ |
Save game data location
System |
Location |
Windows |
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Command and Conquer Generals Data\Save\ %USERPROFILE%\Documents\Command and Conquer Generals Zero Hour Data\Save\ |
macOS (OS X) |
~/Library/Containers/com.aspyr.command.conquer.generals.appstore/Data/Documents/Command & Conquer Generals/User Data/Save/ ~/Library/Containers/com.aspyr.command.conquer.generals.appstore/Data/Documents/Command & Conquer Generals Zero Hour/User Data/Save/ |
System |
Native |
Notes |
Origin |
|
|
OneDrive |
|
Requires enabling backup of the Documents folder in OneDrive on all computers. |
Video
In-game advanced video settings.
In-game options screen for Zero Hour expansion.
In-game advanced video settings for Zero Hour expansion.
- Setting the game to a resolution that is normally not available in-game, causes the game to crash after alt-tabbing out of the game for the second time. See D3d8to9-wrapper on how to fix this.
Set widescreen-resolution in-game with Gentool[citation needed]
|
- Gentool allows you to set common widescreen resolution in-game.
- Gentool also automatically adjusts camera height according to the resolution.[12]
- Install Gentool.
- Open Generals or Zero Hour.
- Go to the in-game Options-menu.
- Set the game to a resolution of your liking.
|
Set resolution manually in Options.ini[citation needed]
|
- Can be used in case Gentool doesn't allow to set the specific unusual resolution you want.
- For Generals, open
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Command and Conquer Generals Data\Options.ini
- For Zero Hour, open
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Command and Conquer Generals Zero Hour Data\Options.ini
- Change the Resolution line to your liking, like this:
Resolution = 1920 1080
|
Camera height
- Adjusted camera height only applied to replays and singleplayer.
Adjust camera height in-game through Gentool[citation needed]
|
- This also sets the game to automatically draw the entire map to avoid visual glitches at high camera heights.
- Install Gentool.
- Open Generals or Zero Hour.
- Press the
Insert -key on your keyboard to open the in-game Gentool menu.
- Increase the
camera height by a total maximum of 1000.
|
Adjust camera height[citation needed]
|
- It seems like this often doesn't work.
- Using this in online matches could be seen as cheating.
- For Zero Hour, go to
<path-to-game>\Data\INI and paste the file GameData.ini into this folder
- You can get a modified version of this file on Mod DB
- Change the height of the camera to your liking, like this:
MaxCameraHeight = 800.0
DrawEntireTerrain = Yes
|
Input
Audio
Audio feature |
State |
Notes |
Separate volume controls |
|
|
Surround sound |
|
Uses whatever your speaker layout is for the default playback device. Only tested on Win10 w/ Origin Edition. (When using Dolby Digital Live on a Sound Blaster Z) |
Subtitles |
|
|
Closed captions |
|
|
Mute on focus lost |
|
|
Localizations
Language |
UI |
Audio |
Sub |
Notes |
English |
|
|
|
|
French |
|
|
|
|
German |
|
|
|
An uncensored version of C&C Generals was shortly sold. The censored version, titled "C&C Generäle", is more widely available and known and uses separate patches. |
Italian |
|
|
|
|
Korean |
|
|
|
|
Polish |
|
|
|
|
Brazilian Portuguese |
|
|
|
|
Spanish |
|
|
|
|
Traditional Chinese |
|
|
|
Not available in P.R.China. |
Russian |
|
|
|
Fan translation by «DK team» |
Network
Multiplayer types
Type |
Native |
Players |
Notes |
LAN play |
| 8 |
|
Online play |
| 8 |
Official services have been shut down; use GenTool to get online play working again (Windows only). |
Connection types
Ports
Protocol |
Port(s) and/or port range(s) |
TCP |
80, 6667, 28910, 29900, 29920 |
UDP |
4321, 27900 |
- Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) support status is unknown.
VR support
Issues fixed
Game does not start or is very slow (Origin)
Disable Origin in-game[citation needed]
|
- This issue affects especially old versions of Origin. It seems that nowadays Origin in-game doesn't cause these issues anymore.
- Select the My Games tab in Origin.
- Right-click Generals/Zero Hour and select "Game Properties".
- Check the "Disable Origin in Game for this game" option.
- Click OK and launch the game.
|
"Technical Difficulties" error/Serious Error
- This problem occurs on most game errors and is not descriptive; one of the methods below should fix most common causes:
Create or edit Options.ini[13]
|
- The install process very often fails to create
Options.ini , causing this error.
- For Generals, open
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Command and Conquer Generals Data\options.ini
- For Zero Hour, open
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Command and Conquer Generals Zero Hour Data\options.ini
- Create
options.ini yourself if it isn't located in that folder!
- Replace its contents with the following and save your changes:
AntiAliasing =
DrawScrollAnchor =
GameSpyIPAddress = 0.0.0.0
Gamma = 50
IPAddress = 0.0.0.0
IdealStaticGameLOD = High
LanguageFilter = false
MoveScrollAnchor =
MusicVolume = 55
Resolution = 800 600
SFX3DVolume = 79
SFXVolume = 71
ScrollFactor = 50
SendDelay = no
StaticGameLOD = Low
UseAlternateMouse = no
VoiceVolume = 70
|
Set Windows XP Service Pack 2 compatibility mode[citation needed]
|
- Go to the properties of
generals.exe or one of its shortcuts.
- Enable Windows XP Service Pack 2 compatibility mode.
|
Fully reinstall[14]
|
- A full reinstallation is a last resort that seems to work for most users.
|
DirectX 8.1 error (Windows)
- Full error: 'Please make sure your have DirectX 8.1 or higher installed. Also verify that your video card meets the minimum requirements'.
Install DirectX 9.0c[15]
|
- Happens when DirectX 9.0c, DirctX 8.1 is included, is not yet installed on your Windows installation.
- Download the DirctX End-User Runtimes (June 2010). It contains DirectX 9.0c.
- Run the downloaded installer.
- Tell it to extract the necessary files to a folder of your choosing.
- Go to the folder where you extracted the files to.
- Run DXSETUP.exe as administrator.
- Install it.
- You can now safely remove the extracted files from step 3. They are no longer needed.
- Reboot your computer.
|
Remove dbghelp.dll[16]
|
- Known error; sometimes the dbghelp.dll file, a debug file, gets accidentially left in the installation folder and cause problems.
- Go to
<path-to-game> .
- Locate
dbghelp.dll and delete it.
|
Serious error/crash when Alt-Tab out of the game for the second time
- This is caused by the outdated engine.
- Happens especially when the game is set to resolutions that it originally didn't support.
Set Windows XP Service Pack 2 compatibility mode[citation needed]
|
- It is a very rare issue.
- This can also be done intentionally by running the game with the
-quickstart parameter to speed up initial loading.
- Go to the properties of
generals.exe or one of its shortcuts.
- Enable Windows XP Service Pack 2 compatibility mode.
|
Other information
API
Technical specs |
Supported |
Notes |
Direct3D |
8.1 |
|
OpenGL |
|
OS X only. |
Shader Model support |
1.4 |
[citation needed] |
Executable | PPC |
32-bit |
64-bit |
Notes |
Windows | |
|
|
|
macOS (OS X) | | |
|
Install the version 1.0.4 patch for Intel support. 32-bit only as a planned 64-bit update was cancelled in May 2020. |
Middleware
System requirements
Windows |
|
Minimum |
Recommended |
Operating system (OS) |
98 |
ME, 2000, XP |
Processor (CPU) |
Intel Pentium III 800 MHz AMD Athlon 800 MHz | |
System memory (RAM) |
128 MB |
256 MB |
Hard disk drive (HDD) |
1.8 GB | |
Video card (GPU) |
Nvidia GeForce 2 ATI Radeon 7500 32 MB of VRAM DirectX 8.1 compatible
| Nvidia GeForce 3 DirectX 9.0c compatible |
macOS (OS X) |
|
Minimum |
Operating system (OS) |
10.9.5 |
Processor (CPU) |
Intel 2.2 GHz |
System memory (RAM) |
4 GB |
Hard disk drive (HDD) |
5 GB |
Video card (GPU) |
ATI Radeon HD 3870 Nvidia GeForce 330M Intel HD 3000 256 MB of VRAM |
- OS X requirements are for the Mac App Store version
Notes
- ↑ SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows 10[5] or Windows 11 and is disabled by default on Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 when the KB3086255 update is installed.[6]
- ↑ SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows 10[7] or Windows 11 and is disabled by default on Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 when the KB3086255 update is installed.[8]
References