My Quest to upgrade 8.1 to Windows 10 and to continue with running SH3.
 

29/07/2015

17:15 - after a trip back from London (family time) it's now my time to play. I power up the laptop all too eager to get sailing again and try to finish at least one years’ worth of patrols before I spot a new mod.

I gladly click the (GWX) icon (nicely named) to confirm my upgrade is ready... 45 minutes later, windows update is still trying to download the update and then it turn's red with error Code 80240020.

18:00 - I reboot laptop, and run “WindowsUpdateDiagnostic.diagcab” to find that windows update has not only crashed, but has been completely corrupted with missing services, runtimes, and various other items. Which it could not fix. Time for a beer as it's going to be a long time.

18:11 - I run disk clean-up and select all options for cleaning... This takes over 2 hours to complete, so I start fixing my old vista laptop with new battery and internal dvd rom. 2 more beers gone.

20:33 - with disk clean-up completed, i then go to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download and delete all files within this folder

20:38 – I open Command Prompt as admin (cmd) and type this command "wuauclt.exe /updatenow”

20:41 - this should clear the Windows Update cache completely. I re-run Windows Update - White Screen, I feel I’ve taken 2 steps back.

20:58 – After I had to fight with windows update to close, I reboot and run the normally very good “Tweaking.com - Windows Repair” which in turns finds the same errors and proceeds to fix them… 2 more beers gone.

21:13 – I then re-run Windows Update after a reboot, to find all the text is now back – however it just continues to search for updates. I let this continue for 42 mins and then change tactics… Another beer opened.

21:56 – I then decide to run Microsoft’s very good Fix-it toolbox and selects and runs ”FixWU”. This takes a little while and declares all found errors have been fixed, just to confirm I then re-run ”WindowsUpdateDiagnostic.diagcab” which also declares that Windows Update is now fixed, with no errors found.

22:33 – I Click the Windows Update icon and close my eyes……. “Windows 10 is downloading” I jump with joy, but calm down as there’s still plenty of time for things to go wrong.

23:55 - My laptop reboots and a lovely white circle begins to show me the progress of the upgrade installation. Another few beers consumed waiting.

01:40 – Laptop finally reboots into the lovely Windows 10 desktop. I then proceed to re-fresh the laptop with a fresh clean install of windows 10.

03:44 – After more than 10 hrs and a few sips of beer I’m ready to install and run SH3 for the first time. Before that it's bedtime.

Next Stage to follow...

Update 2
 

30/07/2015

17:14 – I attach my 2TB USB Drive to the laptop, this drive has all my Silent Hunter data. This includes the following:
· Offline Install files “ no need for DVD’s”
· Stock install of SH3 Vanilla / stock install GWX 3.0 & Mod Soup
· Game Installs / for both Laptop & Desktop
· Small Mods Folder
· Large Mods Folder
· SH3 Commander Mods
· Tools

17:05 – I delete the old game install for laptop, and I create a new one.

17:55 – I copy a stock install of GWX3.0 into the newly created Laptop game folder.

18:50 – I add SH3 Commander to the new install and install all the mods I use.

19:41 – I begun to unpack all the JSGME mods directly into the main install, Harbor / Enviro / Uboat etc. Checking the game after each set, I find this better than using JSGME as it would always crash, yet using the same mix this way I have not had any more errors. I will list all mods later.

21:00 – All mods now included in the new directory, I rub my hands together…. And I click on the SH3 Commander to begin.
I run all games directly from the USB drive, I have no SH3 files stored on desktop or laptop.

21:18 – Game runs, however it’s dead centre of the screen with a black border each side., yet with Windows 8.1 it stretched across the screen my is showing resolution 1366 x 768.

21:20 – Enter my mods folder and extracts “WideScreen_complete_GWX&StockSH3” from Rubini. My screen has now moved to the left hand side, with the border on the right side on the menu screen. When I move my mouse to the right it leaves a pointer trail in the border – however the main game window is now full screen, I sail to the Lock games at Wilhelmshaven and end petrol, external camera is working, so is are all departments – no CTd’s yet Will explore more during the next few hours.

update 3
 

22:40 – I decided to change widescreen mods to Conus GWX Widescreen Mod. But forgot the first one was put directly into the main stall, and not via JSGME as I had wanted.

22:55 – Opps CTD during Patrol loading sequence. That will teach me, for not paying more attention to the job at hand.. Back to drawing board!

22:56 – Time to Delete the data folder and start again…

23:24 – Old folder deleted, new folder copied across.

23:31 – Time to move all mods and SH3 Commander Mods into main install again. Another good hour wasted.. Sigh!!!

Good luck
 

I wish you good luck with your quest.
It will be my turn soon enough to follow your footsteps.

I installed Windows 10 and did nothing else. SH3 runs just fine.

LOL

That is good news indeed.

Were you on patrol at the time of the Windows 10 upgrade, or in between games? Does it make a difference?

Upgraded to Win 10 while on patrol with no problem.

Take a look after completing the upgrade if your graphics card shows up ok in the hardware list. If not a restart will fix that. It happened to me with my Nvidia GTX 460. Oh , download and the latest drivers (for win10) as well.

Glad to see your upgrade & install worked fine Steve. I'm still having major problems with mine.

Are you using a widescreen mods etc?

No. I use a lot of mods (more than 60) but widescreen isn't among them.

upgraded to Win10 from Win7, in mid patrol ( didn't think of a problem here :hmm2: ) . All good here too .

And your getting full screen?

If I try a clean SH3 or GWX 3.0 I always get a black border around the game!

I have tried multiple widescreen mods, but most of them always push the game to the left of my screen, and then throw up graphic glitches when zooming in/out of maps.

I'm beginning to lose all hope.. The only screen mod that works is MAGUI, but i much prefer the basic SH3 dials and look.

I think so, yes. If not it doesn't matter because I've never noticed.

Of course it I do notice and it starts bothering me I'm going to blame you. :huh: :O:

Oh dear, now i've put my foot in it.. :doh: :subsim: