Westwood Online Support Library: How to Fix Red Alert 2 Online Issues
How to Download Westwood Online Support Library for Red Alert 2
Red Alert 2 is one of the most popular games in the Command & Conquer series. It is a real-time strategy game that pits the Allies against the Soviets in an alternate history scenario where World War III erupts. The game features a variety of units, buildings, technologies, and superweapons, as well as a captivating single-player campaign and a multiplayer mode.
download westwood online support library red alert 2
However, Red Alert 2 is also an old game that was designed for lower resolution monitors and older operating systems. Many players may encounter difficulties when trying to play the game online or on Windows 10/11. Fortunately, there are ways to overcome these challenges and enjoy the game in its full glory.
In this article, we will show you how to download and install the Westwood online support library for Red Alert 2, which is a necessary component for playing online. We will also provide you with some troubleshooting tips and some cheats and mods that can enhance your gaming experience.
Installation guide
The installation process of Red Alert 2 may vary depending on which version of the game you have and which operating system you are using. Here are some general steps that you can follow:
If you have the retail CD version of Red Alert 2 (not The First Decade version), you will need to contact EA Support and provide your serial key to redeem the game on your Origin account. This is because Microsoft has removed the SafeDisc copy protection driver from Windows, which prevents the game from installing from the disc.
If you have The First Decade version or the Origin version of Red Alert 2, you can install the game normally by following the instructions on the screen. You can also download the C&C Ultimate Collection from Origin, which includes all 12 Command & Conquer games.
After installing the game, you will need to patch it to the latest official version (1.006 for Red Alert 2 and 1.001 for Yuri's Revenge). You can download the patches from our site or from one of these mirrors:
Chinese v1.006 patch
English v1.006 patch
French v1.006 patch
German v1.006 patch
Korean v1.006 patch
Next, you will need to download and install the CnCNet Launcher, which is a community update that provides online services, bug fixes, and compatibility fixes for Red Alert 2. You can get it from here.
Finally, you will need to download and install the Westwood online support library for Red Alert 2, which is required for playing online. You can get it from here.
Troubleshooting tips
If you encounter any problems while playing Red Alert 2, such as black screen, fatal string manager error, chronosphere glitch, or low frame rate, here are some possible solutions that you can try:
Run the game as administrator and in compatibility mode for Windows XP SP3. You can do this by right-clicking on the game's executable file or shortcut, selecting Properties, and then going to the Compatibility tab.
Disable any antivirus or firewall software that may interfere with the game. You can also add the game's folder to the exceptions list of your security software.
Adjust the game's resolution and color depth to match your monitor's settings. You can do this by editing the ra2.ini and ra2md.ini files in your game's folder. Look for the lines that say [Video] and change the values of ScreenWidth, ScreenHeight, and StretchMovies to your desired values. For example, if you want to play in 1920x1080 resolution, you can change the lines to:
[Video] ScreenWidth=1920 ScreenHeight=1080 StretchMovies=yes
If you have a black screen or a fatal string manager error, you may need to disable the video back buffer option. You can do this by editing the ra2.ini and ra2md.ini files in your game's folder. Look for the line that says VideoBackBuffer=no and change it to VideoBackBuffer=yes.
If you have a chronosphere glitch, where your units disappear after using the chronosphere superweapon, you may need to disable the hardware acceleration option. You can do this by editing the ra2.ini and ra2md.ini files in your game's folder. Look for the line that says UseGraphicsPatch=yes and change it to UseGraphicsPatch=no.
If you have a low frame rate or stuttering, you may need to enable the high performance power plan on your computer. You can do this by going to the Control Panel, selecting Power Options, and choosing High Performance.
Cheats and mods
If you want to spice up your gameplay with some cheats and mods, there are plenty of options available for Red Alert 2. Here are some of the best ones that we recommend:
Cheat/ModDescriptionHow to use
High resolution modeThis mod allows you to play Red Alert 2 in resolutions higher than 1280x1024, such as 1920x1080 or 2560x1440.You can download the mod from here and follow the instructions on how to install it.
Mobile triple nukeThis cheat gives you a mobile nuclear missile launcher that can fire three nukes at once.You can activate this cheat by typing "NUKE" in the chat box during a skirmish or multiplayer game.
Warhammer 40k conversionThis mod transforms Red Alert 2 into a Warhammer 40k-themed game, with new units, buildings, sounds, music, and graphics.You can download the mod from here and follow the instructions on how to install it.
Mental OmegaThis mod is a fan-made expansion pack for Red Alert 2 that adds a new faction, new campaigns, new units, new maps, new features, and more.You can download the mod from here and follow the instructions on how to install it.
Conclusion
Red Alert 2 is a classic game that deserves to be played by every strategy fan. With some tweaks and updates, you can enjoy it on Windows 10/11 without any issues. You can also enhance your gameplay with some cheats and mods that add more fun and variety to the game.
We hope that this article has helped you learn how to download and install the Westwood online support library for Red Alert 2, as well as some troubleshooting tips and some cheats and mods. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. Happy gaming!
FAQs
Q: How can I play Red Alert 2 online with other players?
A: You can play Red Alert 2 online with other players by using the CnCNet Launcher, which is a community update that provides online services, bug fixes, and compatibility fixes for Red Alert 2. You can get it from here. After installing the CnCNet Launcher, you can launch the game and select the Online option from the main menu. You will be able to join or create a game lobby and chat with other players. You can also customize your game settings, such as game mode, map, teams, and rules.
Q: How can I play Red Alert 2 on a Mac or Linux computer?
A: You can play Red Alert 2 on a Mac or Linux computer by using a software called Wine, which is a compatibility layer that allows you to run Windows applications on other operating systems. You can download Wine from here. After installing Wine, you can follow the same steps as for Windows to install and run the game. However, you may need to tweak some settings or install some additional libraries to make the game work properly. You can find more information and guides on how to play Red Alert 2 on Mac or Linux on the CnCNet forums or on other websites.
Q: How can I backup or restore my Red Alert 2 save files?
A: You can backup or restore your Red Alert 2 save files by locating and copying the files in your game's folder. The save files are usually stored in a subfolder called Save or Saved Games, depending on which version of the game you have. The save files have the extension .sav for single-player games and .mpr for multiplayer games. You can copy these files to another location, such as a USB drive or a cloud storage service, and then paste them back to the same folder if you want to restore them.
Q: How can I uninstall Red Alert 2 from my computer?
A: You can uninstall Red Alert 2 from your computer by following these steps:
If you have the retail CD version of Red Alert 2 (not The First Decade version), you can use the uninstaller that came with the disc. You can find it by going to the Start menu, selecting Programs, and then choosing Westwood or EA Games. Alternatively, you can insert the disc and run the setup.exe file, which will give you the option to uninstall the game.
If you have The First Decade version or the Origin version of Red Alert 2, you can use the Windows Control Panel to uninstall the game. You can do this by going to the Start menu, selecting Settings, and then choosing Apps. Find Red Alert 2 or The First Decade in the list of installed programs and click on Uninstall.
After uninstalling the game, you may want to delete any leftover files or folders in your game's directory. You can also delete any registry entries related to the game by using a registry cleaner software or by editing the registry manually. However, be careful when doing this, as deleting the wrong entries may cause problems for your system.
Q: Where can I find more information and resources about Red Alert 2?
A: There are many websites and forums where you can find more information and resources about Red Alert 2, such as news, reviews, guides, tips, tricks, cheats, mods, downloads, videos, screenshots, wallpapers, and more. Some of the most popular ones are:
CnCNet: This is the official website of the CnCNet Launcher, which provides online services, bug fixes, and compatibility fixes for Red Alert 2. You can also find forums, downloads, tutorials, and more.
ModDB: This is one of the largest websites for modding games, including Red Alert 2. You can find hundreds of mods for Red Alert 2 that add new features, units, maps, graphics, sounds, music, and more.
GameFAQs: This is one of the oldest and most comprehensive websites for gaming information, including Red Alert 2. You can find FAQs, walkthroughs, cheats, secrets, reviews, ratings, and more.
YouTube: This is the most popular video-sharing platform, where you can find thousands of videos related to Red Alert 2, such as gameplay, commentary, tutorials, reviews, trailers, and more.
Reddit: This is one of the largest online communities, where you can find subreddits dedicated to Red Alert 2 and other Command & Conquer games. You can join the discussions, ask questions, share your opinions, post your creations, and more.
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