Topic: Connection Issue, The Forge (and others) (Read 2290 times)

ZTempest · « **on:** May 06, 2006, 07:41:01 pm »

Hi Guys!

Me again

Okay, I installed cleanly from the CD, patched to 2552, then installed OP+ with models. Then I installed the scripts for The Forge.

I'm Set! But wait...something is still wrong....

I turn off all of my firewalls (windows XP and McAfee). Now I am ready to go!

I log into the Dyna, no problems. I see the servers up and running. The Forge has three people logged in! Excellent!

I hit join...get the countdown for about a second, connect, then something about security...

Then I am dumped to desktop. Repeatedly. For some reason, I can't get into the campaign. I thought that maybe this would be a campaign file recognition issue -- I seem to remember that if you don't have the proper files installed, etc, then a campaign won't let you in.

I am sure that this is something simple that I have overlooked. I will check back later, and do a fresh reinstall and see if that fixes the problem.

Bonk · « **Reply #1 on:** May 06, 2006, 07:59:34 pm »

If your files don't match those on the server you should get a message to that effect, not a crash to desktop.

This reminds me of video drivers issues for some reason. (counterintuitive, I know...) But I seem to recall that rolling back drivers to old stable versions solved this problem for ATI and NVIDIA cards.

You don't happen to be running a 64 bit processor and OS do you? (I still can't imagine why that would be needed for home PCs, there is just no need of it)

I notice in your other post you have a super-duper extra-new video card setup. Do you have an older machine you can play from?

Perhaps try disabling visual themes again as you had suggested.

Pestalence's "stabilty" update might also be worth a try:
http://www.dynaverse.net/downloads/sfc2_op/Updates_Enhancements/OP_DLL_Updater.exe

ZTempest · « **Reply #2 on:** May 06, 2006, 10:27:03 pm »

Well, been working on this all night. Brings back memories

Like the time I could not get into Rooks Tavern...about went nuts LOL

Oh well..here is what I have discovered.

I can get into single player games and skirmishes, no problem...so I am doubting that it is a video card issue.

I tried running the game in different compatibility modes. When I ran it in Windows 98/ME compatibility mode I got past the "initializing security" entry, but then got an error message saying that I was missing a file, or that I had a file that was incompatible. The file name for that missing file was....

sfcfleetop.exe

Hmm. Well...I tried it in Windows 95 compatibility, same result. I tried it in Windows 2000 mode, and it nearly locked my system, then crashed to desktop. I tried it again in Windows XP mode, and all it does is reach the "initializing security", then the screen flashes, and I get dumped back to windows.

Not sure what to do at this point. I suspect that it has something to do with Windows XP Pro. I will continue to research it.

If any of you have any ideas, let me know....I did a complete, fresh reinstall from the CD also. Same result.

Bonk · « **Reply #3 on:** May 06, 2006, 10:35:51 pm »

Quote

The file name for that missing file was....

sfcfleetop.exe

AHA! How are you starting the game? The CD is not required to play. Use the shortcut to start the game and ensure the "Start In" parameter is the folder where StarfleetOP.exe is located.

Or browse to the install folder, copy StarfleetOP.exe and paste it as a shortcut on the desktop, then use only that shortcut to start the game. (this will create the right shortcut parameters).

KBFLordKrueg · « **Reply #4 on:** May 06, 2006, 11:05:13 pm »

Doesn't the OP+4.0 have that fix now included?

ZTempest · « **Reply #5 on:** May 06, 2006, 11:52:05 pm »

I have started the game directly from the folder using the sfcfleetop.exe, and my shortcut is mapped to the right directory. I also have Firesoul's OP+ 4.0 installed.

It is sort of mystifying. I can get the game started all the way up to the point where I enter a campaign...then it sends me back to desktop.

If I change the compatibility mode on sfcfleetop.exe then it seems that the game does not recognize the file, or thinks it is incompatible.

I have heard that there are different versions of 2500-2552 out there -- I am downloading the one from the dynaverse site now. Maybe that will make a difference.

Dfly · « **Reply #6 on:** May 07, 2006, 12:05:18 am »

I do remember a few games may have had 2.5.0.1 to start. check your starting disk to see if that is the case. It was rare but there were a few out there if I remember right. Otherwise perhaps someone could actually just send you the file you need? may be easier.

KBF-Crim · « **Reply #7 on:** May 07, 2006, 01:25:27 am »

Make sure you arent running any anti virus software when you DL the patch...it can be corrupted

Mog · « **Reply #8 on:** May 07, 2006, 04:53:51 am »

Zach, see if this thread helps.

http://www.dynaverse.net/forum/index.php/topic,163360463.msg1122626932.html#msg1122626932

Bonk · « **Reply #9 on:** May 07, 2006, 06:37:08 am »

I think Crim might have it there, make sure AV (especially Norton) is off when you apply the patch. Exactly this happened to someone else recently.

Also, do you mean sfcfleetop.exe or StarFleetOP.exe. If you have the former and not the latter, then something is drastically wrong and I'd suspect a Trojan and would like to know where you got that patch. (would be a first for OP patches...)

ZTempest · « **Reply #10 on:** May 07, 2006, 02:34:09 pm »

I re-downloaded the patch files, and did a clean install...I still get the same behavior, but now I get no error message when I change compatibility -- it simply refused to start (blinks, then the whole program exits).

I am going to try again -- uninstall, clean download, patch, etc., later tonight.

That error message also confused me. The file name is upper and lower case, but the error message was all lower case.

Bonk · « **Reply #11 on:** May 07, 2006, 02:35:02 pm »

Make sure you have your Anti-Virus completely disabled when you install and patch!

Mazeppa · « **Reply #12 on:** May 07, 2006, 05:32:19 pm »

Quote from: ZTempest on May 06, 2006, 07:41:01 pm

Hi Guys!

Me again

Okay, I installed cleanly from the CD, patched to 2552, then installed OP+ with models. Then I installed the scripts for The Forge.

I'm Set! But wait...something is still wrong....

I turn off all of my firewalls (windows XP and McAfee). Now I am ready to go!

I log into the Dyna, no problems. I see the servers up and running. The Forge has three people logged in! Excellent!

I hit join...get the countdown for about a second, connect, then something about security...

Then I am dumped to desktop. Repeatedly. For some reason, I can't get into the campaign. I thought that maybe this would be a campaign file recognition issue -- I seem to remember that if you don't have the proper files installed, etc, then a campaign won't let you in.

I am sure that this is something simple that I have overlooked. I will check back later, and do a fresh reinstall and see if that fixes the problem.

two questions:

Are you running the game windowed?
Are you running 16 or 32 bit color?

Mazeppa · « **Reply #13 on:** May 07, 2006, 05:36:51 pm »

Quote from: ZTempest on May 07, 2006, 02:34:09 pm

I re-downloaded the patch files, and did a clean install...I still get the same behavior, but now I get no error message when I change compatibility -- it simply refused to start (blinks, then the whole program exits).

I am going to try again -- uninstall, clean download, patch, etc., later tonight.

That error message also confused me. The file name is upper and lower case, but the error message was all lower case.

Did you delete all the directories when you uninstalled?

ZTempest · « **Reply #14 on:** May 07, 2006, 08:26:42 pm »

32 bit color.

I am redoing the whole process again. Firewalls are down, AV is totally disabled.

Bonk · « **Reply #15 on:** May 07, 2006, 08:38:09 pm »

If you still get that error after an install and patch with no AV then you can try the backup exe here:
http://www.dynaverse.net/downloads/sfc2_op/backup_files/StarFleetOP.zip

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