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General FreeSpace => FreeSpace & FreeSpace Open Support => Topic started by: bj bullet on July 03, 2018, 02:16:50 pm

Title: how-to install freespace onto windows 10
Post by: bj bullet on July 03, 2018, 02:16:50 pm

I have a copy of descent freespace from the 90s.  Whenever I attempt to install this game onto my windows 10 OS, it won't seem to play beyond the desktop screen (Volition install/play) without freezing my computer and making some awful sounds (fan full-blast and hard-drive obviously working w/ no success).  Why can't I just play the game/campaign?
 :confused: :mad: :hopping: :banghead:?

Title: Re: how-to install freespace onto windows 10
Post by: Cyborg17 on July 03, 2018, 02:48:46 pm

Most of us have just bought the game on gog or steam at this point.

Title: Re: how-to install freespace onto windows 10
Post by: 0rph3u5 on July 03, 2018, 02:59:48 pm

Just clarify, you are running a retail/vannila installation?

Title: Re: how-to install freespace onto windows 10
Post by: Nightmare on July 03, 2018, 03:34:09 pm

Do you have admin rights? I think you have to right click and then use "run as admin"...

Title: Re: how-to install freespace onto windows 10
Post by: FrikgFeek on July 04, 2018, 12:23:38 am

If you have a disc it's also pretty likely that the disc itself got damaged over the years. A process hanging and overworking your hardware is a pretty common side-effect of corrupt data.

You should run a health check on that CD although I think at this point you'd save yourself a lot of trouble if you just slapped down 10 bucks and bought it on GOG.

Title: Re: how-to install freespace onto windows 10
Post by: jr2 on July 04, 2018, 05:44:41 pm

Pretty sure the retail installers were 16-bit?  Although that doesn't explain why it would lock up.  Do you have 32-bit Windows 10 (unlikely)?  If so, there's a chance you can get it to work, as 16-bit programs can be run on a 32-bit Windows.  64-bit Windows (almost all Windows installs at this point are 64-bit, as otherwise you can't utilize more than 4GB of RAM), however, has removed this functionality.

Title: Re: how-to install freespace onto windows 10
Post by: Novachen on July 05, 2018, 08:30:46 am

If the Installer is incompatible Windows 10 will give an error message. And actually it should not to be anything to do with strange sounds.

But well, as far as i know, FreeSpace1 Retail can be installed and run without Problems on a 64-Bit System.

Run as Admin and Compatibility Mode to Windows 98 should do the trick. At least after you have updated the game to 1.06, not sure about the original and ST (1.03) version however.
But the Installer should even work them.

But well, it can be happen, that there is another process, that blocks FS.exe. For that look in "Analyze Wait Chain" for the FS.exe in the taskmgr windows task manager.

Title: Re: how-to install freespace onto windows 10
Post by: jr2 on July 07, 2018, 06:50:01 am

What AV software do you use?  Perhaps try disabling it temporarily.