Technical Help needed - SH4 vs Windows 10

[Rockin Robbins]

I understand if you buy a copy of SH4 Gold on a DVD there is no SecuROM to have all this fun with. I use a Direct2Drive version as well and I wish I hadn't bought it. I have mitigated all the bad effects but one: won't run if I forget to shut Process Explorer down.

The one-time use install key I sidestep by copying all the files from my Wolves of the Pacific directory to a directory on another drive I call SH4 Pristeen. I do this before I even run the game. Then I write protect SH4 Pristeen, every file in it. That renders it impossible to run that version by mistake. Then when I get mod soup, I just delete everything from my Wolves of the Pacific directory except for JSGME, MultiSH4 and my MODS subdirectory. then I copy everything from SH4 Pristeen to Wolves of the Pacific. And the last step is write enabling the whole shebang in Wolves of the Pacific.

Instantly, without reinstalling I have a virgin copy of SH4 ready for me to make more mod soup with. And I don't care because at any time I can restore it all in five minutes without uninstalling and reinstalling. If you write a batch file and hook it to a shortcut on the desktop you can do this with a single double-click!

Easiest way to do this within a batch file is to use xcopy!

[cdrsubron7]

Hi Roger

The specs for your new computer are very similar to mine with two differences. My CPU is an i7 6700 and I don't use the onboard graphics on my motherboard which is a Z170 Asrock Gaming 6+. I also have 16 GB of ram installed. I'm using a XFX R9 380 graphics card. I also run Win 10 Pro. With this setup I've had no problems running SH4 Gold Edition v1.5 at all. the game installed fine and it gives me no problems.

This is your call of course. I would recommend buying either a decent Nvidia or AMD graphics card and install it in your computer. I think this is the best solution for the problem you're having at the moment. I've fooled around with SH4 since it first came out and I can't say I've heard of anybody who has SH4 running well and using onboard Intel graphics, they just don't mix well. You have two pci-e slots on your motherboard (I looked it up) and one good card should solve your problems. Of course, there is no 100% guarantee that you won't have more problems. But that's the chance when you try to play any game on your computer, some will work and for whatever reason others won't.

Like I said it's your call on what you do, but I think a good third party graphics card would solve the problem for you.

[Roger Dodger]

Okie dokie!

I got the rather lengthy D/L done (a little over two hours, even with Broadband DSL). Uninstalled the previous SH4 (the v1.0 that wouldn't finish), ran CCleaner and cleaned all references to SH4 out of the directory (your install won't be 'clean' if you don't clean out the registry).

Moved the New SH4 D/L (v1.3) to the now empty 'Silent Hunter IV Wolves of the Pacific' folder, and unarced the 'SilentHunter4_v1.3.zip' (with 7Zip) to its own folder (SilentHunter4_v1.3\).

Ran the Setup.exe file and installed the game. Faultless! Then I ran the game from the Installer/Finish screen, and it booted right up (and didn't even ask for my 'Key'). Adjusted the Visual Options, and did the Navigation section of the Submarine School. Started a Career, and played for awhile. Everything's running just fine, including the graphics (not as pretty without Trigger Maru installed).

OK, I'm happy . Now to try to update to v1.5 U-Boat Missions. If successful with that, I'll just be Happy-happy, Joy-joy Then, I can start thinking about installing the Mods (Trigger Maru and RSRDC).

To recap, the problem with installing seems to have been that SecurROM thingie what wouldn't or couldn't run, and stopped the install. Apparently, the new Download (v1.3) does not have the call to that program, so installs OK. The Intel HD Graphics don't seem to have anything to do with the previous failure.

I'll let you know if updating SH4 to v1.5 mucks up the system.

LtCDR Roger Dodger

[cdrsubron7]

I hope you get the game playing as it should, Roger.

Good Hunting.

[Roger Dodger]

DOOM ! DESPAIR ! and AGONY ON ME !

Ran the "SilentHunter4UBoatMissions_100_US.exe" (from within the Installation Folder). Installer said, "Successful"

When I clicked on the Desktop Icon to run SH4, I immediately got that SecuROM stopper ! No way around it with the U-Boat edition I have. Unfortunately, I don't remember where I got it from. I got the game itself from Direct2Drive, but the U-Boat update doesn't show up in 'My Account', and is not offered for sale elsewhere on the site.

I see it is offered as a download by Amazon.com for only Five Bucks. Unfortunately, NO REFUNDS ON DOWNLOADS if the same problem persists. Release Date = March 24, 2008. My .exe installer file is dated 6/27/2008. Its only five bucks, but . . . ?? Is there any place else I can get a download that may be more recent?

You can color me not only p1ssed , but confused as well.

Any advice will be appreciated, as always. I'll await some input from you kind folks before proceeding further.

LtCDR Roger Dodger

[propbeanie]

Did you get the screen where it asks for your serial number, like if you were installing a program from disk? I've somehow missed the "authorization" on mine a few times, and get the same thing after the Uboat missions add-on download I got for my v1.whatever disk. I also have a Gold Edition disk, and I've got the one version set-up on one computer, the other on another, and me and my boys sometimes have "elimination tournaments"...

[Roger Dodger]

Originally Posted by propbeanie

Did you get the screen where it asks for your serial number, like if you were installing a program from disk? I've somehow missed the "authorization" on mine a few times, and get the same thing after the Uboat missions add-on download I got for my v1.whatever disk. I also have a Gold Edition disk, and I've got the one version set-up on one computer, the other on another, and me and my boys sometimes have "elimination tournaments"...

No, I haven't been asked to enter my 'Key' for any of the installs, even the one that worked. Usually, the SecurROM 'blocker' stops the program before it even gets to that point. The new download I got from Direct2Drive never asked, but the game worked just fine without it.

Silent Hunter 4 GOLD (with U-Boat included) is only a $19.99 download available from Amazon.com, and is a much later release, so it might not have the SecurROM thingie. I just hate paying for something twice.

LtCDR Roger Dodger\

[propbeanie]

My "original" purchase of Silent Hunter 4 was a DVD that I got just after it initially came out. There is no notation on the packaging or disk as to which version it is. I do remember looking at it in the software, but can't recall what it is (1.02??). I have encountered the SecureRom stuff multiple times with it, but what I've done before is, after installing from the DVD (NOT in the Programs directory), I do not attempt to open the game and play. I re-boot the computer and then "patch" it to v1.4 (downloaded from Ubi). I put a copy of JSGME and Multi-SH in the folder, and then copy that patched version to another location for backup. Rockin Robbins even mentions setting the entire directory to "read only" for safekeeping. I will also copy the directory again to another location, rename said directory, and then bring it back into the Ubisoft directory. I end up with something like "C:\Ubisoft\SH4v14" and "C:\Ubisoft\SH4v15" that will be the two "base" versions. I then apply my Uboat Missions Add-on to the copy in the "SH4v15" directory. I think I purchased my download from Ubisoft.

Now is when I try to "play" the "upgraded" v1.5 game for the first time. If I am remembering correctly, I will get a pop-up box that asks me a question about loading something... ratz, I had what it was last night before I slept... someone else will have to answer that. But anyway, if I tell it no, don't load it, it tries to load the game and that's when I get the SecureRom stuff with the Uboat add-on. If I answer in the affirmative to the pop-up, it will then bring up the input pop-up for the Uboat Add-on Serial Number. Once I've done that, I'm good to go. It then loads SH4 v1.5. I will then copy that elsewhere for modding and playing, etc.

I ended up buying a Gold Edition SH4 a while back, when after a re-install of my original SH4, I couldn't find my email with the serial number for the Uboat Add-on. I found it, of course, after the new disk arrived... - Like I said, I now have two computers running SH4, and there's all sorts of fun you can have like that.

Sorry about the rambliong on. Too much coffee this morning...