What I do on my PC before starting "onealex" mod

K-61 · 11-26-23, 04:22 PM

I have recently downloaded the "onealex" mod and as a veteran player of GWX Gold it is fairly famliar, with a few new bonus bits I like.

I wish to tell others so they do not have my problem. Through much play testing I have learned that for me to play this game and not have any subsequent play problems, I must unplug my RJ-45 ethernet cable from my machine, then disable my Norton Antivirus and disable my Norton Firewall. If I do not, the next time I go to the play the game, I cannot load and I get a message about some "sky" file being corrupted. Copying over a clean copy does not fix it. I can only conclude that Norton hates this game.

Also, Norton will not let me open the mods section of Subsim, even when I tell it to ignore the warning. This is when using Microsoft Edge. If I use the Chrome browser it lets me in. Very strange.

Just wished to share this to prevent others from having the same problem.

Hooston · 11-26-23, 11:48 PM

Step 1
Download Linux for free. https://ubuntu.com/desktop or getfedora.org for example.

Step 2
Install Linux (you can make your PC dual boot or run the OS from a memory stick if you really want)

Step 3
Tear remaining hair out trying to understand the Wine Windows compatibility program.

Step 4

Run Silent Hunter using Wine

Imagine someone using an operating system made by a company that has to involve a third party to make it secure and forces you to buy a new PC every 5 years!

pmcmull · 11-27-23, 12:49 AM

I don't want to get into a big discussion here, but Norton is not the best anti-virus to be running. Also you should not need to shut off the firewall. A firewall is only for controlling outside access.

But disconnecting from your local internet connection is one sure way to make sure nobody is getting in.

Pat

Hooston · 11-27-23, 05:55 AM

Since nobody took the bait with my trolling earlier, a more serious answer.
Onealex is Ukrainian. Ukraine is at war with a country famed for its hackers. I'm sure he is honest and very careful about Trojans, but these people are very smart. It seems Norton does not like him in an incompetent sort of way and it is especially worrying that you have to disconnect from your local network to get the game to run. It's not so much who is coming in (you already let Onealex in) but what might be spreading out.
There's probably an innocent explanation, e.g. Norton deciding all Russian and Ukrainian language data is dodgy and by disconnecting from the network you are cutting Norton's access to its database.
I'd think about a full virus scan and, as suggested, a better checker.
Anyone else having these issues?

propbeanie · 11-27-23, 09:20 AM

It falls to the un-signed executable file (SH3.exe) being in the mod, and the "install" routine.

pmcmull · 11-27-23, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hooston

Since nobody took the bait with my trolling earlier, a more serious answer.
Onealex is Ukrainian. Ukraine is at war with a country famed for its hackers. I'm sure he is honest and very careful about Trojans, but these people are very smart. It seems Norton does not like him in an incompetent sort of way and it is especially worrying that you have to disconnect from your local network to get the game to run. It's not so much who is coming in (you already let Onealex in) but what might be spreading out.
There's probably an innocent explanation, e.g. Norton deciding all Russian and Ukrainian language data is dodgy and by disconnecting from the network you are cutting Norton's access to its database.
I'd think about a full virus scan and, as suggested, a better checker.
Anyone else having these issues?

I am assuming that K-61 did the disconnect as a preventive measure, because he was pausing the virus protection. Not because Norton required it. Maybe he can tell us more.

Doolar · 11-28-23, 10:01 AM

I may be mistaken and sorry if I am. I read that you ("Copying over a clean copy does not fix it.") copied OneAlex over top a clean install of SH3. OneAlex in an all encompassing mod. You don't need a pre-installed copy of SH3 and your not supposed to copy OneAlex over top it. "GWX Onealex mod already comes with the base game fully patched/optimized and includes the best graphic/gameplay mods." this is a direct quote from Kyle9154 on the OneAlex Discord. I've playing OneAlex on 4 computers since version 1.14 and haven't had to unplug anything or disabled anything either. If I mis-understood you in your first post, please except my apologies. Just trying to help out. Jerry ...

Fluffysheap · 12-14-23, 05:13 AM

Antivirus: Don't be too surprised. Onealex includes the h.sie/stiebler executable code mods. The techniques used by them are the same as the ones that bad actors use to slip malware into legitimate programs. The antivirus is only doing its job. There's no virus - as far as I know - but it sure looks like a virus to the tool.

Linux: It's easier to run SH3 on Linux than on Windows these days, but if you don't already run Linux I'm not sure I'd install it just to play SH3. Actually, Linux works well with the stock game and traditional mods, but I have not gotten it to work with widescreen mods due to the widescreen mods using hacks that are difficult to reconcile with WINE.

Hooston · 12-15-23, 06:30 AM

Thankyou for the reassurance fluffysheep. Turning off the firewall and the virus checker is not the way to solve a problem! It is necessary to understand the settings and set up exceptions.

Windows has really tried to clean up its act in the last few years and the fact it is getting harder to run mods is in a way a sign they are finally getting somewhere. When the likes of Norton disappear the process will be complete.
The world is moving to only allowing apps from approved app stores, then running them in a "sandbox" with very limited access to the system. This can make modding and running old apps really difficult. Wine on Linux runs using the user's privileges, which in effect means each user creates their own virtual windows PC running whichever version of Windows they choose. To be honest I can see a market for "Wine for Windows" instead of the various compatibility modes.

Windows used to override a system dll if there was a different version of the dll in the same directory as the application. A big security hole! Wine will not do this automatically, so to get SH3 widescreen mods to run on Wine/Linux you have to run winecfg, select libraries and override the following dlls to use the hacked copies in the SH3 folder:
d3d9 (native/builtin)
msvcp71 (native/builtin)
msvcr71 (native/builtin)

Then edit d3d9.ini in the SH3 folder and make sure that the screen resolution and refresh rate is something supported by your PC/monitor, e.g.
DisplayWidth=1366
DisplayHeight=768
Refreshrate=false

Fluffysheap · 12-16-23, 03:11 AM

Thanks, I will give that a try! I found d3d9 and msvcp but apparently missed msvcr. So naturally I figured the hacked dlls weren't compatible with WINE, or something like that, just kind of back burnered it. I have just been using 1024x768, it's not too awful.

WINE on Windows is kind of a thing. It's obviously a low priority for the devs because... why, right? But it's the only way to run 16-bit software on 64-bit Windows. This is also pretty much how Microsoft implemented 16-bit support on true 32-bit versions of Windows, although of course they didn't use the WINE code, but their own compatibility layer.

11-26-23, 04:22 PM	#1
K-61 Grey Wolf Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Ontario Posts: 795 Downloads: 39 Uploads: 0	What I do on my PC before starting "onealex" mod I have recently downloaded the "onealex" mod and as a veteran player of GWX Gold it is fairly famliar, with a few new bonus bits I like. I wish to tell others so they do not have my problem. Through much play testing I have learned that for me to play this game and not have any subsequent play problems, I must unplug my RJ-45 ethernet cable from my machine, then disable my Norton Antivirus and disable my Norton Firewall. If I do not, the next time I go to the play the game, I cannot load and I get a message about some "sky" file being corrupted. Copying over a clean copy does not fix it. I can only conclude that Norton hates this game. Also, Norton will not let me open the mods section of Subsim, even when I tell it to ignore the warning. This is when using Microsoft Edge. If I use the Chrome browser it lets me in. Very strange. Just wished to share this to prevent others from having the same problem. __________________

11-26-23, 11:48 PM	#2
Hooston 中国水兵 Join Date: Jun 2020 Posts: 276 Downloads: 16 Uploads: 0	Wrong OS Step 1 Download Linux for free. https://ubuntu.com/desktop or getfedora.org for example. Step 2 Install Linux (you can make your PC dual boot or run the OS from a memory stick if you really want) Step 3 Tear remaining hair out trying to understand the Wine Windows compatibility program. Step 4 Run Silent Hunter using Wine Imagine someone using an operating system made by a company that has to involve a third party to make it secure and forces you to buy a new PC every 5 years!

11-27-23, 05:55 AM	#4
Hooston 中国水兵 Join Date: Jun 2020 Posts: 276 Downloads: 16 Uploads: 0	Serious answer Since nobody took the bait with my trolling earlier, a more serious answer. Onealex is Ukrainian. Ukraine is at war with a country famed for its hackers. I'm sure he is honest and very careful about Trojans, but these people are very smart. It seems Norton does not like him in an incompetent sort of way and it is especially worrying that you have to disconnect from your local network to get the game to run. It's not so much who is coming in (you already let Onealex in) but what might be spreading out. There's probably an innocent explanation, e.g. Norton deciding all Russian and Ukrainian language data is dodgy and by disconnecting from the network you are cutting Norton's access to its database. I'd think about a full virus scan and, as suggested, a better checker. Anyone else having these issues?

11-27-23, 09:20 AM	#5
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 falls to the un-signed executable file (SH3.exe) being in the mod, and the "install" routine. __________________ "...and bollocks to the naysayers" - Jimbuna

11-28-23, 10:01 AM	#7
Doolar Expert Shipsinker Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Baltimore,Md./ CA45 Posts: 914 Downloads: 360 Uploads: 0	I may be mistaken and sorry if I am. I read that you ("Copying over a clean copy does not fix it.") copied OneAlex over top a clean install of SH3. OneAlex in an all encompassing mod. You don't need a pre-installed copy of SH3 and your not supposed to copy OneAlex over top it. "GWX Onealex mod already comes with the base game fully patched/optimized and includes the best graphic/gameplay mods." this is a direct quote from Kyle9154 on the OneAlex Discord. I've playing OneAlex on 4 computers since version 1.14 and haven't had to unplug anything or disabled anything either. If I mis-understood you in your first post, please except my apologies. Just trying to help out. Jerry ... __________________ ONEALEX 1.53 ARB / NYGM "ENHANCED Steel Coffin Edition" v7.8 DGUI / CCom12 DGUI / WAC 5.2 DGUI / Toyotagt86 v2.3 ARB / GWX3 DGUI / GWX Knight's Cross v1 Last edited by Doolar; 11-28-23 at 01:32 PM.

11-27-23, 12:49 AM	#3
pmcmull Bosun Join Date: Aug 2023 Location: Phoenix AZ Posts: 66 Downloads: 46 Uploads: 0	I don't want to get into a big discussion here, but Norton is not the best anti-virus to be running. Also you should not need to shut off the firewall. A firewall is only for controlling outside access. But disconnecting from your local internet connection is one sure way to make sure nobody is getting in. Pat

12-14-23, 05:13 AM	#8
Fluffysheap Bosun Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 63 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	Antivirus: Don't be too surprised. Onealex includes the h.sie/stiebler executable code mods. The techniques used by them are the same as the ones that bad actors use to slip malware into legitimate programs. The antivirus is only doing its job. There's no virus - as far as I know - but it sure looks like a virus to the tool. Linux: It's easier to run SH3 on Linux than on Windows these days, but if you don't already run Linux I'm not sure I'd install it just to play SH3. Actually, Linux works well with the stock game and traditional mods, but I have not gotten it to work with widescreen mods due to the widescreen mods using hacks that are difficult to reconcile with WINE.

12-15-23, 06:30 AM	#9
Hooston 中国水兵 Join Date: Jun 2020 Posts: 276 Downloads: 16 Uploads: 0	Windows for modders Thankyou for the reassurance fluffysheep. Turning off the firewall and the virus checker is not the way to solve a problem! It is necessary to understand the settings and set up exceptions. Windows has really tried to clean up its act in the last few years and the fact it is getting harder to run mods is in a way a sign they are finally getting somewhere. When the likes of Norton disappear the process will be complete. The world is moving to only allowing apps from approved app stores, then running them in a "sandbox" with very limited access to the system. This can make modding and running old apps really difficult. Wine on Linux runs using the user's privileges, which in effect means each user creates their own virtual windows PC running whichever version of Windows they choose. To be honest I can see a market for "Wine for Windows" instead of the various compatibility modes. Windows used to override a system dll if there was a different version of the dll in the same directory as the application. A big security hole! Wine will not do this automatically, so to get SH3 widescreen mods to run on Wine/Linux you have to run winecfg, select libraries and override the following dlls to use the hacked copies in the SH3 folder: d3d9 (native/builtin) msvcp71 (native/builtin) msvcr71 (native/builtin) Then edit d3d9.ini in the SH3 folder and make sure that the screen resolution and refresh rate is something supported by your PC/monitor, e.g. DisplayWidth=1366 DisplayHeight=768 Refreshrate=false Last edited by Hooston; 12-15-23 at 07:02 AM.

12-16-23, 03:11 AM	#10
Fluffysheap Bosun Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 63 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	Thanks, I will give that a try! I found d3d9 and msvcp but apparently missed msvcr. So naturally I figured the hacked dlls weren't compatible with WINE, or something like that, just kind of back burnered it. I have just been using 1024x768, it's not too awful. WINE on Windows is kind of a thing. It's obviously a low priority for the devs because... why, right? But it's the only way to run 16-bit software on 64-bit Windows. This is also pretty much how Microsoft implemented 16-bit support on true 32-bit versions of Windows, although of course they didn't use the WINE code, but their own compatibility layer.