Links Corner Forum

like most mornings play rounds with friends on gr
last week got booted from round which happens from time to time
this time could not reenter games
upon returning to try and play without going to gr realized game won't start
I have a 5-year-old dell running windows 11 which has run links 2003 perfectly throughout all upgrades over the years
it ran perfect after last one until now and I played online in gr with no issues
the error message on screen reads
links has detected you may be having trouble running with 3d acceleration
this may be a problem with your video card or video card driver

amd radeon(tm)rx580
links is running directx 9.0 currently
I also deleted game and reinstalled with all patches

I've checked device and it is updated and according to my machine is running without issue
fyi links will start and play perfectly if I run it as administrator
not a pc genius and am not real savvy around pc repairs
pc specs
amd ryzen 7 2700x 8 core processor 3.7 ghz 64 bit os


any ideas
this game has meant a lot to me over the years but fear my connections with others and fun rounds of golf may be over

jorson2 wrote: ↑September 29th, 2025, 3:49 pm fyi links will start and play perfectly if I run it as administrator

Stick with running as an admin.

Certainly, when you install Links into the standard Program Files location, it will require privileges to allow you to run it. This is because the program can add/remove files from this folder tree while the software is running, for example course files.

I do not recall if it insists on same if you install it to a custom location outside of this directory.

is there a way to keep game running in administrative mode??
when starting game, it asks for open which doesn't work but does if I use administrator
when in gr the game will load automatically without opening it first when hosting or joining
as of now this won't happen
any ideas why this happened in first place???
I play mostly in game ranger

links is currently in program files folder x86

In the shortcut properties for the launch icon go to the Compatibility tab and select run this program as an Administrator and see how you go.

well game works on the pc without error message but still have to agree to use administrator??? still a no go on game ranger??
like I said earlier it's why I play this game to begin with the interactions with friends

open to anyone else's suggestions
plus, why all of a sudden this has happened is bothersome


oh well

dwg wrote: ↑September 29th, 2025, 11:53 pm Certainly, when you install Links into the standard Program Files location, it will require privileges to allow you to run it. This is because the program can add/remove files from this folder tree while the software is running, for example course files.

I do not recall if it insists on same if you install it to a custom location outside of this directory.

I have Links installed on a different partition (and different logical disk) to that of the operating system (Win 11). It (LinksMMIII.exe) is installed in D:\Links 2003 and I have the .exe sitting in the taskbar and open it from there. Most of the time I can open Links 2003 although it takes a few goes to do so. I don't set the game to run in admin mode (makes no difference for me).

To the OP, you could just do likewise (i.e put the Links MMIII.exe on the taskbar) so that when you are playing Links by yourself right click on this Links MMIII icon, right click again and then select 'Run as Administrator' as opposed to 'Open'. That way you can leave the compatibility properties as they are (I.e no administrator) when you hook up via Gameranger if that is what it takes. I've not failed to join a Gameranger multiplayer although it can take a number of retries with that as well.

dwg wrote: ↑September 29th, 2025, 11:53 pm Certainly, when you install Links into the standard Program Files location, it will require privileges to allow you to run it. This is because the program can add/remove files from this folder tree while the software is running, for example course files.

I do not recall if it insists on same if you install it to a custom location outside of this directory.

I have Links installed on a different partition (and different logical disk) to that of the operating system (Win 11). It (LinksMMIII.exe) is installed in D:\Links 2003 and I have the .exe sitting in the taskbar and open it from there. Most of the time I can open Links 2003 although it takes a few goes to do so. I don't set the game to run in admin mode either in solo or multiplayer online (makes no difference for me).

To the OP, you could just do likewise (i.e put the Links MMIII.exe on the taskbar) so that when you are playing Links by yourself right click on this Links MMIII icon, right click again and then select 'Run as Administrator' as opposed to 'Open'. That way you can leave the compatibility properties as they are (I.e no administrator) when you hook up via Gameranger if that is what it takes. I've not failed to join a Gameranger multiplayer although it can take a number of retries with that as well.

all well in good
understand your suggestions
the game ran fine until recently, so I am perplexed as to why I have to sidestep everything to just play
at this point still no go in game ranger
still haven't seen an explanation for why to this happening
I need to walk away from this for now
ty for responses but ultimately something is wrong with no immediate fixes available