How to Run Port Royale 2 on Windows 7 / 8 / 10, How to Fix Weird Waters

Overview

How to fix compatibility issues

How to Run Port Royale 2 on Windows 7 / 8 / 10

Try these if you are having issues with running the game.

Compatibility

1. Download and install Port Royale 2 through Steam.
2. Right-click Port Royale 2 in your Steam library -> Select “Properties” -> Click “Local Files” tab -> Click “Browse Local Files”
3. Right-click “PR2” exe -> Select “Properties” -> Click “Compatibility” tab
4. Check “Run this program in compatibility mode” -> Select “Windows 98 / Windows Me” -> Click “Apply” -> Click “OK”
5. Do the same for “PR2Config” and “Ascaron.Exception” executables

OBS.: Some people had a better experience selecting “Windows XP (Service Pack 3)”

Admin mode

1. Right-click the game in your Steam library
2. Click “Properties”
3. Click “Local Files” tab
4. Click “Browse Local Files”
5. Right-click the game executable -> Click “Properties” -> Click “Compatibility” tab
6. Check “Run as administrator”
7. Click “Apply” -> Click “OK”
8. Do the same for “PR2Config” and “Ascaron.Exception” executables

Additional Methods

Try these if you are still having issues with running the game.

Adding an Exception

This one worked for me personally. I was trying to get the game to run on a computer I used to have, and this was the additional method that fixed the game for me at that time.

1. Press START (default key: WINDOWS key)
2. Type sysdm.cpl -> Press ENTER key
3. Click “Advanced” tab -> Click “Performance” -> Click “Settings” -> Click “Data Execution Prevention” tab -> Click “Add” -> Locate and select the “PR2” exe found in the game folder -> Click “Open” -> Select “Apply” -> Select “OK”

Disable Steam Overlay

1. Right-click the game in your Steam library
2. Click “Properties”
3. Uncheck “Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game”
4. Click “Close”

Run in a single thread

1. Open your Steam library
2. Right-click the game
3. Click “Properties”
4. Click “Set Launch Options”
5. Type “-CPUCount:1” -> Click “OK”
6. Click “Close”

Validate Integrity

1. Right-click the game in your Steam library
2. Click “Properties” -> Click “Local Files” -> Click “Verify Integrity of Game Files”

Monitors

If you have more than one monitor, disable all the other monitors

Windows Native Compatiblity Solution

1. Right-click the game in your Steam library
2. Click “Properties”
3. Click “Local Files” tab
4. Click “Browse Local Files”
5. Right-click the game executable -> Click “Solve compatibility issues”
6. Proceed with the process until the end of it

Do not use compatibility mode for any of the executables

Reported to work for some users.

Updating Drivers

It is good practice to keep your drivers updated, you can do this by going to the respective website of the company of your graphic device. If you don’t know which company it is,

In the top left corner of your Steam window, click “Help” -> Click “System Information” -> Wait for it to load -> Scroll down until you find a category named “Video Card” -> Find what is written next to “Driver”

Click below in the name of the company of your video card:

Intel[www.intel.com]
Nvidia[www.nvidia.com]
AMD[www.amd.com]

1. Find the “Support” section -> Find the “Drivers and updates” section
2. Download and install whatever tool they ask you to download and install
3. Scan your computer and completely update all your drivers. Make all updates shown in their support center.

If at any moment you get an error message saying your driver couldn’t be updated and you have to contact your manufacturer, follow the instructions below.

Updating Drivers through Manufacturer

In case you don’t know what your computer manufacturer is, in the top left corner of your Steam window, click “Help” -> Click “System Information” -> Wait for it to load -> The first category you’ll see is “Computer Information” -> Find what is written next to “Manufacturer”

1. Click this list[www.intel.com] Intel kindly made of most common computer manufacturers
2. Find your manufacturer there -> Click “Support”
3. Follow their instructions and update your drivers on their website until all your drivers are completely updated. Remember to do this periodically.

Sometimes your manufacturer will say your drivers are completely updated, while Intel, Nvidia or AMD will say your drivers aren’t completely updated. This is normal. The latest updates have first to be approved by your manufacturer before they are allowed to be downloaded from your manufacturer’s website support center.

Adding an Antivirus Exception

We have to add the game to your antivirus / firewall software exception / trusted list. Since for each Antivirus the path to do this is different, select your antivirus in the list I made of the most used antiviruses at the moment of this post. If you use Windows Defender as your antivirus, skip this list and read the Windows Defender steps.

AVG[support.avg.com]
Bitdefender[www.bitdefender.com]
McAfee[smallbusiness.chron.com]
Norton[support.norton.com]
If you antivirus isn’t listed here, you have to search it online. Simply type “[Your antivirus name here] add exception” in Google.

For Windows Defender:

1. Press “WINDOWS” key -> Click “Settings” -> Find “Exclusions” -> Click “Add an exclusion”
2. Click “Exclude a folder” -> Locate and select the game folder (by default, unless you installed somewhere else it’s at C:Program Files (x86)Steamsteamappscommongamefolderhere) -> Click “Exclude this folder”
3. Click “Exclude a file” -> Locate and select the game executable (by default, unless you installed somewhere else it’s at C:Program Files (x86)Steamsteamappscommongamefolderhere) -> Click “Exclude this file”

How to Fix Weird Waters

1. Right-click the game in your Steam library
2. Click “Properties”
3. Click “Local Files” tab
4. Click “Browse Local Files”
5. Change all game files to be writeable / remove the “Read-only” property
6. Run “PR2Config”
7. Go to “Settings” -> Check “Display Reflections on the Water” -> Check “Use Compatibility Mode”

OBS.: Make sure both are checked at the same time.

OPTIONAL: If this does not work for you, uncheck them both at the same time.

Additional Methods

Reinstallation

1. Uninstall the game
2. Download and install the game again

How to Play in Standard HD Widescreen, How to Remove Black Borders

1. Run “PRConfig” executable
2. Uncheck “Execute in Fullscreen Mode”

ANOTHER METHOD
[link]

Support

If you require further support, go to this game’s website and contact their official support. I can’t help you further. Please DO NOT send me friend requests, I WON’T accept them.

Additional Guides

[link] [link] [link] [link]

Port Royale 2 Guide

Overview