Installation Woes...
 

Did some searching but nothing covered my particular problem.

I have un-installed / re-installed SH3 several times (like 4 to 6) in a couple of different locations.

When I un-install I make certain to delete any residual files including those found in "my documents".

This last time when I went to apply patch 1.04b_us_dvd (which Im certain is the correct patch after all Ive used it before) I now get the error message "Cannot patch Unknown version".

Yes the installation was un modded when I attempt to apply the patch.

BTW the game runs okay (with the known bugs) and reports version 1.01.

Is there some registry issues ?

Did you check the registry to see if there was no left overs after you uninstalled SH3. I got a bad crash two days ago with windows she loaded up and got to a black screen with "C:\windows\system32\config file currupt"
Im sure i have a heating problem with my graphics card. :damn:
I couldn't go no further so reformated and reinstalled windows. After installing SH3 x2 i got errors when updating to 1.4b "Error en_menu & de_menu not recognised" and "NSSboat2_CR.dat" not recognise??? I own the US version so updated with the US patch, yet got those errors? What i did is removed those error files, then the patch worked.

I went through 2 installs before i got it right:
Remove any error files from SH3 (make backups incase you need them) during update the patch replaces them.
Make a copy of your SH3 save folder and delete everything in the original, once updated then replace with copy.
Remove any files in C:\Documents and Settings\Your login name\Local Settings\Temp folder.
Last but not least, make sure your using the right Patch.
"Cannot patch Unknown version".

You cannot patch the game if you've installed any mods.

Go through the registry (regedt32) and search for "silent hunter 3" and/or "ubisoft". Delete any key (the entire "folder") that you come across which looks like it has entries pertaining to SH3.

Then give it an install.

This fixed it. Thanks for the advice. Dont know why I dident think of that to begin with.

Problem solved thanks... let this one sink into the abyiss now.