For BFME II, I had the same issue trying to play downloaded copies and following guides, etc... on my at-the-time a month or two ago fresh-built Windows XP desktop. By pure chance, in buying a lot of old PC game discs for said machine, BFME 1 AND 2 were part of the lot.  Paid only like $90 for all of it, and I've been loving playing the games since; never played them before but had always had my eyes on them.