Vista Problem with SH4

[Larry U-136]

Everytime I load SH4 into my computer and run the game it crashes. I have the following system:

Gateway FX6800-01e
Intel Core i7CPU 920@2.67 GHZ
3.00 GB RAM
64-bit operating system Vista Home Premium

Can anyone help on this topic?

[theluckyone17]

How far do you get before SH4 crashes?

[Master]

I ran into the same problem when I loaded it from steam but that was because I downloaded both sh4 and the expansion at the same time. You need to download sh4 play it and then exit and download the expansion pack. I am not sure if that is your problem but if you are using steam it might be.

[Soundman]

You may need to do this.. Right click on the .exe file (SH4 icon) and select "Run as Administrator". Hope this helps. I know I needed to.

[irish1958]

You didn't install it in the program files, did you?

[Soundman]

Originally Posted by irish1958

You didn't install it in the program files, did you?

Yes, I've heard it's best not to, (after the fact) but most folks won't know this until it's too late. My install is in "Program Files" and I don't have any problems. Once it's up and running, it probably won't matter.

[snakeyez]

You did let it install the DirectX part of the install didn't you? For some reason, even though I already have DirectX installed, the game won't run without me letting SH4 reinstall the DirectX it wants.

[Seminole]

Originally Posted by Larry U-136

Everytime I load SH4 into my computer and run the game it crashes. I have the following system:

Gateway FX6800-01e
Intel Core i7CPU 920@2.67 GHZ
3.00 GB RAM
64-bit operating system Vista Home Premium

Can anyone help on this topic?

I feel confident saying that your problem is not a Vista problem as stated. I've been running SHIV since last June with zero problems.

Most likely culprit in these instances turns out to be due to an installation snafu most often mod related.


Good luck.

[Soundman]

Originally Posted by snakeyez

You did let it install the DirectX part of the install didn't you? For some reason, even though I already have DirectX installed, the game won't run without me letting SH4 reinstall the DirectX it wants.

Yes. good avice here as well, I forgot that one.

[theluckyone17]

Originally Posted by Soundman

My install is in "Program Files" and I don't have any problems. Once it's up and running, it probably won't matter.

It won't, unless you're running mods. Then a "feature" of Vista crops up... "Compatibility Files". PCMag has a short & sweet explanation of it here.

Basically, Vista won't let you (or JSGME) change the files located in SH4's subdirectories. Instead, it dumps the new files in a different spot, the "Virtual Store" location mentioned in the article. It's anyone's guess at that point what file SH4 is going to get when it requests it.

So if there's a game that you're considering modding on Vista, make sure you install it somewhere other than "C:\Program Files". I'd suggest "C:\Games".

This probably isn't the problem that the original poster is having, though.

[Larry U-136]

Okay, I loaded the stock SH4 and no patches, it crashed right after the menu. I read previously that someone changed the video card settings from x4 to 16 but I am not sure what that means. SH3 runs fine no issues. I installed the SH4 game outside the program files.

[Soundman]

Originally Posted by theluckyone17

It won't, unless you're running mods. Then a "feature" of Vista crops up... "Compatibility Files". PCMag has a short & sweet explanation of it here.

Basically, Vista won't let you (or JSGME) change the files located in SH4's subdirectories. Instead, it dumps the new files in a different spot, the "Virtual Store" location mentioned in the article. It's anyone's guess at that point what file SH4 is going to get when it requests it.

So if there's a game that you're considering modding on Vista, make sure you install it somewhere other than "C:\Program Files". I'd suggest "C:\Games".

This probably isn't the problem that the original poster is having, though.

Yes, I know what you mean. There is a simple work around though. I use mods and JSGME. I needed to run JSGME as Administrator. Been a while, but I may have also needed to set permissions for the SH4 folder. Once done, no problems.

[Soundman]

Originally Posted by Larry U-136

Okay, I loaded the stock SH4 and no patches, it crashed right after the menu. I read previously that someone changed the video card settings from x4 to 16 but I am not sure what that means. SH3 runs fine no issues. I installed the SH4 game outside the program files.

There are two things you should try, as stated avove. Put n the install disk and install DX 9 Codecs. This is a must and many people with DX 10, omitt this, but it IS required. If that does not fix the problem, run the .exe (icon) as administrator. If these don't work, you need to post more info. Do you see a load screen? Do you get any error messages? Any info will aid someone trying to help.

[Larry U-136]

Yes on trying all of that, and yes I get the load screen but it crashes as soon as or a little bit after the game begins to run. Could it be the CODECS that it asks for in the begining? I load everything except ADOBE becasue I have the latest version

[Larry U-136]

The hell with it.....going back to SH3..this is frustrating...but i thank you all....