Diablo II & Expansion Guide

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...

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

Note: Try using stable Wine 1.8 and 1.8-staging

Wine wizard
Click Next

Downloading...

Extracting

Complete

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

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

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

PlayOnLinux Setup

Launch PlayOnLinux
Click Install

Click "Install a non-listed program"

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

Name your virtual drive: diablo2
Click Next

Select all three options:

• Use another version of Wine
• Configure Wine
• Install some libraries

Click Next

Select Wine 1.5.25
Click Next

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

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

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...

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

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

Installing Libraries (Windows Components and Dlls)

Select the following Libraries:

• POL_Install_corefonts
• POL_Install_d3dx9

Click Next

Installing Libraries

Installing Diablo II

Click Browse

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

Click Next

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"

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

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

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"

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

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

Click "Upgrade to Lord of Destruction"

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

Exit Installer

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

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

Back to PlayOnLinux
Click Configure

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

Navigate to your desktop
Select LODPatch_112a.exe
Click Open

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

Click Download
Save to your desktop

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

Select D2MultiResGame.exe
Click Next

Name it: Diablo II
Click Next

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

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

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

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

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:

 

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

 

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.

 

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????

 

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

 

yeah maybe. plus that Diablo II folder in not inside a playonlinux virtual drive.
I just have it in my home folder.

 

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

 

Sounds possible.... You know booman? You are my hero!!!! Im learning a lot these last days.- And I love it

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Its ok I can change monitor resolution IF i wanna play Diablo with my husband -

 

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

 

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. . . . . . .

 

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?

 

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.

 

err:aspi:SCSI_OpenDevice Failed to open device /dev/sg0: Permission denied

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.

 

Never Mind, got it installed.

 

Nice, what did you do differently?