If you'd like to get your old physical copy , I can walk you through the specific compatibility settings or where to find the safest community patches.

This is because the editor has a secondary DRM check. You need a specific "No-CD" patch for the EEEditor.exe file, or you must keep the original disc in the drive while editing.

Dedicated fans have created "NeoEE," a community-driven server that allows for modern multiplayer and fixes compatibility issues on high-resolution monitors. A Legacy of Stone and Steel

For the masochists who want to use their original black-label Sierra disc: