If you are using GWX3.0 or NYGM3.2, you will need to use the specific files for your install in SH3CMDR 3.2 or your hair will fall out and you will get hemorrhoids.

Thank you for the info, Irish.

Problems with installing/running on new computer
 

I've been running quite happily on my old XP Pro set up for ages, with all flavours of SH3, have just bought a Vista Home Premium-equipped Laptop and having awful problems getting SH3 to run at all, I am using the hidden super-administrator account and uac turned off etc, SH3 installed to c:/game files/ubisoft/ and everything 'by the book' with starforce update installed etc. Now regardless of what version of SH3 I install (currently vanilla just to try and get running) I get the ubi logo, the intro movie.... but when I exit from the movie just a black screen with the theme music in the background......

I've tried re-installing twice and no difference, the laptop is a Rock xtreme CTX Pro, Vista Premium SP1 and latest Geforce drivers etc... any ideas anyone?

Thanks

Kentrat

I don't have the foggiest idea what the problem might be. I suggest you read this entire thread to see if your problem is listed (and solved); if not, here is what I did.
I purchased new copies of SHIII and SHIV, all starforce free and DMA free and patched to the correct version. The SHIII cost me $9.99 and the SHIV $19.99 plus a bit for shipping etc. The SHIV had the U-Boote expansion.
With these, I have had no problems with my Vista sp1.

Best to just dump that copy of SH3,
Vista has Compatability Issues with some Old games,
especially the starforce protected ones,
Irish is correct in saying go Buy a new copy of SH3,
less hassle :arrgh!:

Doesn't sound like a Vista or "incompatible sh3 copy" problem at all, but the age old problem with either wrong graphics card settings or ffdshow conflicting with SH3. Both of these lead to the behaviour you described in both SH3 and SH4. If the culprit is ffdshow the easiest solution is to uninstall it, if not then doing a forum search should turn up plenty of threads with similar problems and possible solutions.

I will try and install SH4+ Uboats and see what happens there, I did have a look through the thread and did not come across a similar problem but as the main reason for getting this laptop was to have a mobile installlation of GWX I am not giving up just yet.... Really frustrating as Company of Heroes runs beautifully on it

SH3 seems to stall before the loadscreen, just the choral music and a black screen with arrow cursor on it, tried changing the screen res to 1024x768 to see if that made a difference but thus far no.. I'll try the ffdshow issue first before anything else, I did try the no-cd route and uninstalling starforce ( I do have all my original discs etc!) but it made no difference at all. Currently trying SH4 install now.

Really not keen on buying SH3 + 4 a second time but if all else fails I grudgingly will....

Thanks Irish and everyone else too!

your copy of SH4 will run fine,
Its your old copy of SH3 with the protection,
that Vista will not run,
also with Vista Run any game patches
or upgrades as Administrator,
hope this helps.

Same thing I advised Torplex.....Install SH3 and update if needed. Go to your video card program and reset the video card to the default settings. Fire up SH3. You should see all now. Close the game out and reset you video card to your liking. For some reason, Vista/SH3/SH4 does not like to work for the very first loading if you video card is tweaked to what you like. The card needs to be set to the default values. Also, create a root folder for your games. Stay out of the program files. I made a root folder and named it GAMES2. I load all my games there.


Read this post here:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=148212

If You have Windows Vista 64-bit?
Read this Post,
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=149904

To all

I have red every post in this thread and I can ONLY play the vanilla with a nocd-crack(sorry it's the only way) I can't patch it or something like it.

So tomorrow I'm gonna do a partitionering(you divide you HDD into several sektion) In my case two one for the vista and the other for XP home edition.

90% of my old game can only be played on XP and I'm not interestet in throwing them away.

Regards
Markus

I just installed the game, GWX and Commander under vista without too many problems The trick seems to be run everything with the run as administrator option under the computability tab clicked Installed Game, Updated Star force Ran the Game, and exit Updated to GXWIII Ran the game, and exit Installed Commander Selected the options I wanted Ran the Game from commander and exit Installed the JSGME options I wanted Game now runs fine

Hi guys
I just bough a new computer. Ive been trying to install SH3 all day now. Everytime I go to install the Starforce update it says "no protected software found".

I have the game installed under a different folder, as many people here have suggested (C:\games\....) and no luck. Can someone please help me. I love this game to death and it would drive me nuts if I can't play it.

Jan

I managed to install my copy without any problem, but I cant update to 1.4b. As it's been said, run everything with administrator rights. If I get to solve the patching problem anytime soon, Ill come back with the solution. If not, goodbye GWX :(.

EDIT: I managed to do it. You have to run the patch with admin rights after restarting the computer and then install GWX. Now I have only one thing left to do: learning to play :P (yup, I bought SHIII just now and Im playing for the first time)

Spring for the starforce free, patched version which does not require the DVD in the drive. Get at the Subsim store.

Make sure you are running the patch on a clean installation. Mine wouldnt patch because, even if I had uninstalled and reinstalled the game several times, I hadnt completely deleted all SH3 folders and some GWX files were still there even after uninstalling the game (yes, I didnt read the manual and tried to install GWX on a 1.0 version). Giving the patch program admin rights is also a must. And if you are using a no-cd patch, I think it breaks the patcher too.

Reinstalling the game a lot of times its lame, but try once more deleting the game's folder after uninstalling it, and repeat the whole process again (oh, and I dont know if it's neccesary, but I rebooted my computer after installing the game, before applying the patch)

Thanks guys for all the help. I emailed both Star-force and Ubisoft for help. Star-force tried helping but said that their protection software was outdated and to contact Ubisoft. I did and basically got the "the game isn't supported under Vista" speech and other excuses with little or no help.

I will give it a try your idea Kasbe. I will continue trying to install it for a while until it gets hopeless :nope:

irish1958 can you post a link where I can buy it. I looked in the store but for some odd reason I can't seem to find it. In all reality I would not mind buying a nother version. As long as I can sink ships using GWX 3 and all the other updated (mods) I have I'll be a happy camper. :smug:

Jan

It is here (http://www.subsim.com/store.html); it is a combined SH2 and SH3 DVD set, starforce free and patched to 1.4b with no DVD needed in the drive.
Scroll down to the end of the list.
Also here, but it costs more: http://www.amazon.com/Silent-Hunter-.../dp/B00023XXN6
Here is where I purchased mine for $9.99+S+H http://store.navalwarfare.org/

OK guys a bit of an update. I own GT Legends a game that to is from 2005 and also has the dreaded STAR FORCE. I was able to get that running just fine without any problems so Silent Hunter should work just need to figure out how to get it there...

Thanks for all the help
Jan

P.S
If I have more problems I'll let you all know.

I do everything... but the game starts in brown screen, cursor is big and leave trails in screen when moving. I guess the problem is video card driver, but I update ii and the problem persist. What I can do?