SF install assistance needed
 

After waiting months to get SF, a friend was able to Dl a copy of SF earlier this week for me from Gamersgate. He put it on both disc and a separate drive. We also installed it and ran it on his computer and it started ok. I then attempted to install on mine but game will not install. I get the initial install screen(from setup.exe), but absolutely nothing happens upon selecting the "Install" button. I then attempted to install on my wife's computer and the same exact thing happens.

The readme advises of potential install problems and to install the included "vc redist 86 exe" program, update dirextx9, and possibly dotnetfx.exe.

All but the dotnet.exe install ok. the last one fails and says it's incompatible with current program. Anyone have any clues on this. I recall reading of some having install problems (and a possible case of some downloads having missing DLL files I think) but have checked here and at the Graviteam forums but can't find the applicable threads.

Hi Hemisent,

What O/S are you using?
I'm not sure whether you have a 'Starter.exe' executable, you might want to try using that for the installation. Also a good idea to install in any other folder except '/Program Files/'

Good luck! :salute:

Just curious, does the download version require any activation code?

Kyth
Thanks. I've got an older setup using XP. There is an "autorun.exe" used to start the install. I've tried putting starting it directly from the separate drive, from desktop, and finally put it in the C/program files where all my games usually reside and there is no change. I hit the autorun.exe, the install screen pops up instantly, i then hit "install" and ...nothing.

The only thing that I can think of is my graphic card is an NVIDIA GTX 580. Everything else should be ok. A new rig is in the works but not for a month or so.

Hi,

Here's something else from the readme file, under 'Known Issues':

12) If the game was installed on Windows XP Service Pack 1, it is necessary to upgrade to Service Pack 2, or, enable Windows 95 Compatibility Mode for the game application and the game installer. In addition, it is required to install .NET Framework 2.0 as well.

I think there are a couple of suggestions right there,

Good luck!

Kyth
Thanks for the reply. I tried the windows 95 compatability -same. I reinstalled direct x 9-same. I attempted to install .Net Framework 2.0 but a window pops up advising it's not compatable with currently installed program. I then DL'd .Net Framework 2.0 from microsoft site (thinking that perhaps my copy on the disc was corrupt) and got the same window. Funny thing is I tried all this on my wife's rig and got the same results.

I opened up my add/remove programs and found .Net Framework 2.0 sp2, .Net Framework 3.0 and .Net Framework 3.5(the last time used was 2009 according to the log.

Could this be the glitch? What's with 3 versions of the same program?

:hmmm:

I don't think it's a .Net 2.0 problem,
could it be your anti-virus program being over-protective?
One more thing, do you have a copy on CD?
You might want to try installing from that; maybe something was corrupted on the portable drive,

Hi Kyth
Yes I have it copied on a CD also but I get the same identical results with both. I never thought of the anti virus program I'll try shutting that down. I would normally think this is a corrupted download but the game DL'd, installed and played correctly on my friends rig. There's got to be a reason for this.

Good luck with the anti-virus protection;

one final thing is to see if your ID has Administrator rights?

:06:

Hey Kyth
No luck on the anti virus. As for Admin rights...don't know. I don't recall ever getting into that as I'm the only user. How do I check it? Just went into the help/support section and can't find anything pertaining to setting administrator rights.

The settings are under 'Control Panel > User accounts'

I'm totally stumped, usually the game installation is the easy part, :-?

Here's the contents of my game CD.Do you see anything missing?

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_H...00/cdstuff.jpg

Hi Kyth
In comparing the included files/folders the only differences are; yours shows a "set.exe" mine does not, and I have a "launch" file. The odd thing is your setup.exe is 332 kb and so is my "launch" at 332kb Could it be that yours is off a hard copy while mine is a DL version? I'm hitting "autorun.exe when I attempt to install the game which brings up the install screen which then does nothing.

Just checked and I am listed as adninistrator.

AAAARRRGGGHHH!!!

Thanks
H

edit: Just checked the instructions for the zillionth time and they say "setup.exe" is used to install the game, there's no mention of an "autorun.exe" I just assumed that was the file to click on as I have no setup.exe either on my burned copy or the separate drive.

Well, I assume you've tried to use the 'launch' executable? It's worth a shot, if you haven't, :hmmm:

Hey Kyth
Thanks for sticking with me on this. The "launch" that I have is not an exe. just a file in a program similar to all four of the "setup-#. bin" files. Yes, i have tried it but am unable to open it.

I think I need to get back to the computer that dl'd the game and see if there is a setup.exe and copy that. He's back in town this weekend so it shouldn't be too big of a deal. Other than that I'm pretty much at a loss. Thanks to the screen shot of your game's contents at least now I think I have a direction to look.

H

If all else fails, here's something I wouldn't normally recommend:

Try renaming the 'Launch' file as an executable, and see whether it works,

:confused:

Exe. File
 

If worse comes to worse Hemi I can send you a cd copy of my installation disc. I proposed it to you a while back when you were desperately looking for SF.My offer still stands.

One advice I am giving you once you got your installation problems sorted out is to make copies of your game on separate partitions.By copy I mean all you have to do - which I have done dozens of times and still do routinely - is make copy of you entire game folder with all the mod s and missions isnatlled and simply past eit into another folder ina separate partition.It works very well and allows you to have many copies of your game without having to use the installtion CD all the times.In addition I keep a back up of all my installtions on an external hard drive this way I can copy and re-install my games.I have 14 copies of SF on a laptop and a pc and all were made simply by copying and pasting a whole installation without using the installation Cd. I thus keep SP 1.4, the Htezer-Panther mod, Unfofficial 1.5 and Beta 1,5 multiple installtions .Useful for experiments.


I think your problem is the lack of qn exe file which is why it does not start installing.

Best of luck!

With Meister Kyth you are in very good hands!Luck!

Frinik
Thank you for the offer and I may yet take you up on it. The friend who dl'd the game for me is returning in a couple days...I'm hoping I can re-copy the game making sure I get the correct contents this time. If this somehow blows up in my face then I will PM you for sure. Can you believe I've been trying to get this stupid thing since Christmas time? Makes you want to chuck sims and go buy a Playstation or something.:damn:

Thanks once again.

BIN folder
 

I prefectly understand yoru frustrations Hemi as I have been following your long treck to get the game ever since you originally started looking for it.

Your problem seems to be connected to your pc though not to the installtion Cd since it works well on your friend's pc. There's something missing and since you have Direct X9 C installed and all your drivers updated I really wonder :06:

I have the game installed on a laptop and a pc with 2 different OS Win 7 64 bits and Vista 32 and absolutely no issues. I also have 2 different anti viruses AVG and Panda thus we can eliminate these causes as well.

Have you looked into your BIN folder? Take a look and see if you have a shell file.My suspîcion is that a file is missing either one of the codelib ones(base_main or base_install or base_gener) of perhaps the shell starter .You should also have in the same BIN folder the following:

d3dx9_31,35,36,37,38 and 39 and msvcm80, msvcp80, msvcr80. All these files are eseential for the game to start or work properly.

One way or the other we are goign to solve your problem. don't quit!:rock:

Cheers

Thanks Frinik
I have no intention of giving this up and greatly appreciate all the help from both you and Kyth.

Checking the bin folder as I write to compare and I find:

shell.exe, all 3 base files you mention (11 total base_ files), also seeing the d3dx9_31,35,36,37,38 and 39 and msvcm80, msvcp80, msvcr80. Everything in your list appears to be there.

I got an E mail from the guy who dl'd it and he checked his laptop for the setup.exe in question and it does exist on his machine. I think right now the first step is to get another copy burned and check all the files-those you mention plus the setup.exe. That probably won't happen till late tomorrow or even Monday.

Shell folder
 

OK good but do you see the shell folder at the bottom of the list?This where the soul of the game is , the spark if you will.Without it your game is.... Uh an empty shell:D

Frinik
Sorry for not getting back sooner, my work load has been really heavy this week. As for a "shell" folder you refer to, all I have in the bin folder is a "shell.exe"

3 base_ files
8 basic_files
1 compress dll file
6 d3dx9 files
a microsoft manifest file
3 msvcp or m files you mentioned earlier
1 shell.exe file

no shell folder