ahh but still right now I don't want to fuss with it now as this is the fourth time I have reinstalled the darn game.

Nothing wrong with that. I was just pointing out the possible reason for your problems. In six years I have probably reinstalled the game more than a hundred times. Sinking ships? I've done that so much it has lost its luster. I like playing with the game as much as I like playing it, and without a decent supermod the harbors are naked, and these days I need the Canal and harbor locks with gates, or it just doesn't feel right.

Also have to have Commander for Ship Names if nothing else. But that's just me. :sunny:

You've possibly got a file or two left over in your registry that the game is calling upon but then sees two.

Your best chance of a resolution may well be to uninstall the game (preferably using the disc option) then delete the SH3 folder in C\MyDocs, then perform a registry clean.

There is a free trial version of the one I use here:

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