SH 3 Patches using Vista

[K Gunz]

Guys, you're still here after me mentioning V***a :o). Been trying to download the patches for SH 3 on the DVD EMEA ver.
When tryng v1.3 I get 'C:\Program Files\Ubisoft\Silent HunterIII\data\Campaigns\Campaign\messages_de.txt: unknown version'.
When trying v1.4 I get 'Cannot create the following file: C:\Program Files\Ubisoft\SilentHunterIII\anim$$\
Seriously guys, I have wanted to have a German Uboat sim for years and stumbled across the disc by pure good fortune and it is fab (just wish I could get these patches to work). I have tried removing all associated folders etc (where I can find them) and spent 2 weeks now uninstalling and reinstalling (as per a number of the advice forums) and still cannot get the patches to work. Please HELP.:roll:

[JScones]

Guys, you're still here after me mentioning V***a :o). Been trying to download the patches for SH 3 on the DVD EMEA ver.
When tryng v1.3 I get 'C:\Program Files\Ubisoft\Silent HunterIII\data\Campaigns\Campaign\messages_de.txt: unknown version'.
When trying v1.4 I get 'Cannot create the following file: C:\Program Files\Ubisoft\SilentHunterIII\anim$$\
Seriously guys, I have wanted to have a German Uboat sim for years and stumbled across the disc by pure good fortune and it is fab (just wish I could get these patches to work). I have tried removing all associated folders etc (where I can find them) and spent 2 weeks now uninstalling and reinstalling (as per a number of the advice forums) and still cannot get the patches to work. Please HELP.:roll:
Try http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=609815&postcount=6 as a starting point (full thread here (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=119570)).

If you've just purchased SH3, there is a possibility that it is *already* patched to 1.4b, hence the error messages.

Anyway, I'd recommend a full uninstall as per the link above (including deleting the SH3 virtual store, if one exists, plus any residual SH3 install folders). Then re-install (if you plan on installing mods or such, then I recommend installing SH3 *outside* of the default "\Program Files" folder in Vista - less permission hassles that way) and run. If you see "v1.4" down the bottom right of the main menu, you have v1.4b already. Alternatively, if you open Explorer, right-click sh3.exe, and check the properties, if the version says 1.4.0.1 you have v1.4b. No patch is needed if this is the case.

If you did choose to install SH3 into your "\Program Files" folder, then you just need to remember to elevate permissions on any program you use that writes to the game folder (like the patch, SH3Cmdr, JSGME, MultiSH3, SH3Gen etc etc).

[Capt. Morrell]

yeah, mine was already patched and is running fine on my vista laptop but, runs much better on my desktop powerhouse:D

[K Gunz]

Guys, you're still here after me mentioning V***a :o). Been trying to download the patches for SH 3 on the DVD EMEA ver.
When tryng v1.3 I get 'C:\Program Files\Ubisoft\Silent HunterIII\data\Campaigns\Campaign\messages_de.txt: unknown version'.
When trying v1.4 I get 'Cannot create the following file: C:\Program Files\Ubisoft\SilentHunterIII\anim$$\
Seriously guys, I have wanted to have a German Uboat sim for years and stumbled across the disc by pure good fortune and it is fab (just wish I could get these patches to work). I have tried removing all associated folders etc (where I can find them) and spent 2 weeks now uninstalling and reinstalling (as per a number of the advice forums) and still cannot get the patches to work. Please HELP.:roll: Try http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=609815&postcount=6 as a starting point (full thread here (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=119570)).

If you've just purchased SH3, there is a possibility that it is *already* patched to 1.4b, hence the error messages.

Anyway, I'd recommend a full uninstall as per the link above (including deleting the SH3 virtual store, if one exists, plus any residual SH3 install folders). Then re-install (if you plan on installing mods or such, then I recommend installing SH3 *outside* of the default "\Program Files" folder in Vista - less permission hassles that way) and run. If you see "v1.4" down the bottom right of the main menu, you have v1.4b already. Alternatively, if you open Explorer, right-click sh3.exe, and check the properties, if the version says 1.4.0.1 you have v1.4b. No patch is needed if this is the case.

If you did choose to install SH3 into your "\Program Files" folder, then you just need to remember to elevate permissions on any program you use that writes to the game folder (like the patch, SH3Cmdr, JSGME, MultiSH3, SH3Gen etc etc).
Thanks for the response JScones. The version that I am running is definitely v1.0.0.1 and so it is not already patched. What do you mean by 'elevate permissions'?

Also, I have been trying to get help with this from Ubisoft as well. They recommended that I use the remove tool for Star-force and then run the Star-force update. I have done this and firstly it says there is nothing to update. More worrying is that I can no longer open Silent Hunter III at all. Any ideas?

[K Gunz]

yeah, mine was already patched and is running fine on my vista laptop but, runs much better on my desktop powerhouse:D

Vielen Dank Karleun Morrell, my disk was not patched and shows as v1.0.0.1. I just wish that I could get this sorted (I don't really want to have to go for SH 4 as it is not in the theatre that I want to engage in). It's the German U-boats which hold my fascination and not the US ones in the pacific. Ah well, we'll see what the next round of advice from Ubisoft brings.

[JScones]

Thanks for the response JScones. The version that I am running is definitely v1.0.0.1 and so it is not already patched. What do you mean by 'elevate permissions'?
Right-click the patch .exe file and select "Run as administrator" before installing it.

Repeat this for any other programmes that you use that tinker with SH3 files (like those listed in my post above). Again, this should be less of a problem if you installed SH3 *outside* of the "\Program Files" folder.

Also, I have been trying to get help with this from Ubisoft as well. They recommended that I use the remove tool for Star-force and then run the Star-force update. I have done this and firstly it says there is nothing to update. More worrying is that I can no longer open Silent Hunter III at all. Any ideas?
Now you're on your own. ;) Personally, I'd start from scratch and:

0. rollback SH3Cmdr if you are using it
1. uninstall SH3
2. delete the residual SilentHunterIII installation folder and all contents
3. delete (or at least rename) your "MyDocuments\SH3" save game folder
4. delete the "C:\Users\<User_name>\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files\SilentHunterIII" folder and all contents if it exists.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
5. reinstall SH3, preferably *outside* of the "\Program Files" folder.
6. right-click the 1.4b patch .exe file and select "Run as administrator"
7. install the patch
8. run the game (paying attention to the version number "just to be sure")
9. if game fails to run, then d/l and install the starforce update- http://www.star-force.com/support/sfdrvup.zip You may need to run the starforce driver removal tool first. I'll leave the starforce aspect to someone else, as, umm, I don't have starforce problems.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You can then install optional tools like SH3Cmdr, JSGME, SH3Gen etc. Just remember to run them as administrator *after* you install them.

If at some point you want to install one of the bigger mod packages, do the same. ALTHOUGH this is not necessary with GWX as the (current) installer takes care of all permissions for you.

PS: I would also recommend reading up on Vista's "User Account Control" and "File Virtualization" features to get a better idea of what's going on under the Vista hood in regards to system security. ;)

[TheDarkWraith]

Now you're on your own. ;) Personally, I'd start from scratch and:

0. rollback SH3Cmdr if you are using it
1. uninstall SH3
2. delete the residual SilentHunterIII installation folder and all contents
3. delete (or at least rename) your "MyDocuments\SH3" save game folder
4. delete the "C:\Users\<User_name>\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files\SilentHunterIII" folder and all contents if it exists.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
5. reinstall SH3, preferably *outside* of the "\Program Files" folder.
6. right-click the 1.4b patch .exe file and select "Run as administrator"
7. install the patch
8. run the game (paying attention to the version number "just to be sure")
9. if game fails to run, then d/l and install the starforce update- http://www.star-force.com/support/sfdrvup.zip You may need to run the starforce driver removal tool first. I'll leave the starforce aspect to someone else, as, umm, I don't have starforce problems.

EDIT: comments removed due to against forum rules to discuss!!

[bigboywooly]

:nope:

[TheDarkWraith]

Why the :nope: BigBoyWooly?
StarForce is crap, junk that should never pollute a computer. I own a legitimate copy of SH3 and SH4 so it should be my right to decide what I want installed on my computer.

[bigboywooly]

Why the :nope: BigBoyWooly?
StarForce is crap, junk that should never pollute a computer. I own a legitimate copy of SH3 and SH4 so it should be my right to decide what I want installed on my computer.

Because its against forum rules to discuss it

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/2867/readthemanualih1.jpg

[TheDarkWraith]

Why the :nope: BigBoyWooly?
StarForce is crap, junk that should never pollute a computer. I own a legitimate copy of SH3 and SH4 so it should be my right to decide what I want installed on my computer.

Because its against forum rules to discuss it

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/2867/readthemanualih1.jpg

oh my bad! I'll remove that post!

[K Gunz]

:DKarleun JScones. You have my greatest thanks. Thanks to your advice I am now up and running with the 1.4b patch AND the GWX upgrades as well. FAB :sunny:.

Just for anyone else who might be having the same problem that I had. I had already saved to disc all mods (for use later) and also my career files from the My Documents\SH3\data\cfg\careers. Then I deleted them from my computer. I had already used the removal tool for Starforce but could not then update - this is where I was going wrong before because on trying the exe. for the starforce update I should have right clicked and chosen 'run as administrator'. It then worked. I then reloaded the v1.4b patch from my saved mods disc and again right clicked to 'run as admistrator'. I then did the same for the GWX mod patches and they all installed. I then put my career files back into my Documents. Another tip here - if you were in the middle of a patrol before upgrading, you are best starting again from base (in base before patrol) at the beginning of that patrol (yes you will lose whatever you had previously achieved for that patrol but if you try to going in part way through SH3 GWX will not start).
Hope this helps and again - MANY THANKS to all who gave advice and particularly to Karleun JScones - Gute jagd mein freunde.