Windows 7?

[Pisces]

Originally Posted by Big-Geoff

I hae just installed SHIII on a windows 7 Ultimate system, I get the start up sequence and then it all goes black. Windows then pops up the message that the program cannot start.

I have tried running in XP mode (which works on my laptop OK). to no avail.

Any help please.

XP Mode is something different than setting compatibility mode to XP SP1,2,3 level in the properties of the .exe or shortcut.

XP Mode is a form of virtualization. Basically simulating a computer with XP on it, inside your computer. This isn't suited to playing games since they require better performance than can be delivered. Though some old games might be able to make do.

Setting the compatibility mode to XP SP-something on the Compatibility tab of the file-properties isn't required. Atleast, I never had to for this game.

Things SH3 and Win7 do not get along in are:

1: Win 7 doesn't like it when files are modified in the Program Files folder. (Same goes for Vista) Which is where the default install get's located. It's a form of malware prevention by Micro$oft, but for games this is often very annoying. This is important when you get to (installing) mods, or even when making a screenshot. But this doesn't apply in your case now (trying to start the game for the first time). Anyway, the solution is to assign a different folder somewhere else on your harddrive, like: c:\Games\SH3. No fuss with UAC anymore. Only required to authenticate when installing or doing a patch, or for example the GWX Setup. Not for playing.

2: The older releases of the game came with Starforce copy protection. Ever since 1.4 this has been removed I think. If you have one of the older releases then the Starforce code isn't compatible with Win7. I can't remember what the propper solution is in this case. Never got this myself. Easiest would be to buy a modern release that has v1.4 on the dvd. I believe this problem also came with a distinct warning about older Windows OS versions, which you did not mention. So I also think this doesn't apply here.

3: This is your problem, my bet. SH3 is built with resolution 1024x768 in mind. The stock version doesn't handle modern higher resolutions. Especially in combination with Win7, and/or widescreen resolutions, the game blocks on this. It cannot set the propper resolution and crashes or hangs. A solution to this is manually set your desktop resolution to 1024x768 temporarily. See if your videocard settings allow you to set a lower resolution for the game and automatically scale up the image (while maintaining 4:3 aspect ratio). My Nvidia 9600M GT allow this. (NVidia Control Panel/Display/Adjust Desktop Size and Position)

There are or is a widescreen/hires fix for SH3. I don't know exactly what the name is, or can provide a link. But FK usually comes with these answers so she should know more. But I'm sure a search on it would make you succesfull also. It's probably in the download section somewhere.

[frau kaleun]

Originally Posted by Pisces

3: This is your problem, my bet. SH3 is built with resolution 1024x768 in mind. The stock version doesn't handle modern higher resolutions. Especially in combination with Win7, and/or widescreen resolutions, the game blocks on this. It cannot set the propper resolution and crashes or hangs. A solution to this is manually set your desktop resolution to 1024x768 temporarily. See if your videocard settings allow you to set a lower resolution for the game and automatically scale up the image (while maintaining 4:3 aspect ratio). My Nvidia 9600M GT allow this. (NVidia Control Panel/Display/Adjust Desktop Size and Position)

[Edit:] I see you have an ATI device. Sorry, don't know how to set this on them.

There are or is a widescreen/hires fix for SH3. I don't know exactly what the name is, or can provide a link. But FK usually comes with these answers so she should know more. But I'm sure a search on it would make you succesfull also. It's probably in the download section somewhere.

I've never played SH3 with anything but an ATI card - never had the game freeze up and go to black on loadup, on XP or Win7. Never had to temporarily change my desktop resolution either just to get it to start properly, altho I did a whole lot of tweaking in that area when I was using the Res Fix... that was mostly so it would not rescale to WS format and stretch out the 2D graphics, and also in an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to resolve the screenshot/CTD issue with the mod. Which I only encountered in Win7, but not in XP.

But yes the Res Fix is available here in Subsim Downloads if you search for it. AFAIK the issue with it causing CTD when screenshots are taken has never been resolved, but your mileage may vary... not everyone seems to have a problem with it.

[Pisces]

Originally Posted by frau kaleun

I've never played SH3 with anything but an ATI card - ...

I realised that ATI reference in my post was wrongly adressed: Barney=/=Big-Geoff. Hence I removed it but you replied before that.

[Marinenachrichtendienst]

Hi,

Some years ago I use to play my SH3 in XP system, but in Jan. 2011 I installed SH5 on my new PC operating with Windows 7, which works 100%.

Some minutes ago install my SH3 on the same PC, and after installing it, I tried to start up.

Then a box appears on my screen saying : "Error" with the opportunity to hit either "Information" or "ok". I hit "Information", when finished,it listet up a huge list of things that I can't tell what is.

A smaller text in the bottom of the box says:

"This applicatin cn be launched with a relaease version of Microsoft Windows 95 OSR2. 1/98ME/NT 4.0/2000/XP/ Server 2003 only".

Others say that they play their SH3 with Windows 7.

Can somene help me , please ??

[frau kaleun]

Do you have an older copy of the game with Starforce on it? Starforce and Windows 7 do not play well together. There are instructions here in the forum for getting around Starforce, but given how inexpensive new copies of the game are (and they do not include Starforce), some people just decide to get a newer copy.

[Jimbuna]

As fk rightly states, W7 and SF do not like each other.

I purchased a newer SH3 disc when I switvhed over to the W7 OS particularly for that and my installation is running fine.

[Marinenachrichtendienst]

Well, I think I bought my SH3 in 2006, but I cannot locate any icons or files aclled "Stargate" on it. My version of the game is the "Collector's Edition", but I assume that doesent change anything.

I could show you the full error report, but I'm not sure if that's clever, regarding any personal details that shouldnt be shared, maybe ??

So it anyway seems that that darn Stargate" must be in it somewhere??