Try this:

7. Select the bottle with EQ installed into it and then select the "Programs->Run Command" menu item.
8. Browse to the "Program Files\Sony\Everquest\eqgame.exe" file and click "OK".
9. Append "patchme" to the end of the command line path to eqgame.exe, AFTER the quotes
10. Click the "Add to Programs Menu" button. Now a new item called "eqgame" should show up in the Crossover Games shortcuts.

I wouldn't bother with crossover especially if you're a bit of a noob like me. I have a new macbook pro and installing bootcamp was simple I currently play eq on my windows vista 64 bit partition. One thing to note is that while using windows your automatic fan control will not function correctly. This is remedied by installing SMC fan control on OSX (Which i recommend for any gaming being done on a mac) simply start the fan control on OSX restart computer fan control will still be working and just hold Alt key once you hear the mac noise select windows partition and you're good to go.

Suppose I should mention installing EQ on your windows partition using bootcamp is the exact same process as if you were doing it on a pure windows machine.

Hey, thanks for the advice. I currently have windows installed on a bootcamp partition and have P99 on it. It is working great except windows is crap and among other things it is destroying my battery because the power management sucks so much. I would prefer, if at all possible, to run EQ in MacOS so I will continue to try.

McBard: Thanks man I will try that tonight and see what I can come up with.

Well I was able to get patchme in there but when i run it I get this error:

"Error in XML:
Error in your GUI XML files. Check UIErrors.txt"


In my UIErrors.txt is says:

UIErrorLog created at Sun Apr 10 22:46:25 2011
[Sun Apr 10 22:46:25 2011] Warning: file EQLSUI.xml not found in directory UIFiles\default\. Attempting to use file from Default skin.
[Sun Apr 10 22:46:25 2011] Couldn't open or read UIFiles\default\EQLSUI.xml
[Sun Apr 10 22:46:25 2011] Error reading XML.
[Sun Apr 10 22:46:25 2011] Error loading skin: loading default skin instead.
[Sun Apr 10 22:46:25 2011] Warning: file EQLSUI.xml not found in directory UIFiles\default\. Attempting to use file from Default skin.
[Sun Apr 10 22:46:25 2011] Couldn't open or read UIFiles\default\EQLSUI.xml
[Sun Apr 10 22:46:25 2011] Error reading XML.

It apparently cannot find or open mu EQLSUI.xl but I have it.
It's contents look like this:

<?xml version = "1.0"?>
<!-- Monolithic Parameter File -->
<!-- The composite section must come first and be followed by the schema -->



<XML ID = "EQInterfaceDefinitionLanguage">
<Composite>
<Include>SIDL.xml</Include>
<Include>EQLSUI_Animations.xml</Include>
<Include>EQLSUI_Templates.xml</Include>
<Include>EQLSUI_EulaWnd.xml</Include>
<Include>EQLSUI_SOESplashWnd.xml</Include>
<Include>EQLSUI_ESRBSplashWnd.xml</Include>
<Include>EQLSUI_MainWnd.xml</Include>
<Include>EQLSUI_ConnectWnd.xml</Include>
<Include>EQLSUI_ServerSelectWnd.xml</Include>
<Include>EQLSUI_ChatWnd.xml</Include>
<Include>EQLSUI_ChatOptionsDialog.xml</Include>
<Include>EQLSUI_ColorPickerWnd.xml</Include>
<Include>EQLSUI_CreditsWnd.xml</Include>
<Include>EQLSUI_NewsWnd.xml</Include>
<Include>EQLSUI_HelpWnd.xml</Include>
<Include>EQLSUI_OKDialog.xml</Include>
<Include>EQLSUI_YesNoDialog.xml</Include>
<Include>EQLSUI_PollWnd.xml</Include>
<Include>EQLSUI_OrderExpansionWnd.xml</Include>
<Include>EQLSUI_WebOrderWnd.xml</Include>
<Include>EQLSUI_SplashExWnd.xml</Include>
</Composite>
<Schema xmlns = "EverQuestData" xmlns:dt = "EverQuestDataTypes"/>
</XML>


All the xmls that it points to are also there so now I am at a stand still. Anyone have any more suggestions?
The error file says that it could not open or READ. is it possible that a program that can read XML be installed in the same bottle?

It isn't even necessary to install into into a 'bottle'. I just copied my EQ directory from my windows machine to my mac and pointer crossover directly at the .exe file, no install required.

Since I had modified my UI's in my working version of EQ I decided to uninstall EQ and delete the directory and reinstall fresh. I did that and then added all the P99 changes and then copied the whole directory over from windows to Mac. I didnt install it in a bottle but instead did what Rael suggested and just ran the exe in crossover directly from my mac file system. I end up getting the same error as listed above :(

So I can play on boot camp still. I have tried VM fusion but emulating windows and runing EQ is a littel choppy for my old macbook and I can't use CrossOver.

I know there are a few more programs like CrossOver. Can ayone suggest a few that have worked for them for EQ?

Thanks again.

corradojeff,

Were you able to patch the eqgame.exe file? I believe I ran the file, and it started to patch without adding the patchme being appended. This may have created a problem.

I'm having difficulty in CrossOver in adding patchme to eqgame.exe and having the file load, I keep getting an error. Humm?

Ideas?

Parallels.

Edit: This solution is still going to rape your battery, because you're running two operating systems at the same time. The best way I can think of playing, for battery life, would be to either get it running using Wine or something like crossover games. Virtualization isn't the best option for battery life, and as you pointed out, Windows has horrid battery management when compared with OSX.

If I'm using parallels I get about 2 hours of battery life on my 13 inch MBP when I'm unplugged. Bootcamp was similar.

Try verifying the file permissions? Especially if this was copied from an NTFS partition.

Thanks for all your help with this McBard. The file permissions all look good. I got this same error when I installed EQ directly with crossover and also when moving from NTFS file system so I dont think that would be part of the issue. Good thinking though.

As for the battery. I am not playing EQ while actually using the battery so virtualization taking up battery isnt really a problem for me. What I was talking about is windows actually ruining my battery. While playing EQ for long periods of time, while my laptop is plugged in, has taken a lot of life out of my battery. It is a decently new battery but it dies fast now like it has gone through 100,000 cycles. It a windows thing I guess.

Hey qqd, for P99 you DO NOT want to patch it. If it started to patch your installation is pooched. You will need to reinstall a clean version either way.

You need to have the patchme when you run the exe but you seem to be having the same issue as me. I can run the exe with the patchme in there but I get the error I explained earlier. I think I am giving up on CrossOver for now and I may come revisit it later.