Add-on woes in Windows 7 HP SP1

[CapnScurvy]

Originally Posted by SSI01

No "SH4" folder to be found anywhere.

The only place the game creates it is in the "Documents" folder. If you've looked there, then we're ready to move on.

To review: we've uninstalled the game.
Checked for anything that shouldn't be in the Registry.
Checked for the SH4 folder in the Documents folder.

Now, we need to look at your Avast anti virus software. You either need to disable it, or at least re set the settings to have you notified when it plans to take action against a possible threat. It apparently thinks the games "Sound.act" file is going to cause harm.

[SSI01]

Next on the agenda. Will open settings and change that parameter. Will be useful for other apps, too.

Will be back shortly.

[SSI01]

OK, changed Avast to not scan either CD/DVD drives or any importable media. I now know how to change that parameter if for any reason I want to scan something someone has given or lent me to use, for example. Otherwise, for store-bought disks we can leave this setting off.

At any rate, I think we're ready to go.

[CapnScurvy]

If you've done a defrag on your F:/ drive (since you've uninstalled), you're ready to install the game from the original disk.

Set the path to your F:/ drive and let it install. Do not let it put a shortcut to start the game onto the Desktop. We'll do that later. If there is one still on your Desktop.....delete it.

When it asks to load the DirectX files......let it. I think the wizard uses the DirectX version 9.0c (which may be older than the DirectX version on your laptop, but that's OK) let it load what it wants. No harm in letting it check what files you may, or may not have already on your computer.

Don't add the "Shadow" thing. Or, the Adobe Reader (you definitely have a newer version of it).

When the install is done, DO NOT START THE GAME.

Do another defrag on the F:/ drive.

Then open the Patch 1.4 version and install it. If you don't have a saved copy of it, you can find it here.

When the 1.4 version is finished installing, we are then ready to put LAA into the game

*As a side note:
You said you couldn't load the game onto the C:/ drive because it's full??? This is going to cause trouble. The game needs space to save things. It uses the Documents/"SH4" folder for that reason. If you don't have enough "Free Space" on your C:/ drive you better make some.

Put pictures onto a flashdrive; delete old Programs/Files you don't need; copy/paste most of what you've added onto the C:/ drive putting it onto the F:/ drive. The game is going to have trouble if you don't give it a little breathing room on the C: drive.

[SSI01]

I'll get started on the install/defrag but wanted to send you this first.

I right-clicked C drive to determine available space. Stats are:

417GB used
48.4GB available.

[CapnScurvy]

Wow, I don't understand why it would balk on putting the game onto the C:/?!

48 gigabytes is plenty for an SH4 installation.

I'd say you could always do a little spring house cleaning, but 48 gigs should be more than enough to work with.

[SSI01]

OK, I'm installing per your instructions. Will let you know when the basic install is done.
F drive is a 1.81TB drive. Only .98TB is used, the rest is free space. I'm defragging that right now. This may take a while. After that comes the install. I will proceed, as previously noted, IAW your instructions. Do you want to knock off for the night?

[CapnScurvy]

Sure can. I'll check in with you tomorrow. I'm thinking things are going to be alright. So much so, I've got your next steps lined out for you. Here's what to do next after getting the game installed up to version 1.4:

Add the Large Address Aware.

Using Windows Explorer, go to your F:/ drive and find the "Silent Hunter Wolves of the Pacific" game folder. Left clicking on it will open it. If your "View" menu is set to display "Icons" you should see something like what's in the right pane:




All these folders/files make up the game. Notice on the lower line, 2nd from left, is the Sound.act file that was missing on your install. Your's may not look like these, they probably aren't in the same position. But, the number of files and what they are, should be the same.

The mouse cursor is positioned next to the "sh4.exe" file (one of two with a black sub as an icon). Right click the file, you'll find a group of tabs, open "Properties" and make sure the "Attributes" section has nothing check marked.

If the Read-only checkmark box is clear, close the file.

You should have the LAA download somewhere on your computer, open it and follow these instructions:


Basic mode:


1) Open an executable to modify (click on the "..." button to browse). Alternatively, you can drag and drop a file on the gray text box.

2) Check or uncheck the box specifying whether or not you want to make it large address aware.

3) Click on save to commit the changes.

Step One, means for you to display the complete "Path" to find the sh4.exe file.

Step Two, put a check mark in the box.

Step Three, save your settings by pushing the Save button.

=========

To check your app, open it again, this time open the Advanced Mode. You should find the correct path to your sh4.exe....with the LAA line showing "True". LAA is now configured to the game.


=========

I would start the game for the first time now and check a few things.

Make sure the version of your game (1.4) is displayed in the lower right hand corner of the Main Game Screen.

Open the "Options" menu and set your resolution to whatever your native Windows OS uses. Your resolution won't change until you close the game, and restart for a second time. Change any other options to your liking.

At this point I'd shut things down, returning to Windows. Make a Shortcut of your "sh4.exe" file, putting it on your desktop (if that's how you like to start the game). It's now time to add JSGME.

=============

DO NOT use the original JSGME from the older setup. NONE of IT. Delete it all, including the "MODS" folder with the older mods you used. As far as I can tell most of them were for a version 1.5 Silent Hunter game. Get a fresh copy of JSGME and install it to your main Silent Hunter Wolves of the Pacific game folder. When you've done it right there should be these four folders/files found in your main game folder that are from JSGME:



Open the JSGME.exe file, and find in the center of the window the "Tasks...." menu. Open it, now click on "Generate snapshot of game files". This will take some time, but its making a record (Snapshot) of your clean game files. Once done, your ready to play.

Any time you think something has happened to your game that doesn't seem right, use the "Compare Snapshot" task to see if anything has changed with your stock game files. Do this with NO MODS activated in-game. This can easily save you time to see if a re install is in order.

You should be good to go after this.......just don't use mods for a version 1.5 Silent Hunter game!!

[Mescator]

Originally Posted by SSI01

OK, changed Avast to not scan either CD/DVD drives or any importable media. I now know how to change that parameter if for any reason I want to scan something someone has given or lent me to use, for example. Otherwise, for store-bought disks we can leave this setting off.

At any rate, I think we're ready to go.

This isn't enough mate. It will leave the discs alone for a scan, but when you try install or run it the file will be copied to the RAM for execution. Anti-Virus programs watch this like a hawk as virus's must generally be copied there to execute properly as well.

You'll need to either exempt the file or, for the sake of trouble shooting, disable all avast shields while trying to get it going. That'll let SH run with impunity while you sus out your issues.

Obviously that will open you up to threats, so remember to turn it back on or just use the timed options!

[SSI01]

I've been doing some research into the Avast application. Right now it's disabled until I restart the computer, which I will do after the install.

I also run Sniper Elite V2 via Steam on this machine, and now some program is blocking the .exe file in that sim to keep it from running. Until last night it was working fine. I've sent an email to Avast Support to have them tell me EXACTLY, step by step, how to allow SH4, SE2, MS Flight Simulator 2004 and others to run on this machine without interference. For some reason Avast is determining any .exe file from any source is a threat to this machine and blocks that action. I'm trying to get comprehensible instructions that allow me to permanently block that action by Avast. Disappointing.

[CapnScurvy]

I'm not going to be much help. I've used AVG anti virus for years without a problem. I would think Avast has a setting for allowed files to be accepted. You just need to find the proper menu to allow user preferences to be made.

I don't know how you added Avast to your system (download, or off a disk), you may need to remove Avast completely (including Registry references) then install SH4. You'll re install Avast after. Making note of any possible interference in the future.

[SSI01]

I'm going to shut down Avast using the "restart when computer restarted" option. Still waiting for their tech services dept to email w/the cure for this tendency to eat .exe and sound files.

F was defragged last night. SH4 1.0 was installed this morning, w/Avast disabled. No apparent glitches in the installation. I did NOT run the game after installation. Did another defrag on F. I am now downloading patch silent_hunter_4_1.4.exe as I write this. Will then install the patch. At that point I will come back up and let you know it's done.

EDIT: Patch to 1.4 installed without any notifications re: problems. Ready for the next installment.

[HertogJan]

redo a defrag first... it might seem a bit much but I can tell you first hand, you'll have a 2% fragmentation after 1.4 is installed and suppose you install 1.5 after, defrag again its a pain but really need to do it.

[HertogJan]

Once last defrag has been done make a clean copy of the data folder and save it somewhere safe. You don't want to do the whole procedure again when thing get FUBAR, if that happends you simply copy and past the Data folder back over the old and your done!

Install JSGME in the main directory folder of Silent Hunter and run it once, it will have created a new folder called [MODS].
After running it close it and restart JSGME, in the window (in the middle) you'll see tasks, click on it. There you'll see options like make snapshot, do that let it do it's thing and you'll be ready to put Mods in to the [MODS] folder.

[SSI01]

Proceeding IAW your instructions.