SH4 Not Displaying properly

propbeanie · 05-18-17, 12:50 PM

Very strong possibility RR, however...

Now then, what version of the game is it that you have? Do you have a DVD, or Amazon Digital, or Steam download, or what? The version determines how to try your next experiments... To find the actual version number of the game, open the game's folder and find the SH4.exe file. Right-click on it, left-click on Properties at the bottom of the context menu list, then on the Details tab, and about the middle should be a line "Product Version:" that might have 1,3,0,0 or 1,5,0,0 or whatever. Let us know those numbers, and where you got the game from, since there is a major difference between what you do with a Steam game, as opposed to the others... You most likely will end up moving the install.

ShotMagnet · 05-18-17, 08:06 PM

This is an Amazon download. Product version is 1.0.0.1.

For some parallax, this game ran fine on a friends computer when it was originally downloaded from Amazon, ca Oct '15. That computer was a tower and had a dedicated graphics card, however.

Shot

propbeanie · 05-19-17, 06:32 AM

If it's still on the other computer, Amazon's license verification might not be allowing you to run the game. Did you do the licensing from Amazon? I've got a few programs from them, and I can't remember their procedure. It's different from Steam's though...

What I was getting at about the version number of the game, is the actual v1.3, v1.4 or v1.5 (UBoats) of the "SH4.exe" file in the install folder. I don't think Amazon sells a v1.3, which is what the Steam version is, and even if it is, you can at least update Amazon's download. Check that, but it most likely isn't what's keeping you from running.

When you installed the program, did you use what the install gave you, which defaults to C:\ Program Files (x86) \ Ubisoft \ Silent Hunter Wolves of the Pacific ?? If so, you can navigate to the Program Files directory, select the Ubisoft folder, hit <Ctrl><C> to copy it, then go up to the "root" C:\ drive and press <Ctrl><V> to "paste" the Ubisoft folder to C, so that the path now looks like C:\ Ubisoft \ Silent Hunter Wolves of the Pacific (or whatever you have). That will get the game out of the "protected" Windows folder.

Also, when you installed the game, did you let it install the DirectX v9c? You have to do that, even though your computer most likely has a newer version of it. There are a few files in v9 that SH4 is expecting to "see" when it runs, and if it doesn't, the game doesn't run correctly. Usually speaking though, you never get past the menu if it's not installed.

Barring all that, some of the intel onboard graphics cards just do not like certain 3d games. I do not recall which ones do it, but it might be in a post on this site somewhere...

I can't find for sure for certain, but the HD 3000/4000 series seems to be a problem in other games. If that's what you have, you could try what This Feller Tried, which is a post on the Ubisoft forum for a different game. I have no idea about the efficacy or advisability of doing what he did... YMMV - tread with caution - all them other warnings...

ShotMagnet · 05-19-17, 10:02 AM

I'll have to have a look around for what you're asking, but in the meantime I'll take your advice and do what I can with it.

The licensing process from Amazon is pretty straightforward and user-friendly as well. You purchase something from them, it goes into a software library. You want to use it again on another machine; you go to that library and verify whom you are, Amazon gives you a download enabling thingie and you go from there.

Anyway, I'll do what I can with this based on your advice and get back to you when I've tested it out. Thanks for your help, even if it doesn't enable the game on this machine it'll maybe help someone else down the line.

Shot

Red Devil · 05-21-17, 12:03 PM

not sure why pcs have compatibility options, they have never worked for me, on anything!!

I had a prob recently with a game, wouldn't run. Then I discovered mention somewhere of resolutions, and I remembered I had set it high, so I dropped it to 1024 x 768, it worked.

ShotMagnet · 05-21-17, 12:12 PM

Okay, moved files and sacrificed virgins and all that. No luck.

Couldn't find a version number, but the readme insists that it's Patch 1.3.

I'll have a look at the link you posted and see if I can't make it rain that way, but for the nonce I'm assuming that this is a video card issue and that I'll either need a new PC or some emulating software so as to make this one 'think' it has what it needs.

Thanks for you help.

Shot

propbeanie · 05-21-17, 01:26 PM

It looks like your computer might have an Intell HD5500 graphics chip. I have no clue as to compatibility with SH4. However, your display looks like its "native" resolution is 1366 x 768, which is a bit odd (to the game). What you might try to do is go into the main menu, right after you start the game, and try setting it to "Windowed", which is in the middle of the top of the graphics settings page. The Resolution setting box is to the left of that, and try something like the default, which is 1024 x 768. You have to re-start the game for the changes to take effect. Another thing you could try is to get rid of the USB mouse and use the touch pad for an experiment, and see what happens... But do one or the other and test what happens, then do the other, if necessary.

Red Devil · 05-21-17, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShotMagnet

Okay, moved files and sacrificed virgins and all that. No luck.

Couldn't find a version number, but the readme insists that it's Patch 1.3.

I'll have a look at the link you posted and see if I can't make it rain that way, but for the nonce I'm assuming that this is a video card issue and that I'll either need a new PC or some emulating software so as to make this one 'think' it has what it needs.

Thanks for you help.

Shot

I am running the new ryzen processor with a Geforce GTX 1060 and SH4 is behaving itself

propbeanie · 05-21-17, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShotMagnet

Okay, moved files and sacrificed virgins and all that. No luck.

Couldn't find a version number, but the readme insists that it's Patch 1.3.

I'll have a look at the link you posted and see if I can't make it rain that way, but for the nonce I'm assuming that this is a video card issue and that I'll either need a new PC or some emulating software so as to make this one 'think' it has what it needs.

Thanks for you help.

Shot

There was probably more v1.3 sold than any of the others, and it is probably the worst of the SH4. To find out for certain, open your Windows Explorer, or Explorer (~NOT~ Internet Explorer, aka: IE), plain ole Explorer, or My Computer (dependent upon Windows version as to what it's called), or whatever you use to explore the hard drive and see files. Drill or navigate down to the game folder, through Silent Hunter Wolves of the Pacific, until the level where you see the "Data" folder. There'll be other folders in there, and some files. By default, Windows sorts alphabetically, so scroll down the list, if necessary to find "SH4.exe" file. Right-click on it, which brings up a context menu. Left-click on "Properties" at the bottom of the list, which opens a little window. Left-click on the "Details" tab. About in the middle of that is "Product version". It should look like "1,3,0,0" or "1,4,0,0" or "1,5,0,0" - that's the Version Number of the game. We need that info.

Second of all, which version of Windows is on the Toshiba? Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 or 10?...

ShotMagnet · 05-21-17, 06:40 PM

Windows 8.1, IIRC. Tried the Windowed mode thing before, but I didn't close and restart the game so maybe I should try that again.

File and product version are both the same, 1.0.0.1.

Noticed a couple of other things that I should check, since moving the .exe.

Shot

05-18-17, 12:50 PM	#1
propbeanie CTD - it's not just a job Join Date: May 2016 Location: One hour from Music City USA! Posts: 10,098 Downloads: 451 Uploads: 2	Very strong possibility RR, however... Now then, what version of the game is it that you have? Do you have a DVD, or Amazon Digital, or Steam download, or what? The version determines how to try your next experiments... To find the actual version number of the game, open the game's folder and find the SH4.exe file. Right-click on it, left-click on Properties at the bottom of the context menu list, then on the Details tab, and about the middle should be a line "Product Version:" that might have 1,3,0,0 or 1,5,0,0 or whatever. Let us know those numbers, and where you got the game from, since there is a major difference between what you do with a Steam game, as opposed to the others... You most likely will end up moving the install. __________________ "...and bollocks to the naysayers" - Jimbuna

05-19-17, 06:32 AM	#3
propbeanie CTD - it's not just a job Join Date: May 2016 Location: One hour from Music City USA! Posts: 10,098 Downloads: 451 Uploads: 2	If it's still on the other computer, Amazon's license verification might not be allowing you to run the game. Did you do the licensing from Amazon? I've got a few programs from them, and I can't remember their procedure. It's different from Steam's though... What I was getting at about the version number of the game, is the actual v1.3, v1.4 or v1.5 (UBoats) of the "SH4.exe" file in the install folder. I don't think Amazon sells a v1.3, which is what the Steam version is, and even if it is, you can at least update Amazon's download. Check that, but it most likely isn't what's keeping you from running. When you installed the program, did you use what the install gave you, which defaults to C:\ Program Files (x86) \ Ubisoft \ Silent Hunter Wolves of the Pacific ?? If so, you can navigate to the Program Files directory, select the Ubisoft folder, hit <Ctrl><C> to copy it, then go up to the "root" C:\ drive and press <Ctrl><V> to "paste" the Ubisoft folder to C, so that the path now looks like C:\ Ubisoft \ Silent Hunter Wolves of the Pacific (or whatever you have). That will get the game out of the "protected" Windows folder. Also, when you installed the game, did you let it install the DirectX v9c? You have to do that, even though your computer most likely has a newer version of it. There are a few files in v9 that SH4 is expecting to "see" when it runs, and if it doesn't, the game doesn't run correctly. Usually speaking though, you never get past the menu if it's not installed. Barring all that, some of the intel onboard graphics cards just do not like certain 3d games. I do not recall which ones do it, but it might be in a post on this site somewhere... I can't find for sure for certain, but the HD 3000/4000 series seems to be a problem in other games. If that's what you have, you could try what This Feller Tried, which is a post on the Ubisoft forum for a different game. I have no idea about the efficacy or advisability of doing what he did... YMMV - tread with caution - all them other warnings... __________________ "...and bollocks to the naysayers" - Jimbuna Last edited by propbeanie; 05-19-17 at 06:45 AM.

05-21-17, 12:03 PM	#5
Red Devil The Old Man Join Date: May 2004 Location: Sutton Coldfield England Posts: 1,540 Downloads: 305 Uploads: 0	not sure why pcs have compatibility options, they have never worked for me, on anything!! I had a prob recently with a game, wouldn't run. Then I discovered mention somewhere of resolutions, and I remembered I had set it high, so I dropped it to 1024 x 768, it worked. __________________ > > Captain!, there's a destroyer on the por........ periscope is flooded Sir! > Darkness is only the absence of Light; Ignorance is only the absence of knowledge © www.worldwartwo.uk www.captainwalker.uk

05-21-17, 01:26 PM	#7
propbeanie CTD - it's not just a job Join Date: May 2016 Location: One hour from Music City USA! Posts: 10,098 Downloads: 451 Uploads: 2	It looks like your computer might have an Intell HD5500 graphics chip. I have no clue as to compatibility with SH4. However, your display looks like its "native" resolution is 1366 x 768, which is a bit odd (to the game). What you might try to do is go into the main menu, right after you start the game, and try setting it to "Windowed", which is in the middle of the top of the graphics settings page. The Resolution setting box is to the left of that, and try something like the default, which is 1024 x 768. You have to re-start the game for the changes to take effect. Another thing you could try is to get rid of the USB mouse and use the touch pad for an experiment, and see what happens... But do one or the other and test what happens, then do the other, if necessary. __________________ "...and bollocks to the naysayers" - Jimbuna Last edited by propbeanie; 05-21-17 at 07:20 PM. Reason: clarification

05-18-17, 08:06 PM	#2
ShotMagnet Mate Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Earth Posts: 53 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	This is an Amazon download. Product version is 1.0.0.1. For some parallax, this game ran fine on a friends computer when it was originally downloaded from Amazon, ca Oct '15. That computer was a tower and had a dedicated graphics card, however. Shot

05-19-17, 10:02 AM	#4
ShotMagnet Mate Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Earth Posts: 53 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	I'll have to have a look around for what you're asking, but in the meantime I'll take your advice and do what I can with it. The licensing process from Amazon is pretty straightforward and user-friendly as well. You purchase something from them, it goes into a software library. You want to use it again on another machine; you go to that library and verify whom you are, Amazon gives you a download enabling thingie and you go from there. Anyway, I'll do what I can with this based on your advice and get back to you when I've tested it out. Thanks for your help, even if it doesn't enable the game on this machine it'll maybe help someone else down the line. Shot

05-21-17, 12:12 PM	#6
ShotMagnet Mate Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Earth Posts: 53 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	Okay, moved files and sacrificed virgins and all that. No luck. Couldn't find a version number, but the readme insists that it's Patch 1.3. I'll have a look at the link you posted and see if I can't make it rain that way, but for the nonce I'm assuming that this is a video card issue and that I'll either need a new PC or some emulating software so as to make this one 'think' it has what it needs. Thanks for you help. Shot

05-21-17, 06:40 PM	#10
ShotMagnet Mate Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Earth Posts: 53 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	Windows 8.1, IIRC. Tried the Windowed mode thing before, but I didn't close and restart the game so maybe I should try that again. File and product version are both the same, 1.0.0.1. Noticed a couple of other things that I should check, since moving the .exe. Shot