[deepblue99]

When I go into files, and "run freespace2" I get a message that says the file cannot be found.  Btw I got freespace 2 from the internet because I'm pretty sure you can't find it 6 years after its maker filed for bankruptcy.  Hence I have a bunch of files and I am not exactly good with computers.  All I know is that the icon "Freespace 2" doesnt start the game for me, so I had to fool around and found out that I need to click on an icon that says "Launcher" and click "run" on a rectangular grey window.  If anyone recognizes this problem or has a solution it would be greatly appreciated thanks,

[Jeff Vader]

Btw I got freespace 2 from the internet because I'm pretty sure you can't find it 6 years after its maker filed for bankruptcy.

Well I never...

Now.  There is a conflict between the title of the thread and the contents of your post. Do you have issues with FRED (the FReespace EDitor) or the game itself? Also, there are certain things you could provide us. First, a screenshot of your \freespace2\ folder or a list of the files in the folder. Then, your computer specs. If you know nothing about them use CPU-Z and GPU-Z (links in my signature), they'll provide the needed information.

[deepblue99]

Well right now the current problem I have is with fred2 (playing the missions) but I deduct that it might be part of a greater problem : a bunch of files in the wrong places, incorrectly installed etc, which might be linked to the initial problems I had finding how to launch the game.  As for the specs,  I have a Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T5450 @ 1.66GHz
and a "Mémoire vive" (i think it might be memory or RAM) of 2046 Mo.  Its a dell laptop I bought about a few months ago, so I think its powerful enough to run freespace 2.  I also have windows vista.

I took a screenshot of the files, but how do I attach it to this post? (I have it as a paint file)

[Jeff Vader]

When writing a post, hit Additional Options. The attachment option is there.

Then I'd also like to know some details. You "got FreeSpace 2 from the Internet", and as we all know, the Internet is such a big place. I'd like to know exactly where you got it from. If it was some bizarre source, we might be able to correct everything and save bandwidth, if you delete everything except the retail vp files, the executables and the \data\ folder, followed by running Turey's FSO Installer. But let's talk about that later, because first we need to see just what you've got in \freespace2\.

[deepblue99]

Here are the files.  I downloaded it here.  http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,38195.0.html

[attachment deleted by admin]

[Jeff Vader]

Hmm. Did the game by chance say "Unable to find OpenAL32.dll" or something like that? If so, download and install OpenAL (link in my signature).

[deepblue99]

Ok I downloaded it, if theres anything else I should do tell me (thanks btw), I g2g and I will be back later tonight. 

[Stormkeeper]

Nope. Just see if you can run it, and if you got any new problems just come on back here and ask.

[deepblue99]

It still didn't work, it basically just says that the specified folder is "unfindable" (i'm translating from french).

[Jeff Vader]

Troublesome...

Hmm. Try the following:
-Download this build and extract the contents to \freespace2\.
- Move launcher6.ini away from the folder.
- Open the Launcher (Launcher.exe, not Freespace2.exe or FS2.exe)
- Select the fs2_open_3_6_10.exe.
- Check from the Launcher's Video tab that OpenGL is selected, since Direct3D is evil.
- Click Apply, click Run.
- Enjoy (hopefully).

[deepblue99]

Just when I thought this would solve the problem... when I clicked, file, "run freespace" in Fred2 it still said "the file cannot be found".  Btw, to open fred 2 I click on the FRED2 Icon, not the ones with a bunch of open_3_6_9 or _10.

[General Battuta]

FRED 2 is the mission editor, dude. You can't run the game that way.

Go to the launcher, click 'BROWSE', select fs2_open_3_6_10.exe (or fs2_open_3_6_9.exe or whatever you've got, but NOT one of the ones that ends in a D), then hit Launch. That's how you start the game.

You'll probably run into a few more problems, but we'll tackle them as we go.

Again: use the launcher and select an FS2 executable, not FRED2.

[Jeff Vader]

Aye. It is good to once again note that the ED in FRED comes from the word "editor". FRED is for editing and creating missions, not for playing them. And you seem to persistently use retail files when there really is no need to. Anything that says "open" is a good thing, since those are always the SCP-enhanced versions of either the game engine or the editor.

[deepblue99]

Well, the Fred2 help when I pressed f1 said in the first thing (quickstart)  :

(cut and paste) ..................Pick Save As... from the File Menu. Call the mission duel.fs2. Do not change directories; all missions have to go in a certain directory, and FRED2 puts them there by default.

Finally, pick Run FreeSpace from the File Menu. Go to the Tech Room, choose the Mission Simulator, and check Single Missions.

Your mission should appear as untitled. Jump in your ship and blast that Shivan fighter! ...........................


That is why I am trying to use Fred2 to start the game.  If that isn't meant to work, then where do I save the files of missions to play them within freespace 2? Because when I just save Fred2 missions in my freespace 2 folder, I can't access it in single missions (don't see them).

[Jeff Vader]

\freespace2\data\missions\

[deepblue99]

Thanks! it works perfectly now.  just one more thing - because I have a laptop, I dont have a keypad... so some of the controls for fred2 (especially moving around , left-right up-down etc) I can't do.  Are there any other alternatives, or can I change them?

- Also, the figures (ships) in my fred2 are circles rather than figures of ships etc.  Its not particularly important, but if theres a simple solution let me know. (nevermind I just found out how to do that)

Thank you!

[karajorma]

FRED 2 is the mission editor, dude. You can't run the game that way.

Yeah you can.

The option was broken in 3.6.9 but it should work in any recent 3.6.10 build. The problem is that it expects your executable to be called fs2_open_r.exe same as they used to be a long time ago.

I've added the bug to my list of little coding tasks to look at when I have half an hour free.

[Goober5000]

The option was broken in 3.6.9 but it should work in any recent 3.6.10 build. The problem is that it expects your executable to be called fs2_open_r.exe same as they used to be a long time ago.

I've added the bug to my list of little coding tasks to look at when I have half an hour free.

I have an idea on how to solve this.

1) Determine the executable name of FRED (e.g. fred2_open_20080712_debug.exe).
2) Replace "fred2" with "fs2" (e.g. fs2_open_20080712_debug.exe).
3) Attempt to launch the resulting executable.

[karajorma]

Yeah. It's either that or grab the name from the launcher6.ini.

Neither solution is exactly robust though.

[deepblue99]

Thanks to all of you that have helped... this is the best customer support thatI've ever had (even better considering this game is free). 

Completely off this topic, but (now that I am slowly getting the hang of fred2) I'm trying to make conversations between command and alpha 2, is there a way to do this? I've already done the first message using the "events" with a send-message operation triggered by the arrival cue of a shivan fighter, now im wondering if I need to trigger an event for every message or if I can make more messages triggered by previous messages.