READ FIRST! DW - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

SpyderTattoo · 09-30-14, 07:03 PM

I haven't seen anything in any of the Sticky's regarding Windows Vista. I'm running Vista (32) and I want to know if I'm ok for running DW. I don't have DW yet but will purchase on Steam if I am sure it will run on Vista.

Hinrich Schwab · 10-01-14, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpyderTattoo

I haven't seen anything in any of the Sticky's regarding Windows Vista. I'm running Vista (32) and I want to know if I'm ok for running DW. I don't have DW yet but will purchase on Steam if I am sure it will run on Vista.

I just installed it on a spare Dell Inspiron 1525 running Windows Vista 32 Bit Service Pack 2 fully patched. It runs without any problems for me other than performance issues from running the game on a weak rig. I would strongly recommend purchasing the game from someone other than Steam. The engine that Sonalysts' games use hates running with Steam in the background. Amazon sells digital copies of the sim without having to worry about Steam memory hogging in the background and you also avoid Steam related headaches if you want to install a mod.

Pisces · 10-01-14, 07:01 PM

I've had Windows Vista (x86) for about a year in 2009. But I cannot be sure I had DW installed in it. I did find some folders with a creation timestamp around that timeframe among my backups. But it may have been created in a Win 7 OS instead.

Generally speaking in my experience, any user software that works in Windows 7 also worked in Windows vista. In both OSes (well any since and including Vista) I would suggest to try to keep the game installed outside of the Program Files Folder. If you ever intend to mod it. As Windows tries to prevent modification and creation of files in any folders in there. And for DW that means you'll experience UAC warnings (or silent denials) trying to make save games and mission creations with the mission editor. As they reside in the Scenario folder. Or those changes temporarily succeeding but not sticking after a reboot.

You mention you want to buy it with Steam. Steam by default installs into the Program Files folder. So that may be the beginning of a problem there. But the following procedure might be a workaround, by explicitly allowing modifying in the security permissions to the game folder and all it's files in it. Note, this video is intended for Silent Hunter (3) and is no guaranteed solution for this game. I personally have the disk version of DW, so did not have to try this and therefore no personal experience in this. And for the other games I got via Steam, I pre-emptively installed Steam not to be inside the Program Files folder. If you have not yet installed Steam itself I suggest you also provide an alternate path for it when you can.

[EDIT]What Hinrich said! DW doesn't like things running in the background. Also I just remembered, it prefers to run on a single CPU. You may have to specifiy affinity to a single CPU core in Task Manager, instead of the Windows default of execution shared on all.

SpyderTattoo · 10-01-14, 07:29 PM

Solid copy. I am glad to hear that it isn't recomended to buy from Steam. I have no problem picking it up from Amazon. I'm glad there don't seem to be problems running it on a Vista system.
Thanks for the reply's everyone. Is it recommended that I buy the download version or the hard copy version? I'm thinking about the hard copy for about $12.00. I can wait for a couple days to get it. Gives me more time to watch more videos on youtube about DW...

OK, just ordered the hardcopy from Amazon. Should be playing by Tuesday night.

Pisces · 10-01-14, 07:42 PM

I'd rather have a disk version that I can install whenever I choose. Even Amazon can go bankrupt one day, or decide to nerf the download service.

Hinrich Schwab · 10-01-14, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pisces

I'd rather have a disk version that I can install whenever I choose. Even Amazon can go bankrupt one day, or decide to nerf the download service.

The Naval Combat Pack I bought from them has no DRM attached and I always archive my installers. I imagine that Dangerous Waters is the same.

I am not that worried about Amazon, as opposed to Direct2Drive/Gamefly, who just sold their Digital PC interests to yet another company.

A-Ganger · 07-16-17, 04:33 PM

When you buy a game on Steam, all you have to do is launch steam and backup your games.

This creates a folder named something like Disk_01 etc in the steam directory or wherever you choose to back it up.

Those backups are the entire game! Burn it to a disk or wherever or you can even back them up from Steam to a cd.

Shawshank237 · 07-17-17, 10:03 AM

Do you need to run Steam in order to play a game?

09-30-14, 07:03 PM	#1
SpyderTattoo Nub Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Washington State Posts: 4 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Windows Vista I haven't seen anything in any of the Sticky's regarding Windows Vista. I'm running Vista (32) and I want to know if I'm ok for running DW. I don't have DW yet but will purchase on Steam if I am sure it will run on Vista.

10-01-14, 07:29 PM	#4
SpyderTattoo Nub Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Washington State Posts: 4 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Solid copy. I am glad to hear that it isn't recomended to buy from Steam. I have no problem picking it up from Amazon. I'm glad there don't seem to be problems running it on a Vista system. Thanks for the reply's everyone. Is it recommended that I buy the download version or the hard copy version? I'm thinking about the hard copy for about $12.00. I can wait for a couple days to get it. Gives me more time to watch more videos on youtube about DW... OK, just ordered the hardcopy from Amazon. Should be playing by Tuesday night. Last edited by SpyderTattoo; 10-01-14 at 07:40 PM. Reason: ETA

07-17-17, 10:03 AM	#8
Shawshank237 Swabbie Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 7 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	Do you need to run Steam in order to play a game? __________________ *Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'.*

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10-01-14, 07:01 PM	#3
Pisces Silent Hunter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: AN9771 Posts: 4,904 Downloads: 304 Uploads: 0	I've had Windows Vista (x86) for about a year in 2009. But I cannot be sure I had DW installed in it. I did find some folders with a creation timestamp around that timeframe among my backups. But it may have been created in a Win 7 OS instead. Generally speaking in my experience, any user software that works in Windows 7 also worked in Windows vista. In both OSes (well any since and including Vista) I would suggest to try to keep the game installed outside of the Program Files Folder. If you ever intend to mod it. As Windows tries to prevent modification and creation of files in any folders in there. And for DW that means you'll experience UAC warnings (or silent denials) trying to make save games and mission creations with the mission editor. As they reside in the Scenario folder. Or those changes temporarily succeeding but not sticking after a reboot. You mention you want to buy it with Steam. Steam by default installs into the Program Files folder. So that may be the beginning of a problem there. But the following procedure might be a workaround, by explicitly allowing modifying in the security permissions to the game folder and all it's files in it. Note, this video is intended for Silent Hunter (3) and is no guaranteed solution for this game. I personally have the disk version of DW, so did not have to try this and therefore no personal experience in this. And for the other games I got via Steam, I pre-emptively installed Steam not to be inside the Program Files folder. If you have not yet installed Steam itself I suggest you also provide an alternate path for it when you can. [EDIT]What Hinrich said! DW doesn't like things running in the background. Also I just remembered, it prefers to run on a single CPU. You may have to specifiy affinity to a single CPU core in Task Manager, instead of the Windows default of execution shared on all.

10-01-14, 07:42 PM	#5
Pisces Silent Hunter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: AN9771 Posts: 4,904 Downloads: 304 Uploads: 0	I'd rather have a disk version that I can install whenever I choose. Even Amazon can go bankrupt one day, or decide to nerf the download service.

07-16-17, 04:33 PM	#7
A-Ganger Sparky Join Date: Jul 2017 Posts: 158 Downloads: 13 Uploads: 0	When you buy a game on Steam, all you have to do is launch steam and backup your games. This creates a folder named something like Disk_01 etc in the steam directory or wherever you choose to back it up. Those backups are the entire game! Burn it to a disk or wherever or you can even back them up from Steam to a cd.