GWX install problem

[blue3golf]

I recently lost everything on my computer and had to reload everything. I have put SH3 back on and patched to 1.4b. I downloaded GWX and tried to install it, when I do I get an error message saying I do not have a viable copy of 1.4b loaded. Any thoughts?

[bigboywooly]

XP or Vista ?
And what was the exact message

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=118986

[blue3golf]

Running it on Vista, I already did the install with the patch for vista, play once, uninstall and then reinstall and everything should be fine, it worked for me last time, this time not so great.

The message says:
C:\Program Files\Ubisoft\SilentHunterIII" is not a valid Silent Hunter III v1.4b installation!

Please select an installation of Silent Hunter III which has been patched to v1.4b and is unmodified.

[mstgnymike]

i had the same problem just uninstall again and then redo the 1.4 but dont start you game just immidienlty do your GWX stuff

[JScones]

<Superceded by my post below>

[JScones]

A thought - when installing the v1.4b patch, try right-clicking on the patch's .exe first and selecting "Run as Administrator". It should then work as expected.

I guess this problem could be avoided by not installing SH3 into the "\Program Files" folder to begin with (for example, my primary SH3 installation is at "F:\Games\SilentHunterIII"). Installing into "\Program Files" will set off Vista's "File Virtualization" feature when you subsequently go to modify *any* files (such as installing the patch or applying any mods), resulting in the updated files being saved to a store folder outside of "\Program Files".

The other impact of this feature is that Vista users will need to add an extra step anytime they uninstall SH3. They need to look in the "C:\Users\<User_name>\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files" folder and manually delete the SilentHunterIII folder and contents (if exists). Otherwise, conflicts may occur upon reinstallation.

Again, I guess this step could be avoided by installing SH3 outside of the "\Program Files" folder to begin with. Likewise, I'd recommend Vista users install SH3Cmdr elsewhere too. At the least, make sure you run it as Administrator (in the same way that you run JSGME).

At some point I'll have to overhaul JSGME to meet Vista requirements. TBH, I just haven't seen the need atm when the "fix" to grant it the elevated permission is so easy (yeah, perhaps lazy, but I think it's much easier for users to have the core files, mods and settings all together with the game rather than in three or four different locations - at least by installing SH3 outside of "\Program Files" you'll avoid any problems with JSGME or MultiSH3).

EDIT: here's a helpful explanation that I just found... http://www.hanselman.com/blog/VistasShowCompatibilityFilesAndTheScrumptiousWonde rThatIsFileVirtualization.aspx Seems to verify my musings.

EDIT2: Microsoft support here... http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/927387

Quite easy to understand really.

EDIT3: the GWX installers (both GWX 1.0 and 1.03) will recognise Vista and handle permissions accordingly to ensure that the files go where they should (and you thought it just installed files and provided annoying error messages, LOL!). So even though SH3 may run and look like a fully functioning v1.4b, the GWX installers will fail because they will correctly identify that the files are not where they should be. It wouldn't be smart to correctly install the GWX files if the v1.4b patch files are not installed correctly. Just another file integrity check. ;)

[blue3golf]

Thanks for the help guys, I'll give it a go after work today

[ReallyDedPoet]

Nice work here:up:


RDP

[blue3golf]

I just un-installed and re-installed, didn't play once, used the admin option for 1.4b and loaded GWX. We have success gentlemen, thanks for everything, I am officially back on the prowl. :rock: :rock:

I think I found one of the problems, the voice patches in the 1.4b weren't sticking, they failed the conversion. Probably was most of my problem.