[SteelSerpent]

Hello,

first of all hello to everyone. Forum (and Freespace) newb here *waves*.

Secondly, I'm terribly sorry if this error I'm about to describe has already been covered, but I did search through this forum and came up empty handed.

Ok then, in short, I'm encountering the following problem:

- Installed Free Space Open on Windows XP following this guide (and using a GOG copy of FS2): http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=61606.0

- renamed fsport-str to fsport_str and fsport-mediavps to fsport_mediavps as per this topic: http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,59120.0.html

- selected fsport_str in the MOD tab of the launcher

- created a new pilot

- selected Silent Threat Reborn Campaign

- started campaign and went through the mission briefing

- As soon as i entered my ship the game froze with the engine sound of my ship still playing 

- had to stop the process to get out

- searched around and found this topic: http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,63506.0.html

- Downloaded FSO 3.6.10 RC3 as per the instructions in the above thread and used it to start anew

- same thing happens however 

- restarted with the FSO 3.6.10 RC3 Debug client, let it happen again and then retrieved the log file, which contains a lot of gobbledegook which I can't interpret  (attached with this post)

So, my question now boils down to this: any of you fine gents got an idea what this problem is about and can someone perhaps provide some insight on how to remedy it?

Thx a bunch on beforehand  !!!

P.S.: the freespace port and FSII run without a hitch for what its worth 

P.P.S: I noticed that in the fsport folder the ogg cutscene vp is called FS1OGGcutscenepack.vp instead of fs1oggcutscenes.vp as mentioned in http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,59120.0.html . I tried changing the filename (as I thought that might have been the reason for the freeze) before using the debug build (so its probably not reflected in the log file), but the exact same thing still happened.

[attachment has decomposed]

[General Battuta]

I don't see anything immediately wrong, but I'm no expert.

By the way, thanks for that thorough list of stuff you've done. That kind of detail is really helpful, and you're doing great so far. Stick with us and we'll get it sorted out!

I see you're using a Radeon X1900. That miiight be part of the problem.

Can you do the following, if it's not too much trouble?

1) Make sure you're using the LATEST version of the Freespace Port from the Freespace Port forum.
2) Try running the regular Freespace 2 campaign with the MediaVPs and all the graphical options enabled in the launcher. Does it run okay?
3) Manually redownload the MediaVPs from the release thread in the Freespace Upgrade Project forum (and the FSPort MediaVPs too) IF AND ONLY IF you installed the MediaVPs using Turey's Installer. The MediaVPs from the installer are often corrupt. I have a hunch that might be the problem.

More experienced troubleshooters will be along shortly. We'll get this sorted out!

[The E]

Scratch 3. The mediavps seem to be fine (5253 files, exactly what it should be.)

[General Battuta]

Thanks, The_E. Well-spotted.

Oh, also, could we an outline of your system specs, SteelSerpent?

Try running Silent Threat Reborn without the FSPort MediaVPs (pull them out of the Freespace directory temporarily) and see if it works okay.

[Jeff Vader]

Hmm. Your fsport-str.vp has 56 files and mine only has 55 (if this causes problems, the problems are on my end, not yours).  

You have a Radeon X1900. At least a while back people were having problems with ATI's funky drivers that pissed all over OpenGL. Check the Graphical Issues section of the troubleshooting FAQ, specifically the third problem; there are two download links for working atioglxx.dll's (the OpenGL .dll from the drivers). Download the first, place it to your \freespace2\ folder and try again. If no success, remove it, download the other one, place it to the \freespace2\ folder and try again. If still no success... well, **** happens. We'll have to figure out something else.

Though I'd guess that if it was an OpenGL issue, you would have had other problems already.

Edit: As a side note, the name of the cutscene .vp shouldn't affect anything. The game engine just reads .vp files in alphabetical order and if it finds cutscenes (in proper format) and if the current campaign wants to use some of those cutscenes, they will be played in their designated places.

[SteelSerpent]

I don't see anything immediately wrong, but I'm no expert.

By the way, thanks for that thorough list of stuff you've done. That kind of detail is really helpful, and you're doing great so far. Stick with us and we'll get it sorted out!

I see you're using a Radeon X1900. That miiight be part of the problem.

Can you do the following, if it's not too much trouble?

1) Make sure you're using the LATEST version of the Freespace Port from the Freespace Port forum.
2) Try running the regular Freespace 2 campaign with the MediaVPs and all the graphical options enabled in the launcher. Does it run okay?
3) Manually redownload the MediaVPs from the release thread in the Freespace Upgrade Project forum (and the FSPort MediaVPs too) IF AND ONLY IF you installed the MediaVPs using Turey's Installer. The MediaVPs from the installer are often corrupt. I have a hunch that might be the problem.

More experienced troubleshooters will be along shortly. We'll get this sorted out!

Wow, thx for the very swift repy !

- I think everything I have relating to fsport is 3.1.1 certified, but just to be sure I'll download everything from here: http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,58357.0.html and install those versions (might take a while though, as I seemingly  am only able to download at 120 Kb/s tops from here  ...)

- FS2 regular (started by choosing mediavps folder in the MOD tab) runs perfectly fine with all graphic options checked, except for Disable motion debris and Disable scale-to-window for movies as I reckon these are meant for people having performace problems. Or do you want me to check these too? Anyway, attached you can find the resulting log file.

Hmm. Your fsport-str.vp has 56 files and mine only has 55 (if this causes problems, the problems are on my end, not yours). 

You have a Radeon X1900. At least a while back people were having problems with ATI's funky drivers that pissed all over OpenGL. Check the Graphical Issues section of the troubleshooting FAQ, specifically the third problem; there are two download links for working atioglxx.dll's (the OpenGL .dll from the drivers). Download the first, place it to your \freespace2\ folder and try again. If no success, remove it, download the other one, place it to the \freespace2\ folder and try again. If still no success... well, **** happens. We'll have to figure out something else.

Though I'd guess that if it was an OpenGL issue, you would have had other problems already.

Edit: As a side note, the name of the cutscene .vp shouldn't affect anything. The game engine just reads .vp files in alphabetical order and if it finds cutscenes (in proper format) and if the current campaign wants to use some of those cutscenes, they will be played in their designated places.

Okidoki, will try in a minute and report back .

[attachment has decomposed]

[SteelSerpent]

Thanks, The_E. Well-spotted.

Oh, also, could we an outline of your system specs, SteelSerpent?

Try running Silent Threat Reborn without the FSPort MediaVPs (pull them out of the Freespace directory temporarily) and see if it works okay.

Sorry, didn't see this post the first time around... Anyway, i don't know if Windows has an option to print out a system profile but in brief my specs are:

XP pro sp2

2 x dualcore Xeon 5150 @ 2.66 GHz

2 GB RAM

320 GB SATA WD Barracuda drive

ATI x1900xt

(as you might have guessed its a Mac Pro under Bootcamp  )

Will try your other suggestion in a minute.

[SteelSerpent]

Hmm. Your fsport-str.vp has 56 files and mine only has 55 (if this causes problems, the problems are on my end, not yours). 

You have a Radeon X1900. At least a while back people were having problems with ATI's funky drivers that pissed all over OpenGL. Check the Graphical Issues section of the troubleshooting FAQ, specifically the third problem; there are two download links for working atioglxx.dll's (the OpenGL .dll from the drivers). Download the first, place it to your \freespace2\ folder and try again. If no success, remove it, download the other one, place it to the \freespace2\ folder and try again. If still no success... well, **** happens. We'll have to figure out something else.

Though I'd guess that if it was an OpenGL issue, you would have had other problems already.

Edit: As a side note, the name of the cutscene .vp shouldn't affect anything. The game engine just reads .vp files in alphabetical order and if it finds cutscenes (in proper format) and if the current campaign wants to use some of those cutscenes, they will be played in their designated places.

Okidoki, will try in a minute and report back .

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES!!! Succes!!! That did it guys! Its working perfectly now! Thank you so much for the swift assistance! 

(Still, why would FS port and FS2 SCP run problem free without this dll, while STR would not? Doesn't really matter ofcourse, as I can now play, but just wondering )

[Jeff Vader]

(Still, why would FS port and FS2 SCP run problem free without this dll, while STR would not? Doesn't really matter ofcourse, as I can now play, but just wondering )

Information technology; you can never really figure it out.

On that note, triple-posting (like double-posting) is not really appreciated at HLP. If you want to add something to your previous thoughts and no one has posted after you yet, use the "Modify" button.

[General Battuta]

Lobo/Jeff Vader makes a good point about the posting. However, I wanted to thank you for your clear and helpful posts, SteelSerpent. You clearly read all the FAQs and did your research, and that makes things so much easier for the troubleshooters.

Really appreciated.

What have you had a chance to play? ST:R is one of the community's best campaigns, but there are a few other standouts you should definitely hit up.

[Jeff Vader]

I agree. Having gotten used to posts like "I have a problem the game crashes plz halp", I was most pleasantly surprised by all the helpful information in your first post. Describing the things you've done so far and including your fs2_open.log is often what is needed for us to solve a problem. 

[SteelSerpent]

(Still, why would FS port and FS2 SCP run problem free without this dll, while STR would not? Doesn't really matter ofcourse, as I can now play, but just wondering )

Information technology; you can never really figure it out.

On that note, triple-posting (like double-posting) is not really appreciated at HLP. If you want to add something to your previous thoughts and no one has posted after you yet, use the "Modify" button.

Aye aye cap'n, duly noted! *salutes*  

Nah, but seriously, sorry about that... wasn't really thinking straight there ... Will be the first and only time I triple post, promised. *hopes this one doesn't constitute a quadruple one   *

Lobo/Jeff Vader makes a good point about the posting. However, I wanted to thank you for your clear and helpful posts, SteelSerpent. You clearly read all the FAQs and did your research, and that makes things so much easier for the troubleshooters.

Really appreciated.

What have you had a chance to play? ST:R is one of the community's best campaigns, but there are a few other standouts you should definitely hit up.

I agree. Having gotten used to posts like "I have a problem the game crashes plz halp", I was most pleasantly surprised by all the helpful information in your first post. Describing the things you've done so far and including your fs2_open.log is often what is needed for us to solve a problem. 

No problem, I strongly believe in trying to solve stuff on my own first, as its the best way to learn about the ins and outs of whatever it is that's giving me headaches. Ofcourse, if I keep hitting a brick wall I come knockin' on the pros' doors . (Although I must admit about feeling a bit ashamed for not having found that FAQ and its particular entry myself   *blush* .)

I haven't played much yet, but I plan to go through FS1, FS:STR and FS2 first (in that order, as i'm still pretty much a FreeSpace virgin ). Next I'll probably try out the other mods that came with the open installer (Homesick [heard that was a good one], cardinal spear, warzone, etc...) . After those, I'll probably start scouring this forum from top to bottom to get more mods and conversions (any pointers towards must-haves are always appreciated ofcourse ).

 Ofcourse, I'll also play through WC Saga Prologue and the full campaign when it releases (big WC fan here   ), The Babylon Project and BtRL (whenever its finally released); although those aren't strictly FS lore mods ofcourse...

[General Battuta]

Forget BtRL, it's basically dead. The BtRL team (barring their hapless leader) is now working on Diaspora, a new and improved BSG game.

These are some of the non-total-conversion must-plays:

ST:R
Derelict
Transcend
Blue Planet (personal favorite)
Windmills

and also:
Homesick
Sync
The Procyon Insurgency (really difficult, but really fun)
The Blackwater Operations demo

Those first four are the ones I think everyone should play first. There are a lot of other great campaigns, though - those are just, to me, the most mind-blowing and distinctive.

[Jeff Vader]

I strongly believe in trying to solve stuff on my own first, as its the best way to learn about the ins and outs of whatever it is that's giving me headaches. Ofcourse, if I keep hitting a brick wall I come knockin' on the pros' doors .

A principle to which I can relate most strongly. Back when I stumbled upon FSO, I didn't know **** about it. The down-to-the-point instructions of "Get Launcher, get FSO executable, get MediaVPs" got me started, but of course there were problems. Partially because of my nature to refuse to ask help if possible, I always searched HLP for the issues I was having and on most, if not all, instances I found explanations on why the problem occurs and how to fix it. It indeed increased my knowledge on FSO significantly. Then I noticed that many people were asking questions that I could answer because of my personal experiences with FSO problems, so I started answering them. And here I am.

On the subject of mods you should play: after playing the ones recommended by General Battuta (and perhaps others if you find interesting campaigns), you really should play the Just Another Day trilogy. For teh lulz, as they say. And perhaps Deus Ex Machina as well.

[colecampbell666]

If you want, try ShivanSpS's campaign pack, it includes over 200 campaigns.

I'd suggest playing Blue Planet, Derelict, Homesick, The Procyon Insurgency, Sync + Transcend, and try Windmills.

For laughs try The Second Great War Part 2, the Just Another Day series, and Deus Ex Machina.

[SteelSerpent]

Thx for the suggestions ! Seems like I'm gonna be busy the coming months !