Ships losing their skins

SSI01 · 02-22-12, 10:07 PM

This is my first post to the forum so please bear with me. I couldn't find an answer to this in the FAQ section.

My main drive recently crashed and I had a new one put in. The shop was able to clone everything over to the new hard drive from the old one, and my programs work fine - with one exception, SH4. I can do everything I need to do in the sim, everything works. The problem lies with torpedoes impacting any target - at that point, the target vessel loses portions of its superstructure, plus the exterior hull skin. I get a pretty good view of the interior of the ship, all compartments and interior machinery. The ship's physics continue to function (i.e., it slows down after impact, lists, and eventually sinks) it's just that it loses its external texture and some portions of its superstructure. Is this pointing toward a reintstall?

WernherVonTrapp · 02-23-12, 02:07 AM

For starters, what operating system do you have? Also, what version of SHIV are you using (w/U-Boat Expansion Pack)? If your copy of SHIV was cloned over with the rest of your HD, I would suggest a reinstall. Still, wait first and see what the more knowledgable members (that includes everyone else) have to say about it. Are you running the Stock version?

Soviet Creeper · 02-23-12, 06:23 AM

I would recommend the GFO (Game fixes only) Mod, it may very well fix that, and it will also fix alot of other things making stock playable.

Fish40 · 02-23-12, 06:47 AM

I bet you're useing an ATI card, right? Try changing the mode of your AA in the CCC. Pick the lowest mode. Not sure, but I believe it's "Multi Sample". That should sort you out

EricW · 02-23-12, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish40

I bet you're useing an ATI card, right? Try changing the mode of your AA in the CCC. Pick the lowest mode. Not sure, but I believe it's "Multi Sample". That should sort you out

What he said.......

I had the same thing happen after I installed a new gpu. I think I have my card set to 8x multi sample now and it works fine.

SSI01 · 02-29-12, 02:01 AM

Hello everyone, family medical problems kept me busy for a few days but I'm back.

I'm currently running a Radeon HD6850 card that's working fine, handled the sim excellently before the crash and then clone operation. I'm running Windows XP Pro 2002 SP3 with an AMD Phenom II X4 940 3.01 GHAZ, 3.25GB of RAM. Can anyone tell me where the gamefix app is located? That sounds like a good first step to take before we work up to the more complex ones.

I'm currently running SH4 version 1.4, according to the start icon. BTW, this used to show up on the desktop but after the cloning it's in the game file, where it still works. Just an extra step required to open the file and find the .exe file. Game starts OK after that - except for this problem.

SSI01 · 02-29-12, 02:22 AM

Just tried to start the sim using "autorun" in the "D" (disk) drive. The machine came back with a msg saying it could not find the "intro.dll" file, and that reinstalling the sim might fix this. Would finding this file and placing it in the correct spot on the drive correct this issue?

WernherVonTrapp · 02-29-12, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSI01

Just tried to start the sim using "autorun" in the "D" (disk) drive.

Why are you doing that?

You don't need the disk to run the sim. Are you trying to install it from the D: drive or run/play it from the D: drive? I'm not sure that I correctly understand what you are doing. If SHIV is installed to your C: drive, you don't need a Disk to run it. You just click on the SHIV.exe icon to fire it up.

Bilge_Rat · 02-29-12, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSI01

This is my first post to the forum so please bear with me. I couldn't find an answer to this in the FAQ section.

My main drive recently crashed and I had a new one put in. The shop was able to clone everything over to the new hard drive from the old one, and my programs work fine - with one exception, SH4. I can do everything I need to do in the sim, everything works. The problem lies with torpedoes impacting any target - at that point, the target vessel loses portions of its superstructure, plus the exterior hull skin. I get a pretty good view of the interior of the ship, all compartments and interior machinery. The ship's physics continue to function (i.e., it slows down after impact, lists, and eventually sinks) it's just that it loses its external texture and some portions of its superstructure. Is this pointing toward a reintstall?

I have the exact same problem, I think it is a ATI driver issue (ATI 6950, win 7 64 bits here). I will try the suggested changes to FSAA.

SSI01 · 03-01-12, 09:07 AM

OK - I was going through "D" (CD) drive as an experiment, trying to initiate the "autorun" feature for the disk, thinking that would allow the sim to run as it should, instead of my going into the "F" drive (a terrabyte drive - plenty of room, but not the machine's main drive - that is "E" drive), opening the sim's file, and running it from the ".exe" file located there.

I installed it into the terrabyte drive because for once there is PLENTY of room on the disk.

Moving the ".exe" icon to the desktop, and opening the sim from there, with or without the disk in "D" drive, does not stop this from happening.

Running the sim without the disk in the disk drive, and opening the sim either with the desktop icon or through opening the "F" drive, and clicking on the ".exe" file there to open the sim, doesn't fix this either.

I hesitate to change any of the graphics settings through the card's control panel as I have other sims on this machine that benefit greatly from its increased settings.

This did not start until the machine crashed a short time ago and everything on the bad main drive was cloned over to the new good main drive. Other sims that were not located on the crashed main drive work fine since this cloning, this one seems to be the only one not previously located on the bad drive giving me trouble. BTW SH4 ran with excellent graphics and gameplay, even with very high graphics settings (highest the sim allowed), prior to the crash.

Mention is made of a game clean-up option that is available somewhere on this site. Please, where is this located?

steve_the_slim · 03-01-12, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Ships losing their skins

This is natural. It's a little-known fact that ships are actually a form of reptile, and therefore need to shed their skins on a regular basis. By torpedoing them, you're helping them get the old skin off.

EricW · 03-01-12, 09:38 AM

I'm still pretty sure that its your graphics card......SH4 ran great for a week after I put my ATI card in, then....... naked ships. Funny thing is, it only happened to a couple skins at first. After a few days it was almost every torp hit.
You can set your card to go into Multi -sample mode for ONLY SH4. You can have custom settings for probably any game or vid application.

WernherVonTrapp · 03-01-12, 11:00 AM

After learning that you have an ATI card, I'm now inclined to agree with the others, that you should check your AA (AntiAlias) settings in your card's control panel. Others have had this same problem (as they've stated) and you should at least give it a try.

Bilge_Rat · 03-01-12, 01:44 PM

yes, it is purely a FSAA issue and it only occurs when you choose the intermediate "adaptive multi-sample" setting, pure multi-sample or super-sample works fine.

SSI01 · 03-01-12, 02:42 PM

Well, did an uninstall/reinstall, and still get the same problem. That eliminates any generic problems with the sim, so it's got to be the video card. Now that you've given me the tips as you have, I'll pull up the control panel for that video card and see about tweaking those settings.

02-22-12, 10:07 PM	#1
SSI01 Loader Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 88 Downloads: 56 Uploads: 0	Ships losing their skins This is my first post to the forum so please bear with me. I couldn't find an answer to this in the FAQ section. My main drive recently crashed and I had a new one put in. The shop was able to clone everything over to the new hard drive from the old one, and my programs work fine - with one exception, SH4. I can do everything I need to do in the sim, everything works. The problem lies with torpedoes impacting any target - at that point, the target vessel loses portions of its superstructure, plus the exterior hull skin. I get a pretty good view of the interior of the ship, all compartments and interior machinery. The ship's physics continue to function (i.e., it slows down after impact, lists, and eventually sinks) it's just that it loses its external texture and some portions of its superstructure. Is this pointing toward a reintstall?

02-23-12, 02:07 AM	#2
WernherVonTrapp Admiral Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Now, alot farther from NYC. Posts: 2,228 Downloads: 105 Uploads: 0	For starters, what operating system do you have? Also, what version of SHIV are you using (w/U-Boat Expansion Pack)? If your copy of SHIV was cloned over with the rest of your HD, I would suggest a reinstall. Still, wait first and see what the more knowledgable members (that includes everyone else) have to say about it. Are you running the Stock version? __________________ "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." -Miyamoto Musashi ------------------------------------------------------- "What is truth?" -Pontius Pilate

02-23-12, 06:23 AM	#3
Soviet Creeper Planesman Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: In the corner of shame Posts: 187 Downloads: 143 Uploads: 0	I would recommend the GFO (Game fixes only) Mod, it may very well fix that, and it will also fix alot of other things making stock playable. __________________ I used to be a huge submarine guy but now I'm a huge submarine girl ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

03-01-12, 09:07 AM	#10
SSI01 Loader Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 88 Downloads: 56 Uploads: 0	OK - I was going through "D" (CD) drive as an experiment, trying to initiate the "autorun" feature for the disk, thinking that would allow the sim to run as it should, instead of my going into the "F" drive (a terrabyte drive - plenty of room, but not the machine's main drive - that is "E" drive), opening the sim's file, and running it from the ".exe" file located there. I installed it into the terrabyte drive because for once there is PLENTY of room on the disk. Moving the ".exe" icon to the desktop, and opening the sim from there, with or without the disk in "D" drive, does not stop this from happening. Running the sim without the disk in the disk drive, and opening the sim either with the desktop icon or through opening the "F" drive, and clicking on the ".exe" file there to open the sim, doesn't fix this either. I hesitate to change any of the graphics settings through the card's control panel as I have other sims on this machine that benefit greatly from its increased settings. This did not start until the machine crashed a short time ago and everything on the bad main drive was cloned over to the new good main drive. Other sims that were not located on the crashed main drive work fine since this cloning, this one seems to be the only one not previously located on the bad drive giving me trouble. BTW SH4 ran with excellent graphics and gameplay, even with very high graphics settings (highest the sim allowed), prior to the crash. Mention is made of a game clean-up option that is available somewhere on this site. Please, where is this located? Last edited by SSI01; 03-01-12 at 09:24 AM.

03-01-12, 11:00 AM	#13
WernherVonTrapp Admiral Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Now, alot farther from NYC. Posts: 2,228 Downloads: 105 Uploads: 0	After learning that you have an ATI card, I'm now inclined to agree with the others, that you should check your AA (AntiAlias) settings in your card's control panel. Others have had this same problem (as they've stated) and you should at least give it a try. __________________ "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." -Miyamoto Musashi ------------------------------------------------------- "What is truth?" -Pontius Pilate

02-23-12, 06:47 AM	#4
Fish40 The Old Man Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Yonkers, NY U.S.A. Posts: 1,507 Downloads: 154 Uploads: 0	I bet you're useing an ATI card, right? Try changing the mode of your AA in the CCC. Pick the lowest mode. Not sure, but I believe it's "Multi Sample". That should sort you out

02-29-12, 02:01 AM	#6
SSI01 Loader Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 88 Downloads: 56 Uploads: 0	Hello everyone, family medical problems kept me busy for a few days but I'm back. I'm currently running a Radeon HD6850 card that's working fine, handled the sim excellently before the crash and then clone operation. I'm running Windows XP Pro 2002 SP3 with an AMD Phenom II X4 940 3.01 GHAZ, 3.25GB of RAM. Can anyone tell me where the gamefix app is located? That sounds like a good first step to take before we work up to the more complex ones. I'm currently running SH4 version 1.4, according to the start icon. BTW, this used to show up on the desktop but after the cloning it's in the game file, where it still works. Just an extra step required to open the file and find the .exe file. Game starts OK after that - except for this problem.

02-29-12, 02:22 AM	#7
SSI01 Loader Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 88 Downloads: 56 Uploads: 0	Just tried to start the sim using "autorun" in the "D" (disk) drive. The machine came back with a msg saying it could not find the "intro.dll" file, and that reinstalling the sim might fix this. Would finding this file and placing it in the correct spot on the drive correct this issue?

03-01-12, 09:38 AM	#12
EricW Bosun Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 64 Downloads: 66 Uploads: 0	I'm still pretty sure that its your graphics card......SH4 ran great for a week after I put my ATI card in, then....... naked ships. Funny thing is, it only happened to a couple skins at first. After a few days it was almost every torp hit. You can set your card to go into Multi -sample mode for ONLY SH4. You can have custom settings for probably any game or vid application.

03-01-12, 01:44 PM	#14
Bilge_Rat Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: standing watch... Posts: 3,855 Downloads: 344 Uploads: 0	yes, it is purely a FSAA issue and it only occurs when you choose the intermediate "adaptive multi-sample" setting, pure multi-sample or super-sample works fine. __________________

03-01-12, 02:42 PM	#15
SSI01 Loader Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 88 Downloads: 56 Uploads: 0	Well, did an uninstall/reinstall, and still get the same problem. That eliminates any generic problems with the sim, so it's got to be the video card. Now that you've given me the tips as you have, I'll pull up the control panel for that video card and see about tweaking those settings.