Can't get the game to run? Keeps downloading? Fix is here!
Short answer:
Until TellTale fixes this bug, you need to run BTTF as an Administrator if you're using Vista or Windows 7.
To do this:
1. Right click on the game icon on your Desktop (or in your Start Menu).
2. Select "Run As Administrator".
3. Click "OK" in the window that appears.
You will now be able to play BTTF: Episode 1.
If you're still having problems, post in here and I'll do my best to help.
Note: If the game has already tried to install itself again (you've seen it download a big file from the Launcher and an installer appear) you probably should uninstall the game and reinstall it, to make sure the installation is "clean". (I told it to delete all my saves and preferences, too -- but you may not need to do this.)
Additional tip:
If you don't like having to Right Click on the game icon every time you run the game, you can do this instead:
1. Right click on the game icon on your Desktop (or in your Start Menu).
2. Select "Properties".
3. Select the "Compatibility" tab.
4. Check the box next to "Run this program as an administrator".
5. Click "Apply" and then "OK".
Done! You can now just double click on the game icon, like you would with any other game.
Long answer:
When you're installing the game, if you choose to RUN it immediately when you've finished (by leaving the checkbox ticked at the end of the installer) it will work fine -- the first time, at least -- because you're already running it as an Administrator.
Once the game is installed, however, and you decide to play it again, you need run it as an Administrator manually, otherwise the Launcher will ask you to Log In and then redownload and attempt to install the game over itself(!).
This is some particularly lazy bug-testing coupled with some bad programming, unfortunately. Someone never bothered to see what happens if you uncheck the boxes at the end of the installer -- or, if they did, they never bothered to see what happens if you install it on a default Vista or Windows 7 setup.
Until TellTale fixes this bug, you need to run BTTF as an Administrator if you're using Vista or Windows 7.
To do this:
1. Right click on the game icon on your Desktop (or in your Start Menu).
2. Select "Run As Administrator".
3. Click "OK" in the window that appears.
You will now be able to play BTTF: Episode 1.
If you're still having problems, post in here and I'll do my best to help.
Note: If the game has already tried to install itself again (you've seen it download a big file from the Launcher and an installer appear) you probably should uninstall the game and reinstall it, to make sure the installation is "clean". (I told it to delete all my saves and preferences, too -- but you may not need to do this.)
Additional tip:
If you don't like having to Right Click on the game icon every time you run the game, you can do this instead:
1. Right click on the game icon on your Desktop (or in your Start Menu).
2. Select "Properties".
3. Select the "Compatibility" tab.
4. Check the box next to "Run this program as an administrator".
5. Click "Apply" and then "OK".
Done! You can now just double click on the game icon, like you would with any other game.
Long answer:
When you're installing the game, if you choose to RUN it immediately when you've finished (by leaving the checkbox ticked at the end of the installer) it will work fine -- the first time, at least -- because you're already running it as an Administrator.
Once the game is installed, however, and you decide to play it again, you need run it as an Administrator manually, otherwise the Launcher will ask you to Log In and then redownload and attempt to install the game over itself(!).
This is some particularly lazy bug-testing coupled with some bad programming, unfortunately. Someone never bothered to see what happens if you uncheck the boxes at the end of the installer -- or, if they did, they never bothered to see what happens if you install it on a default Vista or Windows 7 setup.
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Comments
What is the SPECIFIC problem you're having RIGHT NOW when you double click on the game's icon?
Also: Did you uninstall and reinstall the game from scratch, as recommended, before running the game as an Administrator?
Tiger. Those instructions are to be followed by those who can't work out the game at all.
You can work the game, it's being processed, but your hardware has a hard time processing it. It may be because your computer is kind of cheap, or you haven't downloaded the required hardware drivers for your computer.
Either way, I first recommend you to lower the graphics settings in-game.
Right. Running as an Administrator is not going to help you. Nor is uninstalling and reinstalling the game. Nor is changing your OS.
You probably just need to lower the game's graphical quality settings. It sounds like they're set too high for your hardware. Just go into the "Help & Settings" menu, scroll to the "Graphics" settings. Then click "Simple" at the bottom and then choose "Low Quality".
That should help. Post back with your experience.
You need to uninstall and reinstall the game. This will fix this problem (I had it myself).
There is none... Other than waiting for TellTale to fix this problem, I'm afraid.
Then I have another question:
Why, exactly, would a developer code a game that can only run under the system Administrator account, in violation not only of standard security practices but also of Microsoft's own recommendations?
Yeep, that's annoying
Good luck!
It's a bug, there's no reason for them to do this on purpose.
For what it's worth, I'd trust these guys not to do anything "evil".
I was really looking forward to this game... such a bummer that this wasn't well tested.
A user who has "Administrative" privileges in OS X may run the command "sudo su -m" in a terminal window and, when prompted, enter their own password. This will launch a command-line session under the root account that will be able to communicate with the graphical user interface.
This is not a secure way to launch software, and any application requiring a user to launch it in this fashion is coded incompetently.
I would like to know how this "bug" was not detected immediately in testing. An inability to properly launch an application should be readily apparent prior to a software release.
Well, i'm running it on my laptop so i'm the only user. I checked security settings and I have full access, it seems to allow all software and programs to run...i'll try deleting and re-downloading. If not I my have to wait for a patch.
Damn...damn damn!
Launch regedit.
On 32-bit systems, browse to HKLM\Software\Telltale Games
On 64-bit systems, browse to HKLM\Software\Wow6432Node\Telltale Games
Right-click on "BackToTheFuture101.exe" and select "Properties".
Grant the "Users" group "full control" over the subkey and click "OK" (alternatively, you could just add the user account of the user who will be playing the game, but you should only need to do this if you want to restrict access to the game).
The game will now launch properly under a user account.
The benefits of this fix are appropriate security controls and retention of saved games under the user account.
Just tried that, and I'm still getting a blank window when I try to run the launcher.
The "black window" issue is a different problem. Some users have reported that reinstalling the game resolves it.
I know, as an ex-games tester I'm appalled.
The test platform may have been Windows XP under an account in the Administrators group. Such a testing platform would fail to identify the registry permission error that impacts non-Administrator accounts. As all accounts in Windows Vista and in Windows 7 other than the system Administrator account are technically not actually root accounts, this problem impacts users of those operating systems most prominently.
Good to hear!