Add-on woes in Windows 7 HP SP1
 

Good evening all.

It has been a while since I've posted here and I'm sorry to say it's re: a problem with SH4 in Windows 7.

I just installed the sim into an external drive where it boots up fine. The problem lies in getting it to launch after I choose the saved game (first one in the list). I will get the scroll on the bottom of the sub screen and then the "wait" box - at which point it does a CTD.

My system:
Windows 7 Home Premium SP1
AMD Phenom II X4 940 processor, 3.00 GHz
4.00 GB RAM
64 Bit OS
Samsung monitor, screen res 1920X1080

Sim was playing outstanding well last night until I downloaded and installed a few "tweaks" for it. Last one I installed was the SH4 "Underwater Trip" but only the plankton removal add-on. It worked very well last night. I'd hate to lose it as it does enhance gameplay in my opinion. Oh, and I also added the "Fuso" add-on which played very well also. I should add I can play quick missions and training scenarios with no problem. What seems to be the problem with the saved missions?

It could be that the save file is broken. Can you load any other save files?

Also, some mods do not take well to being loaded when at sea.

Interestingly enough, I had begun a war patrol before adding the things I downloaded from this site.

First, I'm going to try resurrecting one of the other "saved" files. If that works, it's likely I'll have to just flush this patrol due to a damaged "save" file and start over. Not an issue, since this is the first patrol.

Second, we will know there is an even chance it's the mods themselves being installed after leaving port on the patrol.

I will report results.

if your loading saves you took before you added the mods that the problem start a patrol at base or a new game

When posting issues post your MOD list from JSGME as it comes from JSGME.

Do not post from memory, do not post what you wish to type please only post the clipboard list from the application.

Thanks, I'll do that. Here we are:
Fall of the rising sun v1.3
IJN Depth Charges Y Thrower Fix
IJN Akagi
Historical Prop rotation
Nisgeis_Range_Ring_and_Bearing
ParaB's fewer radio contacts
Ship pack 1
Pre Pearl Harbor campaign start
Crew Rank Fix
Eye Patch for 1.5

I've started "fresh" in the sim - new patrol - and so far everything seems to be going OK. One interesting glitch - in the sound pop-up panel, the sonar directional control instrument face - with the manual sonar head operation handle at the bottom of the screen - has an extremely blocky appearance to it, and a very rough finish overall. At the same time the handle's finish is smooth and problem-free.

Spoke too soon. Sim now refuses to start. I can go through the opening animations and get to the scroll screen w/Yamato & fleet boat - scroll completes, I then get box telling me the program has developed a problem and Windows is terminating. Earlier Avast gave me a notice saying a sound file had been detected as a potential threat to the system. No - I did not write it down - sorry. I have noticed some crew voices are faint, others are louder; some deck gun shots are louder than others. Getting ready to uninstall and start again from scratch.

this what I do when that happens is remove one mod restart game see if it happens still if so keep going on the list

OK, we'll do this the one-at-a-time way and see which one is causing the indigestion. In the interests of furthering the body of corporate knowledge vis a vis hexes/fixes I will report results as I go along.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to tell you that your mod list is just great.......no compatibility issues. I don't know if the mods you've chosen are going to work with each other or not. You should remove all mods; check your stock game files to see if they are as they were when you first installed the game (that's what the JSGME "Compare Snapshot" does); then do what les green01 says regarding loading one mod at a time to see if the game will work as expected.

What I am going to suggest is you should use Large Address Aware with the 4 gig ram memory you have. Your 64 bit OS will allow the game to double its availability of the memory you have (the game will only use 2 gigs of memory without LAA), which will help eliminate the possibility of CTD's from lack of memory. Take a look at this previous post for additional details and instructions.

Lot's of mods have memory hogging issues over the stock game. Trying to run added ship models with huge image files can really slow down your game. Getting more memory into the mix will help. After all, that's why you bought that new computer with the 4 gigs of ram anyway!

You may still have compatibility problems with your mod list, but with LAA, you at least will have the game running with more memory as you would expect with your computer.

As was already pointed out, never replay a save point that doesn't contain the mod list you currently have loaded through JSGME. The game expects certain files to be as they were when you saved them in order to replay the same event. Adding/removing mods......then replaying a save point is a bad idea! AND, never add/remove mods while out on patrol.....do it in port before going out again. Not all mods need this to happen, but some do. Just make it a habit, needing it or not.

I pulled ALL the mods out of the sim and wanted to see if it would start with no mods at all in it. I still get the notice as described above. I believe it's time for a complete uninstall/reinstall.

CapnScurvy, your post and my last one crossed in the email. Before I uninstall I'll give what you recommend a try. Thanks for the tip!

CapnScurvy, I've used the link in your msg, but don't see the download for the LargeAddressAware app. Where can I find that for download?

LAA is a great choice for any older game. Many games can be helped with its use. You have to realize that SH4 was released in 2007, with the same SHIII game engine that was first developed back around 2002-2003. Top end home computers only had a fraction of memory that's standard today. CRT monitors were still the standard at 4:3 aspect ratios.....no LCD/LED wide screen flat screens either. The game just wasn't developed for todays standard equipment.

Since your doing a clean re install, please read the documentation for adding JSGME and using it's "Snapshot" feature. It will help to have a future reference point for checking game corruption. And you will, if you add/remove mods on a regular basis.

Drill down the first post of LAA and find the "Attached Files:" at the bottom of the post. The LAA app is in the file "laa_2_0_4.zip" file. You need to download it (I usually "save" the compressed download in "My Downloads" folder to go back to at a later time). Make a new folder on your desktop, or put one onto your C:/ drive, then unzip it into there. Once it's unzipped, just follow the instructions.

*Make sure you follow the instructions I have in the earlier post regarding changing the games "sh4.exe" properties.

One more thing......If you read the LAA post, you should have read where your computer needs to have at least .NET Framework 3.5 or newer. Check your Windows Control Panel/Programs and Features folder to see if it states "Microsoft.NET Framework 3.5" is on your computer.

Found it. Using WinZip v.19 eval version to unzip but can not unzip to the file I created in C:\LargeAddressAware. For some reason the WinZip says the zip file is empty.

I use WinRAR for compressing/decompressing .zip files. WinZIP should be OK too.

I just downloaded the laa_2_0_4.zip file. Followed my own instructions, and have the "Large Address Aware Application 41 KB" as expected. Download was not empty.

It's an executionable file, which means left clicking on it will start the application installation to your path of the game.....where ever you put it.

You mentioned you have the game installed on an external drive. Make sure you make the path to the game correct (use the "Browse" feature, to the right of the Path window), ending up at the "sh4.exe" file.

Thanks Capn. I did as you said and got the "sav" file under the .exe for LAA, but when opening the next pane using "Mode - Advanced" there isn't anything showing.

well in the past I have had "occasional" corruption issues when unzipping and opening mods that are compressed using 7zip, but then not opened using 7zip, so I always suggest people "only" use 7zip to open mods because while these corruptions are rare, they do happen so using 7zip takes this risk away.

now as you go to do a clean reinstall of the game, don't forget to go into the main computer programs files to delete any remaining sh4 files still there after the uninstall. if you have a game corruption or any CTD issues it is almost a certainty that those corrupted files will be left behind after the uninstall because the uninstaller removes "known" files so modded or corrupted files are not removed and must be done so manually yourself before reinstalling.

Did you set the "Properties" of the sh4.exe file as I already mentioned, before trying to use LAA? The games .exe file must have it's "Attributes" changed so it does more than "Read-only".

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AND, as Webster just mentioned.......remove all older files from a previous install IF they were left behind. You won't know if they were left behind unless you look for them. Deleting all files/folders in the SH4 folder is a must too!! The SH4 folder is placed in your "Documents" or "My Documents" folder (depending on which OS you use), it contains game options like screen resolutions you chose to use, and all your auto or self made "Save" game points.....get rid of them. The game will make a new SH4 folder when you start the game.