Setup Guide

- Installing and configuring Total Annihilation with TA: Mutation
- Installing TA: Dark Suns 2004
- Known Total Annihilation issues

Installing and configuring Total Annihilation with TA: Mutation

To install:

Download the “misc” files. Unzip and keep them handy.
Take Total Annihilation CD1. Install both “single player” and “multiplayer spawn” from this CD.
Take TA Core Contingency CD. Do NOT use the installer. Browse to the CD root and copy the .ccx files from there into your TA directory (C:\Cavedog\Totala)
Look at C:\Cavedog\Totala. If there is a “backups” subdirectory, delete it.
Install the Total Annihilation 3.1c patch (included in “misc” downloads)
Run Ta1.reg (included in “misc” downloads)
Run tam1_0_2beta.exe. Run the icon it places on your desktop. Click “yes” to continue if it asks if you wish to stop and install Battle Tactics, and “yes” when it asks to repack your TA files. Wait for it to do this. Run TA Mutation again. Select “settings” and “conflict resolver”. Deselect all entries here (selected entries have a little tick beside them).
Install tademo99b2.exe (included in “misc” downloads)

When you first run Total Annihilation:

Select “single player”, “options” then “visuals”. Alter the resolution to one correct for your monitor.

You can now proceed to installing Dark Suns 2004.

Installing TA: Dark Suns 2004

Download the files. The Missions file is optional, data and maps are NOT.

Unzip the data files to C:\CAVEDOG\TOTALA\TA-Mutation\TCs\
Unzip the map files to C:\CAVEDOG\TOTALA\, except the .tc file which goes in C:\CAVEDOG\TOTALA\TA-Mutation\TCs\

Run TA: Mutation.

Under “Total Conversions”, if you have the mission files select “DS2004 - Final”. If you do not, select “DS2004 – Final (no missions)”

Under maps, ensure that the six “DS...” maps are selected (blue) and the “Core Contingency Maps” and “Origional TA maps” are unselected (white).

Press “Launch TA”. Dark Suns 2004 is now installed.

Known Total Annihilation issues

* If you get a popup saying “incorrect DirectX version”, click through this. It cannot be removed, but has no effect beyond past displaying the message.

* Some Windows XP  / Windows 2003 configurations cannot play Total Annihilation. This is due to the age of the engine and cannot unfortunately be solved.

* You may not use a no-CD patch with 3rd party missions such as those with Dark Suns 2004. Please use the Total Annihilation CD2 to play missions.

* You may have trouble on systems not configured to use primarily English Language. This is because of the lack of time to localise Dark Suns 2004 and the only fix is to use an English-configured system.