Any Gamers out there?

@theauthor1997

You can also right click the ISO and choose: Open with... and choose File Explorer.
That's the same as "Mounting" the ISO file.





Course: Augusta National 2009
Sand traps so pretty you "want" to land in them.

Btw... the crowds actually cheer for you when you pull off a good shot.
I think it's based on some mathematical formula for how "close" you are. Cause they definitely don't care if you actually flubbed the shot, but lucked out anyway.







For anyone else that's interested... there's 1000's of free downloadable courses out there...
I recommend downloading the courses that are in the HD section and 80MB at minimum.



Microsoft Links 2003 and all the fixin's... (works on all Windows versions... instructions included)



The game has three different swing gauges. I use the old 3 click gauge.
I think my fingers are too spastic to use either of the other two.

1st click starts the backswing
2nd click starts the foreswing and adjusts the power
3rd click adjust the hook and slice... etc.





The game has UN-required lessons, if you need the help to get started. The one lesson you really need to take... is how to get out of the sand traps. Everything else is fairly obvious for those that play these old golf games.



You can play in full screen or windowed mode. I like windowed mode because I can do other things while playing.
The highest resolution for windowed mode is 1280 x 960 x 32 bit.
My screen shots are at that resolution.
So if you have bad eyes, you might want to play full screen.



Sad to say... the game doesn't have a Scottish announcer, or any announcer.
I even posted on the forums, asking if someone had a patch for that. No one did.




This is the main screen. The only things I use are the Play Golf, the Options, and once or twice the Lessons.
I don't know if the Online still works... I doubt it. You can win fake money in Career, but I don't know what you'd do with it.
I haven't seen a Pro Shop or anything. Maybe you have to actually play Career Mode to see that?

There is quite a following for this game online, which can be accessed from the Courses link above.







Here's all the courses I have. The ones with yellow lines are the ones that come with the game.
The rest I downloaded from the link above. Just search for them by name.
A course is just a .crz file. Just drag and drop it/them, in the "COURSES" folder in the game's install directory.

I also keep another copy of the COURSES folder elsewhere, just in case I ever need to reinstall the game.

Ghot said:

The ISO is only... a RAR file because you associated WinRAR with ISO files.
If you go into WinRAR's options or settings or preferences... and un-associate WinRAR from ISO files... then when you right click an ISO, you WILL see the "Mount" option.

View attachment 51795


I use 7-zip, but it has the same problem... I had to manually un-associate 7-zip with ISO and CAB files.

View attachment 51792





As for "where" you install the program... you can leave it at default or edit the default location to somewhere else.
I installed Links 2003 on a storage drive because with all the downloaded courses you may want... it can get to be pretty large.


Mines up to 6.5GB with the extra courses.

Links 2003 keeps the save files on the Windows drive, but they are tiny. There's really not much to save except the character you chose, and that characters settings. It also saves things like the longest put or drive for each hole, etc.

It saves it in C:\Windows\Users\<user name>\Documents
So remember that if you ever reinstall Windows.

Click to expand...

Now I got the file to Mount by following your steps, and the issue comes with trying to launch. The game window pops up and then goes away to the background or just crashes and I can’t actually start the game. Any tricks to fix this?

Been deep into Dragon Age: Inquisition these days. Waiting for the full Baldur's Gate 3 to drop in August; played through early access a few times.

I find Windows 11 well optimised for my games. I have; on top of Microsoft Flight simulator and Forza Horizon 5:



many games all run very well. As you can tell I'm more into simulators than games

theauthor1997 said:

Now I got the file to Mount by following your steps, and the issue comes with trying to launch. The game window pops up and then goes away to the background or just crashes and I can’t actually start the game. Any tricks to fix this?

Click to expand...

Everything you need to know is in the instructions... the README.txt file.
You have to do it exactly like the README.txt tells you.

I hate to type... so every word in the README.txt is important.
Don't try to launch the game until it tells you to, in step #6

If you did all that and it still won't launch... try running both patches, again.

I'm assuming here... that your antivirus isn't deleting or blocking files from... doing their thing.


These are the files that "should" be in the ZIPPED file you downloaded...

I don't use Windows Defender, so if someone could download and see if Windows Defender, butchers this or not... I would appreciate it.




It's too big for Virustotal, but Bitdefender Internet Security, finds no problems...

Ghot said:

I don't use Windows Defender, so if someone could download and see if Windows Defender, butchers this or not... I would appreciate it.

Dropbox - File Deleted - Simplify your life

www.dropbox.com

It's too big for Virustotal, but Bitdefender Internet Security, finds no problems...

View attachment 51831

Click to expand...

Ok, and when I do the 1.07 final patch, it asks me to overwrite a bunch of stuff. Do I say yes to all of it?

theauthor1997 said:

Ok, and when I do the 1.07 final patch, it asks me to overwrite a bunch of stuff. Do I say yes to all of it?

Click to expand...

Yes... just do what it tells you.

One of the patches bring the game up to version 1.07 and the other makes the game run on modern computers.
RUKSHUK.exe makes the game work with no CDs inserted.


Here's where the patches came from...

The Links2003 ISO is already 2003, so you don't need any of the 2001 patches.


Links 2003 is a Microsoft game (from 2001 or 2003), so maybe Windows Defender is causing the problems?



@WXC

Could you test this out for me. I see you have an AMD vid card. That's one thing I can't test this on.
The "Nvidia" patch is for both Nvidia cards AND/OR for modern computers.
So it should be needed no matter what vid card you have.

Put all three of these in the installation folder. RUKSHUK.exe is just to overwrite the one already in there (for no CD play).
RUN (double click) the other two to patch the game to version 1.07 and for modern comps.


As I mentioned above... you may have to do the patches (Nvidia/modern comps and version 1.07) twice.
I don't think the install order for the patches, matters, but who knows.

I've been running this game on Win 10 since May 2020, and on Win 11 since Oct 2021, with no problems.
I've had it installed on the Windows drive and on storage drives... no problems in either case.

SlicEnDicE said:

All games I've tried on Windows 11 run and run equally or faster than on Win10/8/7

Click to expand...

This was a very old post I made, since then there has been many updates and of course 22H2 and all is still good and fast especially the old games and mods

Ghot said:

Yes... just do what it tells you.

One of the patches bring the game up to version 1.07 and the other makes the game run on modern computers.
RUKSHUK.exe makes the game work with no CDs inserted.


Here's where the patches came from...

Downloads for the Links Golf Game | Links Country Club

Get the latest downloads for Links 2001 and Links 2003 including courses, wallpaper and player animations

www.linkscountryclub.com

The Links2003 ISO is already 2003, so you don't need any of the 2001 patches.


Links 2003 is a Microsoft game (from 2001 or 2003), so maybe Windows Defender is causing the problems?



@WXC

Could you test this out for me. I see you have an AMD vid card. That's one thing I can't test this on.
The "Nvidia" patch is for both Nvidia cards AND/OR for modern computers.
So it should be needed no matter what vid card you have.

Put all three of these in the installation folder. RUKSHUK.exe is just to overwrite the one already in there (for no CD play).
RUN (double click) the other two to patch the game to version 1.07 and for modern comps.
View attachment 51835

As I mentioned above... you may have to do the patches (Nvidia/modern comps and version 1.07) twice.
I don't think the install order for the patches, matters, but who knows.

I've been running this game on Win 10 since May 2020, and on Win 11 since Oct 2021, with no problems.
I've had it installed on the Windows drive and on storage drives... no problems in either case.

Click to expand...

It’s weird because task manager says it’s running in the background but nothing is showing up. I definitely have followed all the instructions, and I even turned off my windows defender and reinstalled everything. Do you know what else might cause it to not come up?

I did have another thought. The closest thing to getting into the game is hitting the “play” button in the menu directly after installing it from the setup in the ISO. Do I keep that open while installing the patches and RUSH file then try to play from there?

theauthor1997 said:

It’s weird because task manager says it’s running in the background but nothing is showing up. I definitely have followed all the instructions, and I even turned off my windows defender and reinstalled everything. Do you know what else might cause it to not come up?

I did have another thought. The closest thing to getting into the game is hitting the “play” button in the menu directly after installing it from the setup in the ISO. Do I keep that open while installing the patches and RUSH file then try to play from there?

Click to expand...

No.
After the install of the basic game you need to right click the virtual Optical drive in File Explorer and choose: Eject.

Ghot said:

No.
After the install of the basic game you need to right click the virtual Optical drive in File Explorer and choose: Eject.

Click to expand...

Let me try it over and do the manual ejection

theauthor1997 said:

Let me try it over and do the manual ejection

Click to expand...

I’m gonna keep toying with it. I am determined to get this working, I NEED this game to work. There’s gonna be some silly workaround to it that I’ll find at some point

theauthor1997 said:

Let me try it over and do the manual ejection

Click to expand...

When ever you "mount" an ISO it creates a virtual DVD (optical drive) in File Explorer.
That allows you to access the setup.exe file to install the game.

As soon as it's installed... you go back into File Explorer and right click the virtual DVD and choose: Eject.

Then, you do the file replacement and the patches.

Maybe try it without the Nvidia patch?
If it doesn't work... then do the Nvidia patch as well.
At the Links 2003 forum, they said the Nvidia patch is for modern comps "and/or" Nvidia vid cards.

Origin (Electronic Arts)
Apex Legends
Need for Speed Hot Pursuit
Need for Speed Most Wanted
Need for Speed Most Wanted (2005)
Need for Speed The Run
The Sims 3 + Pets

Uplay (Ubisoft)
Assassins Creed III
Farcry 3
Watch Dogs

Rockstar Games
Grand Theft Auto V
Grand Theft Auto San Andreas
Max Payne 3

Steam
Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition
Half-Life 2
Portal
World of Warships

Ghot said:

When ever you "mount" an ISO it creates a virtual DVD (optical drive) in File Explorer.
That allows you to access the setup.exe file to install the game.

As soon as it's installed... you go back into File Explorer and right click the virtual DVD and choose: Eject.

Then, you do the file replacement and the patches.

Maybe try it without the Nvidia patch?
If it doesn't work... then do the Nvidia patch as well.
At the Links 2003 forum, they said the Nvidia patch is for modern comps "and/or" Nvidia vid cards.

Click to expand...

Do you think it might be a launch resolution issue? Because task manager says it’s running but it’s not visible to me. Ever see anything like that before?

theauthor1997 said:

Do you think it might be a launch resolution issue? Because task manager says it’s running but it’s not visible to me. Ever see anything like that before?

Click to expand...

All I've ever had was Nvidia video cards.
You haven't filled out your computer specs, so it's hard to speculate.

When I have trouble with old programs... I do things like, run everything as administrator.
Sometimes, that makes a difference.

If I uninstall a program so I can try again... I use REVO Uninstaller (free), and after the uninstall, I use it's "scan for leftovers" option as well.

It might also be your Visual C++ Runtimes.
I use all-in-one installer to make sure I have the older ones I might need...



In Programs and Features, it looks like this...



Lots of times, older games won't work without all these.
There should be an x86 and an x64 for each year, or group of years.

Ghot said:

All I've ever had was Nvidia video cards.
You haven't filled out your computer specs, so it's hard to speculate.

When I have trouble with old programs... I do things like, run everything as administrator.
Sometimes, that makes a difference.

If I uninstall a program so I can try again... I use REVO Uninstaller (free), and after the uninstall, I use it's "scan for leftovers" option as well.

It might also be your Visual C++ Runtimes.
I use all-in-one installer to make sure I have the older ones I might need...

Latest Visual C++ Redistributable Runtimes All-in-One Nov 2024 Download

This archive contains the latest version (Nov 2024) of all VCRedist Visual Studio C++ runtimes, installable with a single click by running the includ

www.techpowerup.com

In Programs and Features, it looks like this...

View attachment 51905

Lots of times, older games won't work without all these.
There should be an x86 and an x64 for each year, or group of years.

Click to expand...

So I looked into this. Turns out I didn’t have the 2008 one for some reason. I just reinstalled all of them to be safe, but still no luck.
I’ve messed around in the compatability settings and I’m hitting a brick wall still.
I even tried using a secondary program like launch box and the closest I get to launching it is when I link it with DOS BOX, and even then it starts and instantly crashes.

The only other thing I would think is to go to the extreme and install a windows XP virtual module so I can launch it from inside windows XP on my computer. Any thoughts on this?

I guess I just have really bad luck

theauthor1997 said:

So I looked into this. Turns out I didn’t have the 2008 one for some reason. I just reinstalled all of them to be safe, but still no luck.
I’ve messed around in the compatability settings and I’m hitting a brick wall still.
I even tried using a secondary program like launch box and the closest I get to launching it is when I link it with DOS BOX, and even then it starts and instantly crashes.

The only other thing I would think is to go to the extreme and install a windows XP virtual module so I can launch it from inside windows XP on my computer. Any thoughts on this?

I guess I just have really bad luck

Click to expand...

No, that's not it.
I'm NOT running in any kind of compatibility mode. I'm only running as admin... that's it.

The patch with the word "Nvidia" in it, is supposed to make it work on modern computers... just the patch.
The shortcut to start the game, goes to LinksLauncher.exe

This is my compatibility tab for the Links 2003 shortcut...






You don't have it installed on an external drive, do ya? I don't know if it will work from an external drive.
In fact, I don't think it WILL work from an external drive.

Ghot said:

No, that's not it.
I'm NOT running in any kind of compatibility mode. I'm only running as admin... that's it.

The patch with the word "Nvidia" in it, is supposed to make it work on modern computers... just the patch.
The shortcut to start the game, goes to LinksLauncher.exe

This is my compatibility tab for the Links 2003 shortcut...

View attachment 51933




You don't have it installed on an external drive, do ya? I don't know if it will work from an external drive.
In fact, I don't think it WILL work from an external drive.

Click to expand...

I mainly just installed in different locations in the C drive. At one time I did try to install it in an external but neither worked. I’ll try to reinstall it completely and use that program you mentioned to make sure all files are removed and see if it works with no comparability mode selected