How to Run Caesar II in Windows XP

Playing Caesar II from within Windows XP can be an issue. The following steps will help you get the original DOS version of Caesar II running under Windows XP. If you do not already have a copy of Caesar II go get one then come back here. Thanks to Thomas Crowe for putting this step-by-step together.
 
Step 1: Ensure that Caesar II is Installed
The standard location for the Caesar II install is in a folder in the root of your c-drive named “caesar2″. Confirm that Caesar II is installed to this location, or copy the game files from the CD to that folder.
 
Step 2: Download and Install DOSBox
 
Step 3: Start DOSBox and run the command “mount c c:\caesar2″
This will only work if you have your game files in the “caesar2″ folder.
 
Step 4: In DOSBox Switch to the c-drive by typing in “c:”
 
Step 5: In DOSBox Type “call c2.bat”
Once again, this will only work if you have your Caesar II files in the folder “caesar2″ in the root of your c-drive.
DOSBox Caesar II Screen Shot
 
Step 6: Select Option 2 (Hit the spacebar)
DOSBox Caesar II Screen Shot 2
 
Step 7: Enjoy the game!
Also, please let me know if these steps work for you.

40 Comments »

  1. Make sure you use the DOS version of Caesar II (Caesar 2 Version 1.0) or else this will not work.

    Comment by Daniel — December 31, 2007 @ 3:52 pm

  2. Gracias!

    Comment by Gonzalo — February 11, 2008 @ 5:09 am

  3. Hi! I have done all the 5 first steps but when i type call c2.bat, he said:”Illegal command:c2.bat”

    If you can help me this will be great because i like this game..

    Thanks.

    Comment by Kostas — February 18, 2008 @ 9:01 am

  4. Kostas, it sounds like this may be from trying these instructions with the Windows version of the game. Are you using the Dos version or Windows version of Caesar 2?

    Comment by Administrator — February 18, 2008 @ 10:33 am

  5. I think that i am using the Windows version of Caesar 2….
    I hope that there exist a solution for this. In any case, thank you very much!

    Comment by Kostas — February 20, 2008 @ 4:26 am

  6. Kostas - there are some additional instructions that may be helpful to you. I sent them to your gmail address.

    Comment by Administrator — February 20, 2008 @ 11:10 am

  7. Thank you very mutch, Administrator!

    Comment by Kostas — February 20, 2008 @ 11:37 am

  8. No problem. Hope it helps.

    Comment by Administrator — February 20, 2008 @ 12:10 pm

  9. ok, thank you Administrator .It works with the dos version of Caesar 2.

    Comment by Kostas — February 20, 2008 @ 4:45 pm

  10. I too have the “llegal command:c2.bat” problem.
    Can you help? I used to play this all the time when I had a win98 version.
    thanks.

    Comment by vaccyn — February 23, 2008 @ 6:22 pm

  11. Hello, I installed Caesar and run it with dos box, I also choosed hard disk only, but I cnnot fight battles (some file is missing) thanks for reply

    Comment by plati — March 11, 2008 @ 1:41 pm

  12. Hi, I also have the Windows version of the game - how do I get it to run properly?

    Comment by Michael — March 13, 2008 @ 12:53 pm

  13. ok. I still can’t get it to run. I have Dosbox, I have the file dos version, and it is definitly in my C drive, but still, it doesn’t recognize the c2.bat. help please

    Comment by vaccyn — March 13, 2008 @ 4:01 pm

  14. Hi! I have done all the 5 first steps but when i type call c2.bat, he said:”Illegal command:c2.bat”

    Comment by Mari — March 17, 2008 @ 8:53 am

  15. I’m having the same “Illegal command:c2.bat” problem with my windows version of Caesar II. I tried having my computer run the program with the compatibility wizard, but nothing happens. I put the cd in, and a screen pops up asking if you want to play. I click yes, and it says the program isn’t found. I click install, and nothing happens. If you can help, I would greatly appreciate it.

    Comment by Sarah — March 19, 2008 @ 1:24 pm

  16. Vaccyn, Mari, and Sarah - the error you are getting is probably because you are using the Windows version and not the Dos version of Caesar II. In order to use these instructions you need to start with the Dos version of Caesar II.

    Comment by Administrator — March 19, 2008 @ 3:11 pm

  17. I have the same problem as Vaccyn, Mari and Sarah. But I don’t understand how we can start with the Dos version of Caesar II. Because when I was using it with windows 95, it would automatically shut down the pc and go to dos. Now with windows xp, it doesn’t automatically do that.

    Comment by Stella — March 21, 2008 @ 9:29 pm

  18. Stella, there is not a guide yet for how to run Caesar II with the Windows 95 version in XP (or Vista) but I will send you some additional details that may be helpful.

    Comment by Administrator — March 22, 2008 @ 9:18 am

  19. Thanks for the email. I was trying to run the game by copying the game files from a cd version of caesar2, which turns out to be a windows version. So I got the dos version … extracted the files into my c drive and repeated the steps above. Works perfectly! Thanks a lot! :)

    Comment by Stella — March 22, 2008 @ 5:28 pm

  20. Hey there. I downloaded a free version of the game and I just run it from my Dos Command Prompt in the Accessories file in Windows XP. I don’t have any real problems with gameplay EXCEPT for 2 things:
    1) It doesn’t play any music, just voice and and occasional music during events like Invasions.

    2) The game crashes whenever I chose to take command during a battle. It says there is a problem with a file, but I don’t know the name of it off-hand.

    Any ideas how to address these problems?

    Thanks!

    Comment by Adam — March 23, 2008 @ 4:45 pm

  21. Hey,
    what are those “game files” exactly?
    Thx!!!

    Comment by Lisa — March 27, 2008 @ 11:49 am

  22. I sailed through all the steps. it worked like a dream.. the only remaining issue is the sound setting which is not covered in the steps.. I have run “setsound.exe” from the game directory and chosen the first 100% compatible and automatic configuration.. the program says it is done successfully but on running the game still dont get any sound.. I have XP platform. can you help please? ..thanks

    Comment by tony — April 5, 2008 @ 12:58 am

  23. I got the answer to the sound problem: just run the setsound program from caesar2 directory and put these values : A220 I5 D1 T3 P330. by choosing to manually put the port details.. it worked for me.. although the auto configure program always returned a success result but no sound was coming. just using the manual configurations solved the problem.. I didnt even have to change the values they were already set to recommended 220, and 5 etc.. here is the link to the site with more details in part 6 about this topic.. http://www.dosgames.com/xphints.php .. take care

    Comment by tony — April 5, 2008 @ 3:04 am

  24. I have the same problem with “Illegal command:c2.bat”, because I probably have the Windows version of the game. What can I do?

    Comment by Karin — April 5, 2008 @ 8:00 am

  25. Karin..If you having a windows version is causing a problem then I can send you the DOS version of this game in Zipped form. I hope the admin wont have any problem with that. if you want me to send you the game then I suggest you make a temporary email account and post it as a comment here.. I will send over the game to you..it is working for me on my laptop and it will surely work for you, regards

    Comment by tony — April 5, 2008 @ 12:08 pm

  26. Missing combat part: guys.. is anyone else missing the combat at provance level like me? I game closes if I choose to take charge of the battle

    Comment by tony — April 5, 2008 @ 12:11 pm

  27. about combat issue: the exact error reads … ” Error Loading battle data - RO2SWDA.PL8 not found”.
    I didn’t read comment number 20 which is stating the same problem like my comment 26. sorry about that. so the missing file is “RO2SWDA.PL8″

    As far as the sound issue is concerned I will say run the setsound program and enter the A220 I5 D1 T3 P330 settings by choosing the manual configuration instead of auto detection. the sound issue was resolved for me by following this step. regards

    Comment by tony — April 6, 2008 @ 4:03 am

  28. Illegal command issue: Please don’t forget to “change drive to C:\” before running the game with c2.bat.. you will get this error every time when the active drive is Z:\ ..(Admin.. my appologies for flooding the message board)

    Comment by tony — April 6, 2008 @ 4:09 am

  29. Thank you for the additional details Tony. To get rid of the error “Error Loading battle data - RO2SWDA.PL8 not found” please download this file to the same directory as the rest of your game files:
    RO2SWDA.PL8

    Comment by Administrator — April 6, 2008 @ 8:42 am

  30. First, I’d like to thank the administrator and everyone else. Without you all, I wouldn’t have known how to begin to run this game.

    I, too, get an error message when I choose to take charge of a battle, but mine says “RO2SPRB.PL8 not found.”

    Comment by Joseph — April 11, 2008 @ 11:47 pm

  31. RO2SWDA.PL8 is not the only file the game can need for a battle.
    There is a PL8 directory in the Caesar 2 cd, he contains 18 Mo of data.
    They are surely dont all needed (when you read names) but i have just
    put all the folder in my Caesar2 directory, cause am lazzy lol.

    Comment by Jean — April 12, 2008 @ 12:33 am

  32. i have the same problem with the illegal command cause i have the windows version.
    but where can i find the dos version?please help me.i love this game

    Comment by yiannis79 — April 18, 2008 @ 2:15 pm

  33. I am having the same problem. When I go into battles it says “RO2SPRB.PL8 not found”. If someone could help me that would be awesome because I would really like to play it some more.

    Comment by Kris — April 20, 2008 @ 4:20 pm

  34. Hi, I can’t even get the game to install on my vista computer. Any advice?

    Comment by Sean — April 21, 2008 @ 4:08 pm

  35. How can i get caesur 3 to work?
    Running xp.

    Comment by Scott — April 23, 2008 @ 10:05 am

  36. I’ve too the message illegal command c2.bat… I think that I’ve the dos version and I don’t understand why It doesn’t work..
    Thank a lot for your help

    Comment by Ben — April 24, 2008 @ 6:59 am

  37. Search DosBox on google.
    I have vista and i play the Dos version with Dos Box.
    For the battles, if you want to be sure a missing file dont crash the game, put the PL8 folder of the win version in the same folder of C2.bat =]

    You can find the entire CD here : http://www.abandonware-france.org/ltf_abandon/ltf_jeu.php?id=787&fic=liens

    (french) But try “House of the underdogs” on google, you will find a site with huge ammount of old game in english, i am pretty sure Caesar 2 CD is in them.

    Comment by Jean — April 26, 2008 @ 5:53 am

  38. Sorry : not the folder, but all .pl8 files in the same as C2.bat
    (sorry i am not english)

    Comment by Jean — April 26, 2008 @ 5:55 am

  39. Hi! i also having the same problem with Stella. Could you also email me the game file? thanks.

    Comment by kerwin — May 6, 2008 @ 5:49 am

  40. Hi! I am also having the same problem as of most of the people who commented on this page, Everytime i type in call c2.bat it comes up with Illegal command. Ive been trying to get this game to work for months and have had no luck PLEASE HELP appreciated.

    Comment by Debra — May 6, 2008 @ 7:44 pm

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