CTD making SH4 Unplayable

[sortofredhead]

I followed all the directions I saw for installing SH4, changing saved games names etc to avoid saved games CTD, and after installing TMO BH I actually was able to play SH4 and open saved games. That is until run my 3rd patrol and find I am right back to CTD on loading games. Some go right to desktop, some just hand at the load screen (Findem Sinkem one).

I have win 11, have large memory address installed etc. I installed directly from disk and have version 5 installed. This is not a Steam install.

Does anyone have any idea how to overcome this issue? This is so dang frustrating!! As always I am appreciative of anyone's assistance.

[propbeanie]

First chore when installing is to NOT use the default install path. When you get to that part of the install routine, change the install path to point to "C:\Games" as an example, such that if you edit the default "C:\Program Files (x86) \Ubisoft \Silent Hunter Wolves of the Pacific" to instead read "C:\Games \Ubisoft \Silent Hunter Wolves of the Pacific", then Windows will not mess with your modding attempts.

Secondly, you cannot use Saved games from Stock or any mods in another modded install, or Stock if after removing a mod. In other words, if you play the Stock game, and then activate the TMO_BH mod, you HAVE TO delete the C:\Users \UserName \Documents \SH4 folder to clear its old contents. The folder structure is then recreated after the next start, and will populate with the new data from the added or subtracted mod. Alternatively, you can use MultiSH4 v1.5 to edit the Save folder path that the FileManager.dll in SH4 uses and point it to a new, unique, 3-character folder name.

Third, Saving game progress with a new name is definitely recommended. If doing a Career, it is best if you do not use the "playback" function when doing a save, because that save and all following saves will then be huge, which contributes to what you have seen with the CTD. However, there are all sorts of little Save game issues that can still be encountered. Check your SH4.exe file's Properties, and be certain that the "Read-only" attribute is not set on the "General" tab. Clear the tick box for that, and try to re-enable the LAA applet again. LAA does not generate an error message if it fails to properly flip the bits on the exe file. Also, be sure you have checked the rest of the Properties on the Compatibility tab. You might have to do some experimenting there with the various settings:

[sortofredhead]

Originally Posted by propbeanie

First chore when installing is to NOT use the default install path. When you get to that part of the install routine, change the install path to point to "C:\Games" as an example, such that if you edit the default "C:\Program Files (x86) \Ubisoft \Silent Hunter Wolves of the Pacific" to instead read "C:\Games \Ubisoft \Silent Hunter Wolves of the Pacific", then Windows will not mess with your modding attempts.

Secondly, you cannot use Saved games from Stock or any mods in another modded install, or Stock if after removing a mod. In other words, if you play the Stock game, and then activate the TMO_BH mod, you HAVE TO delete the C:\Users \UserName \Documents \SH4 folder to clear its old contents. The folder structure is then recreated after the next start, and will populate with the new data from the added or subtracted mod. Alternatively, you can use MultiSH4 v1.5 to edit the Save folder path that the FileManager.dll in SH4 uses and point it to a new, unique, 3-character folder name.

Third, Saving game progress with a new name is definitely recommended. If doing a Career, it is best if you do not use the "playback" function when doing a save, because that save and all following saves will then be huge, which contributes to what you have seen with the CTD. However, there are all sorts of little Save game issues that can still be encountered. Check your SH4.exe file's Properties, and be certain that the "Read-only" attribute is not set on the "General" tab. Clear the tick box for that, and try to re-enable the LAA applet again. LAA does not generate an error message if it fails to properly flip the bits on the exe file. Also, be sure you have checked the rest of the Properties on the Compatibility tab. You might have to do some experimenting there with the various settings:

Thank you for your help. I did perform steps 1 & 2 and to some degree step 3. I had not seen the "uncheck read only" instruction before though.

I hope this works as I really enjoy the game. So again, thank you.

[propbeanie]

Let us all know what happens!

[sortofredhead]

Originally Posted by propbeanie

Let us all know what happens!

Ok, so everything else I had done, as I mentioned before. However, I did mimic all the changes you made to the .exe properties and so far it appears to be working. Again, thank you!

[propbeanie]

Excellent! The old game has to get some lipstick applied to its lips so that the 'modern' Windows wants to dance with it...

Now, go "Find 'em, Shoot 'em, Sink 'em"...