Dead Man's Hand

How to Play

The game has been tested on Windows 7 64-bit and Windows 10, it works fine. You may experience some small troubles when you play the game on modern systems, check our Guide and Notes for details

Before installation - if you're using Windows 8, 8.1, 10 or 11 - make sure that you enabled DirectPlay if you didn't make it before, read this or this guide how to do it (if you're using Windows 7 or older - just install DirectX from the disc)

Install & play guide:

• Mount the disc image of CD1. You will need the utility for mounting disc image files, like WinCDEmu, UltraISO, Alcohol 52%/Alcohol 102% or Daemon Tools Lite
• Install the game using serial key RWKH-LNBT-J84P-9FEZ-SD6G-FE83 or one of Serial keys from text file available in Downloads. It is recommended to install the game not in default path, but in some other, non-system folder, like C:/Games/Dead Man's Hand
• When the setup will ask for CD2, mount the disc image of CD2
• After you installed the game, install the patch
• Then use NoCD, simply copy DMH.exe from the archive and put it into Dead Man's Hand/System directory, agree to replace original file
• Open the directory with the game and find DMH.exe. Right click on DMH.exe - Properties - Compatibility - Set "Run this app in compatibility mode with Windows XP" and "Run as administrator"
• Launch the game and play. If the game doesn't work in compatibility mode with Windows XP - try to launch it in compatibility mode with other version of Windows (Windows 98/ME, 2000, etc.)

How to play the game in widescreen:

• By default the maximum screen resolution that the game supports is 1024x768, but you can launch the game in higher screen resolutions thanks to Widescreen Fix by AlphaYellow. That fix adds the support for 16:9, 16:10, 21:9, 32:9 and 48:9 screen resolutions, with the correct FOV (Field of View); the fix requires dgVoodoo files for the correct work. To use the Widescreen Fix follow the instructions from Readme.txt file inside the archive
• As alternative, you can enable high resolutions by editing the config-files or via the game console, here's the guide; or by using dgVoodoo. But please note that these methods may result in menu elements become cropped, or the image being stretched. So it is better to try these methods only if Widescreen Fix does not work
• Widescreen Fix additionally adds the correct FOV (Field of View) for mentioned screen resolutions. But if for some reason you need to change FOV - you can do it by editing the config-files or via the game console, here's the guide. Be aware that if you enable too high FOV, the weapon model goes out of its place

Notes:

• If the installation doesn't start - try to launch Setup.exe in compatibility mode with old version of Windows (98, 2000 or XP) and as administrator
• It is recommended to install all versions of Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable and NET Framework for the correct work of the game. Also it is recommended to install K-Lite Codec Pack for the correct work of in-game videos
• The game works on DirectX 8, so if you're using Windows 8, 8.1, 10 or 11 - you need to enable DirectPlay: Go to Control Panel, and select 'Programs'. Select 'Turn Windows features on and off', click on 'Legacy Components' and check the box 'DirectPlay'. Select OK, once the installation is done, restart your computer
• For users of Windows 8~11: if the game has poor performance, use dgVoodoo (included in Widescreen Fix) or crosire's d3d8to9 wrapper, put it in Dead Man's Hand/System directory
• If you have problem with climbing on the ladders - that usually happens if the game runs with too high framerate, over 150+ FPS. To fix it cap the framerate to 60 or 120 FPS; if you play with dgVoodoo, you can do it in dgVoodoo.conf, set FPSLimit= to 60 or 120; if you play without dgVoodoo do it through the video card panel or with one of the apps that allows to limit the framerate
• If it didn't help and you continue to get stuck on ladders - hit the Tab button and write: fly, then if you want to walk again write: walk
• If you have jerky/uneven mouse movement - you need to edit the config-files, because the default mouse settings may not be compatible with modern high-DPI mouses. Follow this guide to fix it. Also, you can change mouse acceleration and mouse sensitivity in config-files too, here's the guide
• By default the maximum selectable refresh rate is 60 Hz, so if you have the display with higher refresh rate you may see the screen tearing, especially on displays with over 100 Hz refresh rate. It can be fixed by changing refresh rate of the game in config-files, check this guide. Be aware that changing the video settings in game will undo the changes, so if you see the screen tearing again - check the config-files
• It is possible to run the game in Windowed mode, you just need to enable it in DMH.ini, check this guide for details
• The game supports Anti-Alising and Vertical Sync, but you need to enable it in DMH.ini, read here for instructions. On Windows 8~11 Vsync in the game works with issues, so additionally use crosire's d3d8to9 wrapper, put it in Dead Man's Hand/System directory. Alternatively, you can use dgVoodoo and enable that settings in dgVoodoo Control Panel
• The game has controller support but you need to enable it in DMH.ini, set UseJoystick=True; the key bindings can be changed in User.ini file, aim assist can be enabled in DMH.ini, here's the guide. The game should work fine with any Xbox-type controller, if the game doesn't recognize your controller - try to use one gamepad wrappers, like Steam Input
• The game is using SecuROM DRM protection, which may have issues on modern systems and requires the disc for launch. NoCD "breaks" DRM protection and allows to run the game without the disc
• Russian version of the game is already pre-patched and DRM-Free, so you don't need to use any patches or NoCDs for it
• Don't forget to check PCGamingWiki if you have troubles, it's very useful!