This information I have posted up a long time ago.. but it is still valid for Windows 7 and Windows Vista x32 and x64 OS
On systems still in default out of box condition:
1. Log on to machine as Administrator (Primary Account) and make sure UAC is enabled. Set UAC to Quiet Mode using TweakUAC (separate download).
2. Disable Anti-Virus for the remainder of the steps.
3. Make sure that your drivers for your sound card and video card are the latest version. Please check with the manufacturer of your cards for the proper drivers.
4. Make sure you are running the latest Microsoft Updates for your computer from the Windows Update site, including all the "Additional Content" which will help your system run much smoother. To update your system completely, check your Windows Update settings to see if you are including all content, not just critical updates. Use your Windows Update manual control in control panel under System and Maintenance. Click on Windows Update, and check settings in order to get ALL updates. After updating and restarting, continue to next step. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE VISTA SP 1 INSTALLED !
5. Install Orion Pirates from game CD. To install, exit the installer window brought up by Autorun, and go into My Computer, right click on your disk drive containing the SFC_OP CD and click Explore, right click on Setup.exe and select Run as Administrator. Say no to DirectX and Gamespy Arcade installs. If you want Gamespy Arcade.. Download the current version from
www.gamespyarcade.com.
6. Install the game patch v2.5.5.2 by right clicking the patch EXE file and selecting Run as Administrator, and then install the Directory Server Update by right clicking the directory server EXE file and selecting Run as Administrator. Both files are found on the Dynaverse.net Downloads section. Click the banner at the top of the forums to go to main page, then navigate to the downloads section for Orion Pirates. Also Recommended is the OP + v4.0 Shiplist and the DLL Updater package.. or you can get it all in the OP Enhancement Package v5.1 which inclused all the above content plus hundreds of scripts for Single / Multiplayer / Dynaverse as well as high resolution models :
http://www.dynaverse.net/forum/index.php/topic,163378640.0.html7. Re-enable your Anti-Virus. Please make sure that the patching completed first. If a file installs incorrectly UAC will notify you and ask you to reinstall using recommended settings. If this happens, say Yes.
8. Do not use Windows Firewall and preferably not Norton or McAfee for AV or Firewall (these are now considered viruses by 90% of the computing world), Use AVG, Kapersky, or Panda for AV and Black Ice or Zone Alarm or a hardware firewall like a router !!! If using Firewall software or router - TURN OFF MICROSOFT OR WINDOWS FIREWALL - Turn it off and disable the service. You will need to configure your 3rd party firewall ports for OP according to Gamespy Arcade and the following firewall settings:
If you are behind a router/firewall you will need to forward ports 2300-2400 TCP&UDP and 47624 TCP to login. (allow pings from the WAN) Port forwarding applies to a static LAN config. The following site may be of assistance in this:
http://www.portforward.com/Some ADSL and cable modems have router capabilities in them that the ISP does not tell you about and often poorly understand themselves.
Do not ever use a software firewall when you have a router.. bad things happen with games.
9. Go to your Orion Pirates Directory and right click on it. Select Properties and click OK. At the bottom you will see a black box in Read Only. Uncheck this and click OK. A window will pop up asking if you want to do this to the folder only or all files and folders. check all files and folders and click OK.
10. Right Click on the folder again and select properties. Click on Security Tab. Click Edit and change each user to Full Control. Click OK. This will ensure that Mod Chooser and EZINI, or the SFCOP Configuration Utility will work correctly.
11. Go into the Directory and find all the EXE files, right click, select Properties. Click on the Compatibility tab, put check mark into Compatibility Mode and select XP SP 2 and put a check into Run as Administrator. Click OK.
12. On your desktop, right click on each of the shortcuts and verify that all of them have XP SP 2 compatibility mode enabled and that they have Run as Administrator checked. The only exception to this is Model Viewer. Make sure it is in Windows 2000 compatibility mode and Run as Administrator is checked.
13. Next, find StarfleetOP.exe and right click. Seclect COPY. Right click on your desktop and select "Paste Shortcut". This is the icon you will use to launch SFC OP game.
14. Download and install the latest DirectX Redistributable package (not the web installer) in order to make sure all your Vista DirectX files are up to date and correct. Current release is August 8, 2008 and is 86 MB.
15. Launch game from Desktop Shortcut and Enter CD Key (Include dashes).
16. Enjoy Playing.
***** NOTE :
1) Do not disable User Account Control (UAC) for any reason. To get UAC to stop being annoying, Download TWEAKUAC and set UAC to Quiet mode. this will ensure your system remains secure without annoying prompts.
2) Empires at War and Orion Pirates on Vista systems will work for Single Player, Gamespy Arcade and TCP/IP or LAN connections.
Dynaverse 2 game play lags badly on the server. Dynaverse 2 is still not compatible with Vista based game clients.3) When playing online using TCP\IP or Gamespy Arcade.. It is recommended to disable your Anti-Virus Active Acan or System Shield software and your Firewall in order to help prevent packet loss and disconnects during game play.
For Dynaverse 2 game play you must be on XP OS.. as such for Vista / Windows 7 based machines .. You will need to Dual Boot your system with XP . Vitrual Machine running XP will not work due to technological limitations of Virtual technology.
There is a problem with the way Windows 7 / Vista impliments DirectX backwards compatibility plus there are missing API in the OS that SFC calls on plys there are missing registry entries in the Vista / Win 7 OS that calls on the APIs.. win 7 and Vista can Emulate those calls, however on the Dynaverse, the emulation of those calls take up to 3 min and as such, leaves the Vista / Windows 7 user literally STUCK on the map awaiting the game map to update.. as such, this is game breaking for D2 online play..
However all single player modes and GSA game mode and TCP/IP game play modes work just fine.
Topic: SFC work with Vista or Windows 7? (Read 8677 times)