Overview
This will get you ready for SWBF2 (2005) modding in no time!
Introduction
Welcome to my guide! This guide will cover Mod Installation, Troubleshooting, and Compatibility. The guide will guide you through how to install SWBF2 (2005) for your desktop/laptop. Some are harder than others, but it ultimately turns out the same. For maximized compatibility, it’s recommended that you run SWBF2 using Windows. Windows is the intended OS for SWBF2, and it’s the only method where Online Multiplayer will work.
If you do not have Windows already (Who doesn’t, unless you REALLY want privacy or you’re a mac user), you can Dual Boot or create a Virtual Machine. All of these sections are tested with real machines to ensure quality. If you have any questions or problems, feel free to comment. I am not responsible for ANY possible damage caused when following this guide. Credits to the people that made these mods are Spiret, [GT]Anakin, and Harisonfog (shown in the order their mods are in).
(Credits for the Picture used in this guide can be found here.)[community.pcgamingwiki.com]
Guide Sections: Windows
*ahem*
You will need to download the 1.3 Patch. This is a modified version to support the Online update released on GOG (with Galaxy Client) and Steam. You may download it here. When your download is finished, find your game’s directory. The default is “C:Program Files (x86)SteamsteamappscommonStar Wars Battlefront II Classic” for Steam and “C:Program Files (x86)GOG GalaxyGamesStar Wars – Battlefront 2” for GOG. If you’ve installed it anywhere else, please specify. Copy & Paste your Game Directory to the Installer and click Install. The patcher will close automatically when finished.
You may download the patch here and launch it.
Remember the Directory you just copied? Do it again with “GameData” at the end. Click Next again. If you have the Origin, Retail, or GOG Offline version, do NOT click Next, select Retail and then click Next. Click Install and click Finish when it’s done. Make sure to enter “/resolution [blank] [blank]” (Fill in the blanks with your resolution). Adding “/nointro” is optional. If you don’t know where these switches go, simply Right-click on BF2, click “Properties.” Go to general, and you’ll see “Launch Options” on the bottom.
Guide Sections: macOS
To install Windows 10, please follow this guide from Apple here.[support.apple.com]
NOTICE: YOU WILL NEED HIGH SIERRA (OR OLDER) AND A MAC THAT SUPPORTS WINDOWS 7!
You’ll have to temporarily install a copy of High Sierra from the App Store. If you don’t have it already, you can get it here. [apps.apple.com](If the installer size is under 5 GB, it’s a stub. You can easily Google how to fix that. I won’t provide links.) Follow this guide[support.apple.com] by Apple to create a bootable USB and downgrade to High Sierra. WINDOWS 7 WILL NOT INSTALL FOR MACOS MOJAVE OR LATER!
To install Windows 7, please follow this guide from Apple here.[support.apple.com]
Please Note: WineHQ is a 32-bit app. 32-bit support for apps has been dropped in macOS 10.15 (Catalina) and later. If you’d like to run Windows Apps without Dual Booting, please downgrade to macOS 10.14 (assuming your device supports it) or older.
To get started with WineHQ, download Version 5.7 [dl.winehq.org] and xQuartz 2.7.11.[github.com]
Make sure to install xQuartz before installing WineHQ. After that, download Steam for Windows or Download a GOG Offline Installer, depending on what platform you own the game on.
After that, simply log into your Steam Account and/or install the game. From here, follow the “Windows” section of the guide.
Guide Sections: Linux
This section of the guide will be using WineHQ, a compatibility program for Linux/Macintosh (10.14 and under for Mac), meaning you don’t have to use any Virtual Machines.
To get started, please download the Steam Linux launcher (Use “Save link as…”). After doing that, log into your Steam Account and download SWBF2. The game will run on Proton, Valve’s fork of WineHQ. The game will run perfectly fine on WineHQ, but you won’t have an overlay. We will be using WineHQ for the Windows Installers. To get WineHQ, go to this site [wiki.winehq.org]and download WineHQ for your Linux version. (Linux, Ubuntu, and Debian are supported) There are also some alternative installers, but they aren’t supported by Wine. Follow the instructions for your respective Linux version to download WineHQ (Please note: A WineHQ installation is 1 GB in size). Once you’ve downloaded WineHQ, download the 1.3 Patch, and the UI Patch. Make sure to run the files as “rundll32” on Wine. your SWBF2 Installation and copy the “GameData” folder. After that, you will need to go to your home and enable hidden files. After that, you’ll see a folder called .wine in your Home. This is the folder used to contain Windows programs. Go to drive_c, and create a new folder. Name it whatever you want and paste the “GameData” folder in that new folder.
After that, you are now ready to install .exe formatted mods (Run the files with rundll32). Now all you have to do is to install the mods included in this guide to your folder. Download the 1.3 Patch here, and the UI Patch here.Once you’ve downloaded those mods, and the mods you want, move the GameData folder to your Linux Installation. To save space, delete the temporary GameData folder. If you have the UI Patch mod, please use /resolution XXXX XXXX for your respective resolution (Replace the X’s with your resolution), and use /nointro to skip the game startup intros.
Congratulations! You have now installed SWBF2 with mods on your Linux system!
Optional Sections
You may download the installer here. After you download and unzip the file, you will see 3 EXE files. Please run them in order. After you’ve run through the Installers, you now have the Remaster mod installed!
Cheats
(Please only use this feature for cheat servers, private servers, or single-player. I will not be responsible for ANY possible bans.)
To use cheats, create a match and pause the game. Go to the “Fake Console” option, and click it. Double click on a cheat to activate it. Some codes can be deactivated, but some can’t. There are a bunch of cheats you can experiment with yourself or buddies.
Free Camera
Just like Cheats, you will need to create a match and pause. Once you’ve done that, click on the “Free camera” option, and Voila! Magic happens! The Free Camera is a bit awkward to control, but here are the controls anyway:
Controls:
WSAD: Move
Mouse: Pan
End & Home: Up and Down
If only we had some YouTuber that breaks the boundary of games…
Troubleshooting
Problem 1: My game keeps crashing when maps load!
Solution: Try enabling Stereo mix, or if you see the “Too many Missions” error, some maps may not load. This can also happen with game modes.
Problem 2: Why am I getting an error saying “Too many Missions”?
Solution: You have too many mods enabled. Please disable or remove some. Ignoring this warning can lead to maps crashing and/or game modes crashing.
Problem 3: Why is steam not detecting my Installation?
Solution: For some reason, Steam likes to do this. If you let Steam “Install” the game, a GB of Data will be added, and you will lose the 1.3 Patch and all of your mods. The game itself can be run outside of steam if it bothers you THAT much.
Problem 4: Why am I not hearing Sound?
Solution: Enable Stereo Mix.
Problem 5: Why is my game crashing at Startup?
Solution: It’s unknown how this is truly caused, but here are a few reasons why this *may* happen:
1: You don’t have Stereo Mix enabled.
2: Your drivers are outdated.
Problem 6: Why am I lagging so much?
Solution: Ping.
Q&A/FAQ
This section of the guide will fill up over time, as people ask more questions. But for now, it’s completely empty brother.
Guide Version
============
(7/8/2021) 3.0:
============
– Fixed Grammar for numerous pages.
– Might add something new 😉
Previous:
1.0, 1.2, 1.3 (Originally 2.0,2.1)
1.4: (Originally 2.2)
– Fixed Grammar
– Added Notes
– Removed the “WIP” section
1.5: (Originally 2.3)
– Making this guide more awesome!
– Fixed Clarity issues. (Originally issuses, but the typo was fixed.)
1.6 (Originally 2.5, but the number was fixed to 2.4, and now it’s 1.6)
– Cleaned up the spots we missed
– Merged the Optional Sections
– Changed the “Steps” to “Sections” to reflect on what they’re supposed to be called.
– Other minor stuff
1.7: (Originally the actual 2.5)
– Split the sections into three difficulties.
– The “Simplified Guide” has now been scrapped, and every mention of it in this guide will be removed. The reason is that I wanted an All-in-one guide (Ha, how badly that aged).
MAJOR UPDATE: 1.8 (Originally 2.6)
– Major Guide Layout changes
– Insane Amount of effort put in
– “MAJOR UPDATE” is now being put in for big updates (Originally not, but fixed to now.)
1.9: (Originally 2.7, fixed to 2.6, and now 1.9)
– The “Modding The Game” section has now been scrapped. Personally, I forgot it even existed.
– Added A new “Scrapped Stuff” section for the curious.
(never happened) 2.1:
– New Guide Picture (I’m working on it)
2.0:
– Renamed the “Easy” difficulty section to “Beginner”
– No, you are not going mentally insane. I Changed the release dates to the correct order. (Why did I pull a Wii?)
– Fixed the spoiler problem, you can now see the whole previous versions.
– Added a bold font to Previous Versions
(the actual) 2.1: (12/4/2020)
– Added Patch Dates
– Added a solution to the “Crash on Startup” problem. (I waited for a response for permission to use the solution, but it’s been like a week, so I just thought to finally publish it.) (Spoilers have been removed so you can see the whole page.)
2.2: (12/6/2020)
– Added (Minor) to really minor updates.
– Changed the “Easy” section reference to “Beginner” in Normal.
2.2.1: (12/6/2020)
– Fixed Bold Text not Showing in Guide Version
– Added extended releases for minor updates.
– Fixed spacing in Changelog 1
2.3: (12/6/2020)
I’ve noticed people have been getting confused about my guide, so I think I’m gonna re-write the Original guide.
– Added literal notes to patch notes
– This is gonna take a few hours.
(MAJOR)2.4:(12/9/2020)
– Rewritten the Original guide to Beginner, now in Scrapped Stuff
– Added more solutions to problems
– 1,000 (The page has been removed, I forgot to back it up.)
2.5 (12/13/2020):
– 1,000 Visits section removed
(minor) (12/13/2020) 2.2.5:
– Grammar issues fixed.
– Moved patch dates.
(12/25/2020) 2.6:
– Because Steam updated their Properties GUI, This guide will be updated with the new location, and the original will be in strikes. (Happy Holidays!)
(1/24/2021) 2.7:
– Gamers, something big is coming:
(Experimental) Mac & Linux support
(MAJOR | 2/6/2021) 2.8:
– Reworked & simplified sections
– Added Mac & Linux support
– Fixed grammatical errors
– Re-formatted versions
(3/23/2021) 2.9:
– Re-written macOS Section (Wow, it’s been a while!)
– Making the guide more awesome :)[/spoiler]
Scrapped Stuff
1st Scrapped Thing: Two Guides
I was originally going to feature two guides for the difficulty, but I decided against it because I wanted to keep the All-In-One Guide idea.
2nd Scrapped Thing: The “Modding The Game” section
I simply scrapped this because I didn’t need it anymore. Everything that was mentioned in this section is now in other places. I even forgot it existed, to be honest.
Here’s the original section in its original form:
To install patches, you will need to install the Unofficial 1.3 Patch that allows us to load mods.
There are two versions. One that’s made for GOG/Steam Releases, and one that’s made for retail. This guide will be going over the Steam/GOG version, as the Retail version breaks online compatibility. If you wish, (or if you have a retail copy) you may still download the original retail patch here. Now, with that out of the way, it’s time
I show you how to mod this awesome game!
3rd Scrapped Thing: New Guide Picture
Along with the Scrapped Guide, this was going to be its picture.
This is the picture:
4th Scrapped Thing: The original Guide
I’ve noticed some people have gotten confused, so I’m gonna write the guide all over again. If you’d like, this is the whole guide in its entirety. (Please note that you will not receive ANY support, as this guide difficulty has been retired.)
The 1.3 Patch is public and can be found Here on ModDB. After installing the EXE file, you will get a UAC prompt. Accept it. After that, a Notepad window will open with a readme. Close the window. Now you will see a directory box. The default directory is C:Program Files (x86)LucasArtsStar Wars Battlefront II. This is the directory for the Retail version and not the Digital. version.
Depending on where you got the game, the default directories will be here for each version.
GOG: Sorry if this info is incorrect, I had to do a quick google search because I don’t have the GOG version. Feel free to correct me in the comments if I’m wrong!
C:Program Files (x86)GOG GalaxyGamesStar Wars – Battlefront
Steam:
C:Program Files (x86)SteamsteamappscommonStar Wars Battlefront II Classic
Because you’re reading a steam guide, it’d be safe to assume you have the Steam version.
Please Note: These are the default directories. If you have installed the game somewhere else, please specify where it is. And yes, I am aware that there is an Origin version of this game, but come on. Who’s gonna buy that?
Now now, because this is a game from 2005, it’s gonna have some problems with modern systems. Luckily, The Modding Community is here to save the day!
Section 2.1: Install the SWBF2: Remastered patch.
This mod adds improvements to the game’s UI, and more! (If you’d like to learn more about the fixes this mod applies, check out the Home Page of the mod here!) To download the mod, this is the place to go.
Once you installed the EXE file, open it. You will get another UAC prompt. Accept it. If you get any antivirus notes, it’s a false positive! This file is completely clean! You will be prompted with a setup language. Because you’re reading an English guide, I’d assume you speak English. Just click OK. Otherwise, select a language in the top-down menu and click OK, and accept the EULA. Once you get to the directory popup, enter the directory based on your version.
GOG:
C:Program Files (x86)GOG GalaxyGamesStar Wars – BattlefrontGameData
Steam:
C:Program Files (x86)SteamsteamappscommonStar Wars Battlefront II ClassicGameData
Note: Make sure the Steam/GOG version is selected instead of the CD/DVD version in components. You may Install the Developer Documentation if you wish. Once you’re done, click Next and click Install. Once the patch installs, click Next, and click Finish. You may read the readme if you wish. Now, you’re going to upscale the menu in your monitor’s resolution. Depending on your launcher, it will go like this:
Steam:
Open your library, and click on SWBF2. Right-click it, and click “Properties.” On the window that just opened, click “Set Launch Options.” Another window will open. In the box, type /resolution 1920 1080. If you have a smaller or bigger resolution, please change it to that. As an optional step, you can also type /nointro in the box to skip the intro.
Section 3: The “About the Guide” section
I’ve decided to pull this guide out of retirement for an exciting reason. For anyone wondering, this is what the original section looked like:
Well, here we are. After almost a month of constant updates, I think it’s time to cool down. This guide will not be discontinued, there just won’t be any updates as often. I will be updating this guide every few months or so. Thank you all for your support, and happy holidays.
Section 4: Seperate Dificulty Guides
I’ve put them all into one called “Guide Sections: Windows”. Everything has been unchanged.
Section 5: “Easy” and “Expert” removed
I saw no point in keeping them around, as you’d need a basic understanding of computers to do modding in general.
Section 6: The original Introduction section
This section was made in the early days of the guide. It has since been updated. You can see the original here:
Section 7: The “Mac & Linux” section
This was supposed to be like the WIP section, but specialized, I guess.
Hello there! It’s about time I update this guide again. To make up for the (almost) month of no updates, there will be a massive one. It will be harder to install mods on these OS’s because the game was made for Windows, but it’s definitely possible. If you see this go live, then I’m in the works of researching what works and doesn’t work. I’m very excited for this moment as Mac & Linus users can have the same fun as Windows Users. While their install base is quite small, it’d be rude just to leave them out.
TL;DR: It’s recommended that you use a Windows 10 Virtual Machine (it doesn’t have to be activated) to run the EXE files for maximum compatibility.