Can't even get passed entering the code key. I get an error message which I've saved as a text document. The game installs without a hitch, but can't get it to load.

System specs new rig,

Intel Core 2 Extreme Quad @ 3.00 Ghz
nforce 780i motherboard sli
2 Geforce Gys 8800's 512 each
Corsair ram 4 sticks 1 Gb each
Realtek onboard sound 5.1
Logitech wireless keyboard and mouse
Saitek Evo 3D joystick
Thrustmaster gamepad (for the kids)
Toshiba CD RW / DVD R (just in case there's an issue with the dvd write and some game disks)
Toshiba CD / DVD RW
Logitech 70 watt 5.1 speaker system
Hanns-G 28 inch wide screen monitor
Windows Vista x64 bit
Toughpower 1000 watt power supply

Like I said, the game installs fine, and meets or surpasses the system requirements, but when I click on the start game button, I get an error, and a big long @$$ed report about the system. This is the window where you enter the game disk key.

Funny thing is, for a giggle, I loaded up the old EAW which refused to run under XP, and "it" works beautifully, without using compatability mode. I could probably get Red Baron 3D to run if I tried.

Hey people

I don't know if some of you remember me. I posted several times about a Vista problem - a CTD after the loading bar got full. Finally it is resolved. As certain people tought, I believe it has loads to do with fine codecs for your vista, the crashing occuring because of SH3 inability to load proper codecs for the main menu video.

(here are my original threads detailing my issues:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=128580
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=129622)


If anyone with the exact same symptoms could give it a try and tell me if my codec swapping was indeed related to it...?

The codecs I am using are from the Vista Codecs Package
http://www.infos-du-net.com/telechar...0301-7647.html

Then, if indeed this is the answer for this kind of problem, I'd really like to see it put on the first page, so that people like me will come upon it quickly with no need for long lurking ^^

Thanks in advance, and thanks again for everyone here who helped me

AJ

Im trying to install this but it is saying I have no Starforce client!

I am running Vista 64bit and thanks to a slight accident which resulted in my original disc snapping i went out and bought a new copy which instals and runs absolutely fine (always run as administrator). Starforce protection has been removed and, another thing i noticed was that the game runs without the disk in the Drive! The copy i now have is distributed by FOCUS multimedia. I hope this info is of use...

Now that you mention that it makes sense. As I use my Vista x64 for movie editing and graphics I've got every single codec imaginable; completely makes sense since at install SHIII tries to install some video codecs (that I doubt are compatible) since drivers need to be written specifically for x64 machines.

I agree that it appears you've found a solution that should help a large majority of the users that have problems with this OS. And of course there is using the direct download version which installs without a hitch as well.

UBI Down load
 

I recently bought a new laptop HP 9000 series w/ Intel core 2 Duo CPU @ 2.1 GHZ, 4 GB RAM, Nvidia GE Force 8600M GS w/ 512MB dedicated RAM. I nstalled my older version of SH 4 and patched it. It installed SF and required the disk to be in the drive for some reason, but it ran well. Next I followed P-B's advice and went to UBI and purchased a downloadable version of SH3 for $20. Upon installing it it asked that the older version of SF be uninstalled, which I did and resumed the install process. It did not reinstall SF. Both SH3&4 run well, and do not require the disk in th edrive to run. I have not yet modded either, as I'll rest on this success first, and then gradually add to mods.
I am currently in Jan 41 in stock SH3 on my desk top and want to complete that career before adding any mods or starting a new career.

The $20 download has so far proven a good investment, and I am considering removing my SH4 and doing the same for it, but that will wait until a get q few missions under my belt, as I am currently fully into SH3.

Well I am using a Vista 32, so I was among the "few" people who had issues with it, while it appeared to run fine on everyone's else machine. Now, if this can work for Vista 64 owners too, I will be glad, but from what I remember, we do not have the same symptoms (CTD after the intro and the loading bar), do we?
Can someone may describe again what kind of problem happens with Vista 64 owners? (sorry for the inconvenience...)

patch fix
 

dean you need to run it as an administer in vista. hope it helps:up:

"Can not initialise 3D Engine"
I´m no expert at this, but that has something to do with your graphics card. What resolution do you use? Refresh rate? Drivers?
Have a look here http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=78827.
It has nothing to do with SF...

thanks , i will check.

1280*1204@60, Catalyst 8.3

Hello to everyone. I have confused...:o
I have vista ultimate x64. I install the SH3 and the patch 1.4, and as soon as i run it tolds me that this application runs on win95,xp. ME ,server 2003. my English is poor so.... does anyone run sh3 in vista x64? if yes what i must do to run it on my system(vistax64) ?
I love this game and i want to play it in multiplayer.
Thanks for hear me :)

anyone here to answer?:cry:

I believe I have mentioned this before... (perhaps not on this thread though)

The simplest way to make SH3 work on Vista64 is to just buy the $20 direct-2-drive version and save yourself all the Starforce related headache. Oh almost forgot... if you get the D2D version it comes pre-patched to 1.4 already! Kinda nice.

Apparently, there's also a no-cd gadget floating about that would essentially allow you to do the same thing, but I think that may qualify as some sort of pirate hack or something...

Not only do I have it working on Vista64 with GWX, but I also have the hi-res tweek that allows me to run it in 1680x1050 (screen distorts, but still looks better than lo-res).

I DID IT!
 

I was able to get SHIII to run on my Dell Laptop which has Vista Home Premium. (By the way, I HATE Vista, and I would take it off and install XP if I could....)

Anyway, here is what worked for me.

1. Installed SHIII.

2. Downloaded and install Patch 1.4

3. SHIII would not run - Administer error and bad driver notification (what else is new...)

So I removed the StarForce device drivers. Select the System icon in your Windows Control Panel. Click the Device Manager button in the hardware tab and then select "Show Hidden Devices" from the View menu. Now check the Non-Plug and Play Drivers device tree, and you should find a few StarForce entries. Uninstall
these and reboot your PC.

I rebooted and right clicked on the SH3 icon and clicked on "run as administrator."

IT WORKED! It is runningflawlessly!

I just may pony up the $20.00 to download the DD version - I understand that has no SF drivers or SF garbage. Might be worth it, and I would never have to use the DVD again.......if someone has done this, and it works, let me know please. Also, does UBI give you only one download, or do they give you 2-3 in case your HD crashes or you change 'puters?

Thanks in advance..........

I hate that version of Vista too... it's on my daughter's laptop. Vista Ultimate on the other hand has features I wouldn't give up to go back to XP.

Does no one read my posts? I had just posted one up mentioning that I'm running the D2D version, SF free and sans disk... works fine with GWX and I even have the hi-res tweek running it in 1680x1050 (something that never worked for me using XP btw...). The fact that it also comes pre-patched with 1.4b is a nice bonus. UBI has nothing to do with D2D; they sell all sorts of software other than the UBI titles. You get an account and whatever you buy appears in the account as available for infinite download.

I also don't seem to have all the admin problems others complain about with Vista Home.

Arronblood, if you don't mind me askin', what's the hi-res tweak? Never heard of it. Thanks also for the d2d info! I can finally play SHIII!!!!!!!!!!!! :up:

I haven't been able to play it since the first incarnation of Grey Wolves. So I didn't even visit the forum to save on the therapy, and manic depression it caused. But I figured eventually there would be a way to get it to load and start the game.

So after a long hiatis, I'm back to sinking British convoys!

It's this little dll file that sits in the SH3 folder (where ever you have the main SH3 exe file installed). And when you run the SH3 file this little gadget forces directx to display the game in what ever res you tell it. I have mine set for my native desktop 1680x1050. Some of the graphics look a little distorted; non-hires fonts being stretched out and so forth; but the game graphics do look nicer. I've heard it might CTD if you specify a res in the config file that's different from your desktop... I haven't tested it though.

I put the file here: dx9res10.zip

Just read the readme and edit the config file appropriately and you should be set.

Many many thanks!

I was wondering as my monitor is a Hanns G 281D, and the native resokution is 1920 x 1200, and with 2 eVGA 8800 GTS 512 cards behind it, SHIII should run really smooth, at that resolution. The distorted low-res stuff doesn't bug me, as long as the rest of the stuff that really counts is enhanced.

help finding Download starforce
 

hi al im having problems fining starforec and downloding it iv got the up date but when i try to install it i dte this msg " no installed protectin drivers found to up date" has eny1 got an idea haw i get round this meny thanks