It's an old chestnut, but it's new to me...

Quagmire1975 · 03-22-10, 08:40 PM

OK, here's the scene. I bought SH3 when it first came out in '05.

The PC that I had back then died about 15 months ago due to hdd failure.

I bought a new PC shortly after, but I've only dusted off my copy of SH3 now with a view to playing the old sea dog again.

I installed the game, fine, patched it to v1.4, fine, but it won't let me play due to this whole starforce-vista confilct thingy.

I tried using the no-dvd fix (over-writing the 5 files in the install folder), now, the game get's as far as the title screen, the red bar goes the whole way across and then I get a crash to desktop.

I've also tried the starforce removal utility that you can download, but it says it can't find anything to remove.

So, it's now 2010, I presume people have been using SH3 on Vista machines for years now, but I'm lost.

I heard you can buy the game on budget now and that the starforce crap has been removed, is this true?

In the meantime, can somebody explain, in simple language, what I need to do to get back out into the atlantic in my u-boot?

I've looked at a few threads but they seem quite complicated, I'm as confused as ever.

I'd appreciate some nice, clean, simple help.

Thanx in advance.

Exakt · 03-22-10, 09:29 PM

Yes, the Steam and D2D versions are StarForce-free. They are 9.95USD IIRC. Personally, I prefer D2D, since you can mod it just like a regular disc-based game.

Dissaray · 03-22-10, 09:43 PM

Try droping your desk top resolution down to around 1024x700ish and dubble check that you are runing the game in compatability mode for Windows XP Service Pack Two. That may well solve your problems, it did for me.

If you don't like having your desk top res so low you once you get the game going switch it over to windowed mode and then the game will run at any res, just in a window of its own at its native size.

Exakt · 03-22-10, 09:59 PM

No need to change anything if you buy the D2D or Steam version... and no need to run it in WinXP compatibility. The only reason why you should run it under WinXP compatibility, is because you are using the Hi-Res mod, which has somewhat something to do with some DX9 files.

Pisces · 03-23-10, 11:17 AM

And do yourself a favour: do not install in the default folder! Remove the "Program Files" part from the install path.

Jimbuna · 03-23-10, 03:10 PM

You don't say what area/country you reside in....but there are quite a few offerings as posted above.

If you live in the UK there is a disc version available from Amazon by the company release Revival.

Quagmire1975 · 03-24-10, 07:25 PM

Thanx for the advice guys.

I'm in Ireland by the way

I decided to buy the game from Amazon as you say on the Revival label. Hopefully that should sort me out. They wouldn't ship it here directly, so my mum(who lives in the UK) is gonna post it on.

In the meantime, I might tinker a bit with the old copy just to see is I can get it running. The tips look useful.

Thanx again fellas

Jimbuna · 03-25-10, 06:08 AM

SINK EM ALL!!

03-22-10, 08:40 PM	#1
Quagmire1975 Sailor man Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 45 Downloads: 27 Uploads: 0	It's an old chestnut, but it's new to me... OK, here's the scene. I bought SH3 when it first came out in '05. The PC that I had back then died about 15 months ago due to hdd failure. I bought a new PC shortly after, but I've only dusted off my copy of SH3 now with a view to playing the old sea dog again. I installed the game, fine, patched it to v1.4, fine, but it won't let me play due to this whole starforce-vista confilct thingy. I tried using the no-dvd fix (over-writing the 5 files in the install folder), now, the game get's as far as the title screen, the red bar goes the whole way across and then I get a crash to desktop. I've also tried the starforce removal utility that you can download, but it says it can't find anything to remove. So, it's now 2010, I presume people have been using SH3 on Vista machines for years now, but I'm lost. I heard you can buy the game on budget now and that the starforce crap has been removed, is this true? In the meantime, can somebody explain, in simple language, what I need to do to get back out into the atlantic in my u-boot? I've looked at a few threads but they seem quite complicated, I'm as confused as ever. I'd appreciate some nice, clean, simple help. Thanx in advance. __________________

03-22-10, 09:29 PM	#2
Exakt Helmsman Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Ville de Quebec (not the HMCS) Posts: 106 Downloads: 105 Uploads: 0	Yes, the Steam and D2D versions are StarForce-free. They are 9.95USD IIRC. Personally, I prefer D2D, since you can mod it just like a regular disc-based game. __________________ U-46 Leutnant z. S. Jakob Bock U-47 ObLt z. S. Jaana Galland ObLt z. S. Ernst Wagner (BdU)

03-22-10, 09:59 PM	#4
Exakt Helmsman Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Ville de Quebec (not the HMCS) Posts: 106 Downloads: 105 Uploads: 0	No need to change anything if you buy the D2D or Steam version... and no need to run it in WinXP compatibility. The only reason why you should run it under WinXP compatibility, is because you are using the Hi-Res mod, which has somewhat something to do with some DX9 files. __________________ U-46 Leutnant z. S. Jakob Bock U-47 ObLt z. S. Jaana Galland ObLt z. S. Ernst Wagner (BdU)

03-23-10, 11:17 AM	#5
Pisces Silent Hunter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: AN9771 Posts: 4,904 Downloads: 304 Uploads: 0	And do yourself a favour: do not install in the default folder! Remove the "Program Files" part from the install path. __________________ My site downloads: https://ricojansen.nl/downloads

03-23-10, 03:10 PM	#6
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,500 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	You don't say what area/country you reside in....but there are quite a few offerings as posted above. If you live in the UK there is a disc version available from Amazon by the company release Revival. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

03-22-10, 09:43 PM	#3
Dissaray 中国水兵 Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 280 Downloads: 35 Uploads: 0	Try droping your desk top resolution down to around 1024x700ish and dubble check that you are runing the game in compatability mode for Windows XP Service Pack Two. That may well solve your problems, it did for me. If you don't like having your desk top res so low you once you get the game going switch it over to windowed mode and then the game will run at any res, just in a window of its own at its native size.

03-24-10, 07:25 PM	#7
Quagmire1975 Sailor man Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 45 Downloads: 27 Uploads: 0	Thanx for the advice guys. I'm in Ireland by the way I decided to buy the game from Amazon as you say on the Revival label. Hopefully that should sort me out. They wouldn't ship it here directly, so my mum(who lives in the UK) is gonna post it on. In the meantime, I might tinker a bit with the old copy just to see is I can get it running. The tips look useful. Thanx again fellas __________________

03-25-10, 06:08 AM	#8
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,500 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	SINK EM ALL!! __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!