Update: I now have BOTH disk and steam versions in my pc. Each on different drives but sharing the saves. As mentioned above the disk saves do not work with the steam, or vice versa which is not a problem. JSGME also has two installs both with manually loaded mods, and neither conflict. So I have 2 x SH4 desktop icons and 2 x JSGME icons. I can play either at any time, so will leave them alone for now and sit back, relieved, and enjoy. All my SH4 Mods are kept in their own folder and I select from here to both JSGME. Thanks you to the experts for your advice and help

That is a link to MultiSH4 above. You really shouldn't share that Save folder (SH4). You might not notice issues right now with sharing the SH4 save folder, but eventually, there will be something that gets trashed, and you'll lose the whole shmear. If you wanted, you could leave the one Save folder as-is, set at SH4, but I would run MultiSH4 in at least one of the modded installs, and change the Save folder with it to something "meaningful" with 3 different characters. The "FileManager.dll" file in the game folder does have to be write-enabled before MultiSH4 will "take". As with the SH4.exe file, you right-click on the file in the game folder, choose Properties, and on the General tab which is opens to, clear the "Read-only" attribute if necessary. If the little tick box is empty, you are good to go. Run MultiSH4 and make the folder name like "RdD" or whatever. :salute:

OK Prop -and done. both save folders now empty and graphics changed to LARGE (fixed graphics and resolution).

If you purchase SH4 via Steam do you still need to authenticate with Ubisoft when playing the game?

No, I didnt.

Something wrong with SH4 steam, little things not right, a couple of crashes to desktop.

I have had to remove SH4 Steam, crashes, sound problems (buzzing in speakers) and maps going weird (not changing after removal from JSGME, reboot, and install new map. All the time, with two sep saves, the disc based SH4 carried on normally.

Amen, for now :doh:

Did you use MultiSH4 in the Steam game folder, and set the Save folder to something different from your disk install? It almost sounds like either your mod was trashed by windows (what is the path to your Steam Library folder on that K: drive? Just "Steam Library \Silent Hunter... " ?? No "Program Files", correct? You might also have had a "Steam verify of game files", where Steam changed the modded game back to Stock on you, which would not be compatible with a previous Save in a modded game... If both installs (disk & Steam) are using the same Save folder (C:\Users \UserName \Documents \SH4), then that is the trouble. You cannot do that.

No you don't.

yes mate, and exactly as you told me. I had two empty saves, 001 and 002. No connection twixt disc game and steam game, both had two new subs operating out of Manila 1941. I tried removing pacific sound mod and rebooted to see if the buzz would stop, it didn't. I even tried to reinstall Steam game after deleting it and all folders and rebooted, but buzzing still there, but not on any other steam software. I took it out and tried again, this time no mods - still buzzed. The disk game is running perfectly. Loads of other games in pc, big and small, none have this noise. Everything else on K is fine, incl other steam games in K:\\games\. I spent too long on this problem, so will give it a rest for a couple of days.

path: K:\\steam library\steam apps\common\silent etc

disk ver:

C:\\games\\silent\

Yes it will.

Did you remember to delete the SH4 folder by hand in your "my documents" folder before trying anything?

yes. I'll give it another go in a day or two.

Found this:
https://steamcommunity.com/app/15200...6115122985182/

^ Thanks :up:

I didn't have a problem getting the program to run. first time fresh install from steam. But I am amazed following the directions on the SH4 Steam forum how the level of detail has increased and I think the animations in the menus weren't working before either. :hmmm: