Hey,

some old games, like Age of Empires 2, aren't working on windows 10. When launching, windows 10 reports that "DirectPlay" should be installed first. This seems to be a part of the older Direct X versions?
However, the game doesn't work after using the installer for DirectPlay, and an error message pops up. (0xc0000022)

I have also tried activating DirectPlay through control panel under "legacy content", but after restarting the computer to finish the installation, the tick isn't checked anymore.

Has anyone found a solution to this?
I suppose a virtual windows XP would be one way to play these games, but is there anything else?
If not, any tips or recommendations towards setting up virtual xp is appreciated.

If you are using the discs, then you are up against DRM crap. I believe it's called SafeDisc for the AOE games.

Compatibility mode for windows xp and run as admin.

I don't have optical drive anymore, so that's not the case for me. Using ISO and virtual drive.



Unfortunately this doesn't help.

IF the ISOs that you are using, are from the original discs, then they will have SafeDisc, which Windows 10 can't handle.

But as you've surmised virtual XP would work. Windows 10 Pro and up has that already built in, Windows 10 Home does not.

Vmware