[TUTORIAL] How to install and run the game Championship Manager 01/02 CM0102 ? FAQ and Support (2024)

How to install and run the game Championship Manager 2001/2002 CM0102 ? (Last updated on 27.03.2024)

*** Attention! You make sure to follow Installation Instructions for each step in written order below and as described in the links. Also, some tips are added here under each step below, these tips may help you if you apply or if you learn to use them when necessary. Furthermore, If you face any error or any problem or if you need technical support, you can find FAQs and Technical Support - Common problems with solutions at the bottom of this tutorial.

Step-1 Installing the official game CM0102 from ISO file : Download the game installation ISO file using the following link >>>
And install the game using the instructions from following link >>>
- The game will be installed (unless you specified otherwise during the installation of the game) as default in 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Championship Manager 01-02 '. Alternatively, it is also suggested that you can use another location out of 'Program Files (x86)' such as in 'C:\Championship Manager 01-02 ' to install the game which can be more safe sometimes about technical admin issues.
- You will use cm0102 exe in your CM0102 game installation directory . But, you don't delete cm0102.iso (the file you downloaded in Step-1 above) because the game will ask you to insert a CD disk each time you reboot your computer and cm0102.iso serves as your disk; you have to double-click on it or right-click on it to choose mount on virtual CD drive. If you use Windows 7, Vista, or Win XP, you will need a virtual CD drive program to install and play the game.
- Disabling any antivirus and disabling windows defender real time protection speeds up the game by more than 30%.

Step-2 Applying 3.9.68 official SI Games patch for cm0102.exe : Download and install the latest official SI Games 3.9.68 patch -most stable one which many bugs are solved and many leagues are added- using this link >>>
- There are also 3.9.60 (already when you complete Step-1), 3.9.62 , 3.9.65 and 3.9.67 official SI Games patches. You can still play the game with these official versions, but next steps here may not be applied to these versions.
- You need to know that Data updates are only based on 3.9.68 version database structure unless it is specifically written in related data update installation instructions, so you will need 3.9.68 version CM0102 exe.
- You need to know that all patchers, patches, tools, etc are only working on 3.9.68 version CM0102 exe.
- You shall use your same cm0102 exe always with the saved game which you started and saved with this exe.
- It is always suggested to start new game after you patch your exe as official patches are not applicable/ not compatible to saved games. You shall start new game with Database which is compatible to your newly patched exe.

Step-3 Setting 'Run as Admin' and compatibility mode for cm0102.exe : Go to your CM0102 directory ( Usually located (unless you specified otherwise during the installation of the game) in 'This PC > Local Disk (C:) > Program Files (x86) > Championship Manager 01-02 ). Right-click on 'cm0102.exe' and tick 'Run as Admin' and compatibility mode as Windows XP (Service Pack 3) .
If you change the name of your exe, you need to do these same settings again.
Most computers will run the game in Windows XP (Service Pack 3) as compatibility mode , but if you face any issue with WinXP SP3 compatibility mode, you can try other compatibility modes such as 'Windows 98 / ME' . If you forget this, the game may not load or may show error later during the game.
- Windows 10/11 users: suggested to set the compatibility mode as Windows XP (Service Pack 3) .
- Windows Vista/7/8 users: suggested to set the compatibility mode as Windows 98 / ME .
- Windows XP users: suggested to set the compatibility mode as Windows 98 / ME .

Step-4 (Optional) Loading another Data or Data update : This is optional as each official patch versions of the game have original Data itself for 2001-2002 season. If you want, you can download your chosen any Data or any Data update based on specific season from the following section in this link and install it by following instructions step by step for each database. >>> viewforum.php?f=73
- You need to remember that Data updates are only based on 3.9.68 version database structure unless it is specifically written in related data update installation instructions. So, you need to have 3.9.68 patch installed firstly (Step-2 above).
- You need to know that all patchers, patches, tools, etc are only working on 3.9.68 version CM0102 exe.
- You can also find and try retro, customized and league databases (+ patched exe's if any) from related threads.
- If you face any problem about copying Data or Data update, right click on your CM folder, usually located (unless you specified otherwise during the installation of the game) in ' C:\Program Files (x86)\Championship Manager 01-02 '. Then click Properties> Security> Edit> change Users to full control > Apply> OK . Then copy&paste the database flies into Data folder in your CM game installation again. Check if it works.
- Disabling any antivirus and disabling windows defender real time protection speeds up the game by more than 30%.

Step-5 (Optional) Using Patchers/Patching : If you want and decide to patch your 3.9.68 version CM0102 exe after completing all above first 4 steps , you can check Patches section >>> https://www.champman0102.net/viewforum.php?f=72
- If you need support about your patching decision , here is [TUTORIAL] How to patch your game CM0102 ? Nick's CM0102Patcher , Tapani Patcher , Saturn , John Locke , OllyDbg >>>
Attention! It is always your own risk if you decide patching.
Warning-1: It is suggested to backup your exe, your saved game and your Data folder before patching. You can rename your exe and you can copy your Data folder and save games to another location.
Warning-2: All patcher tools also-mostly patch/change the database in Data folder inside your CM folder during patching your exe as some patches need database patching. You also need to keep the database which you want to patch in your Data folder before patching your CM exe. Before using a misc patch from [PATCH] Nick's CM0102Patcher or before applying any other special patch into your exe, you better read patch notes and make required changes also in database (if any or if patcher does not apply changes automatically in database). After using/applying a patcher, your game may not run if you validate the database in CM editor cm0102ed.exe . This is a known issue with the patcher as validation can remove entries/changes from the database that the patcher did and it needs to run. So if you do make changes in the database with an editor after using a patcher, just save database but do not validate.
Warning-3: Remember that some special-patched Data updates need patched cm0102 exe ,and vice versa, some special-patched cm0102 exe need patched Data updates. You always need to check that you are using compatible/applicable exe with right database.
Warning-4: It is always suggested to start new game after you patch your exe although some patches are applicable to saved games. You shall start new game with Database which is compatible to your newly patched exe.
Warning-5: You shall use your same cm0102 exe always with the saved game which you started and saved with this exe.

Step-6 (Optional) Additional tools/accessories : If you want any useful additions/tools for your game ( Patches, Tools, Editors, Tactics, Tactic Packs, Background Packs, Menubars, Colour Schemes, Fonts, Commentary Files, Documentations, etc.) , you can check Downloads section for more >>> https://www.champman0102.net/viewforum.php?f=57

Step-7 Creating a new game and Playing : Create a new game, play and have fun! Always remember that (although you will use cm0102 exe in your CM0102 game installation directory) you need to mount your CM0102.iso or insert CM0102 CD (if you have) before playing and (mandatory) always remember to eat, drink and to pause occasionally for sleep!
- It is always suggested to start new game after you patch your exe although some patches are applicable to saved games. You shall start new game with Database which is compatible to your newly patched exe.
- You shall use your same cm0102 exe always with the saved game which you started and saved with this exe.

FAQs and Technical Support

Common problems with solutions

*** The game asks me to 'Insert CD' , No CD cracks:
Solution: Due to the rules of the forum, you will have to either burn or mount an image of the 'cm0102.iso'. When you open the game with CM exe from your CM folder, the game will ask you to insert a disk each time you reboot your computer and cm0102.iso (the file you downloaded during installing the game in Step-1 above) serves as your disk; (for Windows 10 and above) you can double-click on this iso file or right-click on it to choose mount on virtual CD drive. If you use Windows 7, Vista, or Win XP, you will need to install a virtual CD drive software to mount cm0102.iso . After mounting ISO file, you can open the game with your cm0102.exe from your CM0102 folder.
If you can not mount the iso file : In the zip file is the iso file, but it shows with the WinRar icon. Copy that out into another folder. Then right-click, and go to properties to confirm that this file type says iso. Then set open with Windows Explorer (instead of WinRar), and then finally when you right click on this file , you'll get the Mount option.
You can re-download cm0102.iso from this link and mount this image >>>

*** If problem on run autorun and setup, setup.exe problem , not work , does nothing:
Solution: Firstly , if you did not try yet, restart computer and try installation again. If still no response from installation;
1* Right click on SETUP.EXE, go to Properties. Click on the Compatibility tab and choose Run this program in Windows XP (service pack 3) mode and tick 'Run as an admin'. Double click on setup.exe. You can try other compatibility modes , if Windows XP (service pack 3 ) does not work .
2* If nothing happens, open up the task manager by right clicking on the task bar and choosing Task Manager or by pressing "Ctrl + Shift + Esc" at the same time or by pressing "Ctrl + Alt + Delete" at the same time then you will see Task Manager.
3* Go to the Details tab on the task manager and sort by name. Find SETUP.EXE. If there are multiple ones running , then kill them all. Click on setup.exe in the list and press the delete key or the 'end task' button to kill the process.
4* Run setup.exe again . Check if it works. If not, go to next task.
5* Open task manager and check Details tab again. If still there are multiple setup.exe, go to task-3 .
6* Right click on setup.exe in Details tab under Task manager and click Analyze Wait Chain option. This will tell you what is preventing the installation from running. Find that process and kill it.
- For Windows 7 , the Resource Monitor offers the ability to Analyze Wait Chain. Run 'resmon' to open the Resource Monitor. Identify the hung or suspended process, the Overview or CPU tab and right-click on it. In the context menu, you will see Analyze Wait Chain.
- For Windows 10/8 , it allows you to Analyze Wait Chain right from the Windows Task Manager itself, apart from the Resource Monitor. Open your Task Manager, check Details tab and identify the hung or frozen process. Right-click on it and select Analyze wait chain in the context menu.
- For Windows 11 , on the keyboard, press "Ctrl + Alt + Delete," you will see few options. To open Task Manager, select "Task Manager." Or to open Task Manager, right-click the Start button on the taskbar. Select "Task Manager" from the menu that appears, and Task Manager will be launched.
7* If still not solved, copy/extract all files in ISO to a folder in your computer and run setup.exe from this folder.

*** Error 432 'Setup has detected that unInstallShield is in use. Please close unInstallShield and restart setup. Error 432': Errors occurs during the setup initialisation. The error says unInstallShield is running, but it is not. There is nothing else running in the background nor is anything related to InstallShield running in the Task Manager.
Solution: Normally, a simple reboot will solve it. If not solved, run setup.exe as admin by right click exe and tick 'Run as Admin'. If still not solved, detect if a copy of IsUninst.exe is running, if so end the task in Task Manager/Processes tab. If still not solved, copy/extract all files in ISO to a folder in your computer and run setup.exe from this folder.

*** Error 111 'Insufficient memory available to run Setup. Close all other applications to make more memory available and try to run Setup again. Error 111': If you have received this warning on your PC, it means that there was a malfunction in your system operation. Error code "error 111" is one of the issues that users may get as a result of incorrect or failed installation or uninstallation of software that may have left invalid entries in system elements. Other potential causes may include improper system shutdown, such as due to a power failure, someone with little technical knowledge accidentally deleting a necessary system file or system element entry, as well as a number of other factors.
Solution: To fix the issue, run the setup.exe as an administrator, use compatibility mode, or copy/extract all files in ISO to a folder in your computer and run setup.exe from this folder.

*** System Memory Error > 'There is not enough available system memory to create the game. Please free up some more and try again' or 'There is not enough memory to continue. Please free up some memory to continue': The memory which the game is talking about in the error message is most likely RAM as CM0102 has trouble about recognizing RAM if there is too much installed.
Solution: If you did not make settings in Step-3 of game installation steps above , you can try running the game cm0102.exe as administrator and in convenient compatibility mode. If still problem, you can check Virtual Memory settings in your computer: Start > Control Panel > System & Maintenance > System > Advanced System Settings > Advanced tab > Performance Settings button > Advanced tab > Change button . If it's set to 'Automatically manage paging file size', click the Custom Size button and set Initial and Maximum to 4096Mb, click the Set button, OK to close the window, then reboot to complete.

*** Error 'Unable to find CM01/02 installation. Re-install CM01/02 from CD and try again' during SI Games Patch installation: If you face this error during applying official SI Games Patches although you have installed CM in your computer, this means you have changed your CM exe name differently or you have changed installation folder name after installing the game in Step-1.
Solution: Rename your CM exe name as cm0102.exe and check if it works. If not, rename your CM game folder as the name as how you installed in the first time in Step-1 and check if it works. If not, uninstall the game and install again by following Step-1.

*** Error or any problem about display / screen / graphic / window mode / 800×600 screen resolution / DirectX such as 'Unable to Initialise the Graphics in Windowed Mode' , etc.:
Solution: That issue might be due to display scaling - go into the Windows 'Control Panel' > 'Display Settings' for your device for your display, and change 'Change the size of text, apps, and other items' scaling to 100%. Also might be due to high DPI settings in Windows, so right click on the cm0102.exe, click properties, and disable any high DPI settings.

*** Can I play the game in different screen resolution ?: Yes.
Solution: You need to use [PATCH] Tapani Patcher or [PATCH] Nick's CM0102Patcher to change game screen resolution. Please note that you also need to install compatible background images pack to use with the new screen resolution of the game after patching for it. Background Packs >>> viewforum.php?f=79

*** Force load all players , I want to load all players, staff and clubs from database into my game: This patch ensures as many players, staff and clubs from your chosen database are loaded into the game as possible, regardless as to how many leagues you select. Just to confirm, some databases will have more players than the game can cope with, so in that situation using this feature will still not load every single player, but it will load as many as it can. It is useful if you normally select lots of leagues just to increase the number of available players, as having more leagues makes the game much slower. Force load all players doesn't seem to slow down performance, but it makes save game files around 25% larger.
Solution: Apply 'Force load all players' option from [PATCH] Nick's CM0102Patcher and select the 'maximum database' in the game options before starting a new game. Obviously if you select the 'minimum database' in the game options, then all players won't load, but there will be more than there were when you selected it before using this patch.

*** How to speed up 'Updating Game Data' (and new game creation) ?:
Solution: - Disabling any antivirus and disabling windows defender real time protection speeds up the game by more than 30%.
If starting a new game or updating game data takes long time, all you need to do is add your Championship Manager 01/02 folder to an exclusion list in Windows Defender. Instructions for Windows 10 and 11 here:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/win ... Windows_11

*** Can I change the speed of the game ?: Yes.
Solution: You need to use [PATCH] Tapani Patcher or [PATCH] Nick's CM0102Patcher to change the speed of your game.

*** Can I change game season start year ? Can I start the game with different start year ?: Yes.
Solution: You need to use [PATCH] Tapani Patcher or [PATCH] Nick's CM0102Patcher to change game season start year.

*** Can I change player values up-to-date ? Player values too low: Yes.
Solution: You need to use [PATCH] Tapani Patcher or [PATCH] Nick's CM0102Patcher to change the Currency Inflation in [PATCH] Nick's CM0102Patcher . Suggested Currency Inflation rate is 2.50

*** What is ARSE mode/command for Database ?: It is a command for CM0102 database that does several extra things in the game like more AWOL , possibly more red card, more Bosman transfers, etc.
ARSE is a mode for CM0001 and CM0102 to get the following effects:
- Makes it more likely players behave badly.
- Your players CAN make obscene gestures to the crowd.
- Your physio/scouts CAN (not will) give negative comments as well.
- See your chairman's stats (CM0102 only).
- Increased the chances of your players going AWOL(Absent Without Official Leave).
- Increased the chances of your player doesn't want to return to the club after a loan or vacation).
Solution: 1st way- You can activate these modes for the database you upload in the official CM editor cm0102ed.exe (Tools>Options>Special>Select the Mode). Then save and close. And create new game to see the effects. Note that you might not see the changes take effect straight away.
2nd way- As an alternative way to set the commands you want, you can open player_setup.cfg file of your Database in any text editor. e.g. Notepad. Make sure this file is not read-only before you do so, otherwise you won't be able to save. To do this, right click on the file, select properties and uncheck the 'read-only' box, then click on OK. Only then you should open it in your chosen text editor. In player_setup.cfg, scroll to the bottom, and take a new line (if there isn't a blank line there to begin with), then type the command exactly ( such as "ARSE" - with quotes ) and save. Start a new game to enable it. Note that you might not see the changes take effect straight away. If you do any editing, or indeed, just save the data again, this command will be removed, and you will need to re-add it.

*** Can I play CM0102 on Android phones/tablets ?: Yes.
Solution: Android phone/tablet set up files and installation instructions for Android 11+12+possibly all other versions >>> [TOOL] Android Phone/Tablet Set Up for CM0102 >>>

*** Can I play CM0102 on Mac ?: Yes , but you may not be able to use [PATCH] Tapani Patcher and/or [PATCH] Nick's CM0102Patcher or any other patchers/tools on Mac as these patchers may not work on Mac.
Solution: Installation instructions on Mac >>> https://champman0102.co.uk/showthread.php?t=377 . After installation, you can copy patched exe+data on your Mac after you apply Tapani Patcher and/or Nick's CM0102Patcher into your CM exe+data on a Win PC. Alternatively, the CM0102 Starter Kit has a Mac version with it all preinstalled.

Have you followed the instructions above to the letter but have come across an issue? If so, then do not worry!
We have worked hard to put together a FAQ specifically to this type of download so all you need to do now is click on the link below and you'll be taken to our 'Technical Support' area where you will hopefully find a solution to your problem.
However, if you find that no solution has been provided, then please do use this below thread to report your issue and in order for us to help you, please be as detailed as possible. If a solution has been found, we will then update the FAQ with your own issue for others who may come across the issue in the future!

Technical Support, Tutorials & FAQs about Downloading and Installing the Game >>>
If you need more help >>> [TUTORIAL] CM0102 All known bugs , v3.9.68 cpp errors , crash , solutions , fix and common game FAQs ? >>>