Help!! Trying to get SH3 running

[Deep Trench]

My Sh3 ran for a while then it crashed and has not worked correctly since. Have loaded and reloaded the CD, but to no avail. Can anyone assist me with a fix.

My System: Microsoft Windows XP, Home Edition, Version 2002, Service Pack 2.
Computer: Gateway, Intel(R), Pentum®) 4CPU, 3.00GHz, 2.99 GHz, 1.5GB of RAM
Display adapters: NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200,
Checks of Sound, video and game controllers, as well as the System devices in Device Manger all indicate “The device is working properly”

Thank you in advance. Newbie to the Radio room. SH3 is a great game.

[_Seth_]

Welcome to Subsim, mate!

Your specs looks fine to me, so it cant be anything there... But im no expert, though...
Someone will surely help you out on this,mate! That's why we are here!

[Sailor Steve]

You might get more help posting on the SHIII board. This one is dedicated to SH4.

I'm not much on getting things running, but I'll do what I can. First, we need to know exactly when it's crashing. Before it loads, during loading, before it loads a scenario?

When you re-installed it, did you delete the entire UBIsoft folder and all its contents? Did you go to the My Documents folder and delete the SHIII folder it installed there?

These are just starters. I'm sure someone will be along soon with more knowledge of fixing things.

Welcome aboard.

[danlisa]

Welcome aboard....

Firstly, can you describe exactly what happens...Does SH3 start up? Does it crash in game? etc.

The first step is to remove all traces of SH3 from your HDD.

1)Unistall SH3
2)Delete SH3 folder in My Documents
3)Open Regedit + Search for all SH3 related entries + delete them.
4)Reboot
5)Defrag HDD (optional but recommended)
6)Install SH3 & Apply Patch 1.4b
7)Fire up SH3 & check all is ok
8)Install Mod of choice (if you're using one)

This is the standard proceedure.....

Have you experienced any problems in any other games? Possible hardware failure?

FYI - For those of us using the Smart Dark skin for this forum, we can't read your system specs too well as they're black.

[AVGWarhawk]

Go through what Danlisa has stated. Some say you do not need to touch the registry but that is up to you. I use regcleaner program. Anyway, the CLEAN install should cure your ills.

[Deep Trench]

Danlisa: I did as you instructed........ but to no avail. When I reloaded the Program, my Task Bar & Desk Top changed to a LIME GREEN........... as SH3 was loading. Then it returned to normal...... after.

There was no request for the Security Code???????? It seems to work, but there are no details when you zoom in as before, the graphics for the Subpens are not there in the Nav Map........But it shows when you are in the conning tower outside.

None of my other games are effected, they all seem to be normal. All my Hardware checks normal.

I do remember the tail end of the message was about a ".DLL" Was looking at some of the other messages in the room, about the display resolution in the Kegetys' DLL to work and the Microsoft's windows application compatibility toolkit. As I have both packages installed ( Windows XP SP2).

Am in the process of reworking your instructions..............

Oh and a "THANK YOU " TO ALL THAT REPLIED, It is nice feeling to know that your not alone out here.......

[Melonfish]

it could be an issue with your starforce key? there is a fix for starforce out there i'd take a look for it.
also try using something like CCleaner on your pc to completely remove all entries and files relating to SHIII
then i'd also check your graphics drivers and possibly re-load them (cause you mentioned the green screen thing)

then do clean install, re-enter starforce key and give it a wherl.
pete

[danlisa]

Remove the Resolution fix and try again. It shouldn't interfere but SH3 does work in strange ways.

Do you use SH3 Commander?

If SH3 didn't ask for the Key Code then there is still leftover files on your PC.

This is strange, I have not heard of these problems before.

[AVGWarhawk]

Where did you get the disc? Downloaded or purchased somewhere?

[Deep Trench]

Melonfish: it could be an issue with your starforce key? there is a fix for starforce out there i'd take a look for it.
also try using something like CCleaner on your pc to completely remove all entries and files relating to SHIII
then i'd also check your graphics drivers and possibly re-load them (cause you mentioned the green screen thing)
I do apologize, am not qualified to know what the starforcekey is? And am not knowlegeable to know the CCleaner. If I take to deleting all my graphics drivers how do I recover them.........?

********************************

Danlisa: Remove the Resolution fix and try again. It shouldn't interfere but SH3 does work in strange ways. How do I do that...... the resolution?

Do you use SH3 Commander? Ok, I give.......... what is SH3 Commander?

If SH3 didn't ask for the Key Code then there is still leftover files on your PC. How can I ask in my search..... Have asked for all SH3 files and subfiles....

********************************************

AVGWarhawk: My Disk is a store purchase..... and like I said before, I was in operations for about two weeks and then got pitched out in the middle of the ocean, still floating around in my raft trying to get SH3 working again......

Again "THANK YOU ALL " FOR YOUR IMPUTS.

[danlisa]

If SH3 didn't ask for the Key Code then there is still leftover files on your PC. How can I ask in my search..... Have asked for all SH3 files and subfiles....

Start menu > run > (type) REGEDIT. This will open the registry. Use Ctrl + F to bring up the search function. Search for Silent Hunter or SH3 or Ubisoft (caution when deleting Ubisoft if you have other games from them)

SH3 Commander - if you don't use it then don't worry.

Do you use the resolution fix? If so delete/unistall the DLL and Compatibilty Kit. If you have not installed this fix then, again, don't worry.

[Deep Trench]

DANLISA: Am a bit nervous about the Display resolution.....I do not play around that much in the registars...........You all make it sound so easy.............I am in awa of you all. Right now, I have ......... deleted SH3 again.......... looking in the sub files.......

Oh I have lost that.....Patch 1.4b

[AVGWarhawk]

You can get the patch over at the SH3 Ubi site. Do an entire search of the hard drive and clean off anything SH3 related. Go get the new patch again. Install and play the vanilla version (no mods). If it runs ok then attempt the GW mod download. If it still crashes, we can rule out GW mod as the issue.

[danlisa]

You can do serious damage in the registry, but if you just search for Silent Hunter entries then you'll be fine.

After all, the registry is only a list of items on your PC so that windows can keep track of everything.

For example, you can intall SH3 on a 2nd HDD, with no operating system and no registry entries will be written until the first time you run SH3. It only tracks the location of your files.

As for the Res Fix, I don't use it & as such am unsure how you might totally remove it. I'm sure someone here will be able to help there.

[TarJak]

Originally Posted by danlisa

As for the Res Fix, I don't use it & as such am unsure how you might totally remove it. I'm sure someone here will be able to help there.

To reverse the res fix you will need to replace the old version of the .dll file that is replaced, unless you put it somewhere in the SHIII directory in which case if you are deleting it anyway you just need to get rid of it. From what I've seen I've been able to do a number of re-installs without worrying about the resfix. It is only called when an application with the correct cfg file is called.