Info: Windows 7 *GUARANTEED* fix

[oracbob]

Hi,

I have tried the fixes recommended here, including the ones from IMP, Nitro and NCrawler - all to no avail. I seem to have a slightly different problem. I can get the game to load and run ok but am unable to save a PBEM game.

I went back and completely deleted everything and reinstalled the game from the CD reloading all the patches (in order). This generated the same issue - game loads Ok.

The game plays Ok as well and I can run the PBEM turns sent to me perfectly well. It all looks good until the end of the turn and then once the game has completed its routines, only the .cmt file is updated. the .dat file vanishes.

I am running Windows 7 Ultimate on a Dell Inspiron Laptop XPS L701X - Quad 4 Core 8 threads, 16GB Ram and its 64 bit. I am suspecting the 64 bit thing might be an issue as that has caused us a few issues with the software we use at work as well.

Note also that the widescreen update for this game hasn't worked for me - I ended up with the fuzzy odd coloured graphic issue. I then uninstalled everything and reinstalled it and ended up back where I started.

I don't have any XP machines left either unfortunately.

Any way - has anyone else come across this particular issue?

Cheers

[DRG]

When you re-installed the game did you re-install it in the default Program Files folder ?

If yes, re-install in your C: drive. As is mentioned in the read me's in the patches and on these forums Vista and Win7 changed the way files that are installed into the Program files folder and has an annoying tendency to save files elsewhere and this problem goes away when the game is installed outside program files.

There may be a setting that will get Win7 to behave itself and save files where they should be but for now the solution is to install the game outside program files and your .DAT files will no longer "disappear"

Try a file search for SpEml*.* and you'll probably find them stored in some temp folder someplace

You do not tell us if you are trying to run the game windowed or fullscreen in regard to the fullscreen patch.

For the record ALL of the patches for the last couple of years all have this information

HERE ARE SOME QUICK TIPS FOR VISTA AND WIN7 USERS

-Install winSPWW2 in a separate Games folder, NOT in the Program Files if you're on 64 bit Vista . However you WILL need to remember this when installing patches such as this. If you are using Vista 32 it is OK to use the default, Program Files folder.

-Disable the intro. It the first line on the GameOptions screen.

- After installing the game right click on your winSPWW2 Icon and go to the Compatability tab & select Disable desktop composition.

Don

[oracbob]

Thanks DRG - I am away from home for a few days (and the CD) so will have a crack at reinstalling in a separate folder when I get back. I will report back any results. A search for SpEml*.* and also for all .dat files returned a nil result.

The game was installed/reinstalled in the c:/programfiles directory. I will check back on the windowed/full screen question - I think it was both (i.e I experimented with both options) but I will confirm when I have time for testing.

Thanks again for the feedback.

[DRG]

The attachment is a revised **experimental** CMD file to be used **ONLY** by players who have tried the gameoptions BETA we issued a few weeks back but

A/ Still had trouble running the game

or

B/ The first one worked but want to provide feedback for us to make the game better for everyone


If you have installed the BETA game Options for MBT to correct problems encountered running FULL SCREEN mode in windows 7 you will also have a file named Win7SPMBT.cmd

save your original Win7SPMBT.cmd either by renaming it ( such as XXWin7SPMBT.cmd ) or copying to another folder then run the attached Win7SPMBT.cmd and let me know if you see any difference.

ALSO, I would ask anyone who may have had occasional problems running windowed mode to try running the game in GDI MODE and let us know if running GDI makes any positive difference. Andy found in preliminary tests with his new Win7 laptop that using the GDI setting eliminated the occasional occurrence of "Psychedelic screen palette" while in windowed mode.


Just a reminder this needs to be extracted to your main winSPMBT folder

Thanks

Don

[Mobhack]

Originally Posted by DRG

The attachment is a revised **experimental** CMD file to be used **ONLY** by players who have tried the gameoptions BETA we issued a few weeks back but

A/ Still had trouble running the game

or

B/ The first one worked but want to provide feedback for us to make the game better for everyone


If you have installed the BETA game Options for MBT you will also have a file named Win7SPMBT.cmd

save your original Win7SPMBT.cmd either by renaming it ( such as XXWin7SPMBT.cmd ) or copying to another folder then run the attached Win7SPMBT.cmd and let me know if you see any difference.

ALSO, I would ask anyone trying this to run one test with GameOptions set to GAME MODE - DirectX and one test with it set to GDI and let me know if running GDI made any positive difference. Andy found in preliminary tests with his new Win7 laptop that using the GDI setting eliminated the occasional occurrence of "Psychedelic screen palette"


Just a reminder this needs to be extracted to your main winSPMBT folder

Thanks

Don

Remember though

1) The command file is for FULL SCREEN mode in windows 7.

2) Using GDI as an option is for WINDOWED mode psychedelic palette problems in Windows 7.
On my new W7 laptop GDI mode is rock stable - and as a bonus no compatibility mode switches need be set (thus no irritating UAC advisor dialogue box).

Andy

[Stratos]

I tried on WinSPWW2 with no luck. I'm on Win7 64 bits. Any idea?

[Mobhack]

Originally Posted by Stratos

I tried on WinSPWW2 with no luck. I'm on Win7 64 bits. Any idea?

What exactly did you try?

- The modified WinSPMBT GameOptions programme?. Sorry wont work (the hint is in the MBT part of the name. MBT and WW2 programs and utilities are slightly different and so incompatible).

- Just the CMD file, manually?. If so, did you actually edit the CMD file to change the EXE name to WinSPWW2 rather than WinSPMBT?.

And you tried this under full-screen mode, right?. The CMD file fix (and the test GameOptions as well) is for that mode only.

Also: I'll assume that you have installed the game to a folder that is outside of the "managed" folders i.e. C:\Games\WinSPWW2 or similar?.


Andy

[Stratos]

Have my game here:

C:\Program Files\Shrapnel Games\The Camo Workshop\WinSPWW2

I tried in full screen mode, and NO I not edited the CMD file as I have no idea of how to do that.

[DRG]

Originally Posted by Stratos

Have my game here:

C:\Program Files\Shrapnel Games\The Camo Workshop\WinSPWW2

I tried in full screen mode, and NO I not edited the CMD file as I have no idea of how to do that.

This is the WinSPMBT forum so why are you telling us about winSPWW2 on this forum ? :

You installed the CMD file..... that's great. WHICH ONE ??? Our's or NCrawlers ? How are we to know if you don't tell us ?

*IF* you are running win7 ( which you don't say but I'll assume you are ) we have been telling people for months to install the game OUTSIDE Program Files becasue win7 has it's own ideas on where to save files when a game is installed in program files. The first thing you need to do is re-install the game in you main C; Drive folders try

C:\Shrapnel Games\The Camo Workshop\WinSPWW2

for a start

Since I don't know which CMD file you've tried to use I cannot tell you what to change but the first thing you should do is re-install as discribed above then when you have done that tell us exacty where the game is and we can go to the next step. We will be issueing a complete set of win7 instructions soon and cutting all these sticky threads loose so players do not get further confused.

However, to EDIT a CMD file simply RIGHT CLICK on it then right below START you'll see EDIT. Click on EDIT and make the changes

IF you are trying to use the NCrawler CMD it looks like this

@echo off
@echo ================================================
@echo NCrawler's winSPMBT Windows 7 color fix
@echo ================================================
@echo This fix closes explorer.exe, waits until it is closed and then launches winSPMBT
@echo off

taskkill /f /IM explorer.exe
winSPMBT.exe
Start explorer.exe


change that to this for winSPWW2

@echo off
@echo ================================================
@echo NCrawler's winSPMBT Windows 7 color fix
@echo ================================================
@echo This fix closes explorer.exe, waits until it is closed and then launches winSPMBT
@echo off

taskkill /f /IM explorer.exe
start/w winSPWW2.exe
Start explorer.exe


You'll note we have refined the start game line somewhat

If you were trying to run our GameOptions BETA for MBT it won't work with SPWW2


Don

[Stratos]

Thanks DRG, is working now, a bit laggy but working. Now two clarifications.

1- I posted this here cause I used the CMD of the first page of this post.

and

2- I said which OS I'm using in the post just over the Mobhack one