reinstall of sh3 failing

[Plumber1]

I've had SH3 installed previously but have uninstalled iot mod with GWX and SH3 Commander however, once all remnants have been removed (not a starfire issue as I've run the removal tool) and a new installation completed iaw the sticky here http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=2192011&postcount=3 . I patch to 1.4 successfully and then have to over-wright the 5 rld-sh14 folders manually as it says "the program can't start because the drawlib.dll is missing from your computer. Try reinstalling the program to fix this problem." The file in question is right there in the program folder!

I've manually uploaded the 5 files into the sh3 directory however when I try to run the game I still get the error screen about "this application can be launched within a release version..." etc.

I don't understand why this is as I've had the game installed previously with no issues. It's not a mod issue as I haven't even got as far as installing them yet.

Can anyone please help?

[THEBERBSTER]

A Warm Welcome To The Subsim Community > Plumber1 :subsim:

You Will Always Find Someone Here To Help You :sunny:

Your problem is beyond my capability - sorry :wah:

Link To My > SH3 – SH4 – SH5 > Posts :salute:

Step By Step Tutorials & How To Do It. :up:

Also Included Are Some Useful Download Links :salute:

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=211804 (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=211804)


If You Are New To Subsim or Silent Hunter My Thread Link Might Save You Some Time. :salute:

[Jeff-Groves]

I would highly suggest getting a newer copy.
As cheap as you can grab one?
It pays for the head ache pills before you ever install!
And even with the hack? There are issues.

[ReallyDedPoet]

Welcome to SUBSIM Plumber :sunny:

[Plumber1]

Should have been clearer; the previous install was only a couple of months ago, there's no issues with the disk. I was completely surprised when it didn't run properly this time as once the advice in the previously mentioned thread was followed back then it worked perfectly.

[Plumber1]

I've edited my last post as having re-read it gave the impression the problem is sorted...it isn't.

I think the issue must be something to do with the uninstall, maybe I've missed a folder somewhere but I've checked all the directories I can think of. If anyone knows of a usual hiding place please let me know.

Cheers.

[Sailor Steve]

I have found this tool to be very effective in cleaning all the traces out of the registry when you uninstall anything.
http://www.iobit.com/advanceduninstaller.php

Did you get the SH3 folder in your documents folder? It's where the saved games are stored.

[U-15]

Thanks for the link Sailor Steve. :up:

I too have been looking for a suitable tool for cleaning the registry when uninstalling a programme, but I am very wary of third-party apps unless recommended.
At least no more trawling through the registry, I hope.

Years ago, back in the days of Windows95, there was a programme called WinDelete, which was excellent for this purpose.

[Sailor Steve]

I too have been looking for a suitable tool for cleaning the registry when uninstalling a programme, but I am very wary of third-party apps unless recommended.
I use several of their products, including Advanced System Care every night to clean and shut down the computer and IoBit Malware Fighter as a backup to Malwarebytes. The fun part about Uninstall is that even if I uninstall a program directly it still jumps in and asks me if I want to do the 'Powerful Scan'?

At least no more trawling through the registry, I hope.
I don't have any problems with it.

[Jeff-Groves]

Operating system and system specs please.

[Plumber1]

Sailor Steve: Thanks I did get the save game folder but obviously missed some as I've used ccleaner and then defragged and rebooted but to no avail. ccleaner did find about 6 files which I'd missed but still the same issue.

Jeff-Groves: I'm running Win 7 Home Premium on an i5 4570 @3.2GHz (not oc and stock cooler), Gigabyte H87-D3H MoBo with 8Gb RAM and a Radeon R9 280X graphics card.

Thanks guys. It's got to be something simple as SH3 was running sweet previously. As in many threads it was and is now installed in a separate folder (previously on the C drive (an SSD) but now on a E drive (internal HDD)). I'd installed GWX and then SH3C but this seemed to cause issues as when starting in SH3C it ran the stock game but when starting the GWX shortcut it ran the GWX "game"; I therefore uninstalled everything (SH3, GWX & SH3C) and now can't get SH3 to run despite patching to 1.4 and installing the rld-sh14 folders.

[sublynx]

It could be an error that is more Windows related than SH3 related. Drawlib.dll is an important Windows file. Check this out for example: www.pcmaxutilities.com/wikidllfiles/drawlib-dll-error-fix-guide.html

[Plumber1]

Thanks Sublynx, having read your link I've run the recommended tool but it's found no issues with the Drawlib.ddl files on the PC. The file is there in the file structure under SH3 as well.

[Sailor Steve]

I'm beginning to think that Jeff had right idea: Spring for a newer copy. StarForce-free, already patched and ready to go. I went that route years ago and have never regretted it.

[sublynx]

Damn I really thought that might be a solution. A new copy like Steve said might be worth a shot.

[Plumber1]

It's working again!!

Found the post from Hienz1 :rock: here:http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=153900&page=26

and used the download links he posted to get new 1.4b and rld-sh14.rar files which I then installed iaw his and Bl!tzkr!eg's instructions as I did the first time last year and this time (as it did back then) it's worked. As far as I can tell they were the same as the original ones I was using but who cares it's working again!:yeah:

Thanks to everyone who's taken the time to read and offer advice, truly a stunning forum.

Steve.

[sublynx]

Excellent! Good luck with your patrols!

SH3 is such a fragile game. The fact that we are willing to see all this trouble for it just accentuates its uniqueness.

This forum is the best there is anywhere.

[U-15]

@17#

Wholeheartedly agree on both points.

[Jeff-Groves]

A newer version results in faster install, less head ache pills, more fun if you have a Beer or two while installing.
:haha:

Glad your up and running again.
:salute:

[Doolar]

I told another SHIII Captain , while help'n him with mods , "that after all these years of mod'n and OS changes , that SHIII is built like a house of cards . All is cool until the wind blows". :88)

[Jeff-Groves]

It's not really a House of Cards.
It is a very stable Game/Sim for the most part.
It's just that if any Modder misses any part of making things work together?
You get a CTD and then thousands of posts with little info to try to assist.
Newer members don't have the insight to the Game as Older members do.
It's the older Members that may have that one clue or fix.
As a lot of issues are Install now days? that's why I always ask for system specs and DETAILS!!
Do you cough during install, Did you sneeze?
:haha:
I'd think 95% of the time someone has not done something right and things seem to prove that.