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“My game will not load or I receive an error when attempting to start a game”

Windows 2000 or Windows XP Professional

Note: The following support is for people who have installed Windows XP Service Pack 2. If you use Windows 2000  Windows XP Home, go here.

Additionally, to install game software on a Windows 2000 or Windows XP Professional computer, you need to sign into the computer with an account that allows you to make system changes in order to install game software (for example, an Administrator or Standard user account). If you are signed in with a Restricted user account, you will not see the Yellow bar. Please contact the computer’s owner or your IT department if you need assistance logging in with this type of account.

Look for the yellow bar

Windows XP Service Pack 2 provides added security features to protect you from unsolicited downloads. When you launch a game on MSN Games, you sometimes need to download Macromedia® Flash Player or Macromedia Shockwave Player or other software in order to play.

The new security settings in Windows XP Service Pack 2 will stop software from downloading automatically so that you can authorize and control all incoming downloads.

A yellow bar (which may appear as a pale yellow color depending on your monitor settings) will appear at the top of your game window along with the following message: “This site might require the following ActiveX control: <name of file>. Click here to install.” The message will let you know that there is software you may need to download in order to play a game.

Downloading the required software

1.       Click on either on the yellow bar, which may appear as a pale yellow color depending on your monitor settings at the top of the game window with the message: “This site might require the following ActiveX control: <name of file>. Click here to install.” To begin the installation process. A drop down menu will appear, click “Install ActiveX Control.” Or, click on the area below the “not working?” text.  Both areas are circled in the above image. You only need to click on one area to install the software.

2.       Depending on your security settings a window may pop up to confirm that you want to download the required software (see image below). Click Install to begin.

Note: If you don’t want to see the security warning window each time you download the software (in the above example is it “PopCap Games Loader”), click on the button next to “More Options” and select the “Always install software…” radio button before you click Install. (See image below.)

3.       When the installation is complete, you are ready to play!

Attention Shapo™, Gold Fever™, and Panda Craze players

You will also need to install Macromedia Flash Player 7.0 and an ActiveX control feature in order to play Shapo and/or Panda Craze. If you do not have this version of the player, you will be prompted to install this software. After installation, Macromedia requires that any applications using the Flash Player be closed or a restart of your computer will be necessary before playing the game.

If you do not have the ActiveX control, then you will see a yellow bar (similar to the one in the image at the top of this page). Click on the bar to install the controller and then you can play the game.

Attention Mozaki Blocks™ players!

You will also need to download the “ActiveX Right-click Manager” feature in order to play Mozaki Blocks. If you do not have the “ActiveX Right-click Manager,” you will see a yellow bar (similar to the one in the image at the top of this page). Click on the bar to install the controller and then you can play the game.

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