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Diablo II & Expansion Guide

Discussion in 'Guides' started by booman, Jul 21, 2013.

  • by booman, Jul 21, 2013 at 2:32 PM
  • booman

    booman Grand High Exalted Mystic Emperor of Linux Gaming Staff Member

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    Diablo was First!
    The first Action RPG to hit the shelves! We all owe thanks to Diablo for the may Action RPG's in its wake. This is where it all started... leveling up, massive hordes of enemies, looting corpses & chests, spells, armor, hundreds of weapons, on and on and on...

    diablo62.png

    Diablo and Diablo 2 are the classics and absolutely run great in Linux.

    Follow my step-by-step guide on installing, configuring and optimizing Diablo II in Linux with PlayOnLinux.

    Note: This guide applies to the Retail version of Diablo II and Lord of Destruction. Other versions may require additional steps.

    Tips & Specs

    To learn more about PlayOnLinux and Wine configuration, see the online manual:
    PlayOnLinux Explained

    Mint 14 32-bit
    PlayOnLinux: 4.2.1
    Wine: 1.5.25

    Installing Wine with PlayOnLinux

    Installing different versions of Wine is necessary for running different games because one Wine doesn't work for them all. PlayOnLinux makes it possible to download, install and test your game in all the versions of Wine until you find the right one for your speicific game.

    Launch PlayOnLinux
    Click Tools
    Click "Manage Wine Versions"

    Wine versions manager
    Select 1.5.25
    Click the right-arrow
    wine01.png
    Note: Try using stable Wine 1.8 and 1.8-staging

    Wine wizard
    Click Next
    wine02.png

    Downloading...
    wine03.png

    Extracting
    wine04.png

    Complete
    wine05.png

    Thats it!
    Try downloading other stable versions like Wine 1.8

    Copying Disk Files

    Create a new folder on the desktop
    Name the folder: diablo2

    Enter the Install CD (INSTALL)
    Copy everything to your diablo2 folder on the desktop
    diablo02a.png

    Enter the Play CD (PLAYDISC)
    Copy everything and click "SKIP" for duplicates
    diablo01a.png

    Enter the CINEMATICS CD
    Copy everything and click "SKIP" for duplicates
    diablo03a.png

    PlayOnLinux Setup

    Launch PlayOnLinux
    Click Install
    diablo04.png

    Click "Install a non-listed program"
    diablo05.png

    Note: Even though Diablo II is listed and has a script, I found an easier and quicker way to install it. Installing with the PlayOnLinux script works too, but requires more CD swapping. Missing one step could mean starting over.

    Select "Install a program in a new virtual drive
    Click Next
    diablo06.png

    Name your virtual drive: diablo2
    Click Next
    diablo07.png


    Select all three options:
    • Use another version of Wine
    • Configure Wine
    • Install some libraries
    Click Next
    diablo08.png

    Select Wine 1.5.25
    Click Next
    diablo10.png

    Note: If you are running a 64-bit system, PlayOnLinux will prompt if you want to use a 64-bit or 32-bit virtual drive.
    ALWAYS SELECT THE 32-bit VIRTUAL DRIVE
    Wine Configuration

    Applications Tab

    Windows Version: Windows XP
    Click Apply
    diablo11.png

    Graphics Tab
    Check "Automatically capture the mouse in full-screen windows"
    Check "Emulate a virtual desktop"
    Desktop Size: 1024x768
    Click Apply
    diablo12.png

    Drives Tab (Critical Step!!!)

    Note: Make sure you DO NOT have any Diablo disks in the CD ROM drive. If Wine already shows a CD mounted, select it and click Remove.

    Click Add...
    diablo13.png

    Drive Letter
    Use the default (probably "D")
    Click OK
    diablo14.png

    Drive path should go to the diablo2 folder on your desktop.
    Path: /home/username/Desktop/diablo2/

    Note: Username is where you put your login

    Click Advanced
    Select: CD-ROM
    Click OK
    diablo15.png

    Installing Libraries (Windows Components and Dlls)

    Select the following Libraries:
    • POL_Install_corefonts
    • POL_Install_d3dx9
    Click Next
    diablo16.png

    Installing Libraries
    diablo17.png

    Installing Diablo II

    Click Browse
    diablo18.png

    Navigate to the diablo2 folder on your desktop
    Select: Setup.exe
    Click Open
    diablo19.png

    Click Next
    diablo20.png

    You will get a PlayOnLinux crash report, just click "Cancel"

    Note: If you get a "Insert Play Disc" or "Insert Install Disc" pop up, you didn't Add the CD-Rom correctly, or Wine reverted back to the previously mounted disk. During my testing I even had to use Terminal and umount the disk. You can also double check by launching Wine through PlayOnLinux configure and checking the drives tab again.

    Click "Install Dablo II"
    diablo21.png

    Full Installation
    If you want to play without the CD-ROM, click "Full Install"
    diablo22.png

    Follow all of the license agreement, registration, shortcut prompts and begin installing.

    Note: If the installation ever asks for a Disk, check your Drives Tab in Wine and start over. This was the only problem I had during the installation.

    When Diablo 2 is done installing, there are a few more prompts.
    Click Exit Installer
    diablo24.png

    Installing Lord of Destruction

    Insert Lord of Destruction CD-ROM
    Launch PlayOnLinux
    Click Configure

    Select Diablo II virtual drive

    Miscellaneous Tab
    Click "Run a .exe file in this virtual drive"
    diablo41.png

    Navigate to the CD-ROM
    Select SETUP.EXE
    Click Open
    diablo42.png

    PlayOnLinux Crash
    You will see this PlayOnLinux crash window almost every time you launch the game.
    Just ignore it and click Cancel
    diablo43.png

    Click "Upgrade to Lord of Destruction"
    diablo44.png

    Follow the installation instruction... registration, shortcut, key, etc

    Exit Installer
    diablo45.png

    Patching Lord of Destruction

    Open your browser
    Go to: http://www.moddb.com/games/diablo-2/downloads/d2multires-version-102
    Click on [Download]

    Save the patch on your desktop
    diablo46.png

    Double-click the .zip file
    Extract the .exe to your desktop with Archive Manager
    diablo50.png

    Back to PlayOnLinux
    Click Configure
    diablo38.png

    Miscellaneous Tab
    Click "Run a .exe file in this virtual drive"
    diablo41.png

    Navigate to your desktop
    Select LODPatch_112a.exe
    Click Open
    diablo47.png

    The patch will install immediately

    Multi-Res Mod

    If you want to play Diablo II on modern day widescreen monitors, this is your mod!

    Note: Multires mod does NOT work with any patch after 1.12a

    Go To: http://www.gamefront.com/files/files/14124193/D2MultiRes-v102.zip
    diablo48.png

    Click Download
    Save to your desktop
    diablo49.png

    Open .zip file with Archive Manager
    Extract to your Diablo II Program Files
    /home/username/.PlayOnLinux/wineprefix/diablo2/drive_c/Program Files/Diablo II/

    Note: Username is where you put your login

    Shortcut to D2MultiResGame.exe

    Select diablo2 virtual drive
    Click "Make a new shortcut from this virtual drive
    diablo26.png

    Select D2MultiResGame.exe
    Click Next
    diablo27.png

    Name it: Diablo II
    Click Next
    diablo28.png

    Select "I don't want to make another shortcut"
    Click Next
    diablo29.png

    Remove Wine CD-ROM drive

    The Lord of Destruction CD-ROM need to be removed otherwise it will continue to ask for it every time you launch the game.

    Wine Tab
    Click Configure Wine
    diablo39.png

    Wine Configuration
    Drives Tab
    Delete "D:/home/username/Dekstop/diablo2"
    Delete any other CD-ROM drives
    Click OK
    diablo40.png

    Close Configuration

    No CD-ROM launching

    Open the diablo2 folder on your desktop & the Lord Of Destruction CD-ROM
    Copy all the .mpq files

    Paste in your Diablo II program folder:
    /home/username/.PlayOnLinux/wineprefix/diablo2/drive_c/Program Files/Diablo II
    Click "SKIP" for all duplicates

    Note: If the game still asks for a Disk, try launching Diablo II one time with the Disk in. After that try launching it without the Disk.

    Launch Diablo II

    Select Diablo II
    Click Run

    To increase screen resolution press Esc
    Click Options
    Click Video
    Select the screen resolution you want.

    PlayOnLinux Crash
    You will see this PlayOnLinux crash window almost every time you launch the game.
    Just ignore it and click Cancel
    diablo43.png

    Conclusion:
    Diablo II runs just fine with Wine 1.5.25 through PlayOnLinux. No extra video configuration required. You don't even really need to launch it in a "virtual desktop" but it gives you more control over the window. You can alway uncheck that option in Wine and Diablo II will set your screen resolution for 800x600.

    Screenshots:

    diablo58.png

    diablo59.png

    diablo60.png

    diablo63a.png

    diablo64a.png
    Last edited: May 13, 2016
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Comments

Discussion in 'Guides' started by booman, Jul 21, 2013.

  1. socke
    Hey booman,
    thanks for the guide, it worked quite well. But... in the very end, when I click on run, I get the following error message:
    ERROR: Unable to load D2MultiRes.dll. Exiting Diablo II...

    Do you have any ideas how to solve this?
    Thanks!
    socke
  2. booman
    Did you download a later patch than 1.12a?
    MultiRes doesn't work with any later patches
    You can play it without the Widescreen mod if you want, just create a shortcut to Diablo II instead.

    If you really want the widescreen mod, then you might have to start over.
  3. Lorena
    Ok I have a folder with Diablo II - This folder is a portable version of Diablo II.
    Many friends are able to double click the .exe file with wine installed on their computers and it works perfectly fine out of the box. For its working fine too but i have this screen problem. Cant have more than 800x600.
    So how do i patch this "thing" to be able to see the game bigger????
  4. booman
    Try downloading the mod from Moddb.com
    Its an executable (exe) so you will have to run it in your Diablo II virtual drive by:
    1. Launch PlayOnLinux
    2. Click Configure
    3. Select Diablo II (left side)
    4. Click Miscellaneous Tab
    5. Click "Run an exe in this virtual drive"
    6. Find multires.exe and open
    7. Follow instructions
    It might not work for your "portable" version
  5. Lorena
    yeah maybe. plus that Diablo II folder in not inside a playonlinux virtual drive.
    I just have it in my home folder.
  6. booman
    Oh, then follow this guide and skip the part about installing Diablo II and the shortcut.
    Just create the virtual drive, install packages and select a version of Wine.
    Then copy the folder from your home to the drive_c/Program Files in your virtual drive.
    Then you can manually created a shortcut to the diablo2.exe and install the widescreen patch
  7. Lorena
    Sounds possible.... You know booman? You are my hero!!!! Im learning a lot these last days.- And I love it
  8. Lorena
    Diablo is working perfectly fine with wine 1.8 on the virtual drive you suggested me to create. Hope i can do the patch for widescreen
  9. Lorena
    Oh well.. I applied the patch and gave me an error.-
    Error in POL_Wine
    Wine seems to have crashed

    If your program is running, just ignore this message.
    The game runs but no way to change screen size - ill have to play 800x600
  10. booman
    Yeah, that was the original resolution for Diablo II. If the patch doesn't work, then your version is probably hacked to run without DRM.
    I'm sure you can pick it up on Ebay or even Amazon for pretty cheap
  11. Lorena
    Its ok I can change monitor resolution IF i wanna play Diablo with my husband -
  12. booman
    yes, if you want fullscreen, just change your Linux desktop to 800x600
    But honestly, it looks so cool in high resolution widescreen. Its worth spending $5 or $6 on amazon
  13. dlf
    I have followed this guide a half dozen times and have gotten d2 LOD to play, but for some reason I just can't even seem to play D2 (base game), let alone even run the damn install of LOD. . . . . . .
  14. booman
    welcome to the forum dlf.
    Have you tried installing Diablo II up to the point where LOD installs and then quit?

    I think my installation has separate disks for LOD so its easy for me.
    Is there a specific error when launching?
  15. dlf
    I can't even seem to run Diablo 2 - I just get some 'critical' error - but the error is covered by a blackbox and I can't read the text.

    I think this is the log file (from debug):


    [05/25/17 13:05:53] - Running wine-2.8-staging Game.exe (Working directory : /home/dlf/.PlayOnLinux/wineprefix/Diablo2/drive_c/Program Files/Diablo II)
    fixme:aspi:SendASPI32Command ASPI: Partially implemented SC_HA_INQUIRY for adapter 0.
    err:aspi:SCSI_OpenDevice Failed to open device /dev/sg0: Permission denied
    fixme:aspi:SendASPI32Command ASPI: Partially implemented SC_HA_INQUIRY for adapter 1.
    fixme:aspi:SendASPI32Command ASPI: Partially implemented SC_HA_INQUIRY for adapter 2.
    err:aspi:SCSI_OpenDevice Failed to open device /dev/sg5: Permission denied
    fixme:aspi:SendASPI32Command ASPI: Partially implemented SC_HA_INQUIRY for adapter 3.
  16. booman
    This might be your problem...
    is /dev/sg0 an external drive or second hard drive that you are running Diablo 2 from?
    If you are using a CD ROM, try copying all the files to a folder on the desktop first.
  17. dlf
    Never Mind, got it installed.
  18. booman
    Nice, what did you do differently?

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