Problems

[Bertram]

Hello,

I recently got a new computer, with Windowns Vista 64 bits as OS.

I installed AACW on it, and all was good. Ran a few turns, no problem. Agreed to a PBEM game, and ran into trouble:

I tried to save the turn to the "saved games" folder but did not have the security clearance to write there. I changed the security levels of that map. After this AACW did not run (I just got a blank screen).
Set back the security level - no improvement.
Deleted AACW and reinstalled. Install does not finish, it keeps hanging on the "finishing intallation" screen (with the cancel button grayed out, and the finish button not yet visible).

Any help appreciated.


Bertram

[Gray_Lensman]

deleted

[Bertram]

Hi Grey, thanks for the quick reply.

In reverse to the post you referred to, I had AACW installed in the default directory (programs (x86), meaning (I think) non 64 bit programs, Vista 64 bits has two program folders, one for older programs, one for 64 bits programs), and that worked.
Now I tried to install the game on my D:\ disk (It is actually one disk, but I have a virtually C and D one, the C:\ being rather small and for the OS. Not a setup I like, but rather usual with an OEM setup).

I didnt realize it, but this change could be the base of the game not installing. I'll try to install it in the default directory and see what happens.

[arsan]

Not even sure if AACW supports Vista 64,

Hi!
I think it does
Nikel has tested Napoleon Campigns and other AGEOD titles on Vista 64 and even on the new Windows 7 beta and says they work nicely
Check the screenshot
http://www.ageod-forum.com/showpost.php?p=143314&postcount=8

Cheers!

[Bertram]

It did work under vista - once .

Tried to install it under the default directory, where it did work, but it still does not finish installing.

I "think" the next screen should be the registration number, so it could be that Vista has that saved "somewhere" and it did not uninstall proper. (I do have to remove the directories, the settings and one other file by hand after the uninstall proces). Or maybe the Vista version of the registry isnt updated properly, and some old pointers are set wrong???

After killing the install program, I checked what was done. The directories are made, the files are installed, and even the desktop Icon is made. Clicking the icon does start the exec, but nothing happens (in the task manager AACW isnt shown under programs, but aacw.exe *32 is shown under tasks, with about 2.700 kb memory use). The same goes for the settings utility.

It is all the more frustrating because it worked yesterday

[Nikel]

No idea of what is causing problems in your case.

Yes, AGEod games work on 64 bits OS.

They are installed by default in "programs (x86)" folder because as you say they are 32 bits applications

IMHO is better to disable the UAC so that you get your savegames and everything where it is supposed to be, but it is up to you to disable it

[Longhairedlout]

Hi Bertram, I am your opponent

I have had this problem before, although I have windows xp, the problem was AVG anti virus or Spybot, I dont have a very good memory lol, one of them was stopping the game installing and even when I managed to get it installed the game would just hang a third of a wy across the loading bar, if you have got either or both of them installed try and uninstall them and try and install the game again, fingers crossed

[Bertram]

It seems less urgent now, as my new computer broke down (some hardware component stopped working, either the memory or the motherboard.). Back to the shop, and if they need to do a new instll of the OS I have a clean comp to try gain..... (I actually hope not, my data of the last 3 days are not backed up).


Bertram

[Bertram]

I reinstalled AACW on an other computer, and after the point my "new" computer stopped the serial no screen came up. Seems that somehow this did not happen on my new comp. As it seems that that comp is down with some memory problems (one of the memory sticks random looses content), I think that the problem was that this piece of program was lost from the memory at the moment it was called.
As soon as new memory arrives I will try to reinstall once more.

[Bertram]

Ok, so I got my computer back from the shop, new memory installed.

Tried to install AACW. Same problem, the installer hangs when it wants to finish the install and pop up the configuration utility.

First time the game installed fine on this computer, with this OS.
Same file installs the game ok on my other (Windows XP) computer.
Same file installs the game ok on my (Windows Vista) laptop.

I tried to copy the directory with all files from one comp to the other. The configuration utility does run ok (it has the serial number, and I can set the screen resolution). The game does start. I get a black screen, with AGE on it (never got that before btw, it was always a simple black screen before), but the game enigne does not start loading.

I tried installing (and running) with both UAC on and off, using C:\Program as directory, C:\, D:\, does make no difference.

Any ideas?


Bertram

[Pocus]

Do you have SpyBot search and destroy or anti adware, whatever running? Some programs are known to interfere here, so perhaps some testing while being offline can be done, unloading from memory a maximum of TSR programs.

[Bertram]

No anti-ad programs, no virusscanners running (disabled the last for installing AACW).

[Nikel]

Seems logical that the problem is not related with the game or the OS (Vista or XP). So it is specific or your new machine. Perhaps there is another problem besides the memory? CD-DVD device or the HD?

Have you tried to copy the installer from the CD to the hard disk and install it from there? If you have more than one HD, did you try to install in the second one?

[Bertram]

I got the download installer, so it is already copied to the HD. Checked the file, and it is the same size as the setup file at my other comp (and besides, copying the working files from my other comp to this one does also not work).

I am leaning to blaming my video card/driver/utilities program. First because it is consistent with the problems (the utility probably starts by checking the resolution, so it can give those as default, the exe hangs after it starts to load, I think the AACW splash screen is next), and secnd because the only things I can think of that I did between my first install (which worked) and the retry (which didnt work) was installing some NVidia/ASUS utilities (ASUS gamer OSD and ASUS Smartdoctor). But those are passive/monitoring programs that should not interfere with an install .

I have a 1200x1000 with 32 bit color at 60Hz now, might set it to 1000x800 and try again, maybe it helps.

[tobier]

I would try to format the drive, and reinstall the operating system. If it doesn't work after that, then either the setup program is broken, or possibly your harddrive is. You may have some bad sectors that won't let the program execute properly. However, this is not so likely as you said you've tested it on different partition (with my understanding of harddrives, that would mean you are not installing on the same sectors when trying different partitions).

Reformating would be the best shot. Try installing the game just after the OS is installed, preferably offline (becuase you may not have an AV at this stage ).

[Pocus]

Try changing your video driver before, if you have the latest, use a previous one (and disable the maximum number of utility programs around it, just in case). If you don't have the latest, get it.

[Bertram]

Changed the drivers, with one set I got two error messages:
first (popup) Could not find any copatible Direct3D devices; second This application will now exit.

Error occured at the same point in the start of the game as previous.

Installed first the Asus drivers (with the card), same problems (without the popup, game just hangs). Installed the latest NVidia: same problem.


I have been tryng to get this to work for about 8 hours now (and with my comp restarting about 20 times), that is enough. I'll finish my current game son my old computer, that one works.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

[Nikel]

Perhaps you have not installed DirectX 9 in your desktop Vista machine?


http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=2da43d38-db71-4c1b-bc6a-9b6652cd92a3

[Bertram]

I could not leave this problem alone, so I tested some systems and (Ageod) games.

First, my installer file is working, as I can install AACW on other systems with this file. On my newest system (Vista, Asus MB, Intel i920, Asus Nvidia 260) it keeps hanging. It hangs when I install it on the moment it finishes installing, and the configuration utility should start up. When I simply copy all files from my other OS to this computer it gives a AGE splash screen (red characters on black screen), and hangs. The task manager immediatly gives a "program not responding" message.

I tried installing WIA. The configuration utility did work here, and the game installed ok. Starting the game gave a AGE splash screen (golden characters this time), but the game hangs with about a quarter of the green progression bar completed.

I then uninstalled the USU Nvidia drivers, and installed the newest drivers. AACW still did not run, but WIA now did run.

Unfortunatly Asus delivers a fan control utility with the drivers (Smartdoctor). Without the Asus Nvidia drivers the utility does not work. And without the utility, the fan does not react to temperature rises. As a result my GPU ran pretty hot under a 3D game (> 100 degrees C), and the game stuttered.

I reinstalled the Asus Nvidia drivers, and the utility ran again (speeding up the fan, and keeping temperatures beneath 60 degrees).

Conclusion: somehow the Asus Nvidia drivers, Direct3D 9.0C, Vista64 and maybe the GPU utility dont work nice together running the Ageod games. If you buy a setup like this, try to get another graphics card (or this one from another manufactor) if you want to keep running Ageod games (all other games I tried runs ok).

[Nikel]

Your problem seems to be very complex

Asus forum, there is this post, very complex too, on a fast read it seems to be very important the order of the installation, perhaps you could try these instructions step by step? So hopefully you will be able to use asus utilities and the latest nvidia drivers


http://vip.asus.com/forum/view.aspx?id=20080802152823218&board_id=9&model=EN8800+Series&page=1&SLanguage=en-us

[Bertram]

A last installment in this series:

I have installed the latest NVidia drivers. First uniinstalled the utilities, installed the drivers, reinstalled the utilities.
AACW still does not run. WIA did run. But:
When I installed WIA it did run, no problems encountered. If I try to install AACW the installation stops when the configuration utility should pop up, as before. AACWconfig is running, but not visible. After this WIA does not run anymore!! I need to run the WIA configuration utility , then WIA does run again (I dont make any changed, just open it, change a screen size and change it back, and apply).
My conclusion for now: somehow the config utility of AACW cant figure out my setup, and hangs. It somehow influences the WIA setup.There is a subtile difference between the AACW config utility and the WIA one.
Baseline: still cant play AACW (excpt on my laptop), and I am stopping trying to figure it out. Going to finish my current games, and going to play something else.

[MrT]

I had a similar config utility problem with xp 64bit but someone very kind told me how to make the config work without opening it, i presume when ur installing it freezes at the ''finishing installing'' section?

Install the game with the installer. When it "halts", just close it.
Using Windows Explorer, navigate to the game directory (which, by default, should be C:\Program Files\AGEod's American Civil War). Then go to the ACW folder, and the Settings folder, and open the general.opt file using notepad.

What you're looking for is the Serial Number on the bottom of that file. You can just type it in there and save the file, and the game should work.

That worked just great for me.
Again kudos to the genius that is ohms_law!

Regards

MrT