Deleting DX10 makes SH3 run on Windows 7

[blockhead48]

How to get Silent Hunter 3 working in Windows 7.

I am using the UK version, Silent Hunter 3 'UBISOFT EXCLUSIVE' FOCUS Retail DVD.
The main problem as I see it from reading these posts, (as applicable to my 2005 version that didn't have a paper manual insert in it) is that there seemed to be a problem with Windows 7 DISPLAYING SH3......so, as Windows 7 uses Direct X10 (DX10) as the main runtime driver for the graphics, as against DX9.0c, which SH3 needs, and will install for you if you exexute the correct red exe file in/on the install DVD, which brings up a little picture of a U-boat asking you if you want to install Direct X, before you install the main SH3 program/game.......

Well.....I thought....why not uninstall DX10, and then install DX9.0c in its place – so SH3 would run? Suppose its ok if you don't play any of the more 'fancy' games! (I tried various methods to get it to run, this seemed to be the most logical to me)

This is how I did it, after uninstalling SH3: (so you can start again with a better install)

1. You will need to delete the DX10 files from the registry. I found out how to do that here:

2. Here are the steps to do that, if you find it irritating watching a video: A. Click on the Windows icon in the bottom left hand corner, the one you usually click on to access programs. B. Click on 'Run', type in “regedit”, click 'Ok', the Registry Editor Window should then open. C. Click on: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Microsoft > DirectX, delete that 'DirectX' folder there. D. Reboot your PC. E. Download the DX9.0c registry installer file from here, http://www.mediafire.com/?2lqtzznjkta , and use WINRAR or some other rar compressed file decompressor to access it, such as 'Free Commander', which you can find here :http://www.freecommander.com/ (I just seem to only be able to extract RAR files that I have put on to my C: drive, Free Commander doesn't seem to recognise the Desktop) F. This is the Executable that will put DX9.0c into your registry, and replace the DX10 files you just deleted....although the installer that comes with SH3 may do that anyway. G. Double click on it....a warning will probably come up about messing with the registry, close that, and install it. H. reboot, just to make sure Windows sees the new files there.

3. Next – installation of Silent Hunter III, from the red 'SH3Autorun' exe file, on the DVD, or from a folder you have copied the contents of the DVD to – on one of your hard drives. Install Direct X from the SH3 initial install window, in one of the next install windows, make sure you have the box ticked that installs the 'Windows media 9 codecs', then install SH3, into....yes, its normal folder structure: C: Program Files (X86)/ Ubisoft/ Silent Hunter III. Don't bother with the right click (on the exe icon) > Properties> Compatibility > Windows XP SP3 thingy, just tick the: 'Run this program as administrator' box, and don't forget to click 'Apply - 'Ok'. There are actually 3 setup files on the installation DVD: 'setup', 'SH3Autorun', and 'Silent Hunter III', so I ticked the box on the two that allowed you to change that setting! There is another thing that bothered me about making these settings to these files....on the DVD itself....these files will just be fixed, compressed files....how can you expect any settings you change with the files still on the DVD here.....to be retained? So I copied all the files on the DVD to one of my hard discs, so they would be 'looser', and installed SH3 from there.

4. Make sure GameShadow doesn't install at the end of the install of SH3. (You can click on the first 'OK' button that comes up for Gameshadow, and then click on 'cancel' on the next window) Another window will come up after you have finished the overall install, this will check if your PC's graphics card is up to specs.

5. You don't need to copy any .dll files out of the Windows/System 32 folder into the SH3 folder. It isn't necessary.


6. I wasn't sure if I had an up to date copy of SH3, so installed the 'silent_hunter_3_dvd_1.4b_emea' patch over SH3. Which you can find on this page....make sure you get the right one: http://patches.ubi.com/silent_hunter_3/ mine was for the European DVD.

7. Lastly, download the five files that allow you to run SH3 without the DVD in the drive,(which come in one RAR file) from here:
http://www.mediafire.com/?mo50ybzyjni

8. Extract the folder, and inside you will find five files there; 'MissionEngine.dll', 'sh3', 'SimData.dll', 'StateMachine.dll', and, 'Utils.dll'.

9. Put these files into the SH3 root folder. (replace the ones there that have the same names)

10. Right click on the SH3 desktop icon, and go to Properties>Compatibility, and make sure just the 'Run this program as Administrator' box is ticked there.

11. Start up SH3 from its Desktop icon.
12. Thats it....should start ok.....I always let the videos run the first time on games, because you don't know if they are putting files into place for that initial start up period.



One of the YouTube videos on the page I referenced above showed a way to start a PC game using different Icons that were tied to different versions of Direct X....may look into that.

Good luck!

[Herr-Berbunch]

That's far from ideal for most people, I'm fact just following the stickied instructions worked for me - albeit without UAC enabled. But whatever works for you.

[Pisces]

Why not just install DX 9.0c? Leave DX10 be. They can co-exist.

[DanFraser]

Originally Posted by Pisces

Why not just install DX 9.0c? Leave DX10 be. They can co-exist.

Yep, this is how it works, DX9 programs call the DX9 dll's, DX10 programs call the DX10 ones. Doing what the OP did destroys DX10 and I'm not even sure it would be repaired properly by reinstalling/updating DX10. It's more likely a full reinstall would be required as last time I checked DX10 does not get fully reinstalled on a repair. DX10 is actually used by Windows 7 to display the windows, so removing it starts to break many visual features.

Edit: I have Windows 7 64bit, I installed SH3 and patched it, then started the game. Done. No issues.

The graphics issue is actually caused by that section of SH3 being insanely strict. I have written a program that allows you to change the resolution of any game or window, yet SH3 is the only game I have found not to work trying this.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Pisces

Why not just install DX 9.0c? Leave DX10 be. They can co-exist.

Precisely

[SeaWolf U-57]

Maybe its just my copy but when I install it
on to a windows 7 64bit machine (to which I have had a few different ones)
it always installs or updates DX9.0c as needed

[Fish In The Water]

Originally Posted by Herr-Berbunch

That's far from ideal for most people, I'm fact just following the stickied instructions worked for me - albeit without UAC enabled. But whatever works for you.

Yes, must sink UAC!