Hard Light Productions Forums

General FreeSpace => FreeSpace & FreeSpace Open Support => Topic started by: Glovedog on November 28, 2013, 12:27:22 am

Title: Not enough RAM?
Post by: Glovedog on November 28, 2013, 12:27:22 am
I recently just installed my original copy of Freespace onto my my laptop. My laptop runs windows 7 with 600 MB RAM but when I launch the game it says I have 0MB of free disk space available. I don't get why I keep getting this message.

The game works fine on my desktop, which runs Vista with 50 MB of RAM so why not my laptop?
Title: Re: Not enough RAM?
Post by: headdie on November 28, 2013, 01:05:51 am
edit
sorry brain not functioning this morning, when you say original copy of Freespace do you mean Freespace 1?

if so then it is generally not recomended to run the game outside of it's native operating environment of Windows 98, xp at a pinch

[/edit]

I'm not sure but something looks a little off with the memory figures you are reporting could you check them please?

also if this is freespace 2 are you using the retail exe files or a FSO build, if it's FSO which version of the exe file are you running?
Title: Re: Not enough RAM?
Post by: Fury on November 28, 2013, 01:21:40 am
Glovedog, you are using retail launcher which does not support modern operating systems or hardware as it is 15 years old now. Please make sure you have set up your FreeSpace 2 Open on your laptop properly, including one of the supported launchers and are using correct executables instead of the retail ones.

http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=78710.0

And if you were really talking about FreeSpace 1 and not FreeSpace 2, then please install everything as guided in the link above and then proceed over to http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=84358.0
Title: Re: Not enough RAM?
Post by: Yarn on November 28, 2013, 01:23:51 am
My laptop runs windows 7 with 600 MB RAM
which runs Vista with 50 MB of RAM
Are you serious? Neither of these systems meets the minimum requirements for the operating systems that they're running, especially the Vista one (Windows 7 32-bt needs 1 GB (http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/system-requirements), Vista Basic needs 512 MB (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/919183)). Oh, and I can almost guarantee that not a single PC has exactly 50 or 600 MB of RAM. (And I seriously doubt that Vista can even boot with just 50 MB.)

Either you're pulling our leg or you got your numbers from the wrong place.

when I launch the game it says I have 0MB of free disk space available. I don't get why I keep getting this message.
It's probably saying 0MB of RAM, not disk space. This can happen with the retail EXEs if you have more than 2 GB of RAM. Are you trying to play FreeSpace 1 or 2?
Title: Re: Not enough RAM?
Post by: Fury on November 28, 2013, 01:26:28 am
(And I seriously doubt that Vista can even boot with just 50 MB.)
It can't, that I am sure of. However, Win7 can still boot with 256MB. :) (Using it is another matter though.)
Title: Re: Not enough RAM?
Post by: Flak on November 28, 2013, 01:49:02 am
Maybe the other running programs in the background that eats up RAM?
Title: Re: Not enough RAM?
Post by: Mongoose on November 28, 2013, 01:59:29 am
Or else he's looking at some sort of shared memory with an integrated graphics card.
Title: Re: Not enough RAM?
Post by: Black-Devil on November 28, 2013, 02:24:36 am
Have  you tried to run the game in the compilation mod (win 95 or 98)
And  if you got FS1 retail i think you need to install the 1.06 patch with eax to get them game running.
Title: Re: Not enough RAM?
Post by: The E on November 28, 2013, 02:59:17 am
Have  you tried to run the game in the compilation mod (win 95 or 98)
And  if you got FS1 retail i think you need to install the 1.06 patch with eax to get them game running.

You mean compatibility mode, and no, that will not help. The problem is that the retail executables use a braindead way of checking how much memory is available, which flows over when there is a multiple of 2 GB of memory installed in the system. The only way to really play the game is to use FreeSpace Open.
Title: Re: Not enough RAM?
Post by: Black-Devil on November 28, 2013, 09:26:34 am

You mean compatibility mode, and no, that will not help. The problem is that the retail executables use a braindead way of checking how much memory is available, which flows over when there is a multiple of 2 GB of memory installed in the system. The only way to really play the game is to use FreeSpace Open.

Thx yep that mode i meant.
The second thing is new to me
Title: Re: Not enough RAM?
Post by: Phantom Hoover on November 28, 2013, 11:31:51 am
What you need to do here is, download more RAM (http://downloadmoreram.com/).
Title: Re: Not enough RAM?
Post by: Glovedog on November 28, 2013, 12:12:21 pm

Either you're pulling our leg or you got your numbers from the wrong place.

You're absolutely right, I was tired last night and pulling the numbers from my memory. My laptop (Windows 7) is running with 8 GB of RAM and the Vista Machine running off of a couple GB. The other numbers I had were from older machines I have owned.

Yes, I am attempting to run Freespace 1. The error message specifies that I don't have a RAM and suggests I look for a program I have never heard of that may be running and disabling it. I thought I took a screenshot of the error but I didn't. Also, I already uninstalled the launcher. It just boggles me that it works fine on a machine running Vista that is only four years younger than my laptop.

I guess it's time to move on and just play FS Port. It's a shame though, I really wanted to keep the old look and feel of the game.
Title: Re: Not enough RAM?
Post by: Yarn on November 28, 2013, 12:21:59 pm
Contrary to what The E said, I myself have found that using compatibility mode does work for the retail FreeSpace 1 and 2 EXEs (and I'm not talking about the GOG.com versions, which don't have this problem at all). I still suggest FS2 Open because the retail versions can have graphical problems that can't be fixed without registry tweaks.

Your Vista machine probably has 2 GB of RAM, so that probably explains why the game works fine there.
Title: Re: Not enough RAM?
Post by: Black-Devil on November 28, 2013, 02:50:37 pm
This means you can´t run FS1 retail on a Win7 computer with to much RAM
Title: Re: Not enough RAM?
Post by: Glovedog on November 28, 2013, 03:29:12 pm
This means you can´t run FS1 retail on a Win7 computer with to much RAM

So is there a way to fix this? I also don't get why this is the case. Why would too much RAM screw up the launcher? I'm not saying you guys are wrong, I just don't get it.
Title: Re: Not enough RAM?
Post by: Yarn on November 28, 2013, 04:00:18 pm
So is there a way to fix this? I also don't get why this is the case. Why would too much RAM screw up the launcher? I'm not saying you guys are wrong, I just don't get it.
You can probably get it to run in compatibility mode. Here's how to do it:
Title: Re: Not enough RAM?
Post by: Black-Devil on November 28, 2013, 04:16:42 pm
I`ll give it try and will then report if its working

Thx Yarn
Title: Re: Not enough RAM?
Post by: niffiwan on November 28, 2013, 08:33:08 pm
This means you can´t run FS1 retail on a Win7 computer with to much RAM

So is there a way to fix this? I also don't get why this is the case. Why would too much RAM screw up the launcher? I'm not saying you guys are wrong, I just don't get it.

I think it's to do with computer programming limits.  An "integer" in many languages/computers allocates enough space to represent approximately +/- 2 billion (where 2GB RAM is approx 2 billion bytes of RAM).  If you reach the maximum number that can be stored in an integer and then add one more, a common behaviour is to "'overflow" and give you the smallest possible number.  i.e. 2 billion + 1 = - 2 billion (theoretical maths, meet the real world...).

So, when the program asks for how much RAM is available, it may get a negative number is not expected/able to be dealt with, and the program doesn't work as expected.

I hope that helps :)
Title: Re: Not enough RAM?
Post by: Glovedog on November 28, 2013, 08:41:26 pm
So is there a way to fix this? I also don't get why this is the case. Why would too much RAM screw up the launcher? I'm not saying you guys are wrong, I just don't get it.
You can probably get it to run in compatibility mode. Here's how to do it:
  • Go to where you have FreeSpace installed.
  • Right-click FS.exe and click "Properties".
  • Select the "Compatibility" tab.
  • Make sure that "Run this program in compatibility mode for:" is checked.
  • Click the drop-down box and select "Windows 95".
  • Click "OK".
  • Repeat the steps above with FreeSpace.exe (this is important!).

Thanks, I'll give this a shot. So it will only run compatibility mode for freespace? That's cool.

If this doesn't work then I can always buy the game on gog.com or use the FSport. Anything I should be aware of with either of these versions? Recommendations?

Again, thanks a bunch.
Title: Re: Not enough RAM?
Post by: Black-Devil on November 29, 2013, 11:00:52 am
I got FS1 retail now working on my PC with Win7 64 bit System. These were my steps what i did

1. Installing the Game
2. Got the Patch for FS1 retail 1.06 and runed it
3. Put the patch for FS1 reatail 1.06 EAX althoug installed.
4. Went into the Folder and looked for the Freespace.exe and the FS.exe
5. opened both  with "properties" and  went to the "Compatibility" Tab
6. Run the Programm under Win 95, in Resolution 640x480 and as Administartor
7. Started FS1 retail and it worked.

If you do not get the patches it won`t work
You can install the Addon Silent Threat too.
Title: Re: Not enough RAM?
Post by: headdie on November 29, 2013, 11:47:29 am
Thinking of wikiing this but not sure where to put it, there's not enough to give it it's own page, but cant see where it would fit and be found
Title: Re: Not enough RAM?
Post by: Black-Devil on November 29, 2013, 01:35:43 pm
Perhaps you can put it to the Information to FS1 retail as a topic called
Installation Tips
Title: Re: Not enough RAM?
Post by: headdie on November 29, 2013, 02:57:40 pm
added under the system requirements in http://www.hard-light.net/wiki/index.php/FreeSpace_1_game_information
Title: Re: Not enough RAM?
Post by: Black-Devil on November 29, 2013, 04:11:08 pm
Thx.

If more help is needed let me know
Title: Re: Not enough RAM?
Post by: Glovedog on December 18, 2013, 08:15:41 pm
I got FS1 retail now working on my PC with Win7 64 bit System. These were my steps what i did

1. Installing the Game
2. Got the Patch for FS1 retail 1.06 and runed it
3. Put the patch for FS1 reatail 1.06 EAX althoug installed.
4. Went into the Folder and looked for the Freespace.exe and the FS.exe
5. opened both  with "properties" and  went to the "Compatibility" Tab
6. Run the Programm under Win 95, in Resolution 640x480 and as Administartor
7. Started FS1 retail and it worked.

If you do not get the patches it won`t work
You can install the Addon Silent Threat too.

I'm getting ready to do this tonight and I have everything set up except for the patch. What does it do and where can I find it? All the links that come from google searches are broken. But most importantly, I'm curious as to what the patch does.
Title: Re: Not enough RAM?
Post by: Macfie on December 18, 2013, 08:29:01 pm
The patches fix problems in the original game.  The EAX patch adds EAX function to the sound
FS 106 patch
http://www.freespacemods.net/download.php?view.350
FS 106 EAX patch
http://www.freespacemods.net/download.php?view.351
Title: Re: Not enough RAM?
Post by: Glovedog on December 19, 2013, 12:36:03 am
So I ran it in compatibility mode as windows XP (service pack 3) and it works great....for the intro cutscene at least. Once I get to the main menu the colors get all funky. Literally, purple, green and pink are the dominant colors and there is almost nothing of the original light blue-grey color scheme (excpet for the tech room, which looks fine).

Is this what I need the patch for? Should I also change the color settings on my computer? I'm stumped.....
Title: Re: Not enough RAM?
Post by: jr2 on December 19, 2013, 01:27:03 am
Iirc there's a tool to enable direct draw that fixes this. Hang on let me check...
Title: Re: Not enough RAM?
Post by: jr2 on December 19, 2013, 01:30:18 am
http://www.sevenforums.com/gaming/213099-windows-7-fix-running-old-games-use-directdraw-graphics.html
Title: Re: Not enough RAM?
Post by: Black-Devil on December 20, 2013, 11:10:19 am
Perhaps i forgot to write it down too.
When you are installing the ST Addon you need to run the patches again.

I you  want i can run a test under WIN XP SP3 too.
Title: Re: Not enough RAM?
Post by: Macfie on December 20, 2013, 11:43:01 am
If I remember correctly the FS1 release was at version 104.  Silent threat patched FS1 to 105.  So you should install FS1 then Silent threat and then the patches.
Title: Re: Not enough RAM?
Post by: Black-Devil on December 28, 2013, 08:13:22 am
If I remember correctly the FS1 release was at version 104.  Silent threat patched FS1 to 105.  So you should install FS1 then Silent threat and then the patches.
Correct
But I first patched my FS1 and then put the addon and needed to patch the game again. Perhaps it is possible to do it the way u say.
Title: Re: Not enough RAM?
Post by: jr2 on December 29, 2013, 05:57:30 pm
The ST add on will take the game to 1.0.4 no matter what it is at (over or under), so you need to patch it after.
Title: Re: Not enough RAM?
Post by: Glovedog on January 05, 2014, 07:01:55 pm
http://www.sevenforums.com/gaming/213099-windows-7-fix-running-old-games-use-directdraw-graphics.html

Is this the only way to fix the problem? I couldn't get the download to work.
Title: Re: Not enough RAM?
Post by: jr2 on January 05, 2014, 11:53:34 pm
Virus scan this before using of course.

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