[OvermindDL1]

It has been a while since I played FS2 (FS2_Open), and I have had an urge.  Last time I just remember downloading the FS2_Open installer and it handled everything from there (I do not 'think' I had FS2 install, but I guess I might have of), now it seems I need FS2 installed (and the FS1 discs for the movies from it, it seems, which I also have), so I attempted to install FS2 (after hunting in my apparently very dusty closet for over an hour), however it appears the installer is 16-bit (what on earth, I though this game came out in 1999?!?).  Well, my Windows installation has WoW disabled (Windows on Windows, it is the 16-bit emulator for 32-bit versions of Windows) for compatibility reasons, so as you might guess, Windows has no clue what the subsystem is in the PE header (the executable file format) and thus cannot execute it.  I will probably just end up installing a copy of Windows 98 in a virtual computer and installing it onto my drive through the virtual machine, but in the future, has anyone made an updated installer for those old cab files?

Also, on the page http://www.hard-light.net/wiki/index.php/FreeSpace_Open_Installer it states to install patch 1.2 and it links to http://www.pxo.net/files/fs21x-12.exe that does not exist, the whole domain does not exist actually.  Where else can this patch be downloaded from?  And yes, I know a quick Google search will find it (I already did and downloaded it), but this is mostly just to let you know that the link is broken on that page.

[Jeff Vader]

Turey's FSO Installer used to download FS2 because
- there was no easy/legal/reasonably priced way of getting the game
- it would have been a greater crime to let FS2 die.

Then along came Good Old Games, who sell numerous old games, including FS and FS2. HLP supports GOG and redirects FS2-less people to their direction because
- GOG is legal
- GOG is cheap ($5.99 / €9.99 per game)
- license holders get their share of the profits.

I've never heard of an incident such as this. As far as I know, people have succesfully installed FS2 from disks on 98, XP and Vista. Possibly even Win7. Sorry that I can't be of assistance.

A non-exe version of the 1.2 patch is available here (misleadingly named "HotU Crack Pack). It basically contains the newest versions of the original FS2 game engine, FRED and Root_fs2.vp.

[portej05]

yeah, the installer is 16 bit unfortunately.
I had the same problem when I tried to install under 64bit XP.
The solution was to install it on a machine which could read the files, and then copy it to the XP machine.

There is an overhaul for the installer and launcher planned after the current release is finished (3.6.10)

[OvermindDL1]

I figured it was because of GoG, makes sense to me, just wish the installer actually asked you to install the disk and pull the files from it directly.  You may want to look at the Fleet Ops mod installer for the game Star Trek Armada 2, it is a combined unofficial patch, mod, etc... and it asks for the installation disk to install off of as it installs the mod and unofficial patch, very stand-alone and well made.

Either way, just finished installing Windows 98 into a virtual computer and FS2 is installing nice and well now onto my actual drive (sans registry entries of course, I doubt those will be required).

And yes, 64-bit version of Windows contain a 32-bit WoW, but no 16-bit WoW.  You can actually see wowexec.exe running when you run a 16-bit app on 32-bit windows or a 32-bit app on 64-bit windows in your process list in the task manager, that is the emulator.

EDIT:  Wow, the virtual machine did not like the movie that played at the end of the installer, forgot all about that...
copying the FS1 discs movies now...
I did not see anything that I need to do with the FS1:  Silent Threat disc, is there anything I should copy off of that?

[Jeff Vader]

I did not see anything that I need to do with the FS1:  Silent Threat disc, is there anything I should copy off of that?

Silent Threat is evil. Leave it alone. Instead, get FSPort and Silent Threat: Reborn - a fan-made overhaul that kicks the original Silent Threat's arse all the way.

[OvermindDL1]

Silent Threat is evil. Leave it alone. Instead, get FSPort and Silent Threat: Reborn - a fan-made overhaul that kicks the original Silent Threat's arse all the way.

Heh, already did, installed everything, and I read the readme of Silent Threat:  Reborn; appears to be a rather complete and vastly better overhaul, very nice.  I remember playing Silent Threat long ago, I look forward to playing this better version.

I am *really* wishing my old Joystck worked on modern system (it used a midi port, yes, it is very old), this game is playable with a mouse, but it involves a lot of picking up the mouse and moving it...  May end up getting that good Saitek joystick I had been looking at.  Does anyone have any good Joystick recommendations with plenty (read: I would prefer around 30 or more) of buttons?  I have not been kept up-to-date with such interfaces...

[captain-custard]

I am *really* wishing my old Joystck worked on modern system (it used a midi port, yes, it is very old), this game is playable with a mouse, but it involves a lot of picking up the mouse and moving it...  May end up getting that good Saitek joystick I had been looking at.  Does anyone have any good Joystick recommendations with plenty (read: I would prefer around 30 or more) of buttons?  I have not been kept up-to-date with such interfaces...

there is a script for using a mouse

Filename mouse_script.cfg, placed into .../data/scripts/ directory

open your data directory and create a folder called ....;    scripts

after that unzip and paste the file in there



[attachment has decomposed]

[General Battuta]

I've always played with keyboard only and it's worked fine. 

[OvermindDL1]

there is a script for using a mouse

Filename mouse_script.cfg, placed into .../data/scripts/ directory

open your data directory and create a folder called ....;    scripts

after that unzip and paste the file in there

Very nice.  Do I need to do anything special to activate it or is the filename an atom the game looks for to setup mouse settings?  Also, what does it do exactly, I looked at it, but I do not know what control mode and such do...

I tried the keyboard long ago, I find mouse better for moving, although joystick is better overall. 

[colecampbell666]

What you can do is drag all of the .VPs off of the discs, instead of installing.

Then run the Installer.

And get a Saitek stick, you won't regret it.

[OvermindDL1]

Yea, one of my friends (a flight-sim nut, I intend to introduce him to FS2 shortly) swears by Saitek, hence why I was looking at them.  Always good to hear more of them. 

[Renegade Paladin]

I use a Saitek X52 stick/throttle combo, and I love it to death.  I also have a Saitek Cyborg Evo, but the trigger button on it died, so I got the one I use now to replace it.  It worked well up until the button's untimely demise, and to be fair it was a few years old. 

[randyv]

I have had the following problems:
on a Vista 64 bit machine; had to copy disk 1 to the drive, that got the installer to complete, but when I launched FS2 I got an error that I had -127Mb available on my disk (which is a 1TB disk that is only about 15% consumed.

on a XP 32 bit machine, it won't even install, the installer carps about another version of the installer already running (which is not true).

Is there a way (other than installing W98 into a VM) to get FS2 to install?  I already have the disks.  If not, and if I were to purchase it from GOG, will that install on a modern machine?

If not, anyone have suggestions?

Tia

randyv

[Jeff Vader]

I got an error that I had -127Mb available on my disk

That's a new one. So far I've only heard of errors regarding memory, which is more prominent in retail FS2, because it can't handle more than 2GB of RAM.

if I were to purchase it from GOG, will that install on a modern machine?

People have been known to succesfully install FS2 purchased from GOG to various incarnations of XP and Vista.

[colecampbell666]

WinXP 32 (Intel + ATi), WinVista 32+64 (Intel + Intel and Intel + nVidia), Win7 32+64 (Intel + Intel and Intel + nVidia) all work.

[FUBAR-BDHR]

One thing you could try if you are getting negative hard drive remaining is fill up some of your drive.  Find the biggest file you have and make a couple of copies then try to install.  After you get it installed delete the garbage files. 

[Galemp]

Heh, already did, installed everything, and I read the readme of Silent Threat:  Reborn; appears to be a rather complete and vastly better overhaul, very nice.  I remember playing Silent Threat long ago, I look forward to playing this better version.

We have a readme? Where is it? Lemme find it.