[rackham]

Hi,
I'm trying to run Tie Fighter Collector's CD-ROM in win2k pro
Install goes just fine (apart from having no compatible soundcard) then trying to start the game tie.exe gives this error:" VESA BIOS not detected Hires mode may not be available" Then it asks about runnig UNIBVE to simulate VESA bu that doesn't work and then it just quits to windows desktop.
Any ideas?


Computer specs:
AMD XP 2400+
512MB
PNY Verto geforce4 ti4200
(TIE fighter max install)

- rackham

[DosFreak]

Quote:

Hi,
I'm trying to run Tie Fighter Collector's CD-ROM in win2k pro
Install goes just fine (apart from having no compatible soundcard) then trying to start the game tie.exe gives this error:" VESA BIOS not detected Hires mode may not be available" Then it asks about runnig UNIBVE to simulate VESA bu that doesn't work and then it just quits to windows desktop.
Any ideas?


Computer specs:
AMD XP 2400+
512MB
PNY Verto geforce4 ti4200
(TIE fighter max install)

- rackham

Try running a full-screen NTVDM prompt before running the game. Access to VESA modes is not available unless the NTVDM prompt is full-screen. Seeing the GF4 in your sig, I'll have to warn ya the GF4's seems to have trouble accessing VESA modes under NT as compared to it's lower GF3 brethen and it's ATI competitors.

[rackham]

OK, VDMsound is what program? Is it third party or microsoft? And is it part of win2000? 8)
(Somebody on the net mentioned MS ACT or somesuch, is this similar?)

This same error happened with my old P200 with hercules stingray 128 so i don't think gf4 is to blame for this one...

-rackham

[Tom-boy]

I also have a question for this: I got Win2kPro + GF4,and I was wondering if would it be enough just to run the game through ACT? Soon , I'll also dig out TF'95 and would like to know in advance how's it gonna work? Previously, with same OS but GF2 it worked fine with ACT without VDMSound. Kinda stupid question, but there you go ;(

[ConQueso]

Wasn't the collectors edition redone on the Xwing vs. TIE Fighter engine? That game ran fine on my Win2K setup using ACT.

If so, ACT should work, just have it do Win98 layer with emulate joystick disabled. Make sure to have a joystick plugged in, as it won't run without detecting one.

[rackham]

My CD-case says "Collectors CD-ROM". No sing of the word "edition" anywhere. I think this is the complete original TIE series with all the extra missions and expansion packs.

Talking about ACT, is it the same program for W2k AND XP?
Microsofts web-page only has one for XP(and W server 2003), or at least I haven't managed to find one specifically for W2k. Bit confusing actually...
So do you think the older TIE will work with this? That VESA error still has me puzzled... ;(


- rackham

[Tom-boy]

Well, I can't say abythibg for the VESA problem, but you should try the ACT and see it that does it. You'll need it anyway to run TF and many other 9x games.
Win2k has ACT 1.5 and XP if I remember correctly 2.5. They're not the same. You can get ACT for 2k from Service Packs (SP3) or I could e-mail it to you. I got mine from adamvjackson from here. You also need Application Compatibility Updates.
Tie Coll. CD should be the same as Tie95, so ACT should run it just fine. Unless the VESA thing is the culprit.

[rackham]

OK, I got service pack 3 installed now. Also d/l:ed and installed Application Compatibility Toolkit 2.6 from msdn.microsoft.com. This is what you all mean by ACT?
I don't really understand what to do with it...
Also found NTVMD.EXE on my system, but the program does nothing (visible that is). I think i need somekind of manual or at least basic instructions to use these programs.
I should state that at this point I just want to run the games, anything more sophisticated will have to wait 'til I find the time to concentrate. Any suggestions?

- rackham

[Tom-boy]

Well, if you have the ACT 2.6 (yes, that's the one we've been talking about) installed, launch it, select 95 or 98 layer, in 'Fixes' find and uncheck 'Emulate joystick', with browse choise find your TF folder and tie.exe there ( a Tie Fighter icon) and click. You'll get the path in text in a space in the launcher and then just click 'Run'. That should do it. Try that and tell us if it worked.

[rackham]

So far no progress.
What are the layers? Did'nt see any of those in the Comp. admin program. I DID magane run run tie.exe with a fix that i believe used w95 settings bar the joystick emulation as you have suggested.
Anyway the game still crashes immediately after aswering the question about UNIVBE simulation.
BTW, how does qfixapp relate to ACT?

-rackham

[Tom-boy]

Qfixapp and ACT are the same. Since this looks to be VESA problem solely, ACT probably won't fix it, but the compatibility issue at least will be ruled out. Check this site out and follow the instructions in a thread to see how to fix TF with ACT:can't hurt trying
www.ehnet.org
message boards-> emperorshammer-> technical support-> 'Tie95 in Win XP fix'.
It's about Xp but practically the same for 2k.

[rackham]

Yehaaaa!

It works! Joystick also! Now to get sound activated...

Hehe. The people at the Vogons-board had already tackled this. Simply had to install it on c-drive. Incredibly stubborn game
I seem to remember doing this once before. Just couldn't remember anymore...

New question: What settings should be used on the imuse sound settings program that TF uses? VDMSound's online documentation didn't seem to address this. (or I'm just very bad at reading) :p

- Rackham

[ConQueso]

Quote:

New question: What settings should be used on the imuse sound settings program that TF uses? VDMSound's online documentation didn't seem to address this. (or I'm just very bad at reading)

I was under the impression that the standard win98 layer would do the trick with "EmulateJoystick" unchecked...

Maybe try lowering your hardware acceleration in DXDIAG (Start>Run>[type in:]DXDIAG>Sound (Tab))