Ahoy fellow Captains, could use some GW advice

[Apache312]

Hello Captains,

I just wanted to start out by saying, I have been lurking this board for years, and feel like I know allot of you already. This has been a fantastic source of information and amusement. I have been driving subs since Silent Service in the late 1980's, finished SH3 and SH4 more times than I care to admit, but im not a purist. I cheat with the fuel, as I hate running out in the middle of an ocean.

Anyhow, Das Boot is my favorite movie, and I really have been trying to spice up my favorite subsim...SH3. I have read the lengthy manual included with GW, and by the way, very well done. I know the stated limitations and bugs, which there are many with the stock game, but my issue is this...When I have GW3.0 installed, my saves crash ALLOT(and yes, im surfaced). My install is patched to the last patch, and the ONLY mod installed is GW3. I crash so much on loading saves that I have uninstalled GW at least 5 times and fresh installed SH3 to run through the vanilla game again. Help from other experienced Capt's would be appreciated, since this is what you guys have been so good at.

I have finished all campaigns in SH4 (including Wolves) many times, but SH3 has everything I want in a subsim. My boat of choice is the VIIC. Please help me bring new life to my favorite subsim.

/Salute

Apache312 - U47

ps.
I will NOT be buying SH5


edited: because I cant spill for shet

[Storm87]

Like programists of FireFox say: "It's not a bug, i'ts a feature". :O:

Seriously, It happens sometimes to me also. Some of my mates never had this problem... I don't think anyone will have a simple solution to this.

[Jimbuna]

Welcome aboard Kaleun http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/welcome.gif

The game crashing can be down to dozens of reasons...a faulty install, a non compatable mod, the failure to install a CFG file with a third party/standalone programme such as SH3 Commander, weak system specs, the gaming conditions when your saving the game etc. etc.

In order to assist the good folk here in suggesting a possible fix could you post your system specs and precisely what mods you have in your installation.

I have read your post carefully but the more detail you can provide the more chance of a positive resolution

[Apache312]

Wow...Jimbuna responds in a flash. I am honored. Its not the system, but good to cover all bases I guess.

My system:

Intel Core Duo Pentium 3.16 GHtz E8500 (not Overclocked)
Gigabyte EP45-UDR3 with latest bios
Nvidia GTX260 216pipes 896 MB DDR3
4 gigs Patriot PC2-8500 1066 MHtz (not overclocked)
Windows XP Pro sp3

Game is SH3, patched 1.4b
The ONLY mod is GW3.0

I run other sims on this system, but for the life of me...and frustration, I cant get through a year of GW without a fatal crash event stopping my campaign.

/S

Apache312 - U47

[Apache312]

One more thing Kapitänleutnant Jimbuna, with Vanilla install, I never get crashes of savegames. I really tried to be diligent during the install of GW3.0, with a laptop sitting next to me, checking off the install procedure.

/S

Apache312 - U47

[Jimbuna]

Wow...Jimbuna responds in a flash. I am honored.

LOL I just happened to be passing :DL

Your system specs appear to be more than sufficient.

Reading between the lines in your OP am I to presume you have had at least one prvious instance of GWX installed?

If that is the case then it looks like a residual file/files still exist within your computer (probably in your registry files).

My advice would be to uninstal SH3 via the 'uninstall' option on the game disc, delete the SH3 folder in C\ProgramFiles, delete the SH3 file in C\MyDocs then perform a registry clean with a reputable programme such as RegVac.

There is a free trial version on the link below:

http://www.regvac.com/regvac.htm

A PITA perhaps but best to start afresh.

If you click on my sig you will be taken to the GWX website where comprehensive installation instructions are available.

Good Luck http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/thumbsup.gif

[Sailor Steve]

I just wanted to start out by saying, I have been lurking this board for years, and feel like I know allot of you already.
But we don't know you, so go away.









NO! Not really! Just kidding! Sorry, couldn't help myself. I'm in one of those weird moods today.:dead::rotfl2:

WELCOME ABOARD!:sunny:

It looks like Jim's got you covered, and since he's the resident expert on GWX and why it does or doesn't work at any particular moment, and since I know next to nothing about it, I'll leave you in his capable hands.

Once you get it going, don't be a stranger. Keep posting, if just to show screenshots and talk about your misadventures.

[Apache312]

Captain, you are correct. I have installed and uninstalled SH3 and GW many times, but have never cleaned the registry afterwards. I will give that a shot as soon as im done with my current campaign....in early 1945, so it will be soon. Thank you, im staying optimistic.

Sailer Steve....any relation to Steve the Pirate? Sorry, I went there too. Glad to have my first post answered in the fastest time on the web by the experts who know.

Thank you for the warm welcome. Lurked for so long because I play this single player, didnt feel like I had anything to offer online skippers.

/S

Apache312

[Jimbuna]

Captain, you are correct. I have installed and uninstalled SH3 and GW many times, but have never cleaned the registry afterwards. I will give that a shot as soon as im done with my current campaign....in early 1945, so it will be soon. Thank you, im staying optimistic.

Sailer Steve....any relation to Steve the Pirate? Sorry, I went there too. Glad to have my first post answered in the fastest time on the web by the experts who know.

Thank you for the warm welcome. Lurked for so long because I play this single player, didnt feel like I had anything to offer online skippers.

/S

Apache312

We all have something to offer, every one of us even simply by being here and supporting one another, that is what makes this such a worthwhile community to be a member of.

remember....NONE OF US IS AS CLEVER AS ALL OF US

SINK EM ALL!! http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/pirate.gif

[Apache312]

Message received and understood. Thank you Kaleun Jimbuna.

/S

Apache312

[Jimbuna]

Message received and understood. Thank you Kaleun Jimbuna.

/S

Apache312

Your welcome http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/thumbsup.gif

[Apache312]

in my accidental double post, when I first started this thread, another member suggested that ships within a 30km radius will adversely affect the saved games. If that was the issue all along, I will freak out, as I have been fighting with GW and SH3 for over a year.

I always save my game within 5km of attacking a convoy. We will see if this was the issue, fingers crossed. Thanks everyone.


/S

Apache312

[Damo]

I always save my game within 5km of attacking a convoy.


Now there are the sounds of alarm bells if ever I heard 'em.

Try and save at least 30km away from land or any known ships, including ones you've sunk to minimize the risk of corruption. I always go to peri depth, do a careful manual sweep on the hydrophone and if I hear nothing, I surface and save, sometimes I save twice just in case.

With over 40 mods on my install I'm soo paranoid about corrupted saves it's not even funny...

:damn:

[Storm87]

I am paranoic. I know I am. Especially after my last patrol. 3 savegames. No ship within range. Between savegames - 12 gametime hours.

And what? All 3 screwed. :(

Long time ago, I've made a folder in MyDociments/SH3, called BACKUP. When savegame is loaded without problem... alt+tab and copy "data" into "BACKUP", just in case.

But after this last patrol.... Iv'e created another "ON PATROL" and after every 5-10 savegames, alt+tab during patrol, and copy into that folder.


I know, I am paranoic. But I love GWX too much to simply stop playing and get rid of it! :D

[Jimbuna]

in my accidental double post, when I first started this thread, another member suggested that ships within a 30km radius will adversely affect the saved games. If that was the issue all along, I will freak out, as I have been fighting with GW and SH3 for over a year.

I always save my game within 5km of attacking a convoy. We will see if this was the issue, fingers crossed. Thanks everyone.


/S

Apache312

The SH3 world/rendering radius is closer to 50km.....so save at least 50km from land and anything rendered.

[Apache312]

The SH3 world/rendering radius is closer to 50km.....so save at least 50km from land and anything rendered.

Has this changed from the vanilla game because of the new GWX ship renders, im guessing are more difficult to load in a saved configuration? Ive been saving like this since I got the game in 2005.

It seems like it will be difficult to save at 50km. Hopefully that is the radius of the RWR and radar.

Since we are on the subject of radar, im currently in 1945, and I know technology got better in late 44, but it seems I can only stay surfaced for 10 minutes at a time before the welcoming committee shows up. I even route WAY the hell out from land, to avoid planes during ingress/egress. Makes life hard to charge batteries. The schnorkel is no use, as I cant predict an attack as well as when im surfaced. Are there any better procedures to getting my boat charged? I have even tried removing my radar officer as to not emit, but it is still difficult.

Thanks all,

/S

Apache312

[Jimbuna]

Has this changed from the vanilla game because of the new GWX ship renders, im guessing are more difficult to load in a saved configuration? Ive been saving like this since I got the game in 2005.

It seems like it will be difficult to save at 50km. Hopefully that is the radius of the RWR and radar.

Since we are on the subject of radar, im currently in 1945, and I know technology got better in late 44, but it seems I can only stay surfaced for 10 minutes at a time before the welcoming committee shows up. I even route WAY the hell out from land, to avoid planes during ingress/egress. Makes life hard to charge batteries. The schnorkel is no use, as I cant predict an attack as well as when im surfaced. Are there any better procedures to getting my boat charged? I have even tried removing my radar officer as to not emit, but it is still difficult.

Thanks all,

/S

Apache312

The rendering has never changed, you simply need to condition yourself to save only when things are 'quiet'.

On the subject of Allied air traffic, this was the norm from mid 44 onward....the Allies were everywhere like flies.