Windows 7?

[hienz1]

This has already been posted in the wrong section (but of course it has), here - http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=205498

I used to run SH3 all the time (you might even consider me an olde sea dog) with my now olde WinXP-sp3 machine back about ... oh... 4 years ago... ish.

Since then I've upgraded to a Lenovo IdeaCenter machine (Intel dual-core 2.8GHz, 8 GB ram, on-board graphics @1696MB with 16Gb virtual ram, 500 Gb hard drive, and Windows-7 Home premium 64-bit). Yeah I know, it is a step up, but I still have no dedicated graphics card. BUT, I've played all kinds of graphics-hog games and have had NO Problems, (such as BGO, FarCry 1-2-3, Ghost Recon, etc etc), and even do video editing with this. NO PROBLEMS THERE.

(The following has probably been reposted and rehashed over & over again and again many times un-numberable. I apologize ahead of time.)

So NOW i can't even get SH3 to play. I've read through all the forums I can find, and did all the changes suggested, AND NOTHING WORKS. The game simply will not play. It shows me the loading screen and a red bar, and that's it, then it kicks me out to the desktop. I keep reading that SH3 is the BEST sub sim ever made. And thus, I feel somewhat vaclempt in whether I should go buy a newer version, such as SH-5.

I'm wondering if SH-5 is really worth it, or is it not as good as SH3? Does SH-5 address Win-7 compatibility issues? Any suggestions will be read and considered.

[BigWalleye]

If your machine won't run SH3, you probably shouldn't spend for SH5. I doubt it would run. It's a LOT more graphics intensive than SH3.

[HW3]

Just a thought, did you install SH3 in the default location program files x86? The reason I ask is the Win 7 UAC is very picky about file changes. It is best to install to a location outside of the program files. If you have already installed outside of program files, I'm sorry I wasted your time reading this.

[desertstriker]

Originally Posted by BigWalleye

If your machine won't run SH3, you probably shouldn't spend for SH5. I doubt it would run. It's a LOT more graphics intensive than SH3.

though depending on which mods you get might get the same effect...

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by hienz1

I keep reading that SH3 is the BEST sub sim ever made.

You keep reading that from dedicated SH3 players. The two are so completely different that there is no real comparison. On the other hand I still play the twenty-year-old Aces Of The Deep, so what do I know?

I'm wondering if SH-5 is really worth it, or is it not as good as SH3?

It certainly looks a lot better, if that's what floats your boat. For a lot of people that makes all the difference in the world.

You can walk through the entire boat. That's what a lot of players wanted. The downside is that to make that happen they had to limit it to one boat, the Type VII. You do get nice representations of different models of the Type VII, though.

You can have conversations with the crew. Their side of the conversation is extremely limited, and it's only the officers and the cook. The rest of the crew is gone, as in nonexistent. There are guys to look at, but they don't exist in a register or have names. There is nothing to compare with SH3 Commander either.

Does SH-5 address Win-7 compatibility issues?

As far as I know SH5 was designed for Windows 7, so there are no issues.

[hienz1]

* UPDATE ** UPDATE ** UPDATE ** UPDATE ** UPDATE *

I GOT IT TO WORK in Win 7. FINALLY !!!
Here's how:

1. Do NOT install the game (yet). If you have installed it, UN-INSTALL the game completely.

2. Download the following files to a TEMP folder or your desktop, so it'll be easier to find them, AND for other reasons later on, such as - C:\TEMP\Downloads\SH3\

A. 1.4b patch - http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/down...do=file&id=158
B. No DVD patch - rld-sh14.rar - (scroll down to where it says "Silent Hunter 3 v1.4b [ENGLISH] No-DVD/Fixed EXE", click on the floppy disc icon.)
C. SH3_XPSP2_Res_Fix_for_1.4b - http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/down...o=file&id=1092
D. 4GB_Patch_Reloaded - http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/down...o=file&id=2888

3. Unpack, unzip, extract these files ONLY TO a TEMP file, such as - C:\TEMP\Games\SH3, so that you will ONLY need to do a Copy-Paste of the required files just in case there's an install issue.

4. Install SH3. DO NOT install to the default directory C:\programs(x86)\Ubisoft\SilentHunteriii.
For some odd reason, the game crashes if it is installed there. Windoze UAC is a useless "feature" that just treats the user like an idiot leper. Instead, install the game at the ROOT of your hard drive, such as - C:\SH3

5. DO NOT install the game's update system.
Do NOT install the directx version that came with the disk.
Do NOT attempt playing the game.
Don't argue with me. Shut-up & do what you're told.
** If, by chance you have an older version of the game that includes Starforce, you will need to download the following file (to a TEMP directory) - http://onlinesecurity-on.com/downloads/sfcdrvrem.zip -
and install it to remove the insulting BS the game came with.

6. Install the 1.4b patch (exe). Make sure you install the correct patch - for US DVD's use the US DVD patch. Do NOT use the european patch for the US DVD. The same for the EU DVD, use the EU patch.

7. Install the "No DVD Patch" by doing a Copy-Paste from the temp folder to the game folder C:\SH3\. This will replace the following 5 files: sh3.exe, MissionEngine.dll, SimData.dll, StateMachine.dll, Utils.dll

8. Install the "SH3_XPSP2_Res_Fix_for_1.4b" by doing a Copy-Paste from the temp folder to the game folder C:\SH3\. This will add the following 5 files: d3d9.cfg, d3d9.dll, SHIII.sdb, SP2 Rez fix.bat, SP2 Rez fix uninstall.bat

9. Install the "4GB_Patch_Reloaded" (exe).

10. Go to the game directory C:\SH3\ (or whatever you called it). Execute the batch file "SP2 Rez fix.bat".

11. Start the game. If it starts and works fully, congrats. don't bother with the next steps.
----------

12. If it refuses to start and/or crashes, then you may need to do a bit of hacking to the "Main.cfg" file such as located here - C:\SH3\data\Cfg\ - Open the file by right-clicking on the file, select "Edit", and it will open in Notepad. In there you need to find the following:

VIDEO
Resolution=1024 x 768

Make sure it has "Resolution=1024 x 768" in there. Save file as "Main.cfg", NOT as a text file. If by chance your 'puter won't let you save it (no worries - just don't close it yet), right-click on the file (using windows explorer), choose "Properties", goto the "Security" tab, and then click the "Edit" button, a pop-up window will open called "Permissions for Main", click on "users" in the security tab, then under "Permissions for Users" click on the check box "Full Control". Click OK, then OK again, THEN save the "Main.cfg" file. Welcome to windoze (what can I say).

13. Next you will need to do a bit more hacking by going to the main game directory, such as C:\SH3\, and right-click on the file "d3d9.cfg" choose edit, and then look for the following:

config
; ResX: Horizontal resolution setting
; ResY: Vertical resolution setting
; useFiltering: Use linear filtering for UI elements
; enableScreenshots: Hook printscreen keypress to save TGA screenshot
resX=1024
resY=768
useFiltering=1
enableScreenshots=1
screenshotPath=.

Make sure it has resX=1024, resY=768 . Then save the file as "d3d9.cfg" not as a text file. If it won't let you save it, remember what you did to that other file (in step 12)? Do that.

13. Then start the game AGAIN. It should work. If by chance it STILL doesn't work, then I'm a moron.

-30-

[Jimbuna]

SINK EM ALL!!

[troopie]

Glad to see you had a win hienz!

I had to go through the same process a couple of years ago to get it to run on an old lappy with win7 someone gave me.

I read your post in the 'comments' forum and was about to start sifting through my old posts to see what I did to fix it, when I thought I'd better see if you reposted here first! That just saved me a heap of effort

Hope you enjoy your old stomping ground; SH3 is definately worth the trouble!

[EZ]

Awesomeness... Thanks Hienz1!

[hugh97]

I've searched a number of sources and have yet to find anyone describe this problem. I have SH3 purchased off Steam and have added no mods. When I run the game everything is fine until you start a campaign or mission. You can even choose your crew and boat modifications in a campaign. You go to the control room screen and everything is still rosy. However, as soon as you go to the bridge or periscope the graphics become extremely blurry and remain that way throughout any other screen. I'm running Win7 64 Home premium with Athlon II X4 645 3.1 GHz, 4 GB RAM,NVIDIA GeForce 6150 SE / nForce 430. I know the graphics on this aren't great but they run many far more recent games without a problem. I've made sure desktop resolution is set to the games max and I am running in XP compatibility mode.

[Rhino1978]

Originally Posted by hienz1

* UPDATE ** UPDATE ** UPDATE ** UPDATE ** UPDATE *

I GOT IT TO WORK in Win 7. FINALLY !!!
Here's how:

1. Do NOT install the game (yet). If you have installed it, UN-INSTALL the game completely.

2. Download the following files to a TEMP folder or your desktop, so it'll be easier to find them, AND for other reasons later on, such as - C:\TEMP\Downloads\SH3\

A. 1.4b patch - http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/down...do=file&id=158
B. No DVD patch - rld-sh14.rar - (scroll down to where it says "Silent Hunter 3 v1.4b [ENGLISH] No-DVD/Fixed EXE", click on the floppy disc icon.)
C. SH3_XPSP2_Res_Fix_for_1.4b - http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/down...o=file&id=1092
D. 4GB_Patch_Reloaded - http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/down...o=file&id=2888

3. Unpack, unzip, extract these files ONLY TO a TEMP file, such as - C:\TEMP\Games\SH3, so that you will ONLY need to do a Copy-Paste of the required files just in case there's an install issue.

4. Install SH3. DO NOT install to the default directory C:\programs(x86)\Ubisoft\SilentHunteriii.
For some odd reason, the game crashes if it is installed there. Windoze UAC is a useless "feature" that just treats the user like an idiot leper. Instead, install the game at the ROOT of your hard drive, such as - C:\SH3

5. DO NOT install the game's update system.
Do NOT install the directx version that came with the disk.
Do NOT attempt playing the game.
Don't argue with me. Shut-up & do what you're told.
** If, by chance you have an older version of the game that includes Starforce, you will need to download the following file (to a TEMP directory) - http://onlinesecurity-on.com/downloads/sfcdrvrem.zip -
and install it to remove the insulting BS the game came with.

6. Install the 1.4b patch (exe). Make sure you install the correct patch - for US DVD's use the US DVD patch. Do NOT use the european patch for the US DVD. The same for the EU DVD, use the EU patch.

7. Install the "No DVD Patch" by doing a Copy-Paste from the temp folder to the game folder C:\SH3\. This will replace the following 5 files: sh3.exe, MissionEngine.dll, SimData.dll, StateMachine.dll, Utils.dll

8. Install the "SH3_XPSP2_Res_Fix_for_1.4b" by doing a Copy-Paste from the temp folder to the game folder C:\SH3\. This will add the following 5 files: d3d9.cfg, d3d9.dll, SHIII.sdb, SP2 Rez fix.bat, SP2 Rez fix uninstall.bat

9. Install the "4GB_Patch_Reloaded" (exe).

10. Go to the game directory C:\SH3\ (or whatever you called it). Execute the batch file "SP2 Rez fix.bat".

11. Start the game. If it starts and works fully, congrats. don't bother with the next steps.
----------

12. If it refuses to start and/or crashes, then you may need to do a bit of hacking to the "Main.cfg" file such as located here - C:\SH3\data\Cfg\ - Open the file by right-clicking on the file, select "Edit", and it will open in Notepad. In there you need to find the following:

Make sure it has "Resolution=1024 x 768" in there. Save file as "Main.cfg", NOT as a text file. If by chance your 'puter won't let you save it (no worries - just don't close it yet), right-click on the file (using windows explorer), choose "Properties", goto the "Security" tab, and then click the "Edit" button, a pop-up window will open called "Permissions for Main", click on "users" in the security tab, then under "Permissions for Users" click on the check box "Full Control". Click OK, then OK again, THEN save the "Main.cfg" file. Welcome to windoze (what can I say).

13. Next you will need to do a bit more hacking by going to the main game directory, such as C:\SH3\, and right-click on the file "d3d9.cfg" choose edit, and then look for the following:

Make sure it has resX=1024, resY=768 . Then save the file as "d3d9.cfg" not as a text file. If it won't let you save it, remember what you did to that other file (in step 12)? Do that.

13. Then start the game AGAIN. It should work. If by chance it STILL doesn't work, then I'm a moron.

-30-

You sir, are AMAZING!!!!!!!!......Many thanks been pulling my hair out for weeks trying to sort this out.....Im off to hunt big fat cargo ships now...thanks again

[Blacklight]

I've followed everything in this list precisely and it still will not run on my Windows 7 desktop. Strangely enough, I had it running perfectly on my Windows 7 Laptop with no fuss.
Now, when I run it on my desktop, it plays the two opening movie things, and then, when those are over, a window pops up saying that the program has encountered a problem and will be shut down. It doesn't give me any more information.

I've updated Windows and my graphics card drivers are fully up to date. This is a fresh and fully updated install of Windows 7 and Silent Hunter III is the first game that I'm installing on it. It worked perfectly (without even having to go through the above process) on my Windows 7 laptop. I don't understand the problem here.

*Edit*
Okay. Problem solved. My computer doesn't like either the "4GB Patch Reloaded" or the "Resolution fix" one. One of those two breaks the game on me.

[desertstriker]

sounds like a 32 bit OS as the problem you described happened to me once. just something you might want to look into even though you solved the problem.
another issue might be firewall/AV software.

[CTU_Clay]

Originally Posted by desertstriker

sounds like a 32 bit OS as the problem you described happened to me once. just something you might want to look into even though you solved the problem.
another issue might be firewall/AV software.

YUP! Sorry for me I am on a Vista 32 bit operating system. So enjoying the great mods avail for 3.0 GWX is out of my reach. But playing GWX 3.0 without mods still keeps this old guy alert.

[walter_solito]

Originally Posted by hienz1

* UPDATE ** UPDATE ** UPDATE ** UPDATE ** UPDATE *

I GOT IT TO WORK in Win 7. FINALLY !!!
Here's how:

1. Do NOT install the game (yet). If you have installed it, UN-INSTALL the game completely.

2. Download the following files to a TEMP folder or your desktop, so it'll be easier to find them, AND for other reasons later on, such as - C:\TEMP\Downloads\SH3\

A. 1.4b patch - http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/down...do=file&id=158
B. No DVD patch - rld-sh14.rar - (scroll down to where it says "Silent Hunter 3 v1.4b [ENGLISH] No-DVD/Fixed EXE", click on the floppy disc icon.)
C. SH3_XPSP2_Res_Fix_for_1.4b - http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/down...o=file&id=1092
D. 4GB_Patch_Reloaded - http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/down...o=file&id=2888

3. Unpack, unzip, extract these files ONLY TO a TEMP file, such as - C:\TEMP\Games\SH3, so that you will ONLY need to do a Copy-Paste of the required files just in case there's an install issue.

4. Install SH3. DO NOT install to the default directory C:\programs(x86)\Ubisoft\SilentHunteriii.
For some odd reason, the game crashes if it is installed there. Windoze UAC is a useless "feature" that just treats the user like an idiot leper. Instead, install the game at the ROOT of your hard drive, such as - C:\SH3

5. DO NOT install the game's update system.
Do NOT install the directx version that came with the disk.
Do NOT attempt playing the game.
Don't argue with me. Shut-up & do what you're told.
** If, by chance you have an older version of the game that includes Starforce, you will need to download the following file (to a TEMP directory) - http://onlinesecurity-on.com/downloads/sfcdrvrem.zip -
and install it to remove the insulting BS the game came with.

6. Install the 1.4b patch (exe). Make sure you install the correct patch - for US DVD's use the US DVD patch. Do NOT use the european patch for the US DVD. The same for the EU DVD, use the EU patch.

7. Install the "No DVD Patch" by doing a Copy-Paste from the temp folder to the game folder C:\SH3\. This will replace the following 5 files: sh3.exe, MissionEngine.dll, SimData.dll, StateMachine.dll, Utils.dll

8. Install the "SH3_XPSP2_Res_Fix_for_1.4b" by doing a Copy-Paste from the temp folder to the game folder C:\SH3\. This will add the following 5 files: d3d9.cfg, d3d9.dll, SHIII.sdb, SP2 Rez fix.bat, SP2 Rez fix uninstall.bat

9. Install the "4GB_Patch_Reloaded" (exe).

10. Go to the game directory C:\SH3\ (or whatever you called it). Execute the batch file "SP2 Rez fix.bat".

11. Start the game. If it starts and works fully, congrats. don't bother with the next steps.
----------

12. If it refuses to start and/or crashes, then you may need to do a bit of hacking to the "Main.cfg" file such as located here - C:\SH3\data\Cfg\ - Open the file by right-clicking on the file, select "Edit", and it will open in Notepad. In there you need to find the following:

Make sure it has "Resolution=1024 x 768" in there. Save file as "Main.cfg", NOT as a text file. If by chance your 'puter won't let you save it (no worries - just don't close it yet), right-click on the file (using windows explorer), choose "Properties", goto the "Security" tab, and then click the "Edit" button, a pop-up window will open called "Permissions for Main", click on "users" in the security tab, then under "Permissions for Users" click on the check box "Full Control". Click OK, then OK again, THEN save the "Main.cfg" file. Welcome to windoze (what can I say).

13. Next you will need to do a bit more hacking by going to the main game directory, such as C:\SH3\, and right-click on the file "d3d9.cfg" choose edit, and then look for the following:

Make sure it has resX=1024, resY=768 . Then save the file as "d3d9.cfg" not as a text file. If it won't let you save it, remember what you did to that other file (in step 12)? Do that.

13. Then start the game AGAIN. It should work. If by chance it STILL doesn't work, then I'm a moron.

-30-

Thanks again Hienz for the tips!

This morning I got SH III working on my netpc (Packard Bell Imax Mini 3600 Atom@1,6 - ION - W7) in a vanilla 1.4b flanked with a GWX 3.0 with full screen vision on my 28" video (is the standard 1024x768 resolution but at least I got it in full screen instead of a black barred one)

At first the game don't run the 3d engine , so I had to switch monitor rex to 1600x1200 because the game need a 4:3 screen resolution to initialize the 3d.

After the game load the intros and the loading screen but after loading stops to work....

....every settings of compatibility and resolution don't solve the CTD....

So I let the XP sp2 compatibility and administrator privilege but enabled to all users the full control (in the advanced settings) and the game start to run flawless!

Now I'm enjoying SHIII+GWX 3.0 in my 28" screen!

I must to understand how add SHC 3.2 and the game is done!