Cant even install Windows xp or vista so much for that plan.

Somewhat, just a different way of doing it. Note though that the NTCore utility is not "LAA", which is linked to in CapnScurvy's thread. In all of the similar utilities, all you do is flip some bits in the executable file's header that signifies that the program is capable of addressing more memory, so Windows will feed it data to do such. If you set an app that is not able to address more memory, you will end up with a crash. SH4 is able to address the memory properly. However, especially with some disk game installs, the files are written to the hard drive with the "Read-only" attribute set, and if such is the case, it doesn't matter what applet you use to set the bit, it just won't be set, because the file can't be written to. Is you Windows 8.1 32-bit though, or 64-bit?

Yeah, certain hardware is not longer recognized... Someone had a list somewhere not too terribly long ago, but many hardware manufacturers have dropped support for WinXP, Vista, and some have dropped 7 already... :doh: - You should not have to jump through hoops to accomplish this though. :salute:

I have Windows 10 and Windows 7 installed on the same ssd drive.

Well, you have to specifically ask for a 32-bit Win10, so I'll assume you are running 64-bit versions of your OSes. That only leaves checking the SH4.exe to be sure it is not set to "Read-only" in its attributes, so that a LAA applet "takes" on the SH4.exe file. Another thing is if you are still using the same SH4 Save folder information (usually "C:\Users \UserName \Documents \SH4"), then you might empty that to clear the old contents out. The game runs off of the info in that folder. It will also re-set your Options settings in all of those menu choice areas, including sound, game options and graphic options, so you'll have to go back in to put them how you want them. You also, of course, lose all game progress, so if you're just wanting to experiment with re-doing that, instead of deleting the info, copying and / or moving it to another folder to keep it safe might be a better way, so that you could restore that if new data fails to help.

After that, if you followed all of THEBERBSTER's info, and you don't "shell-out" to the Windows desktop, then I'm at a loss. SH4 has fewer issues with graphics than SH3, and when you do have issues, it is usually easier to deal with... perhaps it is hardware with either the vid card or the display, but I don't see how. As stated before, the game has a tendency toward looking like that with dead-calm seas, and usually, most mods with a different scene.dat file do help... :salute:

Funny thing is sh3 works great so at least the water doesn't look funny there and I have something I can play but sh4 setting is unique and the gameplay works great but that water freezing up when I move my camera is killing me. I rather have the sailors have no eyes than to see the water move like that when I move my camera.

Just ran this game on ubuntu and the same thing still happens. Pretty much ran out of ideas other than build a old comp for this game.

Welcome aboard!
 

Say uh, rex84... I was just noodling in Stock last night, and I did make a "discovery" with my nVidia GTX 560Ti, which would have been a "revelation" ~IF~ someone hadn't mentioned this multiple times over the course of years, but... If you have "Vertical Sync" clicked, that will cause herky-jerky jello water. Some of the additional settings, such as "Environmental Effects", "Light Shafts", etc in the left column there can also contribute, but that "Vertical Sync" almost cannot be set "On" in Stock. It looks like the vid card does not like locking to the game... :salute:

went to my Nvidia setting and even forced v sync off but the water still shakes when you look up or down or move the free cam forward. thanks for the feed back though. just saw this video from 2012 and this is how the water is suppose to move. not sure what monitor his using so that could make the difference or the video card.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3BfZWiNCpw


just saw another one from 2009 and the water is shaking in this video so maybe its built inside the game and if that's the case not much anyone can do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfT9K-dYJQ4

Not the nVidia settings for vsync, the game's, on the Main Menu, Options, Graphic Settings, lower-right corner. Clear the tick box. If it is not set, then... try backing off the various settings in the left column there one by one, and see which makes a difference. They can all affect things, with probably the Environmental being the strongest, Volumetric fog next, Light shafts, etc., with Post Process Filters being least interfering...

I set everything at low and I still see the water move like jello. I wish I had my old comp from 2005 so I could test this game on it.