[snoozlesrafs]

Dear guys,

First, I apologize profusely if I'm posting in the wrong forum or committing some other lack of etiquette.

I'm having trouble downloading Freespace 2.  I tried the EXE installer so thoughtfully provided.  It looked like it tried to download files and didn't download a single byte.  My guess would be the servers it connects to aren't working.

Basically, I want to play the full retail version of Freespace 2, perhaps with some of the open source improvements added on.  I even want the custscenes, if that's possible.  ISO images of the original discs would be great, if I can get them.

And lastly,  I want to make sure I have my facts straight.   From reading the Freespace wiki and other web pages, I am given to understand that Freespace 2 had a weird license agreement that basically allowed legal sharing of the game.  I am *not* trying to pirate or rip off the game illegally.  So please correct me if I'm wrong about the license agreement and/or  the legality of downloading the game.

I don't use BitTorrent.  I'd need to use an FTP or HTTP download site.

Thanks in advance.

[Turey]

Which installer did you try?

EDIT:

And lastly,  I want to make sure I have my facts straight.   From reading the Freespace wiki and other web pages, I am given to understand that Freespace 2 had a weird license agreement that basically allowed legal sharing of the game.  I am *not* trying to pirate or rip off the game illegally.  So please correct me if I'm wrong about the license agreement and/or  the legality of downloading the game.

The problem is, no one knows. Everyone has an opinion on this issue, but the actual legality of downloading it is so mired in details and contradictions that it'd take a court of law to figure it out, and Interplay has yet to take anyone to such a court. My personal opinion, or anyone else's, doesn't matter in this case.

[snoozlesrafs]

I managed to download the  OpenFreespace launcher.  I *think* all the relevant files were downloaded, but the game won't run.  It keeps talking about a "launcher" and when I run the launcher, that program says its out of date.  However, the link it points me too for an updated version no longer exists.

[Turey]

I managed to download the  OpenFreespace launcher.  I *think* all the relevant files were downloaded, but the game won't run.  It keeps talking about a "launcher" and when I run the launcher, that program says its out of date.  However, the link it points me too for an updated version no longer exists.

try here.

[snoozlesrafs]

I got the new launcher.  I think they were actually the same version.   But when I run the launcher, it gives me the dreaded "This program has had a problem, blah, blah, blah" dialog in Windows XP.  In other words, it crashed.  Any suggestions?

[karajorma]

Delete your launcher6.ini and try running again.

[snoozlesrafs]

Thanks for the suggestion, but no dice.  I deleted the .ini file and the launcher started up.  It told me to find my fs2_open.exe file.  So I pointed it to fs2_open_3_6_9.exe.  When I did that, the thing promptly  crashed again.

It seems I'm so close yet so far.

[karajorma]

That probably means the launcher is querying FS2_Open to find out what options it supports and then is choking on the answer. Either your launcher or FS2_Open .exe is borked most likely.

Delete the ini again and replace all your exes with these ones.

[snoozlesrafs]

I replaced the EXEs you kindly  provided.  I tried the launcher and got the same problem, the launcher crashed.  So this time I tried sticking both the launcher and fs_open  into compatibility mode for Windows 98/ME.  This time fs_open crashed and then the launcher spat out "Failed to read flag file."

[jr2]

Do you have Open AL installed?  If not, do so, then try again.  (Get the "Installer for Windows" version from the "Downloads" section.)

[G0atmaster]

make sure you remember to delete any older leftover OpenAL files in the windows and system32 directories, and basically anywhere else on the harddrive, or they'll interfere.  Search the forums for OpenAL, you'll find numerous posts with the filenames in them.   I'd do it for you, but I'm two hours late getting to bed and still have a 10 page paper to write

[karajorma]

The problem here is not OpenAL. (At least I don't think it is.)

The problem is that FS2_Open is passing a bad or non-existent flag file to the launcher. The problem is that I can't for the life of me figure out why it would be doing that.

[jr2]

The problem here is not OpenAL. (At least I don't think it is.)

The problem is that FS2_Open is passing a bad or non-existent flag file to the launcher. The problem is that I can't for the life of me figure out why it would be doing that.

Hmm, what made me think that it was Open AL is the "failed to read flag file" message... but that should pop up regardless of compatibility settings, right?  IDK, I'm just trying to cover all bases.  Graphics drivers wouldn't do this, would they?

Also, maybe he should run a check through the .rar file... open it, and tell your archive program to "test" it.. (Actions - test, IIRC)

Also post your directory listing:

Can you post your directory listing?  Start->Run, type

Code: [Select]

cmd press enter
type

Code: [Select]

dir "c:\games\freespace2" /s>"%homepath%\my documents\fs2dir.txt"(replace c:\games\freespace2 with your fs2 dir drive / path as neccessary)
Then, post it, hit "Additional Options", hit "Browse", find your fs2dir.txt file in your My Documents folder, then post it - if you don't see "Additional Options", then hit the "Preview" button first, then it will show up.

K? 

[G0atmaster]

my only thought would be to redownload the installer and try again?  Something got corrupted somewheres methinks.

[Turey]

my only thought would be to redownload the installer and try again?  Something got corrupted somewheres methinks.

Yes, but JR2's last post will tell us names and sizes, at which point we can deliver a more targeted solution than "Download Everthing Again".