Service Depot: Installing Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun & Firestorm

This guide will show you how to install Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun and its Firestorm expansion pack on modern operating systems, with different sections covering different releases of the game.


Installation – retail CD version

  1. Insert either Tiberian Sun disc to the CD/DVD drive.
  2. Exit the autorun and run setup.exe from the disc’s setup subfolder as administrator. (not applicable toWindows XP)
  3. Install the game.
  4. Repeat steps 2-4 with the Firestorm disc.
  5. Patch the game to version 2.03, the latest official patch. (mirrors)
  6. Patch the game with the latest version of FunkyFr3sh’s setup.
  7. Apply the desired settings (resolution, graphics levels…) from the TSConfig.exe file that is now present in the Tiberian Sun directory.
  8. Run the game.

To use the no-CD function present in TSConfig.exe, copy these files from the discs to your Tiberian Sun directory:

  • Tiberian Sun GDI disc – maps01.mix, movies01.mix, multi.mix (except if you install Firestorm), scores.mix, sidecd01.mix, TS1.dsk.
  • Tiberian Sun Nod disc – maps02.mix, movies02.mix, sidecd02.mix, TS2.dsk.
  • Tiberian Sun Firestorm disc – e01scd01.mix, e01scd02.mix, maps03.mix, movies03.mix (rename this to something like expand03.mix), multi.mix (overwrite the one from vanilla Tiberian Sun), scores01.mix, TS3.dsk.

Installation – freeware 2010 version from Electronic Arts

  1. Download and extract this release to a clean and accessible directory.
  2. Using a text editor, open tibsun_regadd.reg from within this release (DO NOT run it yet!) and modify all instances of the InstallPath value to the directory from step 1. Note that two backslashes (\) need to be used in the path.
  3. Run tibsun_regadd.reg by double-clicking on it.
  4. Patch the game with the latest version of FunkyFr3sh’s setup.
  5. Apply the desired settings (resolution, graphics levels…) from the TSConfig.exe file that is now present in the Tiberian Sun directory.
  6. Run the game.

Installation – C&C Communications Center version

  1. Download and install this release. Tick options for missions, music and videos. Tick other options as desired.
  2. Apply the desired settings (resolution, graphics levels…) from the TSConfig.exe file that is now present in the Tiberian Sun directory.
  3. Run the game.

Installation – retail The First Decade version

Although the installer of The First Decade enables you to select the games you wish to install, this guide assumes that you intend to install C&C: Tiberian Sun and Firestorm only. For a more complete solution, check out the guide titled Fully Updating The First Decade.
  1. Insert the The First Decade disc to the DVD drive.
  2. Exit the autorun, and run setup.exe on the disc as administrator. (not applicable to Windows XP)
  3. Follow the instructions on the screen. Choose a custom installation and select C&C: Tiberian Sun and Firestorm to install.
  4. Patch the game with the latest version of FunkyFr3sh’s setup.
  5. Apply the desired settings (resolution, graphics levels…) from the TSConfig.exe file that is now present in the Tiberian Sun directory.
  6. Run the game.

Installation – Steam and EA App versions

  1. Download and install the game from the Steam or EA App client.
  2. Patch the game with the latest version of FunkyFr3sh’s setup.
  3. Apply the desired settings (resolution, graphics levels…) from the TSConfig.exe file that is now present in the Tiberian Sun directory.
  4. Run the game.

Alternate renderers

Explanation

For many old games which used DirectDraw to display graphics, including Tiberian Sun, there have been problems when running on Windows Vista and newer due to deteriorating support for that library.

Multiple custom-made display wrappers have appeared over the years. They differ in their implementation, and perform better in different games and for different hardware.

Usage

If the default renderer from the Steam or EA App versions (DDrawCompat by narzoul) does not work on a particular system, switch to any of the following alternatives by extracting them to the game directories:


Setting custom display settings

Apply the desired settings (resolution, graphics levels…) from the TSConfig.exe executable that is now present in the games’ directories.

Resolutions can also be changed manually by opening sun.ini in a text editor and changing the ScreenWidth and ScreenHeight values under the [Video] section (may require a first launch if they are not present).

For the Steam and EA App versions specifically, one extra step is required if you decide to stick with the default DDrawCompat renderer. From the game’s directory, open DDrawCompat.ini in a text editor, and in the SupportedResolutions entry, add the resolution(s) you intend to use OR delete that entry entirely.


Multiplayer

For online multiplayer, please refer to the CnCNet service.

LAN will not work by default on modern systems as the game relies on the deprecated IPX protocol. Solutions:

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