Topic: Running SFC Op on windows 8.1

[Bernard Guignard]

Has any one gotten SFC op to run on the above  I've managed to get the basic install done and I get to the skirmish mission then the game freezes on me  I'm running her in compatibilty mode.  do I need to install other patches
before running a game say patching to the most current patch?.  Any help would be greatly appreicated 

[TAnimaL]

I've been putting off attempting doing , just because it's my "work" computer and I shoudn't distract myself I did get the SFC1 Demo installed and running fine, so it seems OP should work too, but.... we'll see

[virag0]

I am using WINE on a Mac to play EAW.  I am going to try OP but am working with this for now. I am certain if you installed WINE on win8 you would have
no trouble running OP as all the dependencies are much the same.


rachel

[Bernard Guignard]

Thanks for the suggestions.  It could be that my screen resolution is affecting the program I just don't that that much about the internal workings of it.  I'm also running the program on an I7 chip with 16 gig of memory.

[virag0]

OK, I just got SFC:OP running on my Mac, with wine-crossover and on patch 2552. 
I kept getting runtime errors so I thought the game would not run but I have it going exactl as good as EAW now
after unistalling and reinstall - it must of had a corrupt file unpacked but this time it works!

I am now going to follow FireSoul's guide unless there is a better suggestiom?


rachel

[virag0]

Firesoul 4.1.1 and Mission refits from Nuclear wessels also now 100%

My specs:

Mac Pro 20gb
Nvidia 8800GT
OSX Mavericks 10.9.2
Wine crossover (macports) v13.0
All the usual tweaks - ask if you need to.

I will test the MP support tomorrow!


rachel

[Tumulorum Fossor]

So has anyone gotten OP to work with Win8.1 yet?  Kind of ironic that a Mac is the only one that can get it running!

[Bernard Guignard]

I loaded it up it starts a single player mission and crashes.

[Tumulorum Fossor]

I loaded it up it starts a single player mission and crashes.

My experience exactly.

[VladVoivode]

Someone mentioned earlier that the dependencies between Win7 and Win8 are pretty much the same. But, it's the "pretty much" that is the problem. I can run SFCOP under Win7 WITH the final Taldren patch. On Win8 it crashes with the Taldren patch which is a drag because I don't use my Win7 machine.

This may seem tangential but I think it is related to some differences between Win7 and 8. A year and a half ago GOG released one of my favorite space RTS games called Conquest: Frontier Wars. It works flawlessly on Win7. On Win8, the message board on GOG is full of users including myself who cannot get Conquest to run at all. GOG has stated that it is a problem they cannot fix. Compatibility mode does not work either.

I wish so very much that Micro$oft would create a Windows Gamer's Edition that would offer true compatibility from XP onward. I started gaming in the Amiga and C64 days then jumped to PC  with Windows 95 as the Amiga was for all intents and purposes dead. I had built up a pretty respectable game library until Vista hit and so many games would no longer run. I realize I am just repeating the same old b***h about Micro$oft but it eludes as to why this mammoth multinational cannot create an operating system that would guarantee backward compatibility with earlier OS.

Anyhow, I hope that someday soon, Dynaverse will tackle SFC: OP as many have stated - and I concur - that it is the definitive Starfleet Commnand game.

Best,
Vlad

[Tumulorum Fossor]

http://www.dynaverse.net/forum/index.php?action=post;topic=163393368.0;last_msg=1123048984

Per this thread, tried this SFC3 fix for win8.1 of placing a downloaded d38.dll in the main game folder and play in windowed mode.

The result for SFC-OP opens a window with proper cursor, beeping properly with clicks, but otherwise completely black screen.

Any hope for Windows10?

Since Win10 will be the "LAST" windows release, hopefully there is time for the gaming community at large to come up with ways to make it generally XP game compatible.  There's always hope...

[Tumulorum Fossor]

Quick question:
Has anyone tried to run the SFC-OP *INSTALLER* in WinXP Compatibility mode for Windows8.1?

[JanB]

If other people have gotten it to run past the main menu then there's at least the possibility of a fix. I should add that for my SFC3 fix I did install DirectX 9 manually and installed DirectX 8 from the game's CD. There's a slight chance you need to do at least one of those things in addition to my fix to get the game running, there's a bigger chance that SFC:OP's older coding just has more issues with Win 8.1 than SFC3. Unfortunately I do not have a fresh install of Win 8.1 or a copy of SFC:OP available right now. But some time soon I will test SFC3 on a fresh install of Win 8.1 before I officially release my fix as part of the 3.1 patch (which also contains the results of all my hex editing work) of my SFC3 Upgrade Mod project.

[Tumulorum Fossor]

Well, right now i'm goofing around with win8.1pro's integrated-but-not-enabled XP Pro virtual hard drive.  I can create a virtual XP Pro machine using Win8.1's Hyper-V virtual machine (already integrated into win8 pro).  But no audio using hyperx vm for xp....
...unless I access that XP VM using Remote Desktop.  THEN SFC OP (and everything else installed under the xp vm) SHOULD output audio just fine...
...only I CAN'T get the RDS (Remote Desktop Service) to connect to the vm.  I think it has to do with how I configured the vm so that it could network, buy i'm not sure.  This is out of my comfort zone, but i'm learning!

[JanB]

Why don't you just install Virtualbox? That's pretty much guaranteed to work if you enable the right settings.

[Tumulorum Fossor]

As stupid as this sounds, because it has become a matter of pride, dammit!
Hyper-X comes with Win8Pro.  So does the XPPro virtual hard drive.  So does the Remote Desktop Connection utility.  So, strictly speaking, if I can make this work, then, strictly speaking, I have found a way to make OP work with Win8.1.

At least that's what I'm telling myself.

And I'm learning stuff while doing this, which is kind of cool.

[Tumulorum Fossor]

Okay, I surrender.  Working with VirtualBox...
... but actually not getting very far with it.  Will keep plugging away...

[Tumulorum Fossor]

Okay, JanB, am typing this now from my VirtualBox XP window on my Win8.1 laptop.
Still need to install SFC-OP however.
Initially, thought Microsoft's Hyper-X was better.  But shortly afterwards, it became clear to me that VirtualBox is simply much more laid out.  After installing the Guest Settings on the XP, networking, audio, even USB, just worked.  Having to deal with the 30day activation window is a bit of a pain, but otherwise this is good.

Now just need to track down all the OP downloads...

Speaking of which, what is everyone installing these days?

OP with Pestalence's 5.1 Enhancement pack, then upgrade EzIni to v2.0, then install XCHardcore?
Then a separate install of UP for UAW?

And any good new model packs out there?

[JanB]

I've tested on a vanilla Windows 8.1 and I can now confirm that all you need to run SFC3 is to place that d3d8.dll file in thw game's directory. However you will only be able to play in windowed mode.

[TAnimaL]

After being prompted by JanB's work on getting SFC3 to work in Win10, I went ahead with trying OP on Win 8.1. I had already installed it in 2014 but, IIRC, I was getting a black screen on startup and couldn't play. I was hoping that JanB's Win8.1 fix for SFC3 would help but for some reason, I didn't need the help!

OP 2.5.5.2 is running stable thru all skirmishes, using windowed mode, 1600x1200, compatibility mode Win XP SP2, Reduced color to 16-bit, run as Admin. Going to try out a multiplayer game later on.

I don't know what "changed" since the install, maybe a Win update, or maybe the 16-bit mode did the trick, but... I have OP working on Win8.1

[JanB]

That's really weird, but amazing! Are you sure there's no d3d8.dll file in your game's directory (perhaps you tried my fix a while ago and forgotten about it)?

[TAnimaL]

Nope, don't see that .dll anywhere. I probably ran the OP-DLL" update when I installed but I can't remember what tis the name of the dll in that...

[Bernard Guignard]

Would someone break down the Steps to install and what to do so I can get OP running on Windows 8.1  I'd really appreciate it
I'm not too tech savy when it comes to windows installs prefering to let the software install its self.

[TAnimaL]

Bernard, I used (as I always do whenever I install OP) start here:
http://www.dynaverse.net/forum/index.php/topic,163359567.0.html
...but only use setps 0-3, which are:
0) Completely disable Anti-Virus Software while installing and patching, then re-enable.
1) Do a clean install from a retail CD. (First, uninstall existing mods, the game, and delete its folder)
2) Patch to 2.5.5.2: ftp://www.dynaverse.net/sfc2_op/patches/SFCOP_Patch_2500-2552.exe (run as admin on Vista/7/8)
3) Edit your shortcut to point to StarfleetOP.exe and correct the "Start In" folder as described in the 2552 patch readme, then use this shortcut to launch the game henceforth. (The correct shortcut can be created easliy by copying StarFleetOP.exe and "paste shortcut" on the desktop)

I usually (almost always) skip the Directory server & Firesoul's OP (steps 4 & 5)
then i use the DLL updater (something not in the other thread)
I sometimes install the OP Community scripts (step 6)
I skip the Forge scripts, but always install the EX-ini utility

Now, I have usually done the port-forwarding listed in that install thread but that doesn't impact directly with running OP in Win 8.1. (In fact, I know I haven't done that on my Win8.1 pc and I still can play multiplayer on Gameranger). I also install some other scripts but not relevant in this case.

Now, yesterday I:
-right-clicked on the StarfleetOP.exe
-checked "Run this program in compatibility mode"
-selected "Windows XP SP2" (note:does anyone think I should be using SP3? Now that it works, I'm paranoid to change anything)
-checked "reduced color mode"
-selected 16-bit color
-finally, checked "Run this as an administrator"

Using the EzINI application, I set my screen to my settings, 1600x1200.
In the sfc.ini file in the OP root folder I set "windowed=1"
(You can also set the display under the "lowres" line - 6=1600x1200, 5=1280x1024, 4=1152x860, 3=1027x768, 2=960x720, 1=800x600, 0=640x480)

That's all I really did, most of this is vanilla type things I'd do for any install. I wish I had stumbled onto some "aha!" moment, but other than the "windowed" setting, it's all the same. I installed gameranger and played myself (er, that sounds wrong) between 2 machines just a few minutes ago.

Please share your results

[JanB]

What's this "DLL Updater" for SFC:OP? I've never heard of it and can't find it anywhere, I'd very much like to get my hands on it and then maybe I can learn something from it to get SFC games working in fullscreen on Windows 8.1 and 10. TAnimal, could you PM me this updater?

[TAnimaL]

Jan, sending you a PM now with it, and will also provide a link shortly for others. I'm blanking at the moment about what dll this is, I just know this has been a crucial early step in any install of OP I've ever done - stupid synapses...

[TAnimaL]

Here's a link to the OP_DLL_Updater
http://www.bylennon.com/SFX/OP_DLL_Updater.exe

According to my notes, "This installer updates Orion Pirates DLL files in order to improve and smooth graphics, decrease multi-player game lag, improve game stability, and to reduce multi-player game drops..." As far as I know it works, or, at least on XP. It's been so long since I did run an install onto XP, and I always just run this updater out of habit, I have no real idea if does do anything.

Bernard, it occured to me that I might have left out a step in my Win8.1 install - I installed OP into the "Program Files (x86)" folder on my C: drive. IIRC, some people say to install into a custom folder of your own in C: in 7/8 (eg - "AwesomeGame") but the "Program...x86)" folder worked for me.

FWIW, a number of years back I made a web page describing an OP install for my archnemesis Belkov when he was reinstalling. This uses the notes in the thread mentioned above and I believe all of the links included are still active.
http://www.bylennon.com/SFX/upgrade.html

[Bernard Guignard]

Thank you I'll see what I can do on the weekend.

[d4v1ks]

Here's a link to the OP_DLL_Updater
http://www.bylennon.com/SFX/OP_DLL_Updater.exe

According to my notes, "This installer updates Orion Pirates DLL files in order to improve and smooth graphics, decrease multi-player game lag, improve game stability, and to reduce multi-player game drops..." As far as I know it works, or, at least on XP. It's been so long since I did run an install onto XP, and I always just run this updater out of habit, I have no real idea if does do anything.

Bernard, it occured to me that I might have left out a step in my Win8.1 install - I installed OP into the "Program Files (x86)" folder on my C: drive. IIRC, some people say to install into a custom folder of your own in C: in 7/8 (eg - "AwesomeGame") but the "Program...x86)" folder worked for me.

FWIW, a number of years back I made a web page describing an OP install for my archnemesis Belkov when he was reinstalling. This uses the notes in the thread mentioned above and I believe all of the links included are still active.
http://www.bylennon.com/SFX/upgrade.html

The OP_DLL_UPDATER link is broken. I can download it, but it's just an empty exe (0 bytes length) !!
Either way thnx for the references there.

[TAnimaL]

Huh. Sorry about that - i just checked and the OP_DLL Updater on my backup drive is the same thing, 0kb. I'll see if i can find the actual file

[TAnimaL]

Well I found out why that op_dll_updater.exe was 0kb - my antivirus is calling it a trojan and "cleaned by deletion." I found the file on my main SFC machine (745kb) where I'm pretty sure I had run it safely, but no doubt did that years ago. I could upload that copy but I'd hate to inflict in youse all if it is a trojan.

This is the warning my Win8.1 nachine throws:
"Scan type: Auto-Protect Scan
Event: Risk Found!
Security risk detected: IRC.Backdoor.Trojan
File: D:\OP_DLL_Updater.exe"

Seeing this makes me realize that I never did run the op_dll_updater on my Win8.1 install, so therefore it didn't help me get OP running on 8.1. I sorta think that my Symantect AV is mis-identifying the updater as a trojan (since it by nature does rewrite some things) but I'd hate to take any chances. FWIW, my main SFC box is a 2007 WinXP that has been on 24/7 for years now with no problems, except with newer things like Chrome etc.

Has anyone else got OP running on Win8.1? Mine is very stable, it seems

[d4v1ks]

Has anyone else got OP running on Win8.1? Mine is very stable, it seems

Man, i'm amazed!!
SFC OP 2552 runs in my Windows 10 64Bit without any trick! Don't need any compatibilty mode at all !!! I just made a fresh install and updated to v2552 and bamm!!
Was setting a virtual machinne to play it, and it did worked too. But i never expected it would even work in win10.
Do it works so well on your win10 machines?

Damm... it even plays the intro credits till the end!
Wtf! Just tried and full screen works too !!!


(If it doesn't work as well in your win10 setups. I could have done something that could help it running, and could be hable to discover/reproduce what was. I was refreshing some dx libraries <= dx9 while working on a hobby)

[TAnimaL]

W00t! That's great to hear about Win10. For the life of me, I have no idea what I did to get it to run in Win81. I just tried it one day. Did the same thing, fresh install from iso. I do have compatibility set for XP SP2 but I'll bet I set those before even attempting to run it. Any way, great news

[d4v1ks]

Discovered a small issue while testing it in windows 10 64bit:

In fullscreen i discovered that if you alt+tab, for example, the game will hang up and stay on top hiding the mouse. I managed to avoid this situation by changing a setting in sfc.ini. After that you will be hable to alt+tab out of the game normally, but the incovinence is that when you return to the game, the graphics will be all messed up. So better avoid doing a alt+tab.

[Mouse]
async=0
hwblit=0

Apart from that, have been playing campaign and all works smoothly.

[Corbomite]

That would happen often even when on an OS it was designed for.

[KBF-Butcher]

I remember this happening as well in some occasions even with winxp. Was really frustrating if you would get a pop up which d force you out of the game and then return to find graphics messed up. However in some cases if you would wait for a while it would recover.
Good news though, now what remains is to make it work on dyna and continue the SG and GW series servers ...

[d4v1ks]

Wow, i just tried SFC OP today in gameRanger and it worked at first try!!
Was using v2552, OP+ 4.0 and EzINI.

I'm using Windows 10 64 bit and the game runs smoothly!!
But, the bad news is that i didnt found anyone with Windows 10 that has hable even to install it.
Its very wierd. I feel sad about it.
Must be some of the directx sdk i installed when i was working in one of my games.
I will try to track it down. To see what i can do to help other have this good experience...
Have to do a backup and reset my windows 10, cause i have no ideia of what i did to make it work. And start from the bottom.
I will give more details as soon i have any news...

[TAnimaL]

I've been holding off from installing Win10 just because I'm a heavy Adobe Creative Suite user at the moment and haven't researched it yet. Also, have you tried using Evolve?

[d4v1ks]

I have it installed. But didn't tried it yet after the upgrade to windows 10 this summer

[d4v1ks]

* Well, i did a fresh install of Windows 10 in my machine to test why i could run SFC OP on it and others don't.
I did the usual things i do: Runned the Windows update, disk cleaner, set up my home network and homegroup,
set my power options to high performance, downloaded my graphic and sound card latest drivers. Installed them.
Set up my graphic card to single display and max power performance.
  The base was set to test why i could run it so well.

* I took my ISO image of SFC OP. Load it with daemon tools (my favorite). Runned the setup without any problems
  (clicked only on the program files checkbox). Closed it.
  Patched it with v2552, installed OP+4.0, EzINI, the usual...
  Dropped there the SFC.INI i had before.
  Started the game; Entered the key; Entered in multiplayer; The Windows detected that the game needed a feature
  called DirectPlay. I installed it; Firewall pops up. I leave the game (or it would hang up there if i alt+tab) to authorize it;
  After that, i tried to play a campaign. Entered battle. Lost a 1v3 and won a 1v1. Nothing special.

* It offered no problems at all. Everything runned normally and smoothly!
  So what would be the diference between my experience and others experience?


  I THINK, its related to how Windows handles security! SFC series are old exe files.

1 - If you can't install from CD, then open it and copy all files into your personnal document folder.
     For example "C:\Users\D4v1ks\Documents\SfcIso". And install from there.

2 - When you are installing the game please install it into your user folder too.
    I installed mine into "C:\Users\D4v1ks\Documents\My Games\Starfleet Command Orion Pirates".

3 - I'm sure if you install it elsewhere, aside from your personnal or public folders, Windows will have a high probability of mess with you.

4 - Even so, if you follow these 3 points and still have problems, then it must be related to SFC.INI, or your drivers! Apart from the hardware, its the only diference between my setup and yours .

Enjoy! Its so cool!
You dont need to setup any compatibility mode or wierd tricks. And it works in window and full screen modes !!
I spent +2 hours to prove to you how simple it was. Life long and prosper to Windows 10!


Edit1:
   Here is a link to the sfc.ini i'm using currently: http://pastebin.com/j8vVthga

[Corbomite]

You may have hit on the major issue here, i.e. that SFC wants to install into Program Files by default and Program Files no longer exists.

[TAnimaL]

I don't know about Win10 yet, but my Win8.1 OP installed into the C: "Program Files (x86)" - I knew about the "my games" folder approach but decided to try it in "x86" first.  No messes and runs very stable. Bt all means I think people should install into a personal folder, I'm just curious as why that didn't matter on my box. Is there a possibility that MS changed something in 8.1 along the way from 8? I'm also curious, Win10 has a "Program Files (x86)" folder, right? Or has a lot changed?

[d4v1ks]

It has a program files(x86) too! But let me tell you. With my experience in these last months, its not a 100% safe approach. Even Microsoft software refuses to work when installed in those folders sometimes. They need administrator privilages to just use "c:\windows\temp" for example !! Its insane. I highly recommend installing it to a personal user folder like in the example i gave above. In the end, what's the diference? I am in favor of those scricter security rules. Its our computers that are in risk.

Dam... eheheh i've nothing installed in my pc now. Have to reinstall a bunch of things..

[TAnimaL]

You're right but it works both ways, "what's the difference?" OP is working, and  there is a lot of other software in that folder from a variety of sources that all work fine too. So, unless it stops working, I'll just leave it

[Corbomite]

I guess I should clarify: Program Files as we knew it no longer exists. From my experience Program Files now only seems to like things that actually have something to do with Windows. Other programs seem to be happier outside that section. YMMV.

[d4v1ks]

You're right but it works both ways, "what's the difference?"

None! I'm happy that it works.
Guys, if anyone has Windows 10 installed can you check if just setting...

[Mouse]
async=0
hwblit=0

Will solve all windows10 related problems, beside installing it in a "safe folder"?
Thnx.

[Bernard Guignard]

Since I posted this I've upgraded to windows 10 on my main machine. I might just have to try this.

[Corbomite]

My OP machine is still on XP, then again I haven't fired up the game in over a year...

[d4v1ks]

Adam don't forget that the free upgrade to Windows 10 is valid only for a year.

If you have really that patience and free time... you can make a system image backup, upgrade to get the license, make an image system again, and get back to win7. That way you would have always a backup with a valid license for when you feel ready to try it.
I jumped from win7 to win10 and don't miss many things. I know that there are some important pieces of software that aren't upgraded to win10 yet. But it must be only a matter of time.

[Klingon Fanatic]

I don't reading the Windows 10 upgrade to be only free for 1 year.

If, true then Microsoft is essentially holding millions of PCs/laptops hostage in a form of extortion LOL. Can you imagine the Class Action lawsuit that should result?

Back to the task at hand:

I'm looking to come back to this game but I'm very frustrated attempting to get SFC: OP to run.

I am on Windows 10 and have tried running SFC:OP in windows XP, 7, and 8 compatibility mode and nothng changes for me.  I've tried the above mod and have a separate FRESH install (non-patched) and neither works.  I also tried the new 2560 SFCOP.exe from the Unofficial SFC:OP patch.

So far I can get to the skirmish screen and from there the game hangs...

Anybody using Windows 10 figure this out?

[d4v1ks]

Have you tried the solution above?

"...here is a link to the full game after installed (484MB). http://1drv.ms/1MHjOOC It still requires a key to work!!
   Just unpack it on your personnal documents folder using a tool like http://www.7-zip.org/"

being a personnal folder, something like "C:\Users\Klingon Fanatic\Documents"



About the 1 year free upgrade. Theres a lot of info on net about it. Here's an example:
http://www.neowin.net/news/psa-windows-10-upgrade-is-only-free-in-the-first-year-if-you-have-a-valid-qualifying-license

[TarMinyatur]

KF, does it hang here?

[Klingon Fanatic]

KF, does it hang here?

Yes. That is where it hangs for me.

[d4v1ks]

Where you have the game installed?
Did you followed any of the instructions above?
Have you all your graphic card and sound drivers up to date?
Have you installed the directplay feature that sfcop asks for?

[Klingon Fanatic]

Where you have the game installed?

C:/Program Files (x86)

Did you followed any of the instructions above?

Pretty sure I did everything right. I was playing this a few months when I had Windows 8.1 but uninstalled this before I got Windows 10.

You have all your graphic card and sound drivers up to date?

Yes. I have been playing much more modern PC games with steeper requirements.

You installed the directplay feature that sfcop asks for?

If you mean  Direct X 8, then no. I have the most current version of Direct X installed.

I also copiedthe mod posted above and even added the unofficial 2560 patch and I just can get past the skirmish selection screen.

[d4v1ks]

Where you have the game installed?

"C:/Program Files (x86)"  +  "I was playing this a few months when I had Windows 8.1 but uninstalled this before I got Windows 10."   -------->  Error 1
"You installed the directplay feature that sfcop asks for?"  +  "If you mean  Direct X 8, then no. I have the most current version of Direct X installed."   -----------> Error 2

Error 1:  Windows 10 is not Windows 8/8.1. Security is handled diferently! Try to install it in a personal folder as sugested above please...
Error 2:  Windows 10 pops an warning when entering game saying it needs a feature to work. May be dependent on solving Error 1 first.

[Klingon Fanatic]

d4v1ks

Thanks again for the help.

I moved my copy of the SFC OP  mod posted above to my documents, clicked on install direct x 8, and adjusted my SFCOPSetupMFC to Software/800 x600 and I am happy to report SFC:OP 2560 is working properly.

Strange that it would not work on my desktop.

Now to recollect my favorite models....

[d4v1ks]

No problem!
We discovered now that installing SFC to some places doesn't work on Windows 10 as we suspected!
By look of the posts above...

"C:\Program Files(x86)\"
"C:\Users\JohnDoe\Desktop\"

Seems both dead ends.
Of course aditional testing will not hurt.

[Javora]

When I installed SFC OP to my old Win 7 system, I put it in C:\Taldren\

This worked for me without any issues.  I haven't tried it with Win 10 yet but I don't expect any issues.  Hope this helps.

[ObsidianShiar]

"C:\Program Files(x86)\"

This one isn't a new problem, it came with Windows Vista and the infamous UAC system. Deactivate it and you should be good to go.

"C:\Users\JohnDoe\Desktop\"

The desktop is not supposed to hold programs/games

[d4v1ks]

 

[Tumulorum Fossor]

Holy Moley!

I gave up on this long ago, saw d4v1ks's posts on busting through q3 documentation, then saw this!!!

THANK YOU D4V1KS!!!!!!!!

Now let me see if I can get this to work!!!!

Addendum:
Okay, real stupid question:
After extracting the rar ISO to C:>Users>[name]>Documents>SfcIso, what do you click to install the thing? Autorun.bat doesn't do anything.  And there's a setup.q3 file, but no setup.exe.

[d4v1ks]

You are talking about the rar file "sfcop + 2552 + op+4.0" right?
After extracting it there, you should be hable to run it wirhout doing an installation. Just start the starfleetOP.exe. If the game doesn't start, then its possible that you need to unblock it.

[Tumulorum Fossor]

When I click on StarFleetOP.exe, I get a window with error headlined, "StarFleetOP.exe - Entry Point Not Found" with a big red X symbol and the text: "The procedure entry point MiniDumpWriteDump could not be located in the dynamic link library C:\\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\dlumd9.dll"

[d4v1ks]

Seems like you are missing something...

I think its related to the page below. A driver issue.
Try to download the "Latest DisplayLink Software Release" for your windows.

http://www.displaylink.com/downloads/downloads.php

[Tumulorum Fossor]

Though I do have a DisplayLink device which I have rarely connected to this laptop, the drivers were supposedly up to date. I did uninstall and reinstall the latest drivers in the link you gave, though.

But same error.

Sigh.

[d4v1ks]

Maybe its trying to use that display, that you rarely connects, and is not hable to find it!
could you try to disable it on device manager and try if it works that way?

[Tumulorum Fossor]

There's no entry for the DisplayLink on my device manager (the DisplayLink is not hooked up... it's a little box that connects to a USB2.0 and thereby provides HDMI connectivity, with robust multimonitor support).  I suspect that if I hooked up the DisplayLink, THEN I would have a device manager entry.

Found reference to a similar error with someone trying to play game, Ragnarok Online (I don't know anything about that game), wherein he seems to have solved the problem by putting the dll in question in his Ragnarok Online install folder:
https://www.reddit.com/r/RedditRO/comments/2fxprj/game_fails_to_launch_entry_point_error/

But that didn't work for me.

I might just try to install myself to the user documents folder by digging out my old CD...

[TarMinyatur]

After extracting the rar ISO to C:>Users>[name]>Documents>SfcIso, what do you click to install the thing? Autorun.bat doesn't do anything.  And there's a setup.q3 file, but no setup.exe.

This is strange. You should see setup.exe when you mount the Orion Pirates ISO. (I use Virtual Clone Drive to mount ISO files.)

But you found StarfleetOP.exe, so you installed the game to some extent. Maybe the ISO needs to be unblocked first.

[ObsidianShiar]

It may be a good idea to replace the Setup.exe found in the ISO with the one provided in this thread (InstallShield 5, not 3): http://www.reactos.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10988

[TarMinyatur]

It may be a good idea to replace the Setup.exe found in the ISO with the one provided in this thread (InstallShield 5, not 3): http://www.reactos.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10988

The setup.exe on the Orion Pirates ISO is InstallShield v5.50.137.0. It is 32-bit. I don't know what it is on the CD-ROM.

[TAnimaL]

Ohkkaayyy, after months of OP working in Win 8.1 here, is now partly broken.

Since it had been stable and playable as stock OP with 2552 since August, I decided to copy over my favorite models, shiplists and music to personalize it. I had also gotten a little grief o/l about not having it someplace other than "Program Files (x86)," so I copied the entire "Taldren Software Inc" containing SFCOP to another dir ("C>Games"). When launched now, however, I  just get a black screen with music playing. I tried changing the sfc.ini entry "[Mouse] async=1" to =0, but it didn't help, got the same thing. When I copied the folder back to "Program Files (x86)" though, it works just fine - I can play the stock version, I can switch to my personalized "OP15a" variant and back and is very playable. I've copied the folder back and forth between  "Program Files(x86)" and other folders and the only place OP works in is "Program...(x86)." Any thoughts?

[TarMinyatur]

TAnimaL, I never had any success copying installed (i.e. registry written) games from one folder to another. I believe the registry "wants" StarfleetOP.exe to be in Program Files (x86), not in C:\Users\TAnimaL\Orion_Pirates, for example. Completely uninstall SFC:OP if you want to reinstall to a personal folder. Back in the days of Windows 98, I think you could cut & paste applications without much trouble. The OS didn't freak out.

Hmm... Maybe your desktop shortcut still points to the previous location, Program Files (x86)? If so, it will fail.

[TAnimaL]

Thanks Tar, when I do a fresh install I'll try that. I'm not using the shortcut, using the starfleetop.exe w/in SFCOP. It runs, just a black screen tho.

[TarMinyatur]

Post your sfc.ini [3D] contents here. Something like:

[3D]
wireframe=0 ; If set to 1, this means use software rendering (generally slow but reliable) instead of hardware rendering.
windowed=0 ; If set to 1, this means use Windowed mode.
zbuffer=1
lowres=3 ; If set to a resolution greater than your desktop, it cannot work.
driver=0 ; 0 means use your "primary driver". I've not had success with other numbers.

Here are the options for "LowRes":
0 = (800,600)
1 = (640,480)
2 = (960,720)
3 = (1024,768)
4 = (1152,864)
5 =(1280,1024)
6 = (1600,1200)

...And you know about:

[Mouse]
async=0 ; 1 might work
hwblit=0 ; 1 won't work

[Tumulorum Fossor]

Whelp, I uninstalled altogether the DisplayLink software (I don't really use the DisplayLink device much anymore anyway), and lost the  "StarFleetOP.exe - Entry Point Not Found" error.

But now when I double click the StarfleetOP.exe file, there is a flash as two windows open up then close, too quickly for me to make out anything.  In the upper left corner of the desktop, is a black window that flashes into then out of existence. I THINK that's OP trying to run.  In the lower right of the desktop, I white window flashes in and out of existence. I can only make out the window title: "Debug Window".  Then nothing.

This is using the iso provided, and placed and the rar expanded in C:Users/[name]/Documents/SfcOPIso/SFC OP (v2552 + OpPlus 4.0 + EzINI) without key/Starfleet Command Orion Pirates .

I didn't alter the sfc.ini from the rar offered here.  My desktop resolution is 1920x1080.

Any ideas?

Oh, if I try to setup from the CD directly, the setup.exe doesn't do anything.  The disk spins a couple seconds after one selects "INSTALL" from the SFC Install window that opens, but then nothing happens and the window closes.

Sigh.

[d4v1ks]

Maybe you have something installed that os blocking the game to run.
Try to disable your anti-virus and firewall and test if it runs that way.

[Tumulorum Fossor]

Even disabling Panda Security, and changing graphics processor from NVidia to Intel integrated graphics, still same result.
Sux.

[d4v1ks]

I didn't alter the sfc.ini from the rar offered here.  My desktop resolution is 1920x1080.

Any ideas?

You wrote that you hadnt altered the SFC.INI. Can you please open it and try the settings bellow?

[3D]
wireframe=1
windowed=0
zbuffer=1
lowres=0
driver=0

[Mouse]
async=0
hwblit=0

[Tumulorum Fossor]

With those settings (which only changed wireframe from 0 to 1 from what I was running), the untitled all-black window taking up about 25pct of the desktop in the upper left corner no longer flashes, but lasts about 20 seconds, then disappears.  There is no flash of a white "debug" window anymore either, but still nothing playable.

[d4v1ks]

Well.. could be a hardware or driver issue.. laptops with 2 graphics cards could sometimes switch automatically between 1 and another.
Could you just try to see if it runs in windows mode?
Just change this setting to 1.

[3D]
windowed=1

[Tumulorum Fossor]

Thanks for trying! It is appreciated!

But sadly, even in windowed mode, black corner window in upper left of desktop for about 30 seconds.  Then nothing.

[TarMinyatur]

Have you tried running SFC:CE on Windows 8.1?

[Tumulorum Fossor]

Okay, exciting progress.

First, no, I have not tried with CE (don't have it... should I get it?)

I right clicked on StarfleetOP.exe, selected "Troubleshoot Compatibility" and a "Program Compatibility Troubleshooter" window opened up.
There, I was given two options:
-"Try recommended settings. Select this option to test run program using recommended compatibility settings."
-"Troubleshoot program. Select this option to choose compatibility settings based on problems you notice."

I chose the first option.  The Troubleshooter then read, "Test compatibility settings for the program. Settings applied to StarFleetOP: Windows compatibility mode: Windows XP (Service Pack 3)"

With that, I got to the loading screen (though it is running in a smaller unlabelled window in the upper left corner taking up about 25% of the screen), was able to put in my CD code, and voila! Was running.
Noticed one weird thing.  If I pressed Esc while making the SFCOP window active, large text "Paused" would read across the game screen in game font, but the game would still be running.  If I clicked onto the desktop away from the game window, the game window would say "Paused" in conventional small Windows font, with black background, though I think the game was still running in background.  Haven't played enough to find more aberrancies, but so far so good!

Anything special/custom on your iso, d4vv1ks?  Like models or anything?
Any special ini settings you recommend to see if I can get fullscreen?

Since I ran the compatibility troubleshooter, when I just doubleclick on StarfleetOP.exe, it runs just like above, without having to go through it all over again, btw.

[d4v1ks]

I'm happy for you! That you made it work.
The game is running in window mode.
To change it back to fullscreen, please open your SFC.ini and make this small change:

[3D]
windowed=0

And voilá!