Well following your good instructions I went and bought Medieval 2 Total War but now when I try to install it I get this message: crc error: the file C:\program files\sega\medaeval ii total war\packs\data_1.pack doesn't match the file in the setups .cab file

I have no idea what it means and I have followed all of the readme's instructions I have posted a thread at the games support site but I doubt I'll see anything there.

So please good people of the escapist if you can help me.

Have you tried starting everything again? If so, do it again. And again. Make sure everything is cleared out. If that doesn't work and you don't get any other successful help, go back to wherever you bought the game and tell them to give you another one.

Now its giving me the same thing instead of it being data 1 cab its data 2 cab.

My god someone please help me.

Did you buy the discs or download it? 'Cause if it's discs they could just be screwed up. If not, see if there's something with your computer that would be stopping it. Sorry I can't be more helpful, but I'm not nearly an expert on these things.

Store Bought cds

Keep trying over and over and over. This happens sometimes with CD's.

When I tried to install Company of Heroes it just refused to acknowledge that a certain file existed, so I just had to keep installing over and over. Eight hours later, I could finally play the thing.

Might take you a while, but it should work eventually. And if it doesn't, get a refund.

Novajam:
Keep trying over and over and over. This happens sometimes with CD's.

When I tried to install Company of Heroes it just refused to acknowledge that a certain file existed, so I just had to keep installing over and over. Eight hours later, I could finally play the thing.

Might take you a while, but it should work eventually. And if it doesn't, get a refund.

Well then I shall have to be persistent wont I.

Are you running Vista?
Cus I had all kinds of crap trying to run ROME on Vista.

I do recall all the TW games installing OK on XP, though.
Besides that little gem of useless knowledge I'm clueless.

The_Deleted:
Are you running Vista?
Cus I had all kinds of crap trying to run ROME on Vista.

Pretty much anything will install on Vista, even if you need a patch to actually run it.

If I'm reading this right he can't even install, I'd go for the trade in.

Eldritch Warlord:

The_Deleted:
Are you running Vista?
Cus I had all kinds of crap trying to run ROME on Vista.

Pretty much anything will install on Vista, even if you need a patch to actually run it.

If I'm reading this right he can't even install, I'd go for the trade in.

It starts the install but it gives me the error and turns the install off.
I'm guessing its incompatible with Vista, because it was installing on my feinds pc (xp)
and it went fine. I truly hate Microsoft.

Do you think I might be able to install it with Linux and run it with vista?

http://answers.yahoo.com/search/search_result;_ylt=AlgROf4QIc6Bar7B9DDNu1ojzKIX;_ylv=3?p=total+war+medieval+2+vista&t=n-2833681587_q-BUwAZ5ld%2FmGPiuTnSbCyzwAAAA%40%40&scope=&mc=&asktime=&sc=

Try here.

I installed Medieval War Two on Vista from store bought CDs, and had a problem getting the thing to start correctly. The hiccup was fixed after I downloaded a patch provided by the game website.

I know this probably sounds redundant at this point, considering how the problem you described is completly different than the one I had, but did you download the most recent patch before installing?

sounds like a disc problem. Have you tried updating the firmware on your cd drive? in the past i had countless problems with my cd drive and installing games; i first had problems installing UT2004, when it kept saying that a certain file couldnt be accessed; i also had problems installing Company of Heroes, once again saying a file could not be found or something of a similar nature. Both these problems were solved with a simple firmware update! I would try update the DVD drives firmware and hope that fixes it :P

OK I'll try to download the patch and update my dvd drives.

Edit: HOLY SHIT the patch is 521mbs that's ridiculous.

I had an idea I tried to register the game with steam so I could download it(using the cd key) but it keeps telling me it's an invalid code can I get some help here?

Edit: sorry about double post

You can't register it on steam unless you're able to buy it on steam.

Medieval 2 uses SafeDisc v4 as it's copy protection, the expansion adds SecuRom v7.
Both will give problems with disc imaging software, but both will also have problems with certain dvd players.

Uninstall your disc imaging software, restart your computer and try again.
If it doesn't work, try replacing the dvd, as others suggested.

After many months & copies of ROME , I tried it again today and Ihave been playing it on my VISTA pc for the last 7 hours. The only pain is that it won't let me gi into the battle campaigns. However I have updated my CD drivers since quitting the game and am now DL the 1.3 patch.

I installed the game.
Right clicked on the desktop icon.
Properties
Compatibilty.
Windows XP Service Pack
Run as Administrator.
It seems to be running OK but I'll give you an update if it runs fully tomorrow.