Recommended. An active internet connection will be required in order for GenPatcher to download the required fixes and add-on files.
GenPatcher
Get Command & Conquer Generals and Zero Hour working flawlessly on Windows 10 and 11 with GenPatcher. It applies all the latest fixes and will solve around 99% of the issues related to launching the game. Compatible with all major C&C Generals and Zero Hour releases.
Looking for a detailed walkthrough of GenPatcher? Check the Explanation & Tutorial video.
Downloads
GenPatcher v2.10
GenPatcher v2.10 Offline Bundle (English & Russian)
This download package contains GenPatcher with all required and optional files. Only recommended for those with limited internet access to allow for offline use.
English and Russian game installations only.
GenPatcher v2.10 Offline Bundle (All languages)
This download package contains GenPatcher with all required and optional files. Only recommended for those with limited internet access to allow for offline use.
Supports all game languages.
Supported Game Installations
The list below shows all supported game installations for GenPatcher. Other game installations may work but are not officially supported. If your game installation is not supported, it is recommended to make a backup of your game installation directory before running GenPatcher.
- Steam game installations (all languages).
- EA App (English & German) game installations.
- Origin (English & German) game installations.
- The First Decade (English) game installations.
- CD game installations (all languages).
- ISO game installations (all languages).
Fixes
When clicking the Apply Fixes button, the following fixes will be carried out:
- Download and install Visual C++ Redistributable (x86) 2005.
- Download and install Visual C++ Redistributable (x86) 2008.
- Download and install Visual C++ Redistributable (x86) 2010.
- Download and install Windows Media Feature Pack (if required).
- Download and install DirectX Runtime June 2010.
- Download and install C&C Generals patch 1.08 (if required).
- Download and install Zero Hour patch 1.04 (if required).
- Download and install C&C Generals fixed executable (if required).
- Download and install Zero Hour fixed executable (if required).
- Download and install proxy launcher for C&C Generals and Zero Hour for GameRanger (if not installed).
- Download and install DatGen for C&C Generals and Zero Hour (if required) (if not applied).
- Download and apply C&C Generals and Zero Hour HD game icons (if not applied).
- Fix broken desktop shortcuts.
- Add desktop shortcuts for window mode.
- Fix broken start menu shortcuts.
- Restore missing start menu shortcuts.
- Add start menu shortcuts for window mode.
- Rename dbghelp.dll to dbghelp.dll.bak for C&C Generals and Zero Hour.
- Rename BrowserEngine.dll to BrowserEngine.dll.bak for C&C Generals.
- Delete Data\INI\INIZH.big for Zero Hour.
- Create an optimized options.ini file in the Data folders.
- Fix for the EA App's "The final stages of installation didn't go as planned." error.
- Add missing entries in the Windows Registry for Steam game installations.
- Add missing entries in the Windows Registry for EA App game installations.
- Add missing entries in the Windows Registry for Origin game installations.
- Add missing entries in the Windows Registry for The First Decade game installations.
- Command and Conquer Generals Zero Hour Data folder compatibility for international versions.
- Automatic game-detection support when installing GameRanger for Steam, the EA App, Origin, and The First Decade game installations.
- Fix for GameRanger to detect C&C Generals and Zero Hour when the game is installed via Steam.
- Restores ability to log into C&C: Online for Steam game installations (assuming GenTool is installed).
- Restores multiplayer compatibility between Steam and non-Steam game installations.
- Fix for Generals and Zero Hour Data folder location discrepancy caused by Microsoft OneDrive.
- Fix window mode for EA App game installations.
- Fix command line arguments for the EA App launcher.
- Fix window mode for Origin game installations.
- Fix command line arguments for the Origin launcher.
- Fix 'Abort' functionality for GameRanger.
- Disable Origin In-Game for Origin game installations.
- Remove any 'read-only' file attributes from game files & folders.
- Validity check for potentially unstable Intel Graphics Drivers.
- Validity check for potentially unstable 'My Documents' path.
- Validity check for potentially unstable game installation path.
- Check for Malwarebytes, which is known to make the game unstable.
- Fix to restore decal quality for Zero Hour.
- Fixed fonts for Russian game installations.
- Fixed a start-up crash for high-resolution monitors.
- Added 'Edge Scroller' to re-enable edge-based camera scrolling in window mode.
- Force-remove 'read-only' attributes from game files.
Assuming the fixes were applied successfully, the game should now work correctly on Windows 10 and 11. Your game installation will be very stable and capable of playing online. In case you still experience any errors, check out the GenPatcher Support page for more information.
GenTool
Highly recommended. GenTool performs a myriad of game enhancements, including wide-screen support, stability fixes, online-play support using Revora's platform, adding in anti-cheat functionality, observer features, single-player & observer extended-zoom, and much more. There is simply no reason not to get it, unless you plan to use cheats in single player...
Additional Content
Content shown here is optional and created by different community members. This section may have more content added over time. You are invited to have a look and see if something tickles your fancy.
Community Map Pack
Any installed map can be found under the 'unofficial maps' tab when selecting a map for Skirmish or multiplayer matches. This map pack is broken up into four smaller map-packs. These are:
- Skirmish & multiplayer.
- Single player and multiplayer co-op missions.
- AOD & comp-stomp maps.
- Mod & no-money maps.
Single player missions can only be played in Skirmish, and will not appear in the map selection screen when playing in LAN or online lobbies.
About & Thank You
GenPatcher is a tool that has been created by Legionnaire back in 2019. He has been improving it since then, adding more fixes over time, as well as allowing it to distribute popular community-created content.
A special thanks goes out to xezon, who helped a lot with the development of GenPatcher 1.0, as well as hosting most of the necessary files on gentool.net for GenPatcher 2.0.
A thank you also goes out to those who have helped with testing some of the features of GenPatcher, allowing for faster development, and the discovery of more stable methods of fixing specific problems.
Also a big thanks to the translators for putting in the hours to ensure that even those who are not fluent in English can enjoy this program.
This project was a lot of work and has easily taken over 300+ hours to develop. Before GenPatcher, installing the game and getting it to run properly could take around 30 minutes for those who knew what they were doing, and several hours for those who lacked the knowledge and experience of the many existing bugs. Thank you for using this software, validating all the hard work and effort put in.
If you feel GenPatcher was a massive aid in getting your game running, and you want to express your gratitude, you can always send a donation via PayPal or by visiting this link: https://streamlabs.com/legionnairegenerals.