It is not hostile to XP, it works fine for me on ALL of my many (5+) XP machines and virtual machines. Same case for every other Decal developer. There is something we are missing related to configuration that is causing problems. I know we don't use any antivirus products, so maybe you should try disabling your virus protection and seeing if it fixes the problem -- you might have to change AV providers if you can't go without because you don't know to download only legitimate things.
The path on XP also does not matter, and it surely doesn't matter if where you install to is C:\AC, C:\Games, C:\Games\AC, or C:\Games\Turbine\Asheron's Call - Throne of Destiny -- it just doesn't matter. I have run Decal on many machines with completely off the wall paths, and even the default path on some of my VMs. I would be extremely surprised if this problem has ANYTHING to do with the path.
Here is my export so you can go over any differences with a comb -- the only one I notice is that I have .NET 4 installed.
Honestly I was helping someone a week ago or so and he had to completely uninstall Decal and AC both, run the reg cleaner as normal account AND as admin, then install AC & 2.9.6.5 and it worked fine. Some people this has worked for, some people it has not.
Decal (DenAgent.exe) version: 2.9.6.7
type, enabled, name, version, clsid
Plugins, 1, Virindi Chat System 5, 5.0.0.4, {0A7B25AC-79A9-4F6A-9751-419B87A7BB05}
Plugins, 0, HUDTest Plugin, 1.0.0.1, {20442388-C943-4E10-959B-1CEA5FF06BE3}
Plugins, 1, Defective, 1.0.1.2, {36F8A62C-2F29-4F02-A6BF-99BA08CC5D26}
Plugins, 1, ArrowCam, 1.0.0.0, {413DDA06-CD95-45E2-B64C-DAC3B1D743F5}
Plugins, 0, GoArrow (VVS Edition), 2.0.0.0, {5E8D5E3D-C04D-4976-98B6-9A8DCBC4212D}
Plugins, 1, Virindi Tank, 0.3.1.101, {642F1F48-16BE-48BF-B1D4-286652C4533E}
Plugins, 1, Hex, 0.9.6.5, {677A9A73-54F4-415A-BF28-E333C93FFA1F}
Plugins, 0, Decal Hotkey System, 2.9.6.7, {6B6B9FA8-37DE-4FA3-8C60-52BD6A2F9855}
Plugins, 1, Virindi Integrator2 Beta, 1.0.1.8, {7882AE88-CB68-4C98-BB94-90204C2D2156}
Plugins, 1, Virindi Item Tool, 1.0.0.9, {7BCA75A3-CC65-456B-BBB1-6383FB072B60}
Plugins, 1, Virindi Sense, 1.0.0.0, {8625358A-9ED1-4166-9CD6-8F9BBAD1359B}
Plugins, 1, Virindi Reporter, 0.0.0.8, {8C70FF56-0E53-4265-9E19-C4534A8D3AA8}
Plugins, 1, MiniMap, 1.1.0.104, {92C09018-E815-4C22-987B-8E553154146E}
Plugins, 1, Virindi HUDs, 1.0.0.8, {C6B1DF06-FF20-459E-8302-AA346CBFDA01}
Plugins, 1, Radar Add-on, 1.2.0.49, {CA23F8D7-7E71-423A-A928-BC5CDD8FBD96}
Plugins, 1, SSSort (VVS Edition), 3.0.0.2, {D77DAD0D-75C7-425D-96AE-E8B3E1366EF3}
Plugins, 1, Virindi Hotkey System, 1.0.0.4, {ED7CC818-7159-461F-A833-4CA49E1C85B6}
Network Filters, 1, Virindi AutomaticUpdatesFilter, 1.0.0.5, {108ED493-48AD-42A6-AADC-EF773E4F185A}
Network Filters, 1, ACDC Core Filter, 7.2.2.0, {2DB1B641-4039-4D69-831A-79915EC266CE}
Network Filters, 1, Echo Filter 2, 2.9.6.7, {34239EAD-6317-4C40-A405-193BA5232DD8}
Network Filters, 1, Character Stats Filter, 2.9.6.7, {4540C969-08D1-46BF-97AD-6B19D3C10BEE}
Network Filters, 1, World Object Filter, 2.9.6.7, {53092D1B-F0B0-46FF-BF11-8F031EC9B137}
Network Filters, 1, Decal FileService, 2.9.6.7, {5E9B2FC3-C251-4589-8CE3-2BCA542B98B6}
Network Filters, 1, Identify Queue Filter, 2.9.6.7, {B0C05A9A-273D-4BC4-B7BA-E27CF94C8EF4}
Network Filters, 1, SpellFilter, 2.9.6.7, {C2D43735-BE7E-4829-AF73-F2E7E820EB16}
Services, 1, Decal Dat Service, 2.9.6.7, {37B083F0-276E-43AD-8D26-3F7449B519DC}
Services, 1, Decal .NET Lifetime Service, 2.9.6.7, {71A69713-6593-47EC-0001-0000000DECA1}
Services, 1, Virindi LogoVideoBlocker, 1.0.0.1, {844F61A9-C017-4FB5-9C62-262B10D1F92B}
Services, 1, Decal Input Service, 2.9.6.7, {B33307BA-706D-474A-80B9-70BB8D13EF3E}
Services, 1, Decal Networking Service, 2.9.6.7, {C8C406F8-BA2E-4964-8B04-FF38394A8E0E}
Services, 1, Virindi View Service Bootstrapper, 99.99.99.99, {DBAC9286-B38D-4570-961F-D4D9349AE3D4}
Services, 1, Decal D3DService, 2.9.6.7, {F0CC07A0-2C89-4FA4-9356-714665BC2F8B}
Services, 1, Decal Render Service, 2.9.6.7, {FB3C8286-88ED-4B4D-B413-94B40F346239}
Services, 1, Decal Inject Gateway Service, 2.9.6.7, {FEFE5CAB-10E4-404F-AD4D-184BCB506099}
Surrogates, -1, Version 1 Plugin Surrogate, 2.9.6.7, {3D837F6E-B5CA-4604-885F-7AB45FCFA62A}
Surrogates, 1, Prefilter Network Filter Surrogate, 2.9.6.7, {443D4A68-5422-4E0C-9460-973F8FBDB190}
Surrogates, 1, Decal.Adapter Surrogate, 2.9.6.7, {71A69713-6593-47EC-0002-0000000DECA1}
Surrogates, 1, ActiveX Plugin Surrogate, 2.9.6.7, {7559F22F-C56F-4621-AE08-9C354D799D4B}
Input Actions, 1, Delay Input Action, 2.9.6.7, {324D76B8-D8C7-4A81-B867-E4E1F874E488}
Input Actions, 1, Mouse Move Input Action, 2.9.6.7, {57D18578-0BF0-4DE5-A0A9-E7CB531C0429}
Input Actions, 1, Restore Input Action, 2.9.6.7, {6EE2F682-7129-44BE-84B9-787BAE35EC1C}
Input Actions, 1, Polled Delay Input Action, 2.9.6.7, {762335B2-2274-4BB4-8B1F-F7286C949FF7}
Input Actions, 1, Typing Input Action, 2.9.6.7, {9CDCEEDC-F8AC-42D5-9A05-52B9346D00A4}
Input Actions, 1, Event Input Action, 2.9.6.7, {D6E4BD19-4900-4515-BCE2-A9EA4AAE2699}
Operating System:
Microsoft Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3 (Build 2600)
[Protected Storage Service] : Automatic
Decal Settings
[Injection Method] : Timer (Default)
[Portal Path] : F:\Ac
[Launcher App] : ACDCClient.exe
[Update URL] :
http://update.decaldev.com
[memlocs.xml] : 26952 bytes, Version 0.0.11.4092
[messages.xml] : 54698 bytes, Version 2011.02.25.0
[Video Memory] : 660570048
D3DX Libraries (Only d3dx9_30 is required)
[d3dx9_24.dll] : Installed (9.5.132.0)
[d3dx9_25.dll] : Installed (9.6.168.0)
[d3dx9_26.dll] : Installed (9.7.239.0)
[d3dx9_27.dll] : Installed (9.8.299.0)
[d3dx9_28.dll] : Installed (9.10.455.0)
[d3dx9_29.dll] : Installed (9.11.519.0)
[d3dx9_30.dll] : Installed (9.12.589.0)
[d3dx9_31.dll] : Installed (9.15.779.0)
[d3dx9_32.dll] : Installed (9.16.843.0)
[d3dx9_33.dll] : Installed (9.18.904.15)
[d3dx9_34.dll] : Installed (9.19.949.46)
[d3dx9_35.dll] : Installed (9.19.949.1104)
[d3dx9_36.dll] : Installed (9.19.949.2111)
[d3dx9_37.dll] : Installed (9.22.949.2248)
[d3dx9_38.dll] : Installed (9.23.949.2378)
[d3dx9_39.dll] : Installed (9.24.949.2307)
[d3dx9_40.dll] : Installed (9.24.950.2656)
[d3dx9_41.dll] : Installed (9.26.952.2844)
[d3dx9_42.dll] : Installed (9.27.952.3001)
[d3dx9_43.dll] : Not Installed
[d3dx9_44.dll] : Not Installed
[d3dx9_45.dll] : Not Installed
[d3dx9_46.dll] : Not Installed
[d3dx9_47.dll] : Not Installed
[d3dx9_48.dll] : Not Installed
[d3dx9_49.dll] : Not Installed
---Support Libraries ---
Note: The following libraries are not necessary for Decal to function and are only provided to be of use to plugin developers.
.NET Frameworks
[v1.0.3705] (1.0 Final) : Not Installed
[v1.1.4322] (1.1 Final) : Installed
[v2.0.50215] (2.0 Beta 2) : Not Installed
[v2.0.50727] (2.0 Final) : Installed (Service Pack 2)
[v3.0] (3.0) : Installed (Service Pack 2)
[v3.5] (3.5) : Installed (Service Pack 1)
[v4] (4.0) : Installed (Version: 4.0.30319)
C++ Libraries
[msvbvm60.dll] : Installed (6.0.98.2)
[atl70.dll] : Installed (7.0.9466.0)
[mfc70.dll] : Installed (7.0.9466.0)
[msvcr70.dll] : Installed (7.0.9466.0)
[msvcp70.dll] : Installed (7.0.9466.0)
[atl71.dll] : Installed (7.10.3077.0)
[mfc71.dll] : Installed (7.10.3077.0)
[msvcr71.dll] : Installed (7.10.3052.4)
[msvcp71.dll] : Installed (7.10.3077.0)
Microsoft XML Libraries
[msxml3.dll] : Installed (8.100.1051.0)
[msxml4.dll] : Installed (4.20.9876.0)
[msxml5.dll] : Not Installed
[msxml6.dll] : Installed (6.20.1103.0)
---Video Device Information---
[Device] : ATI Mobility Radeon X1400
[Device Name] : \\.\DISPLAY1
[KeyDeviceID] : Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_7145&SUBSYS_20031028&REV_00
[KeyDeviceKey] : \Registry\Machine\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Video\{3C6C91C3-3948-4571-A7F8-7DBCD31772DF}\0000
[Manufacturer] : ATI Technologies Inc.
[ChipType] : ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 (0x7145)
[DACType] : Internal DAC(400MHz)
[Revision] :
[MemoryLocalised] : 256.0 MB
[MemoryEnglish] : 256.0 MB
[DisplayLocalised] : 1680 x 1050 (32 bit) (60Hz)
[DisplayEnglish] : 1680 x 1050 (32 bit) (60Hz)
[DisplayWidth] : 1680
[DisplayHeight] : 1050
[DisplayBpp] : 32
[RefreshRate] : 60
[MonitorName] : Default Monitor
[MonitorMaxRes] :
[DriverName] : ati2dvag.dll
[DriverVersion] : 6.14.0010.6618
[DriverAttributes] : Final Retail
[DriverLangEnglish] : English
[DriverLangLocal] : English
[DriverDateEng] : 5/23/2006 22:06:54
[DriverDateLocal] : 5/23/2006 22:06:54
[DriverSize] : 260096
[MiniVdd] : ati2mtag.sys
[MiniVddDateEng] : 5/23/2006 22:06:36
[MiniVddDateLocal] : 5/23/2006 22:06:36
[MiniVddSize] : 1578496
[Vdd] : n/a
[RenderWindow] : Yes
[Beta] : No
[Debug] : No
[Signed] : No
[SignValid] : No
[Identifier] : {D7B71EE2-3205-11CF-426A-0900A1C2CB35}
[DDIVer] : 9
[DDIVerEng] : 9 (or higher)
[DDIVerLocal] : 9 (or higher)
[iAdapter] : 0
[VendorID] : 0x1002
[DeviceID] : 0x7145
[SubSystemID] : 0x20031028
[RevisionID] : 0x0000
[WHQL Level] : 0
[NoHardware] : 0
[DDAccelEnabled] : Yes
[3DAccelExists] : Yes
[3DAccelEnabled] : Yes
[AGP Enabled] : Yes
[AGPExists] : Yes
[AGPExistsValid] : Yes
-----signature-----
Hazridi of WE, VT, HG, SC
Decal Core Dev -
http://www.decaldev.com - Beta at
http://www.decaldev.com/beta