i dont want to use the dosbox version of MOO2 it has a sound bug causes the sound to go all weird now and than and it's also freezing a lot. i'm trying to use the ORION95.exe but it keeps saying DPLAy is not installed? how to fix

Dplay is from an older version of Direct X (around 3.0 or so iirc). It will likely not install correctly on a modern system.

I found this way of trying to get around the issue (though for Doom). Substitute the references to Doom with MoO2.
http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/524287-doom/66949909

You may experience various issues with it, but it should not harm your computer in any way as long as you copy the file. Windows may try to move it instead if you don't specify that you want to copy.

that worked but now all the colors are screwed up it's completely unplayable. even windows XP compatibility mode didn't work.

This is usually fixed by killing explorer.exe (run the game, go into task manager and select the processes tab and end explorer.exe, then alt-tab back into game). When you quit the game, use Ctrl+Alt+Delete to get the taskmananger and click New Task. Now put in explorer.exe.

You can also make a batch file with the following lines and place it in game folder

taskkill /f /IM explorer.exe
ORION95.exe
Start explorer.exe

As for how to make a batch file - just use Notepad and save the file as i.e. Orion.bat.

I just tried that, and it seems to work just fine for me.

ok i did that named it orion.bat no good colors are still screwed up. it hates windows 7 64x

oh didn't know that. it works ;p

me again this method now no longer works on windows 10 64bit.

Whenever I install MoO 2 myself, I get the sound right but when I used GOGs version it is messed up but I know I fixed it once at least. Problem is I always forget what I did so soon afterwards that I cannot help you except by telling you that it is not hard. Just some changes to the audio settings in DOSBox, that is all.

Using the buggy Windows version of MoO 2 is not in the least tempting to me and if you like multi-player it is a big no go.

I am sure there was a discussion about the buggy sound before.

The DOS version works flawless if you change the IRQ for soundblaster from 5 to 7 or vice versa, too lazy to check. If it runs sluggish, just give it more CPU cycles.

And then install the new 1.5 patch from Rocco (one of the most actual threads in this forum) and it will be even more comfortable. Best thing for me is pressing the Q key for filling the building queue, so much less clicking. Alot of other cool keyboard commands that speed things up are added, too.

i've already installed the 1.5 patch does that fix the sound issues?
i only play SP

No, you have to change the IRG in dosboxmoo2.conf which you can fin in the game folder

what are the other keyboard shortcuts?

Just take a look at he "manual" for all: http://moo2mod.com/patch/MANUAL_150.PDF

The others i use very regularlyl:
Wih 1,2 ... 0 you can skip through he colonies in the colony view.
Space Bar is "OK button" and ESC is "Cancel Button"