Add-on woes in Windows 7 HP SP1

[SSI01]

SH4 was originally installed in C drive until the scroll line beneath the drive turned red indicating it was approaching being full. After the first deletion, I redirected it toward F (external) drive which had more room in it. That C drive file in the registry is indeed an artifact from a previous installation, but never showed up before when I searched the registry. Typing in the value in the "search" box in Registry/Edit made it come up.

And, no, that other value (0D00) is nowhere to be found in the registry, after looking for it using directions provided. It must have been removed during this uninstall.

No "SH4" folder to be found anywhere.

[CapnScurvy]

Originally Posted by SSI01

No "SH4" folder to be found anywhere.

The only place the game creates it is in the "Documents" folder. If you've looked there, then we're ready to move on.

To review: we've uninstalled the game.
Checked for anything that shouldn't be in the Registry.
Checked for the SH4 folder in the Documents folder.

Now, we need to look at your Avast anti virus software. You either need to disable it, or at least re set the settings to have you notified when it plans to take action against a possible threat. It apparently thinks the games "Sound.act" file is going to cause harm.

[SSI01]

Next on the agenda. Will open settings and change that parameter. Will be useful for other apps, too.

Will be back shortly.

[SSI01]

OK, changed Avast to not scan either CD/DVD drives or any importable media. I now know how to change that parameter if for any reason I want to scan something someone has given or lent me to use, for example. Otherwise, for store-bought disks we can leave this setting off.

At any rate, I think we're ready to go.

[CapnScurvy]

If you've done a defrag on your F:/ drive (since you've uninstalled), you're ready to install the game from the original disk.

Set the path to your F:/ drive and let it install. Do not let it put a shortcut to start the game onto the Desktop. We'll do that later. If there is one still on your Desktop.....delete it.

When it asks to load the DirectX files......let it. I think the wizard uses the DirectX version 9.0c (which may be older than the DirectX version on your laptop, but that's OK) let it load what it wants. No harm in letting it check what files you may, or may not have already on your computer.

Don't add the "Shadow" thing. Or, the Adobe Reader (you definitely have a newer version of it).

When the install is done, DO NOT START THE GAME.

Do another defrag on the F:/ drive.

Then open the Patch 1.4 version and install it. If you don't have a saved copy of it, you can find it here.

When the 1.4 version is finished installing, we are then ready to put LAA into the game

*As a side note:
You said you couldn't load the game onto the C:/ drive because it's full??? This is going to cause trouble. The game needs space to save things. It uses the Documents/"SH4" folder for that reason. If you don't have enough "Free Space" on your C:/ drive you better make some.

Put pictures onto a flashdrive; delete old Programs/Files you don't need; copy/paste most of what you've added onto the C:/ drive putting it onto the F:/ drive. The game is going to have trouble if you don't give it a little breathing room on the C: drive.

[SSI01]

I'll get started on the install/defrag but wanted to send you this first.

I right-clicked C drive to determine available space. Stats are:

417GB used
48.4GB available.

[CapnScurvy]

Wow, I don't understand why it would balk on putting the game onto the C:/?!

48 gigabytes is plenty for an SH4 installation.

I'd say you could always do a little spring house cleaning, but 48 gigs should be more than enough to work with.

[Mescator]

Originally Posted by SSI01

OK, changed Avast to not scan either CD/DVD drives or any importable media. I now know how to change that parameter if for any reason I want to scan something someone has given or lent me to use, for example. Otherwise, for store-bought disks we can leave this setting off.

At any rate, I think we're ready to go.

This isn't enough mate. It will leave the discs alone for a scan, but when you try install or run it the file will be copied to the RAM for execution. Anti-Virus programs watch this like a hawk as virus's must generally be copied there to execute properly as well.

You'll need to either exempt the file or, for the sake of trouble shooting, disable all avast shields while trying to get it going. That'll let SH run with impunity while you sus out your issues.

Obviously that will open you up to threats, so remember to turn it back on or just use the timed options!

[SSI01]

I've been doing some research into the Avast application. Right now it's disabled until I restart the computer, which I will do after the install.

I also run Sniper Elite V2 via Steam on this machine, and now some program is blocking the .exe file in that sim to keep it from running. Until last night it was working fine. I've sent an email to Avast Support to have them tell me EXACTLY, step by step, how to allow SH4, SE2, MS Flight Simulator 2004 and others to run on this machine without interference. For some reason Avast is determining any .exe file from any source is a threat to this machine and blocks that action. I'm trying to get comprehensible instructions that allow me to permanently block that action by Avast. Disappointing.

[CapnScurvy]

I'm not going to be much help. I've used AVG anti virus for years without a problem. I would think Avast has a setting for allowed files to be accepted. You just need to find the proper menu to allow user preferences to be made.

I don't know how you added Avast to your system (download, or off a disk), you may need to remove Avast completely (including Registry references) then install SH4. You'll re install Avast after. Making note of any possible interference in the future.