Download The Ward (Windows)

TS101 2025-12-08 0 point

Thanks, AnonymousGhost!

With your instructions I managed to get it to run under wine in linux.

The regedit settings do not seem to work under wine, but I copied the files from both CDs into a folder on wine's drive C:\GAMES\WARD, then copied the base files from the first CD to C:\GAMES and took the directx7 files from the dgVoodoo2 project (which by the way can now be found under github: https://github.com/dege-diosg/dgVoodoo2/releases ) and finally ran SETUP.exe via wine.

Had to copy the WARDCD.TAG file from the corresponding iso to the C:\GAMES folder whenever the setup asked for a new CD, but in the end it got installed and now runs!

AnonymousGhost 2025-11-13 1 point

Anyone adventurous enough can try this:

(1). Copy all files from 'WARDCD' folder of CD1 to a folder on your hard drive (e.g. 'C:\Games\Ward').

(2). Copy all the other files from 'WARDCD' folder of CD2 to that same folder on hard drive (some files in 'WARDCD' folders of CD1 and CD2 are the same).

(3). Run 'regedit' and create the following subkeys:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Fragile Bits - The Ward]
'(Default)' = 'C:\GAMES\WARD'

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Fragile Bits - The Ward\cd1path]
'(Default)' = 'E:\'

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Fragile Bits - The Ward\cd2path]
'(Default)' = 'E:\'

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Fragile Bits - The Ward\install_type]
'(Default)' = '3'

Note that after you create the subkeys 'Fragile Bits - The Ward', 'cd1path', 'cd2path' and 'install_type' they each will have string values named '(Default)' set to '(value not set)'. You have to change '(value not set)' to 'C:\GAMES\WARD', 'E:\' and '3' as indicated above.

'E:\' is the letter assigned to your virtual DVD drive, where you can mount game CD images if necessary.

This game offers four types of installation, the smallest sets 'install_type' to '0', so I assume that the fullest would set 'install_type' to '3'.

Originally registry path did not contain 'Wow6432Node', this part was added for compatibility with Windows 7/10 x64. No idea what you may need to insert instead of 'Wow6432Node' for compatibility with Windows 11. Try this at your own risk.

(4). This game requires DirectX 7.0a to run, so you would need dgVoodoo2 to run it on Windows 10.

Download dgVoodoo2 from:

https://dege.freeweb.hu/dgVoodoo2/dgVoodoo2/

and extract files from .zip archive directory 'MS\x86' to 'C:\Games\Ward' folder.

(5). Run 'THEWARD.EXE' in 'C:\Games\Ward' folder.

phil 2025-05-19 0 point

yeah same error as the other two people who commented on this thread, the setup goes into some low resolution splash screen starts installing disk 1 no issues and then asks for disk 2, when you windows key out to switch the iso and select disk 2 it gives the error main loop err.code -1 almost immediately which is a real shame, when you try running the setup again it tries initialising dx7 install which we all know will not work so gives an error and refuses to run the installer, I know I know, there's probably some junk install files or registry key that needs removing but I am not that bothered or wanting to mess around to get this running on windows 11, I also tried copying and installing the files onto the hard drive and then grabbing a no cd file and......complains about corrupt files and doesn't start...sorry guys I give up, i think i actually have this game on cd somewhere the original, will have a look.

Prime 2024-01-04 0 point

Same problem as listed below. Is there a known fix for this?

Andy 2023-10-25 0 point

Cannot install the game. When I try to change installing CD the installer crashes with the error message: "MAIN LOOP ERR.CODE -1"