Running Black & White on Windows 10

Also see this:
docs.google.com

Black & White Install/Errors FAQ

Black & White Install/Errors FAQ Make sure you've installed using the install guide as a start. Install in a folder outside of Program Files such as “C:\Games\Black & White” to help avoid permissions issues. Install the game using an ISO or CD. Using a rip causes issues with installing the patch...
docs.google.com docs.google.com
 
Game works brilliantly! thank you :)
Just wondering however, I really liked using the unlimited food and wood trick but it doesn't seem to be available anymore.
Is is possible to get the game working on windows 10/11 without the patches?
 
I want to be sure I install it correctly this time, so I wanted to ask - should I install Creature Isle before applying the patches, or does it matter? I know you didn't mention it, you just said use the Setup.exe but I presume you meant for the base game.
 
BlacKnightZero said:
I want to be sure I install it correctly this time, so I wanted to ask - should I install Creature Isle before applying the patches, or does it matter? I know you didn't mention it, you just said use the Setup.exe but I presume you meant for the base game.
Click to expand...
Nevermind! I'm sorry, I found the Creature Isle patch in the Downloads section, sorry I didn't look there first!
 
I don't mean to resurrect dead forums. But i am currently running the game following the the instillation process. i tried to run the fan patches and it doesnt allowed me to. it says "You must install black & white to run this patch" all i want is to remove the black squares on the torches at night
 
SwarmKnight said:
I don't mean to resurrect dead forums. But i am currently running the game following the the instillation process. i tried to run the fan patches and it doesnt allowed me to. it says "You must install black & white to run this patch" all i want is to remove the black squares on the torches at night
Click to expand...
Black squares on torches is a Black & White 2 bug. This patch is for Black & White 1.
 
Hello guys,

after a long time I wanted to play BW1 again.
I have the original CD in german, but installing and using patches doesn't work.
So I've followed the instructions on this video "
".
I've installed the English version and used all patches he mentioned.
The game is working.
My problems starts after quitting the game.
Every time i start the game (I use VirtualCloneDrive to open the .iso and start the game) it gives me the option
to start a new game,
skip the tutorial,
going straight to choosing a creature and
to skip the creature tutorial.
It doesn't matter which one i choose, i don't have and saving files and i start from the beginning.
It's frustrating, cause i can't play all 5 worlds in one day.

Does anyone have the same problem?
 
Hello,

I am facing issues with the game audio. I do not get any audio output from the game (no SFX, Music, etc). I have installed the game two times from separate ISO files and deinstalled+rebooted in between the installs. Both installs have the same problem. I have followed the tutorial in post 1.

When opening the game, the menu says "you currently have all sounds disabled". I checked, that I have not checked the according box in the Setup.exe window. (I also checked the underlying registry entry, both seem ok to me).

Are there any debugging steps known to further diagnose the issue? To me it seems as if the settings are applied to registry, but maybe not used by the game/fan patch (unlikely though).

Thank you very much for any help
 
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defnotjonas said:
Hello,

I am facing issues with the game audio. I do not get any audio output from the game (no SFX, Music, etc). I have installed the game two times from separate ISO files and deinstalled+rebooted in between the installs. Both installs have the same problem. I have followed the tutorial in post 1.

When opening the game, the menu says "you currently have all sounds disabled". I checked, that I have not checked the according box in the Setup.exe window. (I also checked the underlying registry entry, both seem ok to me).

Are there any debugging steps known to further diagnose the issue? To me it seems as if the settings are applied to registry, but maybe not used by the game/fan patch (unlikely though).

Thank you very much for any help
Click to expand...

Hi, I had the same issue... I copied the audio folder (as instructed), but no music - Upon further inspection, I found out that not all, of the audio folders are copied over from, "Mounted Drive": (G: BNW\Audio\Music >>-- to --> C:\Program Files (x86)\Lionhead Studios Ltd\Black & White\Audio\Audio\Music , with a simple copy and paste.

The missing "Folders" were:
  1. align
  2. chant
  3. citadel
  4. outro
  5. script
To fix the issue, I simply copied these folders, and Pasted them one by one, from "Mounted Drive" (G: BNW\Audio\Music - into - C:\Program Files (x86)\Lionhead Studios Ltd\Black & White\Audio\Audio\Music --- All audio now works for me, it's simply not the same without the music.

I hope this helps
 
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Hello.
So happy to have fund this community.

I followed the instructions to get Black and White running on my windows 11 system. It is running incredible smooth without any issues except my good and evil avatar characters or guides dont show up on the screen.

you can here them talking but they aren't on the screen like they are supposed to be.

anyone know how to fix this?
 
smirchia said:
Hello.
So happy to have fund this community.

I followed the instructions to get Black and White running on my windows 11 system. It is running incredible smooth without any issues except my good and evil avatar characters or guides dont show up on the screen.

you can here them talking but they aren't on the screen like they are supposed to be.

anyone know how to fix this?
Click to expand...
This sounds like it might be a Windows screen scaling issue, see the DPI Scaling issues section of this FAQ.
 
hello, i have downloaded B&W and i was working perfect, until i completed land 3, once i defeat the other god and try to quicksave, manual save, or the game auto saves i get booted from my game with an "Runtime Error! Program: ...es (x86)\Lionhead Studios Ltd\Black & White\runblack.exe abnormal program termination." i have look all over to fix this issue and try the advice but nothing seems to work, i do not want to have to restart for a second time, any information would be appreciated
 
Hello, i installed it via abbandonware. ( ISO ) All 3 important patches too. Game starts. Once in the menu or when the intro video starts, i get fractales / Glitches or whatever they are called. can play it that way. Anyone a solution ?
 

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Viv said:
Hello, i installed it via abbandonware. ( ISO ) All 3 important patches too. Game starts. Once in the menu or when the intro video starts, i get fractales / Glitches or whatever they are called. can play it that way. Anyone a solution ?
Click to expand...
Try the DDrawCompat or dgVoodoo2 libraries. Note that these currently don't work with the Ultimate mod since it uses its own custom ddraw.dll. You might also consider reporting the issue to the GPU manufacturer so they can maybe fix their shitty drivers.
 
(I am on windows 11)I can't seem to even install black and White. I installed the Rip from Abbandonware and used the Setup application as an administrator, but it then doesn't do anything other than show the menu in the image. And when I do save and exit nothing happens, and patch 1.1 says that black and white isn't installed.image_2025-07-17_113214197.png
Also I am occasionally encountering this
image_2025-07-17_114108227.png
 
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So i've just installed and run succesfully B&W on windows 11 though it first didn't even let me run setup.
For all those having problem running setup, or getting error on InstallShield6:
Mount CD. Go to CD folder and right click on setup.exe -> propereties and tick "Run as Administrator" option -> OK. Now open start menu (windows button on keybord) and typy CMD but don't press enter, instead right click on it and select Run as Admininstrator. Then in CMD type the CD location for example "E:" which will change commands location to B&W CD.
Lastly just type "setup.exe" and instalation will start. From this You will follow previous instructions (Patch 1.1 1.2 1.42 and Audio)
Sadly i couldn't run my native Polish version.

1757361172055.png
 
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