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#606844 BWPv18 released

Posted by tomkaz on 14 June 2019 - 12:46 PM in Mega Mod Help

Hi Leonardo:

 

I was very sorry to hear about your misfortune with your computer and the other problems with mod authors not fully testing their mods and using what appears to be non standard methods to create their mods.

 

I have some information about computers and Windows 7 PRO 64 bit.  I you are aware of this, please forgive me for repeating the information.  I bought two DELL Latitude 5580 laptops. One for me and one for my step-daughter.  They come with Windows 7 PRO 64 bit and 250 GB SSD.  Even though Windows 7 were no longer being sold commercially , Dell and others were selling  them to businesses which still use them.  This may be no longer true.  Another option, which is expensive, is to buy an iMAC and install Windows 7 on it.  I did this and I works well.  Both these options are expensive.  But used computers can often be found at discounted prices.

 

My versions of Windows 7 PRO 64 bit are old.  I again had problems with one computer crashing all the time when installing Microsoft updates. Also had problems with installing megamod games which installed on another computer.  I called Microsoft.  Microsoft will still help with Windows 7 PRO 64 bit problems for a few more months. The number is 1-800-642-7676 in the USA.  After checking out my computer, Microsoft sent me an updated Windows 7 PRO 64 bit file.  I was not an official Windows 7 file with it's own key but just the file.  I copied it to a DL DVD and installed it with the key from my old Windows 7.  The results were surprising.  I no longer had to install the 300+ updates.  It only takes about 30 updates.  I assume the remainder updates are either already installed or Windows 7 was rewritten to included the fixes.  I have not installed BG1 and BG2 yet.  Hope to get that done next week.  I will post results then.  I have a URL for that file, but I cannot open it.

 

I too have had Kaspersky antivirus problems.  Windows Defender came with Windows 7.  I switched to Microsoft Security Essentials.  When MSE installs, it turns off Windows Defender and maybe other AVs so they can not be a problem.  Also, it is easy to turn MSE on and off.  I keep it off when I am trying to make and play a megamod  game. I do not know how good MSE is.  I use CCleaner (the old Crap Cleaner) because I read some strong positive comments about it and you can save the registry changes it make.  I have not had a problem with the registry since I used it and it seems to do a good job cleaning up my registries.

 

I am very limited in writing and/or correcting mods.  But I would like to help you in any way I can.  If there is some help you need with editing or testing mods, I have lots of spare time.  Just let me know.

 

For what it is worth.  I did try WeiDU 244 and WeiDU 246 on some earlier test games.  The tests were identical and limited, but I found no difference in the partial games.

 

Thanks for all the effort you have put into BiG World Project.  I have spent months playing previous megamod games with great enjoyment.  With BWP v18.1.2, I am having lots of trouble.  I think I found some mistakes I had made, mainly by not paying more attention to your instructions. So I am hoping to finish the game I started with a little bit of help using cheats to work around the errors and poor mod writing.

 

Thanks again for all your efforts,

TOM




#606861 BWPv18 released

Posted by tomkaz on 19 June 2019 - 11:30 AM in Mega Mod Help

High All:

 

My sincere apologies.  In my post above, I said CCleaner was OK to use.  I just spent an hour with a Microsoft representative and she found out that some of my problems was due to CCleaner deleting the wrong registry keys in some computers.  This may be a result of the BIOS.  I am to ignorant about computers so that I fully do not understand what happened.  I have an Asus A78M-A with a 1801 BIOS and an Asus A78M-E with a 1002 BIOS.  All the programs are exactly the same. The A78M-E is not affected by CCleaner registry deletions, but the A78M-A crashes due to CCleaner's registry deletions.  The strange thing is that this began happening with BiG World Project v17.

 

I wasted lots of time.  I hope no one else was inconvenienced by my suggection about CCleaner.  I guess the better advice is not to mess with the registry.

 

I sorry for the bad recomendation;

TOM




#606936 Help with BiG World Project v18.1

Posted by tomkaz on 05 July 2019 - 04:16 PM in Mega Mod Help

Spoiler




#606938 Help with BiG World Project v18.1

Posted by tomkaz on 05 July 2019 - 05:15 PM in Mega Mod Help

Hi All:

 

I have a spoiler in #15 above.  I got messed up trying to explain what it is.  So hear is the explanation.

 

The spoiler is a copy of my modified individual.bat that I made for my current game.  Up until now, all my megamod games were mess up and crashed so I could I could not play a megamod game.  Then I tried what is in the Spoiler above, and the megamod game works fine.  I started with 220 files.  Most of the mods installed including Auroras Shoes and Boots, atweaks, and some others.  In a test version where I skipped lots and killed tough characters with CTRL-Y, I was able to finish Baldur's Gate and start Shadows of Amn. At the present time I have finished Nashkel Mines and lots of almost all the areas around Beregost.  Some very minor problems which got corrected by restarting the game.  A major area with Lighthouse (The Lure of the Sirine's Call) because I forgot to leave out component #2 from version 15.

 

There are lots of NPCs I have skipped as I am saving that for another day.  I give no guarantees, but nafter over 25 tries to make a megamod game this is the first success I have had. Perhaps the instructions meant to do this and I misread them.

 

Now for some problems not related to how individual.bat was edited, but missing components.

 

I use ITEM_REV, #12 [Items of Protection Can Be Worn with Magical Armor]?.  I still get limited to one magic item.  Maybe I should use CDTWEAKS,  ”Wear Multiple Protection Items” 2151 #2] No Restrictions.  If anyone know how to fix it so I can use multiple magical protection items at the same time. I would appreciate that information.

 

I skipped Big Picture because I read comments that said not to mix Big Picture and Stratagems.  If you have mixed these two, please tell me the secret to doing that.

 

Right now I am running the same megamod game on two computers.  I found I can swap a game from one computer to another by just moving the BGII - SoA file.  This way a can continue to play the game while I am trying out new new mods and components or fixing my mistakes.

 

I apologise for the way I mess the Spoiler by putting it on top above.  You can find all the mods and components I used in that Spoiler.

 

Hope this information helps someone,

 

Tom




#606939 Help with BiG World Project v18.1

Posted by tomkaz on 05 July 2019 - 05:23 PM in Mega Mod Help

Hi semaj577, thanks for the comment.

 

I tried all ways to control the mods I did not want.  The REMs was the only way that worked for me.  I probably will go back and try that not using all the REMs again some time in the future.  But for now I will stick with the REMs.  I still am exploring that it could be something in my main computer that is my problem.

 

Tom




#607433 Help with BiG World Project v18.1

Posted by tomkaz on 19 September 2019 - 06:18 PM in Mega Mod Help

Hi everyone:

 

Good to see Spellhold Studios back.

 

I finished Baldur's Gate in my megamod game.  Lots of harder enemies and challenges.  Two monsters could not be killed, bone golems  in Ulcaster.

 

But with luck I killed Sarevok.  Belt sends me to Athkatla.  The game freezes at that point and even after a long time, stays black.

 

Started a Shadows of Amn game from scratch and added Giggs (me), Imoen, Jaheira and Minsc from Baldur's Gate.  Lots of problems caused by a very difficult monsters and game game.  I search for original easy game sections to build up characters.  Found a few. Biggest problem is that Nalia dies when I enter The Copper Coronet.  I cannot pick up her body and it shortly disappears.  I am going to search the Grave Yard next.

 

Any suggestions for for where to fined super armor and supper weapons would be appreciated.  Got the best I found in Athkatla, but I still take a terrific beating and cannot finish the quest.  In some places, running away to get fewer enemies works.

 

Thanks for any suggestions as I would play this mod again if I found out how to play from Baldur's Gate to Shadow of Amn.

 

TOM




#607479 Help with BiG World Project v18.1

Posted by tomkaz on 28 September 2019 - 08:35 AM in Mega Mod Help

I have not gotten any replies so I think I need to begin all over again.  I am in Shadows of Amn and in the early easy parts, but all I do is get higher and higher levels and loose critical characters.  It appears someone or some group has changed many mods to make them much harder.  So I will try to find walkthroughs for these new versions.

 

If anyone knows where these walkthroughs are, I would appreciate the URLs.

 

Tom

 

Oops!!!  I just found version 18.2.  I will try that.  I see the problem with Shadows of Amn and Imoen disappearing so I will just play Baldur's Gate until that fix is posted.

 

Tom




#607484 BWPv18.2 released

Posted by tomkaz on 30 September 2019 - 01:05 PM in Mega Mod Help

Hi Leonardo:

 

Thanks for the update to 18.2.  I know it takes a lot of work to make BWP and I really appreciate your efforts.

 

I have one problem.  I have a Windows 7 64bit computer.  I create my megamod game following the WeiDU.Log in BiG World Project 18.2 ENGLISH.pdf. A great help.  My problem is I am confused about which version of Stratagems to use. I have read the instructions in BWP about Stratagems v32.4 and Stratagems v31 and I am confused. In the WeiDU.Log it lists a component 1000 for Stratagems, but there is no component 1000 in Stratagems 32.4.  So should I use Stratagems 31 for my 64 bit computer?

 

If you could also list the choices you use BiG World Install.bat, it would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks for all your hard work,

Tom 




#607486 BWPv18.2 released

Posted by tomkaz on 01 October 2019 - 02:02 AM in Mega Mod Help

Hi The Imp:

 

I do not agree with your last comment.  Here is my reason and some, not all, examples of differences in the WeiDU.Logs.

 

In the WeiDU.Log in BiG World Project v18.2 English.pdf, there are listed components for VCV21 v2.1, NEJ3V71 v7.1, BGT v1.20, MIH_EG v3, BG1UB v16.0, and Stratagems v31.  Stratagems 32.4 is not listed in WeiDU.Log but is in Section 19 with Stratagems v31.

 

In the WeiDU.Log in BiG World Project v18.1 English.pdf, the previous version, there are listed components for VCV10 v1.0, NEJ3V702 v7.02, BGT v1.20, no HIH_EG, BG1UB v15.1, and Stratagems v30.

 

Granted there sections of older mods which were copied from older versions of BiG World Project English.pdf into BiG World Project v18.2 English.pdf.  These do not need to be rewritten. But the differences in the WeiDU.Log sections of BiG World Project v18.1 and BiG World Project v18.2 indicate Leonardo runs a new megamod game for for each version of BiG World Project English.

 

Since Leonardo used Stratagems v31 for BiG World Project v18.2, as evidenced by the WeiDU.Log, I assume that for testing,  he is either using a 32 bit computer or there is an advantage for using Stratagems v31 over  Stratagems 32.4. That is why I ask if on a 64 bit computer, it would be better to use Stratagems v31 for compatibility with other mods.

 

Note that the first component of Stratagems v31 is #1000 and the first component of Stratagems 32.4 is #1500.

 

Tom  




#607489 BWPv18.2 released

Posted by tomkaz on 01 October 2019 - 08:40 AM in Mega Mod Help

Hi Leonardo:

 

Thank you for the reply.  I read your comments in BiG World Project v18.2 English.pdf again and compared the components in Stratagems v31 and Stratagems v32.4. I decided to use Stratagems v31.  The reason is that Stratagems v32.4 seemed a bit to complicated for me at this time.

 

Again, if possible and it is not private, I would appreciate learning your choices for BiG World Install.bat

 

Thanks for all your hard work in creating BiG World Project.  It is a terrific help in creating a megamod game.

Tom

 

Hi The Imp:

 

I had read pg 11 and the other pages.  I was unsure if Stratagems v31 could only be used only on a 32 bit computer or it would also work on a 64 bit computer. At my age, my memory is beginning to fade a bit so I am forced to 'ask' the younger players for the correct way to setup and play Baldur's Gate megamod games.  But, thanks for your comments.  You are a great help with my megamod game.

Tom




#607505 BWPv18.2 released

Posted by tomkaz on 03 October 2019 - 12:51 PM in Mega Mod Help

Hi All:

 

I have two problems with BGP v18.2.  I have spent 12 hours trying all sorts of solutions but have no luck. I can only proceed to the line in BiG World Install.bat that says "[1]       Display the preview? (strongly recommended!)".  I begin the preview.

 

Problem #1.

In the preview near the end of Section 18, I get "'IFSTXTCE' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file".  I have searched and cannot find 'IFSTXTCE' anywhere.  There are several lines like "%IFS%infinityanimations.exe %TXT% | findstr @385 | Call %C% >> %E%". But all appear to be correct.

 

Problem #2.

In the preview the program continues to Section 19 to the line "Call %EINSTI% stratagems "7070 7080 7110 7140 7900 8000"'.  Then the installation crashes.  There are no obvious errors in the code after that line.  I got this information from BWP Preview.log.

 

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

TOM

 

Ajusted the Stratagems between 8000 and 8200 and the installation continued.  However, many mods, including BGT v1.2 are not being installed.

TOM




#607514 BWPv18.2 released

Posted by tomkaz on 05 October 2019 - 04:16 AM in Mega Mod Help

Hi Leonardo:

 

Thank you for your response.

 

I have found another problem (at least it is a problem for my fading mind).  In BiG World Project v18.2 English.pdf, the WeiDU.Log has listings for Vlad's Compilation v2.1 and Never Ending Journey 3 v7.1.  In BiG World Installpack v18.2.7z there is no code for VCv21 or NEJ3v71.  The code for VCv10 is there and there is no code for NEJ3v702. Please check this.

 

Thanks for all your efforts with BWP

 

Tom




#607523 BWPv18.2 released

Posted by tomkaz on 06 October 2019 - 07:56 AM in Mega Mod Help

Hi Leonardo:

 

My sincere apologies.  I downloaded a fresh copy of BiG World Installpack v18.2.7z and a copy of  BiG World Installpack v18.2.1.7z.  I checked the individual.bat files.  The VCv21 and NeJ3v71 are exactly the same.

 

I have a habit of keeping all different versions labeled and in separate folders and I keep different versions of games on separate computers. But this time I messed up and failed to check the critical files.

 

The only problem I have with my computer is that Microsoft changed the way I receive my updates.  I set it up to receive updates when I check Windows Update, but now I get them while I am running other programs.  That procedure crashed my WordPerfect program the other day.

 

I will now strip my computer of all older BWP files and reload all fresh copies of the new. correct files. It just dawned on me that my carelessness made me waste thirty six hours.

 

Thank you for your patience and help,

 

Tom




#607534 BWPv18.2 released

Posted by tomkaz on 07 October 2019 - 01:59 PM in Mega Mod Help

Hi All;

 

Some suggestions with getting the 'preview' ( [1] Display the preview? (strongly recommended) and a typo in 'individual.bat'.

 

Place a PAUSE statement before the line 'Call ".\%BWIPI%\close1.bat' in individual.bat and your preview will pause after Section 20.  Gives you time to examine the preview for errors. 

 

In Section 18 find the following:

 

%IFNS%btweak.exe (
                    Call %EINSTI% btweak_lite "0 1 2"
                    findstr /I /M "AoE_Restr" %CON%>nul
                    if not errorlevel 1 (
                                       Call %EINSTI% btweak_lite "3"
                    ) else (
                                       IFS%btweak_lite.exe %TXT% | findstr @418 | Call %C% >> %E%
                    )
                    Call %EINSTI% btweak_lite "4 5 6"
)
 
Note the line starting with IFS is missing a "%".  It should start with %IFS%.
 
TOM
 
 



#607537 BWPv18.2 released

Posted by tomkaz on 08 October 2019 - 12:43 PM in Mega Mod Help

Hi All:

 

When I went to download Unfinished Business v27rc1, the file was not available.  In its place, was Unfinished Business v27.  This does not install with BiG World Installpack c18.2.1.  Is Unfinished Business v27rc1 still available.  If not, can I alter BiG World Installpack.bat to install Unfinished Business v27.

 

Tom




#607538 BWPv18.2 released

Posted by tomkaz on 08 October 2019 - 06:15 PM in Mega Mod Help

Hi All:

 

I had three games fail.  The installation goes very well.  The problem is that I can start the game, but I cannot save the game. I do not know how far I could proceed without saving the game.  Any suggestions?

 

I did have a problem with aTweaks v453.  The windows version had some malware and caused crashes when I tried to make another game.  I think Microsoft Security Essentials got rid of the malware because I can now download the windows version of aTweaks v453 which I could not do when it had the malware.  I am now using the platform independent version and it loaded aTweaks 453 in the last game.

 

Even with the good version of aTweaks 453, I cannot save the game.  I have 245 mods in my megamod game and all but five do not install.

 

Tom




#607540 BWPv18.2 released

Posted by tomkaz on 09 October 2019 - 12:42 PM in Mega Mod Help

Hi Leonardo:
 
Thank you for all your help.  I especially like your WeiDU.Log.
 
Earlier, I played several v18.2 games. The mods I used were minimum for game, Section 1, Section 1 to Section 6 (BG1), and Section 1 to Section 13 (BG1 + BG2). I did not include NPCs.  These games started without any problems.  It is only when I added mods from Section 14 and onward that I had troubles.  The more of these I added, the more trouble I had.  The trouble I had with saving games began when I added Stratagems v31.  These tests were run on two different computers with the same results.
 
When I tried to make a megamod game with v18.1, I found that I had success when I only included either Big Picture or Stratagems.  Adding both mods messed up the game.  This could be because I included conflicting components and did not carefully check them  so they did not interfere with each other.
 
Right now I only add components that I find in BiG World Project WeiDU.Log.  I assume that you use as many mods as you can and if the components worked for you, they would be safe for me.
 
Starting my 10th v18.2 megamod game with a fresh individual.bat.  The eighth v18.2 game use Big Picture for AI and the ninth v18.2 game used Stratagems v31 for AI.  Both had those two mods and failed when I tried to start them.
 
Thanks again for all your help,
 
TOM



#607543 BWPv18.2 released

Posted by tomkaz on 10 October 2019 - 06:15 AM in Mega Mod Help

Hi The Imp:

 

I am only using Stratagems v31.  I was sure I did not alter any NPC parts.  I checked SCS v31 for them, but did not find any component.

 

As I said earlier, I have a problem with aTweaks v453 Windows Version.  Microsoft Security Essentials tells me I have "Trojan: Win32/Zpevdo.B in that file.  MSE cleaned it out of one computer but it appears I have some damage left over.  I dread having to reinstall Windows again.  The trojan is now in my other computer.  I wonder if that has messed up BWP.

 

I have a game installing now.  I will post the WeiDU.log in about 6 hours.

 

Thanks for you comments,

 

Tom




#607545 BWPv18.2 released

Posted by tomkaz on 10 October 2019 - 10:42 AM in Mega Mod Help

Hi The Imp:

 

I am trying to get WeiDU.log into a Spoiler.  I hope this works.

 

Spoiler

 

When I configured this game, I did not get confirmation of the colors.  When I open baldur.exe, it has the delete icon in the upper left corner.  There were four minor errors that I see with games that worked.  Stratagems was left out intencialy to see if Big Picture and Stratagems were conflicting.

 

I hate to admit this, I am 76 and my memory is fading.  So please forgive me if I mess up sentences.  I usually need to write these notes at least three times.

 

If the Spoiler did not work, please give me instructions,

 

Tom 

I do not know what happened, but some thing has disabled Baldur's Gate and BGII - SoA in two of my computers.  So I will be busy reinstalling Windows on them for the next 3 or 4 days.

 

What ever it is it just keeps my games in the mode to uninstall my games when I open the baldur.exe disk and it prevents the colors from working.

 

Tom




#607550 BWPv18.2 released

Posted by tomkaz on 12 October 2019 - 11:56 AM in Mega Mod Help

Hi All:

 

My computer just crashed.  It could be the power supply, the mother board, or something else.  The Windows 7 mother board would be the hardest to replace.  My question is, will BiG World Project work with Windows 10 as well as Windows 7 did.

 

I would appreciate any comments from those using a Windows 10 computer.  If some brands of Windows 10 computers should be avoided, I would also like that information.

 

TOM 

 

Sometimes things go in your favor.  I took it to Best Buy this morning and they got it fixed in ten minutes.  I am back to installing windows and BWP games.

 

Tom




#607570 BWPv18.2 released

Posted by tomkaz on 16 October 2019 - 09:53 AM in Mega Mod Help

Hi all:

 

In post #33, my spoiler shows the WeiDU.log for a game using BiG World Installpack v18.2.2.7z.  BGT v1.20 installed without error.  Using a 64 bit Windows 7 Pro.  Installed in E:\Black Isle\BGII - SoA.

 

Tom




#607594 BWPv18.2 released

Posted by tomkaz on 19 October 2019 - 01:09 PM in Mega Mod Help

Hi Leonardo:

 

I have temporary stopped creating a new megamod game because I am waiting for Microsoft to call and fix my two computers. This gave me time to look through mods and other BWP stuff.

 

I found this:

 

:PREVIEW
SET EINST=".\%BWIPS%\preview.bat"             Translates to:    ".\BiG World Installpack\source\preview.bat"
SET EINSTI=".\%BWIPS%\preview.bat"            Translates to:    ".\BiG World Installpack\source\preview.bat"
 
It appears that %EINST% and %EINSTI% perform the same function.  Therefore I will ignore the fact they look different but probably perform the same function.
 
Tom
 
 
 
 



#607609 BWPv18.2 released

Posted by tomkaz on 20 October 2019 - 05:23 PM in Mega Mod Help

Hi Leonardo:

 

I greatly appreciate your help.  I just found another typo in individual.bat in v18.2.3.  The 'wheels' line is only a marker to where the error is.  There is one "(" and two ")" in the section that installs Tactics #0.

 

Call %EINST% wheels "0"
 
findstr /I /M "REVISEDBATTLES.TP2~.*#.*#16./ BGT.TP2~.*#.*#0./" %ELOG%>nul
                    if errorlevel 1 (
                                        %IFNS%BP.exe Call %EINSTI% Tactics "0"
                    )
)
 
My main computer still needs repairs with updates.  I have spent hours with level 2 MS techs trying to install updates. Great fun!
 
TOM
 
 



#607617 BWPv18.2 released

Posted by tomkaz on 21 October 2019 - 04:29 PM in Mega Mod Help

Hi All:

 

After 4 days, Microsoft technicians were unable to install my Windows 7 updates so I could finish loading Windows 7 Pro 64 bit.  Their final advice was to reinstall it again.

 

I looked through BWP. The only comments about using Windows 10 for a BGT game warned that Windows 10 may have game compatibility problems. 

 

If you used Windows 10 for BGT games, does it work?   Any problems with some mods?  I have real problems because my computer only works with Windows 7 and Windows 8.1.

 

I would greatly appreciate any comments about Windows 10 and BGT games.

 

I guess the only thing to try is a reinstall with multiple Windows 7 disks, both 64 bit and 32 bit and see if any work.

 

Thanks for any help,

 

Tom




#607631 BWPv18.2 released

Posted by tomkaz on 22 October 2019 - 12:24 PM in Mega Mod Help

Hi DivideByo.  Hi The Imp.

 

Thank you for the information.  But as usual there is always a snag.  I just realized that my computer only works with Windows 7 and Windows 8.1.  I guess I will start to search out a new computer or a new motherboard.  I never use the C:\ drive for anything but the OS.

 

Tom