Help - can't play GWX - SH3 causes reboot :(

[panthercules]

OK - I'm completely at a loss now - I swapped out my DVD drive, uninstalled and reinstalled SH3 again - NO LUCK

One odd thing I've noticed - on my last two, supposedly fresh installs, it has not asked me for my CD key for some reason. It's as if it didn't competely uninstall, despite the fact that the uninstall process seemed to go fine and I deleted the SilentHunterIII folder and there is no SH3 folder in my documents.

Anybody know where else I might need to look to get rid of all traces of my old Sh3 install so I can try this again? I'm suffering from some real SH3 withdrawal here - please help

[danlisa]

Originally Posted by panthercules

OK - I'm completely at a loss now - I swapped out my DVD drive, uninstalled and reinstalled SH3 again - NO LUCK

One odd thing I've noticed - on my last two, supposedly fresh installs, it has not asked me for my CD key for some reason. It's as if it didn't competely uninstall, despite the fact that the uninstall process seemed to go fine and I deleted the SilentHunterIII folder and there is no SH3 folder in my documents.

Anybody know where else I might need to look to get rid of all traces of my old Sh3 install so I can try this again? I'm suffering from some real SH3 withdrawal here - please help

Search the registry.

Start Menu > Run > Regedit.

Search for any entries with......
SH3 / Silent Hunter / Ubi / Ubisoft & any combination you can think of. (be careful deleting Ubi files if you have other Ubi Games installed)

Also, make sure SH3 Cmdr is rolled back first then uninstalled and replaced with SH3Cmdr 2.7 + GWX specific files + TSR Fix after you have re-installed GWX.

(If you don't use SH3Cmdr then ignore that.)

[panthercules]

Thanks - I did run regedit and got rid of a bunch of stray SH3/Ubi references, and that seemed to work as far as getting the next install attempt to at least ask me for my CD key again.

Unfortunately, however, I'm still getting the reboot problem upon starting SH3 - it happens the same way every time - goes through the disk-checking routine, screen goes black, then monitor power/indicator light turns orange and the PC reboots. This happens when starting just SH3 1.0, as well as after patching to 1.4b - I haven't even bothered to try re-installing Sh3 Commander or GWX the last few times, since I can't get plain SH3 to work yet, so neither of them appear to be implicated at this point.

I have run virus/spyware checks, but no luck so far. I defragmented overnight, so I'm about to try it again. If that doesn't work, I guess I'll try to find a system restore point before this started happening and try that - if that fails I guess I'm looking at formatting and starting all over again with Windows

[SquareSteelBar]

Hi panthercules,

don't get into panic!

At first dl these two files:

1. SH3 RegClean

2. StarForceDriver Update maybe you did this already

Then do the following [the correct order is important]:

- uninstall SH3 and delete all related files and folders [program folder & savegame folder]

- extract SH3 RegClean archive and execute the included *.exe. After that a reboot will be executed - don't interrupt it

- install SH3 [don't launch it]

- patch it to version 1.4b and launch SH3 for the first time [you'll be asked for inserting the serial/key, after that a reboot will be executed for installing the likely obsolete starforce drivers included in 'sh3.exe' v1.4b]

- when windows has booted extract StarForceDriver Update archive and execute the included *.exe [another reboot will be executed for installing the hopely latest starforce drivers]

- when windows has booted again SH3 should work now [launch it - if SH3 starts without reboot --> install GWX]

If this doesn't work I'm afraid the latest starforce drivers are too obsolete for your brand new computer. Then remove the DVD recorder [power supply & IDE/SCSI] and try again - maybe starforce drivers don't like it.

That' all I can do for now

Greeting
SSB

[Vikinger]

Originally Posted by SquareSteelBar

Hi panthercules,

don't get into panic!

At first dl these two files:

1. SH3 RegClean

2. StarForceDriver Update maybe you did this already

Then do the following [the correct order is important]:

- uninstall SH3 and delete all related files and folders [program folder & savegame folder]

- extract SH3 RegClean archive and execute the included *.exe. After that a reboot will be executed - don't interrupt it

- install SH3 [don't launch it]

- patch it to version 1.4b and launch SH3 for the first time [you'll be asked for inserting the serial/key, after that a reboot will be executed for installing the likely obsolete starforce drivers included in 'sh3.exe' v1.4b]

- when windows has booted extract StarForceDriver Update archive and execute the included *.exe [another reboot will be executed for installing the hopely latest starforce drivers]

- when windows has booted again SH3 should work now [launch it - if SH3 starts without reboot --> install GWX]

If this doesn't work I'm afraid the latest starforce drivers are too obsolete for your brand new computer. Then remove the DVD recorder [power supply & IDE/SCSI] and try again - maybe starforce drivers don't like it.

That' all I can do for now

Greeting
SSB

Many good suggestions here.

But if this dont work you can allways try to contact starforce by an email and explain your problem, then they hopefully will send you a new code.

Ive had similary problems before and i got respond whit in an hour, but that was for a year ago when the game was released so i dont know how much support they have nowadays for the game.

[panthercules]

Originally Posted by Vikinger

Many good suggestions here.

But if this dont work you can allways try to contact starforce by an email and explain your problem, then they hopefully will send you a new code.

Ive had similary problems before and i got respond whit in an hour, but that was for a year ago when the game was released so i dont know how much support they have nowadays for the game.

Well, guess it may be time to contact Starforce (anybody know their home page URL??) - following the above process step-by-step accomplished nothing

I still can't figure out why the dang thing worked fine with the fresh install for my GW 1.0x install (first thing i did after building the new PC), but then refused to work with a fresh install to prepare for GWX. Absolutely nothing changed between the time it was working (last thing I did was finish my patrol and return to port so I'd be ready to start a new one for GWX) and the time I started the fresh install process for GWX, so this has me really buffaloed

Thanks for trying to help folks - looks like it's about time for radical surgery or something

[edit] managed to find the StarForce site and sent them an e-mail - will be interesting to see if I get any sort of useful response.

[DerXL]

Hi Vikinger

Thanks for your advice.

I do indeed have a legit copy of XP (though only with a recovery CD, no full version), but the last time I tried to upgrade to SP2 something went wrong (and I don't know what), but it cost me a lot of sweat, swearing and almost tears before I got my rig running again, so if I can avoid it (upgrading that is), I will.

Otherwise I must admit that I've been a bit sloppy and don't have the latest ATi-drivers etc. Though until now it has never given me a problem.

As a matter of fact, I thought I had solved the problem by taking out the RAM and videocard, clean the connectors and putting them back in. Because I've played GWX for several days without a problem.

Sadly, at one point the crew decided to ignore me and would not speak to me anymore . Although other sound effects continued to work without a hitch.
I read about missing sound effects in another thread so I did a full uninstall and installed everything again, but sadly, the crew still would not speak to me.

But I was happy enough to finally play GWX, so I decided to ignore it. Until yesterday. Once more upon entering the conning tower (F4) the system crashed and rebooted.
So for now I've decided to put SH3 aside and maybe when I feel like it I'm going to try and solve my problems.
I'm just a bit disappointed (in my system that is), as GW1.1a worked perfectly.
When I feel like tackling this once more, I'll certainly try your advice Vikinger.

Regards,
Axel.