UserPatch v1.4 RC Installer
http://userpatch.aiscripters.net/
The installer will automatically associate .mgx and .mgz files, so you can just browse to them in Windows Explorer, File Explorer, or My Computer, double-click them, and they will open directly in-game. Your rec files must be in the usual "SaveGame" folder for this to work. The v1.4 age2_x1.exe can open v1.4, v1.3, and v1.0c rec files in this way. After watching a rec, close the game and double-click the next one to watch it. See the guide for more information.
Standard Install (update your existing "age2_x1.exe")
1. Extract "SetupAoC.exe" into your "Age of Empires II" folder.
2. Run "SetupAoC.exe" (admin privileges may be required).
3. Select the feature checkboxes to install.
4. Uncheck the "Port forwarding support" checkbox.
5. Click "Install".
Alternate Install (create a separate "age2_x1.4.exe", which is best for Voobly players)
1. Extract "SetupAoC.exe" into your "Age of Empires II" folder.
2. Run "SetupAoC.exe" (admin privileges may be required).
3. Select the feature checkboxes to install.
4. Uncheck the "Port forwarding support" checkbox.
5. Hold the Ctrl+Alt keys and click "Install".
Uninstall (for both install methods)
1. Run "SetupAoC.exe".
2. Click the "Uninstall" button.
3. Close and delete "SetupAoC.exe".
Port Forwarding Support
This checkbox should only be used if you can't manually forward your ports. If you installed the "Port forwarding support" feature, and game startup/shutdown takes an excessively long period of time, please reinstall the update without that feature, or delete "miniupnpc.dll" from the "age2_x1" folder to disable it. This file is used for UPnP port forwarding support, but on some routers (and when UPnP is unavailable), it can take more time than usual before it abandons its router search. This delay may also occur if you are directly connected to your modem, and have no router at all.
Rec Viewer Performance
For v1.4, performance for single player mode, the spectator system, and the rec viewer has been increased up to 3-5x, depending on the system. If, for any reason, you are experiencing poor performance, it may be related to the use of windowed mode. To disable windowed mode and use basic fullscreen mode like v1.0c, you can either use the "NOWND" shortcut parameter for "age2_x1.exe", or delete "wndmode.dll" in the "age2_x1" folder.
Release Candidate Status
Please note that v1.4 is not yet finalized and remains subject to change.
http://userpatch.aiscripters.net/
The installer will automatically associate .mgx and .mgz files, so you can just browse to them in Windows Explorer, File Explorer, or My Computer, double-click them, and they will open directly in-game. Your rec files must be in the usual "SaveGame" folder for this to work. The v1.4 age2_x1.exe can open v1.4, v1.3, and v1.0c rec files in this way. After watching a rec, close the game and double-click the next one to watch it. See the guide for more information.
Standard Install (update your existing "age2_x1.exe")
1. Extract "SetupAoC.exe" into your "Age of Empires II" folder.
2. Run "SetupAoC.exe" (admin privileges may be required).
3. Select the feature checkboxes to install.
4. Uncheck the "Port forwarding support" checkbox.
5. Click "Install".
Alternate Install (create a separate "age2_x1.4.exe", which is best for Voobly players)
1. Extract "SetupAoC.exe" into your "Age of Empires II" folder.
2. Run "SetupAoC.exe" (admin privileges may be required).
3. Select the feature checkboxes to install.
4. Uncheck the "Port forwarding support" checkbox.
5. Hold the Ctrl+Alt keys and click "Install".
Uninstall (for both install methods)
1. Run "SetupAoC.exe".
2. Click the "Uninstall" button.
3. Close and delete "SetupAoC.exe".
Port Forwarding Support
This checkbox should only be used if you can't manually forward your ports. If you installed the "Port forwarding support" feature, and game startup/shutdown takes an excessively long period of time, please reinstall the update without that feature, or delete "miniupnpc.dll" from the "age2_x1" folder to disable it. This file is used for UPnP port forwarding support, but on some routers (and when UPnP is unavailable), it can take more time than usual before it abandons its router search. This delay may also occur if you are directly connected to your modem, and have no router at all.
Rec Viewer Performance
For v1.4, performance for single player mode, the spectator system, and the rec viewer has been increased up to 3-5x, depending on the system. If, for any reason, you are experiencing poor performance, it may be related to the use of windowed mode. To disable windowed mode and use basic fullscreen mode like v1.0c, you can either use the "NOWND" shortcut parameter for "age2_x1.exe", or delete "wndmode.dll" in the "age2_x1" folder.
Release Candidate Status
Please note that v1.4 is not yet finalized and remains subject to change.
UserPatch v1.4 RC Preinstalled (not up-to-date)
http://www.files.com/shared/525f32c33b6ac/age2_x1.4.rar
The preinstalled archive can be used if you have trouble using the installer. After extracting the preinstalled archive files, it's likely that the installer will work, so if you'd like to change any features later or automatically associate your rec files to open directly in-game, please try it. Otherwise, please see the instructions below for manually associating .mgz and .mgx rec files to open directly in-game.
Setting up the Preinstalled Archive
1. Please make a backup copy of your "Age2_x1" folder first.
2. Make sure the game is not running.
3. Copy all files from the archive into your "Age2_x1" folder.
4. If you play on Voobly, rename the new "age2_x1.exe" to "age2_x1.4.exe".
5. Delete "miniupnpc.dll" if you wish to disable UPnP port forwarding.
6. Delete "wndmode.dll" if you wish to disable windowed mode.
Uninstalling
1. Restore your backup of the "Age2_x1" folder.
Manually Associate Recs
If you play on Voobly, it may be a good idea to rename "age2_x1.exe" to "age2_x1.4.exe", since it's likely that Voobly will revert the exe the next time you play there. If you do this, you'll need to manually associate .mgz and .mgx with the exe with the following method.
1. Right-click a .mgz rec file inside the "SaveGame" folder.
2. If it shows "Open with...", click that; otherwise, click "Open".
3. It will prompt you, asking what program to use to open it with.
4. Browse to "age2_x1.exe" (or "age2_x1.4.exe" if you renamed it) and select it.
5. It should open directly in-game. After this, a double-click should open them directly.
6. Repeat this process for a .mgx rec file.
Manual Install Color Note
If you have corrupt colors, you can use DirectDrawFix to correct it:
http://aok.heavengames.com/blacksmith/s ... leid=11108
Using DirectDrawFix
1. Extract the DirectDrawFix archive anywhere.
2. Run "DirectDrawFix.exe".
3. Browse to "age2_x1.exe" (or "age2_x1.4.exe" if you renamed it) and click "Apply".
4. Close the app, delete it and the archive.
http://www.files.com/shared/525f32c33b6ac/age2_x1.4.rar
The preinstalled archive can be used if you have trouble using the installer. After extracting the preinstalled archive files, it's likely that the installer will work, so if you'd like to change any features later or automatically associate your rec files to open directly in-game, please try it. Otherwise, please see the instructions below for manually associating .mgz and .mgx rec files to open directly in-game.
Setting up the Preinstalled Archive
1. Please make a backup copy of your "Age2_x1" folder first.
2. Make sure the game is not running.
3. Copy all files from the archive into your "Age2_x1" folder.
4. If you play on Voobly, rename the new "age2_x1.exe" to "age2_x1.4.exe".
5. Delete "miniupnpc.dll" if you wish to disable UPnP port forwarding.
6. Delete "wndmode.dll" if you wish to disable windowed mode.
Uninstalling
1. Restore your backup of the "Age2_x1" folder.
Manually Associate Recs
If you play on Voobly, it may be a good idea to rename "age2_x1.exe" to "age2_x1.4.exe", since it's likely that Voobly will revert the exe the next time you play there. If you do this, you'll need to manually associate .mgz and .mgx with the exe with the following method.
1. Right-click a .mgz rec file inside the "SaveGame" folder.
2. If it shows "Open with...", click that; otherwise, click "Open".
3. It will prompt you, asking what program to use to open it with.
4. Browse to "age2_x1.exe" (or "age2_x1.4.exe" if you renamed it) and select it.
5. It should open directly in-game. After this, a double-click should open them directly.
6. Repeat this process for a .mgx rec file.
Manual Install Color Note
If you have corrupt colors, you can use DirectDrawFix to correct it:
http://aok.heavengames.com/blacksmith/s ... leid=11108
Using DirectDrawFix
1. Extract the DirectDrawFix archive anywhere.
2. Run "DirectDrawFix.exe".
3. Browse to "age2_x1.exe" (or "age2_x1.4.exe" if you renamed it) and click "Apply".
4. Close the app, delete it and the archive.