Hard Light Productions Forums

Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: starbug on June 11, 2005, 02:40:02 pm

Title: System shock 2 & Chaos Gate
Post by: starbug on June 11, 2005, 02:40:02 pm
Does anyone know how to get these games to Install under XP home edition? whenever i try i get the following,

C:\Windows\system32\autoexec.nt. the system file is not suitable for running MS-DOS and microsoft windows applications. Choose 'close' to terminate the application.

i have tried the compatability tab, copying the cd to the harddisk. When ever i search the net i have found people that have got Chaos Gate working but they wont post how :hopping: !!! Is there someone here who can help me get 2 of my most favourite games installed? i thought i would ask here, since this is one of the most helpfull and friendly forums i have posted on.
Title: System shock 2 & Chaos Gate
Post by: karajorma on June 11, 2005, 02:46:03 pm
Quote
From my FAQ

I'm trying to install FS1 and I get a system file is not suitable for running MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows applications error. What can I do?

This is actually a windows problem that affects some older games. Most people have solved it by simply copying the autoexec.nt file from C:\WINDOWS\repair to C:\WINDOWS\system32. If that doesn't work you can find the MS Knowledge Base article on the problem here (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;324767)


Should apply equally well here too.

EDIT : 6 minutes for an answer. I think we qualify as being more helpful than the SS2 boards then :)
Title: System shock 2 & Chaos Gate
Post by: starbug on June 11, 2005, 02:50:31 pm
willl give that a try. thank you, thank you, thank you!! :D  :D
Title: System shock 2 & Chaos Gate
Post by: Martinus on June 11, 2005, 02:50:46 pm
[color=66ff00]I never got SS2 to run under XP or 2K despite trying a myriad of suggestions. I even considered installing win98se on a spare partition but then realised that was a bit mental for only one game.

It's a real pity, SS2 is an excellent game.
[/color]
Title: System shock 2 & Chaos Gate
Post by: General Freak on June 11, 2005, 03:10:06 pm
Oooh...I know! First, let me ask you where you got SS2 from? It may be important, but not at the moment.

Ok, you say you're having problems INSTALLING it? Easy.

Let's assume you got the CD.

Run the SS2 setup.exe from the CD-ROM with the parameter '-lgntforce'. Just select 'Run' from your start menu, type in 'x:\setup.exe -lgntforce', replacing 'x' with the letter
that your CD drive uses. That should enable you to install.

Ok, assuming that the Force luck is with you, you've installed the game. SS2 was never designed for Win XP, so there may be a host of other problems.

If none of the movies play and/or are skipped instantly, then it's your old codecs that are causing the problem. Run the file 'iv5play.exe' located on the SS2 CD-ROM first. This will install the drivers and codecs needed to view the movies. You may need to do this after each reboot of your system. You can also register the video drivers by running from the start menu's 'Run' command:
'regsvr32 x:\ss2\LGVID.AX' You will need to change x:\ss2\ to the
directory where you installed System Shock 2
into.

A VERY useful thread about all of the known Win XP errors and solutions can be found here: http://ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69958

All right, let's now assume you got the HOTU version of SS2. That version uses special DivX codecs, so instead of getting them from the CD (which you probably haven't got, if you need to DL the HOTU SS2), go to www.divx.com and just get the latest DivX codecs from there. Anything else is covered in the above mentioned thread.

Moving autoexec.nt is beyond my knowledge, but since SS2 is actually a Windows 9x game, it has hardly any '16-bit DOS features' in it so I cannot tell you how or how not moving autoexec.nt will work. However, I'm pretty sure it just dislikes the NT environment, not the lack of a DOS environment.

I downloaded the HOTU SS2 once, found that it didn't work, uninstalled it, found the solution to my bug, downloaded it again and installed it, and I'm now panicking during the first 15 mins of the game because it. Is. Scary. :D :D

This is all the help I can offer and I hope you've found it helpful.


As for Chaos Gate. Sorry, I haven't got that game. :(
Title: System shock 2 & Chaos Gate
Post by: Roanoke on June 11, 2005, 03:33:56 pm
Those cargo docks still scare the crap outta me, even after 3 or 4 years.
Title: System shock 2 & Chaos Gate
Post by: General Freak on June 11, 2005, 03:36:19 pm
I just started the game. I know you're only talking about the cargo docks but, please, no spoilers. :)
Title: System shock 2 & Chaos Gate
Post by: Roanoke on June 11, 2005, 03:37:17 pm
No spoilers, just some great atmosphere.
Title: System shock 2 & Chaos Gate
Post by: Lynx on June 11, 2005, 04:24:02 pm
I didn't have any problems installin SS2 at my XP machine. You using a burnt CD? It has some sort of copy protection that won't let you install from burnt CD's IIRC.
Title: System shock 2 & Chaos Gate
Post by: starbug on June 11, 2005, 05:56:21 pm
None of the disks are burnt cds, there the original bought copies, i have tried these options and none of them are working i just keep getting the same error message and i how hate microsoft for not making XP work with older games. i want to get them both working agian especially SS2 cos apart from silent hill2 its the only game that scared the crap out of me.
Title: System shock 2 & Chaos Gate
Post by: Roanoke on June 12, 2005, 04:22:19 am
weapons are a little unbalanced tho
Title: System shock 2 & Chaos Gate
Post by: kv1at3485 on June 12, 2005, 04:34:46 am
Not that they're unbalanced in a bad way.  3/4 of them are downright useless, but that's OK since you don't need that 3/4 anyway.
Title: System shock 2 & Chaos Gate
Post by: Roanoke on June 12, 2005, 08:25:43 am
that's what I meant. I just use the Assualt Rifle all the time (once I get hold of it)
Title: System shock 2 & Chaos Gate
Post by: Singh on June 12, 2005, 08:33:51 am
I'm playing SS2 now (at cargo dock) have to say that it's damn difficult. My weapon skillz suck in almost every way, and a few skill mistakes earlier have stumped my chances of actually making much use of the situation. (Zero Ammo, Zero guns, a useless nade launcher and no health).


damn brutal, if you ask me :P
Title: System shock 2 & Chaos Gate
Post by: General Freak on June 12, 2005, 09:38:45 am
Starbug, this may also help: http://www.the-underdogs.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=41773

It's basically the same as what karajorma suggested. Try again? Can you tell us, step by step, what you did?
Title: System shock 2 & Chaos Gate
Post by: Nix on June 13, 2005, 01:13:05 am
Still the only game that really manages to scare me.  Doom 3, well after SS2, was kinda blah.  I'll still load up this game if I'm in the mood for some of the best sci-fi horror ever crafted.

Though if you head over to ttlg's boards I believe they have a detailed thread on how to get SS2 to work under XP... if you dont mind wading through alllll the other posts...
Title: System shock 2 & Chaos Gate
Post by: General Freak on June 13, 2005, 07:53:32 am
I just gave all the links to that TTLG forum, Nix... :(
Title: System shock 2 & Chaos Gate
Post by: starbug on June 13, 2005, 01:07:27 pm
This is what i did, direct form Microsofts website and it did'nt work.


To resolve this issue: 1. Insert the CD into the CD drive or DVD drive.
2. Click Start, and then click Run.
3. In the Open box, type cmd, and then click OK.
4. At the command prompt, type the following commands, pressing ENTER after each command:


expand CD-ROM Drive Letter:\i386\config.nt_ c:\windows\system32\config.nt
expand CD-ROM Drive Letter:\i386\autoexec.nt_ c:\windows\system32\autoexec.nt
expand CD-ROM Drive Letter:\i386\command.co_ c:\windows\system32\command.com
exit  
5. Start or install the program. If the issue is resolved, do not complete the remaining steps. If the issue is not resolved, go to the next step.
6. Note: The Command.com file is not edited or created in this in the following process. Because of this, you may have to expand it from your Windows XP CD-ROM.

Start Notepad.
7. In Notepad, type the following entries:    dos=high, umb
device=%SYSTEMROOT%\system32\himem.sys
files=40
 
8. On the File menu, click Save As.
9. In the File Name box, type Config.nt, and then click Save. Close the Config.nt file.
10. On the File menu, click New.
11. In the new blank document, type the following entries: @echo off
    lh %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\mscdexnt.exe
    lh %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\redir
    lh %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\dosx
    SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 P330 T3
 
12. On the File menu, click Save As.
13. In the File Name box, type Autoexec.nt, and then click Save. Close the Autoexec.nt file.
14. Start Windows Explorer. Locate the Config.nt file, right-click the Config.nt file, and then click Copy.
15. Right-click the %SYSTEMROOT%\System32 folder, and then click Paste.
16. Locate the Autoexec.nt file, right-click the Autoexec.nt file, and then click Copy.
17. Right-click the %SYSTEMROOT%\System32 folder, and then click Paste.
18. Locate the Command.com file, right-click the expanded Command.com file, and then click Copy.
19. Right-click the %SYSTEMROOT%\System32 folder, and then click Paste. Restart your computer.
If the issue continues to occur, copy the Autoexec.nt and Config.nt files from the Repair folder in Windows to the System folder. To do so, follow these steps: 1. Click Start, click Run, type c:\windows\repair, and then click OK.
2. Right-click autoexec.nt, and then click Copy.  
3. Click Start, click Run, type c:\windows\system32, and then click OK.
4. Right-click anywhere in that folder, and then click Paste.
5. Right-click the Autoexect.nt file that you just copied, and then click Properties.
6. Click to select Read-Only, and then click OK.  
7. Repeat steps 1 through 6 to copy the Config.nt file.
Note You must enable Read-Only permissions or the files will be removed after you restart Windows.
Title: System shock 2 & Chaos Gate
Post by: pyro-manic on June 14, 2005, 07:07:33 am
Quote
Originally posted by Roanoke
Those cargo docks still scare the crap outta me, even after 3 or 4 years.


:yes: It's the one game that actually disturbs me. Doom 3 hasn't got anything on Deck 1...
Title: System shock 2 & Chaos Gate
Post by: starbug on June 14, 2005, 12:18:53 pm
Yes i got them working!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the patch for Xp, from http://www.the-underdogs.org/forum/...pic.php?t=41773 works!! I can now finally replay SS2 :D  :D  :D  :D
Title: System shock 2 & Chaos Gate
Post by: Martinus on June 14, 2005, 05:38:38 pm
Quote
Originally posted by starbug
Yes i got them working!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the patch for Xp, from http://www.the-underdogs.org/forum/...pic.php?t=41773 works!! I can now finally replay SS2 :D  :D  :D  :D

[color=66ff00]Managed to get it working myself.

Install using the -lgntforce option
Patch to 2.3
Unsafedisk the SHOCK.ICD file
Soil undies

Don't forget to upgrade the game using the Rebirth mod, weapons upgrades and Zylonbane's texture upgrades, makes a hell of a difference. :nod:
[/color]
Title: System shock 2 & Chaos Gate
Post by: starbug on June 15, 2005, 12:31:41 pm
have you got a link to the rebirth mod?
Title: System shock 2 & Chaos Gate
Post by: Flaser on June 15, 2005, 03:05:55 pm
We should make a little wiki libery with all the info on our favorite "classics".

BTW it would be cool if you could link all those mods Maeglamor.
AFAIK there is a Reaper model out there too - though you got to look for it on the TTLG forums.
Title: System shock 2 & Chaos Gate
Post by: Martinus on June 16, 2005, 11:51:37 am
[color=66ff00]I don't have the links handy but I do know that they can be found via TTLG forums. :nod:

Here you go, top of the TTLG SS2 forum: Link (www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60930)
[/color]
Title: System shock 2 & Chaos Gate
Post by: Flaser on June 17, 2005, 04:25:50 pm
thx.

...if only I could get SS1 to run with mouse support...

Yep, all my prayers answered.