[Marcov]

Actually, I've already played the first 2 or 3 missions of the Ancients, but having no backgrounds led to me just dismissing the campaign. But since I'm at it again, I think I'll have to bring this problem out one way or another.

The problem is, when I load the first mission, it says this:

Error: sexp-add-background-bitmap: Background bitmap NebulC1-Main not found!
File: SEXP.CPP
Line: 10301


Call stack:
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------

I've posted the log, but oddly it has no connection to ASW. Probably since I placed the Inferno files in my data folder?

So how is this going to be fixed? Is this a common problem?
Thanks.


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[General Battuta]

Take the Inferno files out of your data folder.

You have violated one of the most basic rules of FreeSpace modding and rendered your problem totally unfixable until you resolve that issue.

Why are you running at 640x480?

[The E]

You really are setting standards here.

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Passed cmdline options:
  <none>
This means that no mod whatsoever is loaded. Also, what you posted is a log produced by a debug build of FRED. This is not helping.

Probably since I placed the Inferno files in my data folder?

Unless you know exactly what you are doing (and you don't), NEVER, EVER place files into the main data folder. Use Mod folders, and the Launcher's Mod tab to switch between mods. The reason for this is that unless you really know how the engine works, and how it reads data, you WILL break things (just like you did here).
So. Please delete the fs2_open.log from the data folder. Run the debug fs2_open exe. Post the log from that.

[Marcov]

The reason why I placed the INF files in my data folder was for FRED2 to use Inferno ships. How else am I supposed to do it?

Plus, I can always remove them so FS can work by using the main directory .vp files (or what mod currently is selected in the launcher) wants.

@GB: I was running in 1024X768 mode.
Strangely, the message doesn't appear anymore, although there is absolutely NO background. Even the stars are nowhere to be found. The only thing besides complete darkness is the sun.

So now, what I've done is to copy the data folder, delete everything in it. And then, delete the log as you've said, so now the new log is posted. I did NOT run the debug build, for whenever I do it says this:

Warning: Weapon explosion 'Mekhu_Impact' does not have an LOD0 anim!
File: Weapons.cpp
Line: 1241


Call stack:
------------------------------------------------------------------
    parse_weapon()    parse_weaponstbl()    weapon_init()    game_init()    game_main()    WinMain()    WinMainCRTStartup()    kernel32.dll 7c816fe7()
------------------------------------------------------------------

....and then crashes.

However, running the non-debug build, it works fine, except, of course, for having no background. Even in the cutscene (the one before the 1st mission starts), there's absolutely nothing except blackness and the sun.

However, the log in here says what the debug build says; about the Mekhu stuff. Apparently the background error isn't in the log. What's wrong? I've been encountering this long ago.

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[The E]

The reason why I placed the INF files in my data folder was for FRED2 to use Inferno ships. How else am I supposed to do it?

You create a shortcut to the FRED exe. Right-click on the shortcut and add "-mod <Mod you want to FRED for>" to the "Target" field.

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Found root pack 'C:\Games\Freespace 2\mediavps\MV_Advanced.vp' with a checksum of 0xd06bf123
Found root pack 'C:\Games\Freespace 2\mediavps\MV_Assets.vp' with a checksum of 0xc9e372bb
Found root pack 'C:\Games\Freespace 2\mediavps\MV_Core.vp' with a checksum of 0x0dc7bb8f
I still don't get why you're using MV_Advanced (which you shouldn't, not with an Intel graphics chip), but not MV_Effects. At a guess, your lack of MV_Effects might be responsible for this.

So now, what I've done is to copy the data folder, delete everything in it. And then, delete the log as you've said, so now the new log is posted. I did NOT run the debug build, for whenever I do it says this [....] and crashes

The game doesn't crash there. It gives you a warning, which you can click through. And again, I really suspect that your weird mediavps setup is to blame for this.

[General Battuta]

The reason why I placed the INF files in my data folder was for FRED2 to use Inferno ships. How else am I supposed to do it?

Create a custom shortcut to FRED using the -mod command line flag in the custom shortcut.

As for the rest of your problem. What happens if you attempt to ignore the Mekhu debug warning and keep going?

[Marcov]

The reason why I placed the INF files in my data folder was for FRED2 to use Inferno ships. How else am I supposed to do it?

Create a custom shortcut to FRED using the -mod command line flag in the custom shortcut.

As for the rest of your problem. What happens if you attempt to ignore the Mekhu debug warning and keep going?

It crashes.

However, I'll follow your recommendation (replace MV_Advanced with MV_Effects).

[Jeff Vader]

The reason why I placed the INF files in my data folder was for FRED2 to use Inferno ships. How else am I supposed to do it?

In addition to the fine answers already posted here, a longer explanation is available here.

However, I'll follow your recommendation (replace MV_Advanced with MV_Effects).

I have this feeling that there is, or at least used to be, a specific order in which you could add individual MediaVPs to your \mediavps\ folder. Core was definitely the first; you couldn't do **** without it. Then it was possibly Assets. Then perhaps Effects. But Advanced is always the last one; if you have every other MediaVP, then you can concider bringing in Advanced. But indeed with your GPU, it isn't necessarily a good idea.

MV_Music is a bit of a lone wolf, because it contains just music and shouldn't depend on the other MediaVPs in any way.

And naturally, if a MediaVPs release contains a patch, or patches, you absolutely must get them. Patches are always released for a reason. Speaking of patches, you should really get the patch for the 3.6.10 MediaVPs from the 3.6.10 MediaVPs release thread, which is located at the FreeSpace Upgrade Project board. You'll find your missing MediaVPs from there too. Or Turey's FSO Installer should also be able to download all the files for you.

[Aardwolf]

I still don't get why you're using MV_Advanced (which you shouldn't, not with an Intel graphics chip), but not MV_Effects.

I used to play using an Intel chip, and you definitely can run MV_Advanced. The lack of GLSL support kinda makes up for the slowness. I think the most frequent limitation I ran into while on my Intel GMA 950 was fill rate; missions with lots of overlapping background nebula sprites, such as the N362(?) missions in Blue Planet, would be slow as hell when I looked at the overlapping nebulae. Also, turning off environment maps helps (although a lot of the prettiness actually comes from that).

[General Battuta]

I still don't get why you're using MV_Advanced (which you shouldn't, not with an Intel graphics chip), but not MV_Effects.

I used to play using an Intel chip, and you definitely can run MV_Advanced. The lack of GLSL support kinda makes up for the slowness. I think the most frequent limitation I ran into while on my Intel GMA 950 was fill rate; missions with lots of overlapping background nebula sprites, such as the N362(?) missions in Blue Planet, would be slow as hell when I looked at the overlapping nebulae. Also, turning off environment maps helps (although a lot of the prettiness actually comes from that).

Depending on what you're talking about, I don't actually think the missions in question have any nebula sprites at all.

You may need to be more specific about which missions you mean.

[ShadowGorrath]

Can I ask why you're asking for help here, instead of ASW's official forum?

[General Battuta]

Can I ask why you're asking for help here, instead of ASW's official forum?

Isn't ASW hosted off HLP? The probability of the HLP tech support ninjas seeing the thread there is lower.

[Aardwolf]

Nonono, let ShadowGorrath try to deal with the nubish horde. It should prove quite entertaining.

[ShadowGorrath]

Can I ask why you're asking for help here, instead of ASW's official forum?

Isn't ASW hosted off HLP? The probability of the HLP tech support ninjas seeing the thread there is lower.

ASW has its own forums on Sectorgame, that are more than just a decoration, you know. The team that made ASW knows it inside and out, and having actually released it, I think pretty much knows how to debug it. But hey, your call...

Also, did someone say anything?

[Marcov]

There's supposed to be an "ASW problems" thread. Apparently it's gone. For reasons unknown to me.

Oh, and the problem has already been fixed. 

[Jeff Vader]

There's supposed to be an "ASW problems" thread. Apparently it's gone.

Is not (if that's the thread you're referring to. There might be others in the Missions and Campaigns board).

Oh, and the problem has already been fixed. 

Good. It is polite to tell that, so that the support people aren't left wondering about the situation.

[General Battuta]

Can I ask why you're asking for help here, instead of ASW's official forum?

Isn't ASW hosted off HLP? The probability of the HLP tech support ninjas seeing the thread there is lower.

ASW has its own forums on Sectorgame, that are more than just a decoration, you know. The team that made ASW knows it inside and out, and having actually released it, I think pretty much knows how to debug it. But hey, your call...

Also, did someone say anything?

Debugging FSOpen is the support ninjas' area of expertise. Odds are that any given problem with ASW doesn't have much to do with the specific content actually made for ASW, but rather with the user mis-handling the installation or setup.

[The E]

Of course, if a mod creator can give input here, it is always appreciated.