[uk_john]

I have just installed via the automatic "3.6.10" installer and only have fs2_open_3_6_12d_INF.exe and fs2_open_3_6_12r_INF.exe and no ordinary fs2_3_6_12.exe

Given my game fail to start with string errors, I presume this has something to do with it.

Also, the installer said there were errors in a couple of campaigns, but won;t let me untick boxes to just reinstall them, forcing me to load the whole thing again.

[The E]

The regular exe is not recommended. there are several campaigns out right now that require Inferno builds, and so the option to install regular ones has been removed (If you really think you need them, you can get them from this thread). The string error you're seeing is related to a corrupted multi-missions vp, please delete that. If that doesn't fix it, run the debug build and post the fs2_open.log it generates here.

[General Battuta]

I have just installed via the automatic "3.6.10" installer and only have fs2_open_3_6_12d_INF.exe and fs2_open_3_6_12r_INF.exe and no ordinary fs2_3_6_12.exe

Given my game fail to start with string errors, I presume this has something to do with it.

Also, the installer said there were errors in a couple of campaigns, but won;t let me untick boxes to just reinstall them, forcing me to load the whole thing again.

The errors probably don't have anything to do with using an Inferno build instead of a standard one. Could you post the errors? String errors usually have to do with the transition from 3.6.10 to 3.6.12.

[uk_john]

I have deleted the multi-mission_pack.vp and now get the main screen up for a second and this string error:

Weapon explosion 'Shivan_Impact01' does not have an LOD0 anim!
<no module>! KiFastSystemCallRet
<no module>! WaitForSingleObject + 18 bytes
<no module>! <no symbol>
<no module>! <no symbol>
<no module>! <no symbol>
<no module>! <no symbol>
<no module>! <no symbol>
<no module>! <no symbol>
<no module>! <no symbol>
<no module>! <no symbol>
<no module>! <no symbol>
<no module>! <no symbol>
<no module>! <no symbol>
<no module>! <no symbol>
<no module>! RegisterWaitForInputIdle + 73 bytes

[General Battuta]

I have deleted the multi-mission_pack.vp and now get the main screen up for a second and this string error:

Weapon explosion 'Shivan_Impact01' does not have an LOD0 anim!
<no module>! KiFastSystemCallRet
<no module>! WaitForSingleObject + 18 bytes
<no module>! <no symbol>
<no module>! <no symbol>
<no module>! <no symbol>
<no module>! <no symbol>
<no module>! <no symbol>
<no module>! <no symbol>
<no module>! <no symbol>
<no module>! <no symbol>
<no module>! <no symbol>
<no module>! <no symbol>
<no module>! <no symbol>
<no module>! <no symbol>
<no module>! RegisterWaitForInputIdle + 73 bytes

Could you post a debug log? You can find instructions for generating them in the Troubleshooting forum.

[uk_john]

I have a problem starting any mod. I started just fs2 open and it worked, in the campaign screen it only gave me the Freespace 2 campaign. I tried the fs1port and got a string error, I tried CardinalSpear and the game started and gave me a campaign list for all the fs1 mods, including Great War and Silent Threat, but when I tried to start those mods i got string errors again. Tried to run CardinalSpear again and couldn;t this time because i got string errors!

Here's my log, I hope someone can tell me what's going on with mods sometimes starting and sometimes giving string errors!

==========================================================================
DEBUG SPEW: No debug_filter.cfg found, so only general, error, and warning
categories can be shown and no debug_filter.cfg info will be saved.
==========================================================================
FreeSpace version: 3.6.12
Passed cmdline options:
  -env
  -mipmap
  -missile_lighting
  -glow
  -nomotiondebris
  -spec
  -normal
  -3dshockwave
  -ballistic_gauge
  -dualscanlines
  -orbradar
  -rearm_timer
  -targetinfo
  -snd_preload
  -mod derelict,mediavps
Building file index...
Found root pack 'X:\Games\Freespace 2\derelict\DerelictPatch.vp' with a checksum of 0xf7d8fb86
Found root pack 'X:\Games\Freespace 2\derelict\DerelictSCP.vp' with a checksum of 0xac988b76
Found root pack 'X:\Games\Freespace 2\derelict\DerelictSCP1.vp' with a checksum of 0x0eff4777
Found root pack 'X:\Games\Freespace 2\derelict\DerelictSCP2.vp' with a checksum of 0x53d979a5
Found root pack 'X:\Games\Freespace 2\derelict\DerelictSCP3.vp' with a checksum of 0xaae56803
Found root pack 'X:\Games\Freespace 2\derelict\DerelictSCP4.vp' with a checksum of 0xf9adafdd
Found root pack 'X:\Games\Freespace 2\multi-mission-pack.vp' with a checksum of 0x05516540
Found root pack 'X:\Games\Freespace 2\Root_fs2.vp' with a checksum of 0x747372cc
Found root pack 'X:\Games\Freespace 2\smarty_fs2.vp' with a checksum of 0xddeb3b1e
Found root pack 'X:\Games\Freespace 2\sparky_fs2.vp' with a checksum of 0x164fe65a
Found root pack 'X:\Games\Freespace 2\sparky_hi_fs2.vp' with a checksum of 0xa11d56f1
Found root pack 'X:\Games\Freespace 2\stu_fs2.vp' with a checksum of 0xd77da83a
Found root pack 'X:\Games\Freespace 2\tango1_fs2.vp' with a checksum of 0x4c25221e
Found root pack 'X:\Games\Freespace 2\tango2_fs2.vp' with a checksum of 0x86920b82
Found root pack 'X:\Games\Freespace 2\tango3_fs2.vp' with a checksum of 0x705e8d71
Found root pack 'X:\Games\Freespace 2\warble_fs2.vp' with a checksum of 0xd85c305d
Searching root 'X:\Games\Freespace 2\derelict\' ... 0 files
Searching root pack 'X:\Games\Freespace 2\derelict\DerelictPatch.vp' ... 6 files
Searching root pack 'X:\Games\Freespace 2\derelict\DerelictSCP.vp' ... 86 files
Searching root pack 'X:\Games\Freespace 2\derelict\DerelictSCP1.vp' ... 1618 files
Searching root pack 'X:\Games\Freespace 2\derelict\DerelictSCP2.vp' ... 200 files
Searching root pack 'X:\Games\Freespace 2\derelict\DerelictSCP3.vp' ... 78 files
Searching root pack 'X:\Games\Freespace 2\derelict\DerelictSCP4.vp' ... 203 files
Searching root 'X:\Games\Freespace 2\mediavps\' ... 0 files
Searching root 'X:\Games\Freespace 2\' ... 16 files
Searching root pack 'X:\Games\Freespace 2\multi-mission-pack.vp' ... ERROR: ERANGE: String error. Please Report.
Trying to put into 32 byte buffer:
ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌ.
File: cfilesystem.cpp
Line: 719
Int3(): From g:\fso\fs2_rc4_export\code\globalincs\windebug.cpp at line 1155
 

[The E]

Two things.

One, use 3.6.12 FINAL.

Two, delete the multi-mission-pack.vp

[uk_john]

Two things.

One, use 3.6.12 FINAL.

Two, delete the multi-mission-pack.vp

I was using 3.6.12 FINAL, and instead of deleting multi-mission-pack.vp, I renamed it to .ORG. Initially, everything worked. I then had the problems above, and went into my Freespace Folder only to see a new multi-mission-pack.vp file had been created and was sitting next to my ORG file! I deleted both of these and now everything seems to be working! Obviously by renaming that file I was able to play the game, but then on exiting it, the file was created again and so once again i couldn't run mods!

A) Thanks for the quick and good responses, and
B) What does this multi-mission-pack.vp do anyway? And what gets affected by deleting it?

Thanks again for all your help!

[The E]

It contains the validated multiplayer missions (or should). It's not important, even if you do play multi.

[uk_john]

It contains the validated multiplayer missions (or should). It's not important, even if you do play multi.

Thanks again! Can;t believe the excellent and quick response I got on this site! A big thanks to all involved!

[chief1983]

There's no way the file was somehow recreated by FS2.  It could have been reinstalled if you ran the installer again though?

[uk_john]

There's no way the file was somehow recreated by FS2.  It could have been reinstalled if you ran the installer again though?

No. All I did was not follow what I was told to delete the multi-mission file and just renamed it instead. this let me play FS2, but when I exited out of the game to try another mod, that would not start, so I tried the bare bones FS2 OSP and that didn't start, so I went into my installation folder and there was another multi-mission file created sitting next to my renamed file. I never did a reinstall or anything. Because as I said, I couldn't untick any of the options in the installer and thought I would have had to install everything again (I realise now the Installer doesn't work that way!).

[chief1983]

Are you sure you didn't rename the voice pack and not the mission pack?