Windows 8.1 problems

[Shooter7]

Hi, first posting for me. I got SH4 a couple years back as a gift, and while I was able to get it to load up and kind of function on my old Dell laptop with Win7, it would crash on me or lock up or not save my game or whatever. I finally decided to get a new machine, but this one has Win 8.1 on it. I put in the disk and tell it to install, which it doesn't seem to have any problem going through the motions with that, but after it finishes the game won't start up at all. You tell it at the end of the install to finish and run SH4, but it just goes away and nothing else happens. I have found that it drops a file in my documents and there are files in the c drive it looks like. I have not been able to find an exe file anywhere, and no icon shows up on my desktop. So, I don't know if this is the right forum or not to be asking this, but I would really appreciate some assistance with being able to get my game running on this machine. I have read that others are running the game on Win 8.1, so it should be possible. I just really liked what time I could get playing it on my old Dell and would love to play it on a machine that should be able to handle it without crashing.

The new rig I have is an Asus G550JK.
Republic of Gamers
Intel Core i7 4710HQ (2.50GHz)
8GB Memory 750GB HDD
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 850M 2GB GDDR3
1920 x 1080
Windows 8.1 64-bit

Let me know if there is more info I can give to help, but be advised, I have my limitations when it comes to tech. I have read some threads on here before I signed up and got kind of lost when people starting delving in deep with doing stuff with their files. So... thank you in advance for whatever help you can provide.

[captcrane]

Hey saw your post If you let the cd install the game itself it loads it in your Program Files(x86) folder on your c drive. inside that folder is a Ubisoft folder inside that one I believe is the Silent Hunter exe. file which will start your game.The game will run from there and you can make a shortcut on your desktop to it. The folder you found in your Documents folder is where the game stores saved games.

[Aktungbby]

Shooter7!:Kaleun_Salute:

[Shooter7]

Aktungbby - thanks for the welcome. :cool:

captcrane or anyone else who can answer this - after some searching, there weren't any obvious exe files, I finally found one that in the "details" part of the properties it showed that it was the sh4.exe file. However, once I found this, I clicked on it and told it to open and... nothing happened. What should I be doing to get it to start from there? thanks

[Captain Diver]

To find what you're looking for, go to your "C" drive, then go in to your "program files (x86)", scroll down to you see a file called "Ubisoft", inside that you will find a file called "Silent Hunter Wolves of the Pacific" inside that file scroll down until you see an "icon" that says "SH4" there will be 2 of them one is just an "icon" the other is the "exe" and it should say "application" to the right under "file type" I would create a shortcut to the desktop when you play the game so you don't have to do this everytime you want to play. I hope this helps you in your situation. If not don't worry and don't give up. There is always someone here to help you and btw welcome.

p.s. ( I am assuming you are doing all of this through your "file explorer" in your taskbar)

Respectfully,
Captain Diver

[Shooter7]

Yes, I found all that, but when I got the file and clicked on it and then told it to open, nothing happened. Since then I found an entry in an ubisoft forum that said NOT to let it load into the program files, but to create a new file name and load it. So, I uninstalled, installed with another name on the c drive and told it to run, but now I'm getting an error box that says, "The game is already running in a different account". What the heck does that mean? Do I need to delete it off my old computer I had it on or something?

[Shooter7]

I restarted my laptop and opened stuff up again and the error boxes didn't happen again, so that's good. Although, I don't know what account it was talking about the game already running in. So, a little more info... this last time I loaded the game not into the default file, but created its own named file. When I put the disc in, it loads up the menu for the game, but when I click play, nothing happens.

[Jimbuna]

Do you have an alternative drive to C? A partition to D perhaps?

If able, stay well clear of the C drive.

[captcrane]

Ahoy Shooter! Sorry to hear your stuck in high seas. We both have the same computer so this is what I suggest. 1. uninstall the game from your control panel (programs and features) 2. restart your computer 3. install the game from your dvd. when the computer asks where to install it click change button and type C:\Ubisoft do not install Game shadow or acrobat reader. 3. do not check box to run game instead restart your computer 4. in windows 8.1 go to your desktop not the tile interface click on the folder looking thing on your taskbar in the far left pane of the window click on OS [C:] then double click on ubisoft scroll down til you see 2 entries with an sh4 icon. one of them says application. this where the game starts and you can make a shortcut to your desktop In the event this fails also go back to that same application icon right click on it. A menu will appear click on details check product version # . unfortunately this game was released before it was ready you might need some patches. the gold edition is great and ready to go out the box 10 bucks I think at amazon

[Shooter7]

Ok, I will try this route asap. Working right now, but work from home, so may be able to mess with it some. I do have the Gold edition, btw. Thanks for the assistance, hopefully it will work. I just want to start torpedoing stuff... :yep:

[Shooter7]

sigh... followed all the above instructions to the letter and still, no joy. I went back in and tried to mess with the compatibility troubleshooting, but that didn't seem to have any effect either. I told it to try using Vista and XP settings both, but when it asked to test it, I would click the test button and nothing would happen. I really don't know what the heck to do with this. :wah:

[Eichhörnchen]

sigh... followed all the above instructions to the letter and still, no joy. I went back in and tried to mess with the compatibility troubleshooting, but that didn't seem to have any effect either. I told it to try using Vista and XP settings both, but when it asked to test it, I would click the test button and nothing would happen. I really don't know what the heck to do with this. :wah:

You're not alone, Shooter7: I'm running "gold edition" OK on Windows 8 so I'm sure someone's going to get you moving soon. Feel sure it's only a question of finding your way through; I'll see if I can come up with any ideas...

[Eichhörnchen]

Mine is installed in the usual place, Program Files (X86) and runs fine with no patches, but while I was nosing around in there just recently, I came across another "application" icon marked simply "gu", a bit higher up than the sh4 one, and thinking "Wonder what this does" I clicked on it and it launched the program. It was labelled "Autopatch system". I was a bit disappointed that it did nothing more interesting at the time but if you can find it, it may be worth a try. If it does work then just send it to the desktop as a shortcut instead. It might just make your pc explode, of course: I'm no expert so consider it just a suggestion.

The only other thing is that people often need to turn off their anti-virus before some programs will run because they block them. Perhaps someone more knowledgeable could give a view on this??

[Shooter7]

Figured I'd try this before I have to sign off for a bit, I remember seeing that GU file in there. I clicked on it, but didn't start the game for me. Still nothing working. Throwing out ideas... on my first attempt to load this game, I let it load everything but the game shadow. Could the adobe file it loaded have anything to do with inhibiting it, and do I need to delete that file? Could there be any other files anywhere that need specific deleting that could be a block to the game. Very frustrating knowing some people are running this game on 8.1 but I can't get this going. I have another older tank game I was going to try and put on here, but figure I'll probably have the same problem.

There is a comment further up regarding using D: drive to load on and staying away from C:, should I be trying this?

Thanks for any further help.

[Eichhörnchen]

I think he meant do you have another drive on your pc; I load games onto an auxiliary hard-drive when I'm installing something that will run on my old desktop, but the "brains" which start the programs are always going to end up in your pc's C-Drive, as far as I know, so any links which aren't functioning will still be there. Do you have a laptop with more than one Drive?

This has to be just an issue of an incorrect path, I would've thought.

BUT...I know you've tried to run it on compatibility settings, but have you tried INSTALLING it on compatibility settings? I know it's a pain to have to uninstall yet again but I had a tip from an expert recently about installing XP-configured software on Windows 8: he said to NOT just select the Autoplay choice when the little blue rectangle appears at the top but instead choose to open the disc, find the "setup" icon, right-click this and choose to run IT on compatibility settings. It will ask you to TEST, as usual, so you then let the INSTALLER go to work (on XP settings) and once the thing is installed you'll be able to save these settings (though I don't really see why).

Then try running it, either with or without compatibility settings (maybe try both).

Incidentally, this guru also advised me not to install programs configured for any O/S older than XP. Just XP or Vista.

PS/ I work at home too, so get to fiddle about here at all odd times (though I shouldn't)

[Eichhörnchen]

PPS/ this guru also told me I shouldn't really look to install anything on Windows 8 which is designed for an OS older than XP; just XP/Vista. I run all kinds of cheesy old stuff on my laptop in complete contravention of these rules, but now and again he does have to come round and pound it on the chest...

(Apologies for apparently repeating myself: I thought I'd lost the last part of my message but I'd just turned the page is all...)

[Shooter7]

Sure, I'll try doing that, what the heck... it's not like I don't have time because I'm playing a fun submarine game or anything. I'll try after I eat here. In the meantime, can anybody tell me if I should uninstall the adobe file or not while I'm uninstalling stuff? thanks

[Eichhörnchen]

Again I'm no expert but I don't see why you need to bother removing Adobe...

[Shooter7]

Ok, so here's what happened... uninstalled SH4, put game disk in, when the install screen came up I chose to open the files instead of run, I right clicked on the setup application, the only choice I had for compatibility was the troubleshooter so I chose that, as I went through that I chose Windows Vista as the system it would formerly work under, it then presented the test button which I clicked on, after a few seconds the install setup screen began and I directed it through the process leaving off game shadow and adobe, I closed out of the install screen when finished rather than choosing to run, I then went into the game exe file on the c: drive and told it to open.... it thought for a second then nothing more happened.

[Shooter7]

Well, I'm out of ideas. Not finding anything further online to give me any other ideas of what to try and do. :damn:

[Eichhörnchen]

I did stay up until midnight last night and asked my wife if I could have the laptop back so's to check how you were doing but she gave me the look, so I went to bed...

So it wouldn't let you "Use Recommended Settings" for Compatibility? I don't get that: flaming thing always comes up with something new, doesn't it? I would've expected it to then select XP.

Does it not then place a shortcut on your desktop?

Dare I suggest that you try the same again but select XPsp3 this time? Not that this will necessarily make any difference, but I believe there are problemss getting sh4 to run on Vista, so if you've been trying to do that...

[Shooter7]

I did go ahead last night and uninstall it again and installed selecting the XP version that time. Same results. Thing is, I don't know what to expect when I click the test button. Both times I tried to install "in compatibility" I chose the version I wanted to try and use, then clicked the test button, and then a few seconds after clicking that the game begins to install. I don't know if that's what is supposed to happen or what. After it loads, it does not function, so I have not clicked to use the recommended settings because it isn't working. And no, it never creates a desktop icon on its own.

[Eichhörnchen]

You just wait until it's installed and you're returned to the Compatibility window. you then click on "Next" (because it's installed successfully) and a blue progress bar will quickly run across at the top and a message appear to tell you that these compatibility settings have been saved. Then click on OK.

Then you would normally try to run the program but, as you say, you haven't got a launch icon on the desktop.

If you go to the main folder, which I assume has installed into Program Files (X86), there should be two little submarine icons. There should be one (the launch icon) labelled "Application" and sized 2,240KB; if there is, then a double click on this should start sh4.

Let me know...

[Shooter7]

Ok, I found something I didn't find before. When I put the disk in previously, I told it to open the files, then I right clicked the setup file, and then I ran the compatibility tester thing on it from that menu. For some reason this time when I put the disk in I did all the same except the last part. When I right clicked on setup file, instead of clicking the compatibility tester, I clicked on properties and lo and behold, there was the selection for compatibility mode. Now, I went into that and selected to run in XP sp3 and then went ahead with the installation. It took longer and a couple screens were kind of strange looking. When it finished, it wanted to restart the computer, which was different, so I thought I was really on to something good. Unfortunately, when I tried to open it again, it did not work... and then it almost didn't want to uninstall for me either. I asked it to uninstall and it wanted to install instead. Finally was able to get it out of there. Thinking that finding that compatibility mode selection might be a good thing for me, just not sure I used it right the first try?

[captcrane]

Wow Shooter thought for sure that would have worked. I am new to windows 8 too. When I installed SH4 I did it from the win 7 desktop screen not the screen with the apps on it

[Shooter7]

I'm doing mine from the desktop too, not the app screen. I just did the whole thing again, ran the troubleshooter, told it to run in XP compatibility both from the install and after it was installed and actually gave me the option of putting a shortcut on my desktop, even turned off my antivirus just for good measure. After all of that, still doesn't boot up. I don't get it.

[Eichhörnchen]

Yes, I forgot to mention I also use a desktop for my Windows 8.

I put another game disc into my pc to see for myself but the only way I could see what you saw was to right click on the "autorun" icon, which offered compatibility settings. I'd still prefer to launch "setup" on compatibility though (and sometimes, for some reason, you have to right-click several times before all your choices appear). Still unsure whether your install has been completed on compatibility settings, but the fact is mine was just installed using the Autoplay (before I was advised otherwise) and, like many other programs installed this way, it works just fine.

Got to go out now but will be back; maybe we should call on one of the big brains up in the command room.

[Shooter7]

I saw that autoplay EXE selection too, and wondered about it. Maybe I'll try using it to install... Maybe I need to go to Best Buy and get Geek Squad help or something. lol

[Shooter7]

Hot Damn, I got it to work!

Going to try to remember my steps and put them down here so they can possibly help someone else.

I put the disk in, when the install screen came up, I told it to open files instead of the normal install, I went first to the Autorun setup selection and right clicked, in that I chose properties, the selections that came up included the compatibility mode, in that I chose XP service pack 3 and clicked ok, after doing that nothing happened, so I left that as it was and went to the setup file and right clicked it, again chose properties from the menu, and went to compatibility and made sure it was set to XP service pack 3 as well and selected ok, briefly after that the game installer started up, since I already had the adobe loaded from previous attempts I told it to not load adobe or game shadow, it went ahead and did the rest of the install, at the end of the install it wanted to restart the machine and gave me the choice of restart or cancel and finish doing work, I chose cancel and went in and told it to create a shortcut then finish, once it finished doing that I double clicked on the shortcut, it hesitated for a moment, then the screen display went all askew, then a box popped up and said something about running the program in the different settings and I clicked ok or whatever it had there (sorry, was kind of excited at that point), after that the screen went off again for a second and then I had the Ubisoft screen come up and the game loaded! It is sitting on the laptop behind me at the moment in sub school with seagulls making noise. Now, I haven't tried anything more with it than open sub school up because I'm supposed to be working right now.... but the game booted up!!

[Captain Diver]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Well done!:Kaleun_Applaud:

[Eichhörnchen]

I was logging on to suggest you try running it as Administrator, but no need now. You'll be amazed at how good it looks after sh3. Glad it came good for you in the end...

[Shooter7]

Thanks for the help and plowing through all of this with me! :salute:

Now to work on figuring out mods. I hear I may want to do some of those before I even begin with this again. I played it a little on my old laptop using just the out of the box disk, so interested to learn about this mod stuff.

[Eichhörnchen]

You're welcome, shipmate. As for the mods, you and me both. I haven't started modding yet either: I understand the first and best comprehensive one is called TMO, but there's a less ambitious one we're advised to begin with (can't remember what it's called so I'll go off and look it up again).

Maybe we could start another thread and help each other through it. Bye for now!:yeah:

[Shooter7]

In another one of the forums on here I think titled SH4 Fleet Boat Mod workshop or something like that, there is a sticky thread titled, Popular Mods, Tools, etc etc and under the title of I believe Technical Help there is a step by step Mod installation thread which looks helpful. I just looked at the beginning of it a few minutes ago, but looks good.

[Eichhörnchen]

Check! In the main sh4 forum there's a question "any good mods" from dantheman: check it out too...

HOWEVER... I did see someone recommend that us noobies should play the sim un-modded for a while, so we can appreciate the difference; this makes a lot of sense and appeals to my lazy nature...

Just found info: we need to try "GFO" mod first, then one called "fall of the rising sun".

[captmac44]

I followed both suggestions of Compatability and loading into a file marked Ubisoft, not the recommendation of Program Files x86. Still having troubles but went into the file, found the .exe app, then opened it As Adminstrator. That worked for me!