Hello experts
I found my old CDs from 1999 with Jagged Alliance 2 US version (even though I'm German). I try to make it run on a win 10 Laptop without DVD-player.
Generally I figured out it will not run on win 10 easily. But this is not a big issue as I like to use it within a vbox as it is easy to fix the scaling issue for 640x400 resolution with it.
I could manage to install it on a different laptop with a DVD player within the vbox on XP. But none of the no CD patches or hacks want to work or change something.
Any idea how I can proceed?

BR

Set up a virtual optical drive, dunno whether w10 has that function integrated by default,
if not get one of the usual suspects like virtualclonedrive to mount an image of the CD
Not sure whether any of this collides with any local laws, pls check yourself.

THX for the feedback.
I fixed half of the issue with this patch you describe here in this chat:
where_to_find_the_latest_113_mod_for_ja2
I installed and patched sccuessfully within vbox win xp. I disconnected the cd drive and the "new" Jagged Alliance started as expected.
Resolution jumped directly to preset 1024x768. So within vbox it is running fine.

2. I like to move it to Win10
I copied the complete JA2 folder to the host OS = Win 10. Here JA started but I got a black screen with 1024x768 and the correct screen resolution of 1680x1050. Exe was running so far correctly as could hear the sound and the change of the sound when clicking. So only a issue with video out.

More ideas?

My guess is that the black screen results from the failed attempt of the OS to play the game videos,
my next guess is that you are using the 1.13 mod, not only the fixes from the doc folder,
as the old exe would still have produced the request for a CD (unless you additionally used a virtual drive and failed to mention that in your last message)
and while the 1.13 exe does not ask for a CD, it would refuse to work with only the vanilla files,
so i assume you are now using 1.13, either @ vanilla rules(suboptimal, in case better use stracciatella JA2) or with all features available.
If this is correct either try to deactivate the intro (set [PLAY_INTRO = 0] in Ja2.ini)
or add support for the .smk format (aka smacker video by RAD Game Tools).

Hi
all/ most topics are closed now.
I found a video tuto for 1.13.
Settings for ja2.exe neede to be changed + reg file and modified dll from Docs\Windows Compatibility Fixes.

THX