How to use DXWnd

DXWnd is a software that improves newer systems' compatibility with older games, it also lets you play them in Windowed Mode even if the game doesn't have the option. In my experience, I am able to play TA:K in Windowed Mode Borderless which makes it feel like fullscreen, and it improved a lot my TA:K performance when many units were in my screen.


Here I'll guide you to get DXWnd to work. Use DXWnd if you need better performance or to play windowed!
In my example I'll guide you to a Fullscreen Windowed Borderless TA:K (the one that I use) and maximum performance. But you can change the options to your liking, it's just an example.

• Make sure your video card driver is updated.
  

After you finish this tutorial, you need DXWnd open always when you want to play with your configuration.

1. Download DXWnd here: https://sourceforge.net/projects/dxwnd/files/latest/download
2. Create a folder in your desktop and extract files there.
3. Open dxwnd.exe inside it, a new window is going to appear:


4. Go to Options and turn Expert Mode on:

Screenshot	Example

5. Go to Edit > Add:


6. Now set options as below:

Remember to choose to show: "All Files (*.*)" or Kingdoms.icd won't appear!!!

Main

Screenshot	Example

Field	Description	Recommended/Default values
Name	Your config name	Kingdoms
Path	Browse your Kingdoms.icd here. (Choose: All Files (*.*))	C:\Cavedog\Kingdoms\Kingdoms.icd
Launch	Same as path.	C:\Cavedog\Kingdoms\Kingdoms.icd
Folder	The folder Kingdoms.icd is located	C:\Cavedog\Kingdoms
Run in Window	Whether you want to run in a window or not	Checked
Window initial position & size	X, Y = Position of the window in your screen. (You can use the presets too such as Desktop Center option W, H = Window size in px (Width, Height)	X = 0 Y = 0 (X, Y coordinates preset checked) W = Your screen width, H = Your screen res (ex: W = 1440, H = 900)

Video

Screenshot	Example

Field	Description	Recommended/Default values
Window style	Window's border style	Modal
Force Win Resize	Not sure what it does.	Checked
Screen resolution	Screens resolutions available in game.	Native or HDMI (use the latter if u use 16:9)

Mouse

Screenshot	Example

Field	Description	Recommended/Default values
Cursor Clipper	Locks mouse inside the window.	ON

DirectX

Screenshot	Example

Field	Description	Recommended/Default values
Renderer	Game renderer (affects graphics)	Primary surface
Full Bilinear Filter	Adds bilinear filter.	ON = Smooth textures OFF = Sharp textures
AERO compatible mode	Unchecking this option improves performance.	Unchecked
Optimize for AERO mode	Unchecking this option improves performance.	Unchecked

If you want you can set Renderer to SLD2. (I feel more comfortable with it.) It changes a bit the quality of the image, idk if for better/worse, you choose.
If you think your image is too sharp you can also set "Full Bilinear Filter", I don't like it because it feels too much blurry to me so I decided to avoid (I prefer sharp images). Up to you.

Direct3D

Screenshot	Example

Field	Description	Recommended/Default values
Textures not power of 2 fix	Fixes mainscreen animations.	Checked

Compat

Screenshot	Example

Field	Description	Recommended/Default values
Last core affinity	Sets high priority for the game's process improving performance	Checked

Press Ok and Save!





7. You're ready to play, as long as DXWnd is open, wherever you open your TA:K from, it's going to apply the changes you have done to Kingdoms through DXWnd.

That's it guys, I hope I was clear enough, if you have any doubts or suggestion let me know!

Video Soon

History

03/06/2020 - Updated Images to latest version.

And don't forget to File > Save after doing everything, so the config persists after closing dxwnd etc

This might allow me to play again! Thanks guys!

How would you do it with tak switcher since there is no icd for it?

Even after converting all three icd files, it won't work with tak switcher.

Any recommendations?

Sage wrote:

How would you do it with tak switcher since there is no icd for it?

Even after converting all three icd files, it won't work with tak switcher.

Any recommendations?

It does have an .icd file. Just do the same you did for normal TAK but with pgtak instead:

pgtak.exe < delete this one (or move to somewhere)
pgtak.icd < rename to .exe

You can duplicate ur config from TAK and change the executables paths too, like this:

Ha! I only needed to change the name, and have tak switcher opened.

It doesn't work unless tak has been launched from the switcher first. Then, anything works via DXWnd.

Thank you for this tutorial. Following the settings you said the game boots fine but when i load the 1st mission it loads and when it reaches 100% the game will minimise then close. Please help, im using windows 10, RTX 3070....

Wetwipeburger wrote:

Thank you for this tutorial. Following the settings you said the game boots fine but when i load the 1st mission it loads and when it reaches 100% the game will minimise then close. Please help, im using windows 10, RTX 3070....

Deekay can help you at tak discord here:
https://discord.gg/r9ArNWe