SH4 and Windows 11

[Pilot_76]

Got it! Working OK.

[nycoroner05]

I have a digital copy I got off of Amazon a few years back. I have tried all the fixes listed in this forum but nothing works. I have lowered the permissions on win admin but i still can't launch the game.

[propbeanie]

Your pictures did not come through nycoroner05. Are you editing any of the SH4.exe file's "Properties"? Navigate into your game folder, right-click on the SH4.exe file, and choose "Properties" from the resultant context menu. Then click on the "Compatibility" tab. There are several settings in there you could try, one at a time, until you get it to run OK in Stock trim. Your computer hardware determines what you need to alter:




Also, is your Amazon license being recognized properly?

[nycoroner05]

I tired the compatibility mode and none of it worked. Running an MSI gaming laptop with the following:


Memory: 16 GB @ 1600 MHz
- 8192 MB, DDR4-3200, Samsung M471A1K43EB1-CWE
- 8192 MB, DDR4-3200, PNY Technologies Inc
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop GPU, 3980 MB

Disk: SSD, Samsung SSD 980 1TB, 931.51 GB

[KaleunMarco]

Originally Posted by nycoroner05

I tired the compatibility mode and none of it worked. Running an MSI gaming laptop with the following:


Memory: 16 GB @ 1600 MHz
- 8192 MB, DDR4-3200, Samsung M471A1K43EB1-CWE
- 8192 MB, DDR4-3200, PNY Technologies Inc
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop GPU, 3980 MB

Disk: SSD, Samsung SSD 980 1TB, 931.51 GB

in which folder do you have the game installed?
if you used the Ubi default folder(Programx86), you need to move it to a non-windows controlled folder.
here is an example:

C:\Ubisoft\Silent Hunter 4

[nycoroner05]

Originally Posted by Hazelwood

I'm late to this discussion but seems everyone's situation is different so... here goes.

In Windows 10, around 2 years ago, started getting "An administrator has blocked this app" and SH4.exe is identified as the culprit. Presumably, there was an MS security update involved. Turning down the UAC slider in "Settings" didn't help. What did work was constructing an "elevated" launch icon for the sim. If you hadn't done this before, a bit daunting, but there's good advice on the Web. In business after that.

I could NOT get his trick to work under Win 11 so was stuck for a while. What did work was the following:

01 - In the application search Window type: "Edit group policy" (without quotes) and ENTER. (Group Policy can be found using Control Panel but this way is actually easier).

02 - In the panel that opens, choose "Windows Settings/Security Settings/Local Policies/Security Options"

03 - On right side, scroll down to find "User Account Control: Run all administrators in Admin Approval Mode Enabled"

04 - Double-click that line to get an option box with "Enable / Disable" options.

05 - Choose "Disable", close the editor and re-boot. The access problem is now solved but wait (see later).

06 - When finished gaming, be sure to re-enable that UAC setting for best protection. You'll have to go through the steps above but "Enable" that UAC setting in step 05.

My troubles still weren't over. The sim ran fine part way but upon doing my first SAVE it hung and could not be relaunched even with a reboot. Bummer. Upon first initialization, SH4 allocates a \SH4 directory with \Data as follows. This is SH4's working directory for the files included and is initialized from the one distributed in the executable's directory so you can ignore that one for now:

C:\Users"Your Name"\Documents\SH4\data\cfg

(Note - "Your Name" might not be your name but it's whatever you called your user account when installing Windows.). If you are using "Onedrive" the \Documents folder will be under \Onedrive. I don't use Onedrive so you're on your own there.

Navigate to and open "main.cfg" (in \cfg above) in a text editor. Once there, specify preferences in the "Video" section. The following worked for me with a Hi-Def monitor:

[VIDEO]
Resolution=1920,1280,60,22
DynamicShadows=Yes
FullScreen=No
Synchronized=No
TextureResolutionHigh=Yes

You might have to experiment with this and the simulation's graphics settings (once you can get in there). What appears to work is having the two matched.

I still was not out of the woods as the sim would not launch. After a lot of fooling around did the following:

01 - Deleted the entire \SH4 folder found in C:\Users"Your Name"\Documents\SH4\data\cfg.

(This is safe. Windows might obstruct you saying the file is open in another program. In that case, do a cold boot from system powered-down and you are good to go.)

02 -This forces SH4 at your next launch to rebuild that directory from the execution library (good idea to have desired video settings in the .cfg in THAT library.

Caramba! SH4 now launched. I was able to edit all options and the sim runs beautifully. "Saves" work without a glitch. I can only surmise that refreshing the "working" main.cfg fixed something.

Hope this helps someone.

Best wishes,
Cpt. J. Hazelwood

Appreciate the feedback. The game is not worth the effort.LOL I got Silent Hunter 1 to run perfectly via the dosbox. SH3 runs without any effort. Why this one is difficult is crazy.

[Red Devil]

yeah I recall the sh4.exe is a big bad file that windows wouldn't play with. Did anyone fix it because my initial feeling is NO! Sometime in the recent past I was trying something to do with running off a stick, and got the sh4.exe - no you cant have it you naughty boy!!

[nycoroner05]

Originally Posted by KaleunMarco

in which folder do you have the game installed?
if you used the Ubi default folder(Programx86), you need to move it to a non-windows controlled folder.
here is an example:

C:\Ubisoft\Silent Hunter 4

Did that, no change to my issue. Thank you though.

[mattinkent]

After a good while playing GWX, I reinstalled SH4 (on Steam) expecting problems on my W10 rig, but it worked like a charm…but I can’t never get on my rig anymore because of Child #2, so I got an old laptop and bought another one on a new ID. I installed it on W10 and NOTHING. I press play, it says it’s started (on Steam) - it installed Direct X again first time - then just stops. No splash screen. I made all the usual changes to the exe properties, and verified the files of SH4 & Uboat missions. Didn’t help. On Steam someone suggested it was DRM related? Any ideas?

[mattinkent]

Originally Posted by mattinkent

After a good while playing GWX, I reinstalled SH4 (on Steam) expecting problems on my W10 rig, but it worked like a charm…but I can’t never get on my rig anymore because of Child #2, so I got an old laptop and bought another one on a new ID. I installed it on W10 and NOTHING. I press play, it says it’s started (on Steam) - it installed Direct X again first time - then just stops. No splash screen. I made all the usual changes to the exe properties, and verified the files of SH4 & Uboat missions. Didn’t help. On Steam someone suggested it was DRM related? Any ideas?

EDIT: Just started working. No reason. Ha!

[Aktungbby]

mattinkent!...resurfaced after 6-years 'silent running'!??

[Red Devil]

when I had 10 I had same problems. An answer I cant find in 11. I went into the desktop icon and slected properties, and changed a couple of settings. Problem is this is probably no use now as I cannot duplicate it. Sorry, I started off with goodi intentions and fell on my face. I'll keep looking

[floundericiousWA]

Howdy fellow pigboat skippers!


I've run face first into the Steam installation problems... I load up the game, start a career, start a patrol...and get stuck on a black screen with the GUI dials and buttons around the edge of the screen. The game automatically pauses itself. I can use fast fingers to hit backspace and get one of the other views (map table) but then its stuck. it won't unpause, it won't let me do anything, I've uninstalled and reinstalled.


it's in a data drive (Windows 11 is installed on C drive)

D:\steamlibrary\steamapps\common\


I've turned UAC down to the second to least.
I've used compatibility to make it run in Win7 mode with the compatibility mode settings in this thread and the high DPI options set per the picture just before this post.


Anyways, I'm working it (uninstalling, reinstalling, etc.) and will comment as I learn things

[Aktungbby]

FloundericiousWA!...after 13 years' 'silent running'!

[floundericiousWA]

Soooo... I completely uninstalled everything, deleted the local documents SH4 folder... reinstalled ONLY the SH4 Uboat Missions version from steam (NOT the original SH4).



Started it up...blackscreen but clearly it was full screen resolution issues. Used the comment upthread to go into the documents folder Main.cfg and the gamedirectory main.cfg and change the resolutions in both locations. bang fired up fine.
Started up a new american career, got a porpoise class, started a patrol...and it's working fine


LOL so yeah, do less, get more

now I have to remember that SH4 does NOT use WASD for moving the map and screen LMAO! SURFACE THE BOAT! DIVE DIVE DIVE!



Thanks for the welcome (back)!