Gears of War for Windows Readme File

September 2007
2007 Epic Games, Inc. All rights reserved.
Gears of War is a registered trademarks of Epic Games, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All rights
reserved. All trademarks and registered trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.

Welcome to Gears of War for Windows

This Readme file contains updated information as well as troubleshooting information about
Gears of War for Windows. You can find information on Microsoft Customer Support in the printed
or online manual.

Contents
A. System Requirements......................................................................................................... 1
B. Installation............................................................................................................................ 2
Installing DirectX 9.0c.......................................................................................................... 2
Installation Tips.................................................................................................................... 3
Starting Gears of War for Windows....................................................................................3
C. Using the Game Editor........................................................................................................ 3
D. Getting Help.......................................................................................................................... 3
Overview............................................................................................................................... 4
Viewing the Online Manual.................................................................................................. 4
E. Known Gameplay Issues..................................................................................................... 4
F. Known Configuration Issues............................................................................................... 4
G. Known Graphics Issues...................................................................................................... 5
Graphics Card Drivers and Manufacturers........................................................................6
Graphics Card Manufacturers Web Sites..........................................................................6
H. Known Audio Issues............................................................................................................ 7
General Audio Issues........................................................................................................... 7

A. System Requirements
Gears of War for Windows requires a personal computer with the following minimum system
requirements:

2.4-gigahertz (GHz) or faster Intel processor, or 2.0 GHz or faster AMD processor.
Microsoft Windows XP (Service Pack 2) or Windows Vista.
1 gigabyte (GB) of RAM.
12 GB of available hard disk space.
NVIDIA GeForce 6600 or better graphics card, or ATI X700 or better graphics card.
Support for DirectX 9.0c or later. DirectX 9.0c is included on the DVD.
Microsoft keyboard and mouse or Microsoft-compatible keyboard and pointing device.
Sound card and speakers or headphones for optional audio.
Internet access for optional Gears of War downloadable content.

B. Installation
This section describes how to manually install the software components necessary to play Gears
of War for Windows in the event that they are not installed automatically.
When you insert the Gears of War for Windows DVD into the drive, Setup should begin
automatically. Click Install to install all necessary files in their default locations.
If your computer does not automatically start Gears of War for Windows after the DVD is inserted
into the drive, perform the following procedure.
To install the game manually on a computer running Windows XP
1. On the Windows taskbar, click Start, and then click Run.
2. Type x:\autorun, where x is the letter of your DVD-ROM drive, and then click OK.
For example, if your DVD-ROM drive letter is D, type d:\autorun
3. Click Install, and then follow the instructions that appear on the screen.
To install the game manually on a computer running Windows Vista
1. On the Windows taskbar, click the Start button.
2. In the Start Search box, type x:\autorun, where x is the letter of your DVD-ROM drive, and
then press ENTER.
For example, if your DVD-ROM drive letter is D, type d:\autorun

3. Click Allow, and then follow the instructions that appear on the screen.

Installing DirectX 9.0c

If your computer is running Windows XP and for some reason DirectX 9.0c was not installed with
the game, use the following procedure to install it manually.
To install DirectX 9.0c manually
1. Insert the Gears of War for Windows DVD in the DVD-ROM drive.
2. On the Windows taskbar, click Start, and then click Run.
3. Type x:\directx\dxsetup, where x is the letter of your DVD-ROM drive, and then click OK.
For example, if your DVD-ROM drive letter is D, type d:\directx\dxsetup
4. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen.
You must restart your computer when installation is complete.
If you experience video, graphics, or sound problems using DirectX, check with your graphics or
sound card manufacturer for the latest DirectX-compatible drivers, or go to
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/directx/ for the latest troubleshooting information.

Installation Tips
If you have problems installing Gears of War, try the following troubleshooting steps in the order
they are listed:
1. Before installing Gears of War for Windows, make sure all open software applications,
including antivirus software, are closed.
2. Inspect the Gears of War for Windows DVD for visible deformation or scratches. If the disc is
damaged, contact Microsoft Sales to obtain a replacement. The phone number for the sales
office in your area can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/worldwide/.
3. Clean the Gears of War for Windows DVD. To do this, use a cleaning kit, or gently wipe the
silver side of the DVD with a soft, lint-free cotton cloth. Do not use paper cloth, which can
scratch the plastic and leave streaks. When you clean the DVD, wipe from the center of the
disc outward. Do not use a circular motion. If the installation issue is not resolved, try cleaning
the DVD with a damp cloth or a commercial DVD-cleaning solution. Dry the DVD thoroughly
before you insert it into the drive.

Starting Gears of War for Windows

To start Gears of War for Windows on a computer running Windows XP

Double-click the Gears of War icon on the Windows desktop.

or

If you chose not to have a desktop icon added during installation, you can start the game by
clicking Start on the Windows taskbar, pointing to All Programs, Microsoft Games, and
Gears of War , and then clicking Gears of War.

To start Gears of War for Windows on a computer running Windows Vista

On the Windows taskbar, click the Start button, point to All Programs, click Games, click
Games Explorer, and then double-click the Gears of War icon.

C. Using the Game Editor

Gears of War for Windows includes a game editor on disc. For more information on working with
this game editor, see http://udn.epicgames.com/three/gearsmodhome. This editor is provided on
an as-is basis and without any warranty of any kind, and it is unsupported by Epic and by
Microsoft.
Note: Respect the rights of others. By making custom content available, you acknowledge that
you are solely responsible for that content. You agree that you have all necessary rights to make
any content publicly available and that it complies with all applicable laws and does not violate the
rights of any person or entity.
Publishing maps with Microsoft Vista might require that you start the game as an
Administrator: To do this, go to Start, Run, and then type cmd. Right-click cmd, and then
select Run as Administrator. Click Allow to elevate privileges. Go to the Game install director
(default C:\ProgramFiles\MicrosoftGames\GearsofWar), create the map and then publish it.

D. Getting Help
Overview
You can get help for Gears of War for Windows in the following ways:

Visit the official Web site for the latest updates and support information:
http://www.gearsofwar.com/.

For an overview of the game as well as for information about getting started and playing the
game, see the printed manual.

Viewing the Online Manual

Adobe Reader allows you to view and print the online version of the Gears of War manual, which
is located in the main Gears of War folder on the game DVD as a .pdf file.
To install Adobe Reader

Visit the Adobe Web site: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readermain.html

Copyright 2007 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All rights reserved.

Adobe and Reader are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States
and/or other countries.

E. Known Gameplay Issues

Game does not start on some Samsung DVD drives: If you attempt to start the game with
some Samsung DVD drives, Startup.exe may crash. To fix this problem, restart the game.
Player cannot obtain Pistolero achievement in player matches: If you play a player match
and kill someone in "execution" style, that kill only counts toward the match and does not add a
headshot or pistol kill to your statistics.
Roadie running cannot be performed when playing in the game editor: When you play a
game in the game editor, you cannot turn while roadie running. To fix this problem, run the game
once before using the game editor.

F. Known Configuration Issues

Visit the official Web site for the latest updates and support information:
http://www.gearsofwar.com/.
Certain keys on non-English keyboards do not function correctly: On some non-English
keyboards, certain keys do not work as expected. In other words, what appears when you press
the key is not what is printed on the key. To fix this problem, remap any problem keys.
Input Method Editors (IME) can only be used within the Guide if you install additional
keyboard (US) from the control panel and press (ALT+Shift) to cycle from that keyboard to
the alternative keyboard: To fix this problem, install the US keyboard from the Control Panel (go
to Control Panel, Regional and Language Options, Languages, Details, Add, and then English
(United States). Then start the game, press the Home key to display the Guide, and then on any
screen that accepts text input, press ALT+SHIFT to cycle the US keyboard to the IME keyboard.

Some issues with Windows Vista and graphics virtual addresses cause the game to stop:
To run Gears of War with Windows Vista on certain hardware, a software update or updates are
required. If you do not install this software, at some point the game will stop and your progress
will be lost. One update resolves potential problems with graphics virtual addresses, as described
in Microsoft Knowledge Base article 940105 (KB940105). The other update helps resolve a
secondary graphics card operability issue when running DirectX 10 applications on multiple
graphics cards, as described in KB936710. To install this software, go to the
www.gearsofwar.com/about/qfe2 website. To search the Microsoft Knowledge Base for an article,
go to http://support.microsoft.com/search/
After upgrading from Windows XP to Windows Vista, the game does not start: If you
upgrade your computer from Windows XP to Windows Vista, Gears of War for Windows no longer
starts. To fix this problem, first uninstall the Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable Package
from the Control Panel. Next, download and install Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable
Package Service Pack 1. For 64-bit systems, install the service pack from here:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=eb4ebe2d-33c0-4a47-9dd4b9a6d7bd44da&DisplayLang=en. For 32-bit systems, install it from here:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=200b2fd9-ae1a-4a14-984d389c36f85647&DisplayLang=en
Restart warning appears even if the action that would cause restart is canceled: If you
change an option, such as vsync (vertical screen synchronization, changed for better video
display), that requires a restart, and then cancel that change, a message appears saying the
game needs to be restarted. There is no need to restart the game in this case.

G. Known Graphics Issues

Some issues with NVIDIA graphics cards cause the game to stop: To run Gears of War for
Windows with certain NVIDIA cards, you must install the NVIDIA ForceWare 163.44 driver, or a
later driver. To install the 163.44 or later driver, go to the www.nvidia.com/drivers website. If you
do not install the 163.44 driver or a later driver, at some point the game will stop and your
progress will be lost.
For other issues with NVIDIA graphics cards and Windows Vista, go to the
www.nvidia.com/object/windows_vista_hotfixes.html website.
Some issues with ATI graphics cards cause the game to stop: To run Gears of War for
Windows with certain ATI graphics cards, you must either install the ATI Catalyst driver revision
8.401.0.0 or get the latest ATI Catalyst driver from the www.amd.com website. If you do not install
this driver or the latest driver from the website, at some point the game will stop and your
progress will be lost.
Some issues with AMD processors cause the game to stop: To run Gears of War for
Windows with certain AMD processors, you must either install the AMD Processor Driver for
Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 Version (x86 and x64 exe) 1.3.2.16 or get the latest
driver for your brand of processor from the www.amd.com website. If you do not install this driver
or the latest driver from the website, at some point the game will stop and your progress will be
lost.
Game stops if computer is locked while game is at front screen: If you start Gears of War for
Windows and attempt to lock your computer when the game is on the first screen, the game
stops.

Game launches offset in full-screen mode until the player changes preferences: When you
start Gears of War for Windows, on some video cards and monitors the full-screen image is offset
to the left approximately 2 inches and down approximately 1 inch. To fix this problem, on the Main
Menu click Options, and then click Video Settings. For the Full Screen setting, click the right
arrow to turn the option off. Then click the left arrow to turn the option on. Click ENTER to accept
changes.
Game crashes on start up when locking computer during splash screen: To fix this problem,
do not lock the game while the splash screens are loading.
Changing graphics settings using graphics card control panels overrides in-game
settings: To fix this problem, use the default control panel settings for your graphics card.
When using the game editor, windows can get rendered behind viewports: To fix this
problem, do not use the game editor with a floating taskbar.
When DX10 graphics and anti-aliasing are enabled, in-game credits are distorted: To fix this
problem, disable anti-aliasing.

Graphics Card Drivers and Manufacturers

Be sure that you have installed the latest driver for your graphics card. Many video issues will be
resolved simply by updating your graphics card's drivers. Gears of War for Windows may not
properly detect some older graphics cards because their video drivers are not DirectX 9.0c
compliant. Contact your graphics card manufacturer for updated drivers, or install the latest
reference drivers for your graphics card chipset. Note that many reference drivers are not
supported by the chipset manufacturer. Listed below are some common graphics card
manufacturer Web sites.
Graphics Card Manufacturers Web Sites
3Dlabshttp://www.3dlabs.com/
AOPENhttp://www.aopen.com/
Asushttp://www.asus.com/
ATIhttp://www.amd.com/
Canopushttp://www.canopus.com/
Creative Labshttp://www.creative.com/
Gainwardhttp://www.gainward.com/
Guillemot/Herculeshttp://www.guillemot.com/
I/O Magichttp://www.iomagic.com/
Jatonhttp://www.jaton.com/
Leadtekhttp://www.leadtek.com/
Matroxhttp://www.matrox.com/
Micro-Star International (MSI)http://www.msicomputer.com/
NVIDIAhttp://www.nvidia.com/
PNYhttp://www.pny.com/
Silicon Integrated Systems Corporation (SiS)http://www.sis.com/
VIA Technologieshttp://www.via.com.tw/en/index.jsp
VisionTekhttp://www.visiontek.com/

H. Known Audio Issues

General Audio Issues
Audio was turned off, but audio can still be heard: If you change any audio volume setting
before you sign in with a profile, audio can still be heard in some situations. This effect can occur
if you change the dialogue or other audio setting before a profile is loaded. When a profile loads,
it sets audio settings to whatever that profile specifies. To return audio settings to those preferred,
on the Main Menu click Audio Settings and move one or more volume sliders to the desired
setting.
Audio popping occurs when the audio device is set to Generic Hardware: If the sound
effects volume is set to silent and the music volume is not, triggering sound effects of any kind
causes static popping. This problem occurs when the audio device is set to Generic Hardware. To
fix this problem, open the Guide, click Personal Settings, click Voice, and set the audio device
to Generic Software.
Audio stops at game start in Windows Vista: When the game is started on certain computers
running Windows Vista, the audio stops. To fix this problem, install the latest driver for your sound
card.
Audio is occasionally corrupted after joining Co-Op game in Windows Vista: To fix this
problem, go to the guide, then Personal Settings, then Voice, and then set the Voice Playback
and Voice Recording devices to something other than What U Hear for both the host and the
client.
Audio occasionally crashes on startup in Windows Vista: In case of audio/hardware/driver
issues, please run Startup.exe with nosound in the command line to determine if your audio
drivers are causing the crash. If the game does not crash with the nosound command, please
upgrade your audio drivers.
Voice headsets are not automatically recognized in game: For voice functionality, you may
need to do one or both of the following: 1) Set your Voice recording and Playback device in
Windows LIVE. 2) Configure and set your headset as default in Windows.
Other players can hear strange sounds/feedback from microphone when playing on
Windows Live.