How do I get Medieval 2: Total War to play on Windows 8?

Hey, So I've had this problem too

This is how I fixed it

install the game (if you haven't already)

Perform a clean boot ( http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135 )

then undo it all

then right click the game

click "RUN AS ADMIN"

then run it normally
IF YOU HAVE KINGDOMS

that may or may not work, so if it doesn't and it says "cannot find kindgoms.exe"

then run it normally

if you're having trouble with THIRD AGE: TOTAL WAR

then do this

do all until the run it normally part

go to

C:\Program Files (x86)\SEGA\Medieval II Total War\mods

or if its steam then

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\Medieval II Total War\mods

then change the name of the game you play the least, ie. Americas

change it to americas2

then change Third_Age_3 to americas

(This isn't permanent, if you want to play americas again, go and change americas back to third_age_3 and then change americas2 back to americas)

run it normally. I hope this helped