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.
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".