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CD-check problem


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#1 kepyas

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Posted 26 December 2008 - 08:00 PM

First, I installed the 2-cd version of planescape. Copied the contents of cd2 in my hard drive. Made sure the directory is correct on torment.ini. Then i installed the latest fixpack, ub, tweak and widescreen sucessfully.. I was able to run the game for the first time, but when i try to run the game now it keeps on asking for the cd2.. Any solution? Tnx.

#2 Qwinn

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Posted 26 December 2008 - 08:33 PM

From what you described, I believe that's expected. It asks for the CD as a form of copy protection. None of my mods change that (nor can they, it's SHS policy not to distribute no-CD cracks).

Qwinn

#3 kepyas

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Posted 26 December 2008 - 09:22 PM

i see.. i thought the ur patch was able to remove the cd-check.. i don't have the cd right now since i'm on vacation.. so i guess i can't play right now.. appreciate the help.. tnx! :D

#4 scient

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Posted 26 December 2008 - 09:29 PM

i see.. i thought the ur patch was able to remove the cd-check.. i don't have the cd right now since i'm on vacation.. so i guess i can't play right now.. appreciate the help.. tnx! :D


I rewrote the cd check to a more optimized form to make room for my own code (like 1/4 the size of original) but like Qwinn said SHS can't host something that circumvents cd check. Check PM.

Those interested in the classic TBS game Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri / Alien Crossover should check out the unofficial patch I work on here.


#5 -G-

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Posted 27 December 2008 - 05:07 AM

scient,
Is any of the existing nocd patches compatible with Qwinn's mods? i.e. if we apply it after installing the mods, would it interfere with/overwrite your code?

Cheers

#6 -Guest-

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Posted 27 December 2008 - 05:20 AM

The one that works for all Infinity engine games searches for the function in the executables. If scient says that he is refactoring the cd-check function, i guess it would work if that is applied after installing all of the engine tweaks - so that the function is dummied out, even if it was replaced.

#7 scient

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Posted 27 December 2008 - 12:03 PM

Currently, none of the existing publicly available patches both Qwinn and I've tested cause any conflicts. It shouldn't matter what order either so you can patch before or after applying the fixpack.

Those interested in the classic TBS game Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri / Alien Crossover should check out the unofficial patch I work on here.


#8 Qwinn

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Posted 27 December 2008 - 01:16 PM

It is true that it should work, however, I would not recommend applying it after any WeiDU mods. If you do, then uninstalling any WeiDU mods will also back it out.

Qwinn

#9 -Guest-

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Posted 27 December 2008 - 04:21 PM

Ah ok. I'm also thinking about the case where people are doing single install dvd/archives
http://www.shsforums...showtopic=13830

It's long been a dream of mine to put all of the infinity engine games on a dual layer dvd, with possibly a little installer. I mean my computer science degree has to be good for something right?

I put it after the weidu mods, because i wasn't sure how weidu patched offset, but if it actually searches for byte patterns its all right.

Then my plan is to install follow the procedure above, patch each game, crack each executable and (hopefully) see if it works and the "normal" game executable is the same as the "CD" game executable minus some registry entries.

Then maybe make another autorunner that selects the game to install/run.

That would be cool.

#10 -Guest-

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Posted 27 December 2008 - 04:33 PM

[attachment=6885:BGWelcomeInstall.jpg]
I know this thread is old but maybe someone going to read it.


Basically what this lady is doing.

#11 scient

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Posted 27 December 2008 - 05:14 PM

I've done something similar combining all cd's for BG1/BG2/PST into one iso but not a fully automated process with fix packs and such. This site has some useful info about cd to dvd conversions.

Those interested in the classic TBS game Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri / Alien Crossover should check out the unofficial patch I work on here.


#12 -Guest-

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Posted 27 December 2008 - 06:53 PM

BTW scient given that you're a great ASM/machine code reverse engineer (obviously) and i'm just a lazy java programmer, could you try your hand at the crashing at Beregost problem?
http://forums.pocket...ic,20071.0.html
I know this is probably a memory leak, since the crash symptoms are random, put it DOES seem specific to that area, and occurs pretty much anywhere. I think, if you can find a way to trigger it always, it would be pintpointable.

There's been no progress in that in about a year.

#13 scient

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Posted 27 December 2008 - 11:14 PM

Sure at some point I'll have a look. I was planning on doing some engine patches for BG1/BG2 once I'm finished with PST since I'll have a leg up working with IE.

Those interested in the classic TBS game Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri / Alien Crossover should check out the unofficial patch I work on here.


#14 -Starhawk-

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Posted 29 December 2008 - 07:52 PM

hello...

I've a 4 CD install, fresh.

I copied CDs 2, 3, and 4 to my harddisk and modified the .ini file to my local directories.

I've installed the fixpatch, the unfinished business, and the tweaks pack.

I've installed the widescreen mod, and the expanded UI mod. I'm running at 1024x800.

After delivering the bronze sphere to Pharod I've gotten "Please insert disk number 255" screen in 3 places. Trying to enter Mebbeth's hut, trying to enter Sharegrave's hut, and in the Alley of Lingering Sighs trying to enter the building. In each case the screen within 1 second goes black, and my desktop resets to its normal resolution. The game screen stays black in the upper left of my desktop. I have to kill the app as it appears to be hung.

I cleared my cache. Still happens.

I cleared my temp folder. Still happens.

I reset my drive mappings back to the CD drive. Still happens.

I could skip the first two huts. I cannot continue the game as I can't enter the building in the Alley of Lingering Sighs.

Any suggestions? Anything you'd like me to try?

- Starhawk

#15 Qwinn

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Posted 29 December 2008 - 08:34 PM

You didn't mention applying the 1.1 official patch (which is necessary to apply on top of the 4CD version). Did you possibly forget that?

If you forgot that, that could well explain it.

If you didn't forget that, I have no idea. Your install sounds pretty much identical to mine, with two small exceptions. I do use a no-CD patch, applied after the 1.1 patch and before any mods, to save wear and tear on my disks (I have to do a lot of reinstalls for real, so), and I applied the widescreen and ghostdog's UI mods first, -then- my 3 mods, but I can't imagine why either of those things would be causing that drastic a problem.

It -sounds- like the same symptoms we've gotten previously that occur when someone reinstalls the Widescreen mod and changes the resolution. But from what you describe, it doesn't sound like that happened, and you shouldn't be getting that problem on new areas anyway, only ones you've been to before.

That's about all I got with the information at hand. Hope it helps.

Qwinn

Edited by Qwinn, 29 December 2008 - 08:37 PM.


#16 -Starhawk-

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Posted 29 December 2008 - 08:38 PM

You didn't mention applying the 1.1 official patch (which is necessary to apply on top of the 4CD version). Did you possibly forget that?


Yeah, I did install the 1.1 patch. Sorry for leaving that off.


If you didn't forget that, I have no idea. Your install sounds pretty much identical to mine, with two small exceptions. I do use a no-CD patch to save wear and tear on my disks (I have to do a lot of reinstalls for real, so), and I applied the widescreen and ghostdog's UI mods first, -then- my 3 mods, but I can't imagine why either of those things would be causing that drastic a problem.

It -sounds- like the same symptoms we've gotten previously that occur when someone reinstalls the Widescreen mod and changes the resolution. But from what you describe, it doesn't sound like that happened, and you shouldn't be getting that problem on new areas anyway, only ones you've been to before.

That's about all I got with the information at hand. Hope it helps.

Qwinn


Actually... I was having problems with my video card (I have a NVidia 8800 GTS) and I did try to reinstall my Widescreen pack.

Should I save my savegames off, delete the game, and reinstall everything fresh, including the widescreen mod?

#17 Qwinn

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Posted 29 December 2008 - 08:41 PM

You probably don't have to reinstall everything (though, of course, that's always safest), but you probably do have to start a brand new game :(

Did you change the resolution? If so, then I think the most you might be able to salvage is to change the resolution back to whatever you started the game with, and pull up a save game from before your changing it. Any save games after you changed resolutions are pretty much unsalvageable, I think.

If all you did was reinstall the mod, without changing the resolution, then it shouldn't be causing these kinds of problems.

Qwinn

Edited by Qwinn, 29 December 2008 - 08:43 PM.


#18 -Starhawk-

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Posted 29 December 2008 - 09:35 PM

You probably don't have to reinstall everything (though, of course, that's always safest), but you probably do have to start a brand new game :(

Did you change the resolution? If so, then I think the most you might be able to salvage is to change the resolution back to whatever you started the game with, and pull up a save game from before your changing it. Any save games after you changed resolutions are pretty much unsalvageable, I think.

If all you did was reinstall the mod, without changing the resolution, then it shouldn't be causing these kinds of problems.

Qwinn



Interesting.... I couldn't remember exactly when I changed the resolution. So I uninstalled Ghostdog's UI mod, uninstalled the Widescreen mod.

Was able to enter the building without crashing.

Installed the Widescreen mod and the UI mod. Crashed entering the building.

Uninstalled the UI Mod. Did NOT uninstall the Widescreen Mod. WAS able to enter the building without crashing. So I could recover a save game if I didn't use the UI Mod. The UI is goofy, but I'll try to install that again once I can get back to Mebbeth's hut and retest.

#19 scient

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Posted 29 December 2008 - 10:24 PM

I can't guarantee if this won't mess up the area or area map but you can patch these bytes to prevent the crash. I tested the patches with a saved game that would crash on entering Mebbeth's hut and it seems ok. This is basically disabling the error checking for sizes that exceed the limit. Use something like Hex Workshop to do a hex search and then replace the values in bold. You might want to make a backup of file before doing this. Also, these patterns will work on either 2/4 CD versions of exe.

search: 83 C1 07 3B C1 76 14
replace: 83 C1 07 3B C1 EB 14

search: 83 7D 0C 00 77 14
replace: 83 7D 0C 00 EB 14

Those interested in the classic TBS game Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri / Alien Crossover should check out the unofficial patch I work on here.


#20 --Fred--

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Posted 15 March 2009 - 12:06 PM

I do use a no-CD patch, applied after the 1.1 patch and before any mods, to save wear and tear on my disks (I have to do a lot of reinstalls for real, so), and I applied the widescreen and ghostdog's UI mods first, -then- my 3 mods,


Hi Qwinn,

first, thanks for those great mods : the game really benefits from all those fixes and restorations !

I've tried what you described in order to be able to keep my CD in its box, however, there seems to be a glitch : I install PsT, patch it to 1.1, then apply a no-CD, followed by widescreen+PST UI. I am then able to launch the game without the CD2 check. However, as soon as I install your fixpack, the check reappears ! This is on a fresh install, using a generic infinity engine patcher for the no-CD.

Any ideas of why it wouldn't work on this setup ? Am I doing something in the wrong order ?

Thanks in advance,
Fred