I placed this thread here because it seems to be a question that a newbie would ask. I've been using linux for nearly 4 years now and have tried everything from Simply Mepis to Bodhi. I have been using Mint Julia for some time. I've been trying to upgrade to Mint 12 which uses Gnome3 which is heavily patched to resemble Gnome2. I've tried Cinnamon and Mate but have run into one major show stopper. When I try to play a game like Warcraft III during startup it throws a CD-Rom not found error. It installs fine and I've configured Wine to to locate the CD-ROM via the Wine Configuration utility. Nothing works but I've had great success with Mint Julia And Zorin 5. For some reason I encounter problems with the patched Gnome3 distro's.

Thanks in advance

According to http://www.winehq.org/'s page for Warcraft 3, there are 2 possible problems:

1. You do not have the 32-bit OpenGL libraries (wine is a 32-bit application, so you'll need those libraries).
2. Just download the patch from:
http://us.battle.net/support/en/arti...atch-downloads
Which allows Warcraft 3 to be played without a CD.

1 members found this post helpful.

Sorry but thats not problem. I'm not trying to run the game without a CD. I have the original game CD and have used it with no issues with Mint Julia and Zorin 5. For some reason Mint12 & Zorin6 which use a patched version of Gnome3 can not find the CD drive when starting the game although I can install the game using the CD. Makes no sense!!!

So, have you tried applying the patch I linked? That's what fixed the same issue for me on Gentoo Linux.

Not yet because it has always worked with every distro until Mint and Zorin went to the new patched gnome 3 distros. Does Gentoo use Gnome3? I'm familiar with Window's software like Alcohol 52 and Magic Disk but never used similar software with linux.

Gentoo can use whatever desktop environment that is in their repos. I don't use Gentoo anymore but know of the problem you're talking about. I've never used Mint and Zorin so I have no clue what they did with Gnome3 (I've never used Gnome at all myself).

Just download the patch, and install it with wine:
It'll install the patch like it does on Windows, and then try out Warcraft 3.

Thanks for the input
I never had a problem until Mint and Zorin went to Gnome3. I have always liked Gnome and until now I have never had a problem. Gnome3 and Unity (Ubuntu) has scrambled everything that I have come to know and love about linux. PClinuxOS uses KDE and that works fine, just don't care for KDE. I'm tempted to try the new Simply Mepis distro which was my first linux system that I found worked for me. Personally I feel linux should stop trying to compete with Windows 8.

Mate, considering you've apparently been using Linux for about four years and have tried every distro, you know shit all about your os. Here's the thing; the Gnu/Linux distro you choose to use is not dependent on desktop environment (Except maybe Chakra). The desktop environment can be removed, replaced or changed and it shouldn't affect other software, unless you remove a shared library or something.
Switching distros does not solve problems, it just brings different configurations that may or may not be better suited for you. Learn what configurations are best for you and you'll be able to get the functionality you want in any distro.

... Sigh, that's a paradox. You do realise Mepis is very kde centric too don't you? Mepis

Did you hear about how all the desktop environment teams are joining there dev teams together to overthrow the current interfaces and combine them into a superior tile design; too ayh? It's a shame, but we as the community have no input on what the devs do, so it looks like we're doomed to use Windows 8 weather we like it or not.

So let's get this straight. (For the record i am not familiar with Warcraft or Zorin)
According to Zorins websight, they don't use gnome3, but still gnome2.
I'm willing to bet TommyC7 is onto the problem, but for the record..

Did you have Warcraft III working previously on an earlier versions of Mint and Zorin?
& Does Warcraft III with gnome3 removed and a different desktop environment installed?

Yes I know Mepis is KDE as well as PClinuxOS, Mint has a Debian based OS and also one that uses KDE. Like I said I'm not a big fan of KDE but I may need to go back to it to use a current OS.
I have been playing games like Warcraft III and Starcraft with no problems since Ubuntu 10. They played just as well when I switched to Zorin 5 and then Mint Julie (probably the best linux OS ever) They were also very stable. Anyway I've had nothing but problems with Zorin 6 and Mint 12 which are now built on Gnome3, These heavily patched Gnome3 desktops which include Cinnamon and Mate are terrible in my opinion. I'm aware Mint 12 has been getting stellar reviews but I'm not seeing whats so good about it.

I said it before, the desktop environment should not affect the functionality of the distribution you are using.

I will try to make it clear to you again. A Linux distribution is independent of a desktop environment. It's not built on Gnome 3; Gnome 3 has been built for it. You can remove Gnome 3 and still have a perfect working Linux distribution.
I have not used Cinnamon, but to my understanding, cinnamon is not a patched gnome 3; but in fact still gnome 3, just using a different shell. (I'm not even going to get into shells, i think the concept is stupid: even though i use plasma-desktop) As for Mate; i have used it. I assure you, Mate is not a patched gnome 3. Mate is a fork of the old gnome 2 you previously used. It 'should' have all the functionality and maybe even some new features.

I can't explain that sorry, but i think you'll be best off taking TommyC7s advice and seeing if it works. Alternatively, you could do what i do to play Diablo 1. You can make a disc image file of the game, and then mount it into /mnt or something each time you want to play.
I read about the patch TommyC7 mentioned though and it sounds like your problem, and an easy one to fix with this patch, i recommend trying it before taking my approach.

Really are you sure? Then explain to me why every Gnome3 desktop has this problem. Thats cool, I don't require expert advice I'll just muddle through on my own.

BY the way I installed Mint12 KDE and I'm able to play every game.

As for removing Gnome3 and installing another desktop... Not a good Idea, its easer to just download another distro with the desktop of choice.

Cheers

For the record it is absolutely true that the DE, or libs on which it depends, can have an impact upon how media are seen and mounted. For example: under KDE I used to be able to transfer files from my camera as if it were a mass storage device but now, under XFCE, I have to use a helper application. The cause is actually more complex than that, of course, but that is the effect.

I couldn't understand how a OpenGl library could be the problem so I never checked into it. Now that I'm thinking about it I should check the libs and dlls.

Actually I'm finding some good things with Mint12 KDE its been awhile since using KDE and it looks like some polishing has been done. So... I'm going to stick with it for a spell, besides I'm becoming weary with the whole Gnome3 debacle.

I was referring more to the libraries which have to do with hotplug devices rather than anything else. There have been changes in how devices are dealt with.

Thanks for the help
I've decided I'm going to abandon the the whole Gnome3 mess. Its just not because of the game issues but there are a number of bugs that pop up during on going use. Its disappointing because I grew to really like Gnome2. For those that are interested in the philosophy behind Gnome3 a good start would be to read this question and answers session from its creator.
http://derstandard.at/1313024283546/...ture-of-GNOME3