DISCLAIMER
1. I don't work for SSI or Mattel, and have nothing to do with those firms
2. The solution I propose works fine for MY version (sh10325fra) of Silent Hunter, on MY computer. I can't give any guarantee for other versions or other systems
3. Suggested file modifications are at your own risks. I can't be held for  responsible for any damages resulting from wrong use of the described DOS copy command, or the split49.exe program, nor can its owners be.
 

HOW TO DO IT
If you've ever tried to use the patches for upgrading a non-English version of Silent Hunter, you're probably familiar with the "Wrong CD" error window which pops up after launching the patched version of sh.exe.

The problem is, sh.exe checks the size of the 10.smk file in the XX:\sh\bud directory (where XX is the root directory of your CD-ROM drive). The 16 *.smk files in this directory contain the corresponding 16 interviews of Bud Gruner. Their sizes therefore depend on the language of the soundtrack.

The size of the English version of 10.smk is EXACTLY 17'028'772 bytes. To lure the patched sh.exe file, you simply have to change the size of your version of this file. Because downloading the English version of this relatively big file would take hours, you have to proceed manually.

Let's do it.
 

STEPS
1. Do a minimal installation of Silent Hunter if you want to save some disk space;
2. Create a \bud directory in your \Silent directory;
3. Copy the XX:\sh\bud\10.smk from your Silent Hunter CD in this \silent\bud directory. Copy all *.smk files if you want to play the unmodified interviews with the patched version;
4. Open the shpath.ini file in your \Silent directory with the notepad;
5. Change the "BUD    =XX:\SH\BUD\" line into "BUD    =BUD\";
6. Save and close the file;
7. Patch STEP BY STEP (I insist) from your version to version 1.31 (by example: 1.00 to 1.11, then 1.11 to 1.30, then 1.30 to 1.31), using the corresponding files you can download at http://subsim.com/ssr/. If you don't do it that way, some features may not work, eventually making your computer crash  (by example, Northern Japan map, photo reckon and lifeguard duty missions);
9. Open a DOS prompt, go to your \Silent\bud directory, and type "dir 10.smk".

Compare the size of your file with the 17'028'772 bytes of the English version
- Your version is smaller (case of the French version I own). Go to "A";
- Your version is bigger (who knows: might happen). Go to "B";
- Your version has EXACTLY 17'007'604 bytes. LUCKY DAY! Go to "C";
 
 

A. Your version is smaller, and you have to add X bytes to your 10.smk file.

1. Open notepad, and type in X/2 characters (one ASCII character corresponds to 2 bytes). What you type in doesn't matter, as long as the file size is right;
2. Save the file as temp.smk in your \Silent\bud directory, then close notepad;
3. Open a DOS prompt, go to the \Silent\bud directory, and type in EXACTLY:
copy temp.smk /b + 10.smk /b 102.smk /b
del 102.smk
rename 102.smk 10.smk

What you did is a binary ("/b") concatenation ("+") of temp.smk and 10.smk, with result in 10_2.smk, which you then renamed in 10.smk.
 
 

B. Your version is bigger, and you have to subtract X bytes from your 10.smk file.

1. Download split49.zip from the internet, by example at: http://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/unix.html;
2. Double-click it, then extract split49.exe into your \Silent\bud directory;
3. Double-click it, then type in when requested:
source file name: 10.smk
base name for destination files: 10
split by (b)ytes, etc.: b
number of bytes per destination file: 17028772
4. Open a DOS prompt, go to your \Silent\bud directory, and type in:
del 10.smk
del 10.002
del split49.exe
rename 10.001 10.smk

What you did is split your 10.smk file in as many 17028772 bytes files as possible, named 10.001 and 10.002, and take the first one as new 10.smk file.
 
 

C. Your version has EXACTLY 17'007'604 bytes.

1. Download both french.txt and french.bat files from LINK TO BE ADDED into your \Silent\bud directory
2. Open a DOS prompt, go to this directory, and type in:
french
del french.bat
del french.txt
 
 

In all cases, you SHOULD now have a 10.smk file with a size of 17'028'772 bytes (check it on a DOS prompt!).
If this proves to be right, you're now the proud owner of a working patched version of Silent Hunter.
If not, you have to go over it again.

Enjoy!
All ahead, flank!
Pascal
 

PS:

The modified 10.smk file is not an interview anymore, and you won't be able to play it. However, even if you try (or any of the other interviews if they've not been
copied on your \Silent\bud directory), it won't make Silent Hunter crash.

You're going to have funny language mixes, like French spoken English text, or German description of a submarine which was proposed to you in English...

If you've done a full installation of Silent Hunter on your hard disk, you can now play it without the CD...

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