How To Run System Shock 2 on Windows XP/2000

Bjossi on 12/11/2006 at 12:51

Your problem is no silly little problem I'm afraid, a brand new one to me. :sweat:

A good start is to tell us your system specs and what video drivers you are using.

SultanofSmash on 13/11/2006 at 01:23

Intel P4
Windows XP home edition with service pack 2(I think.. i might be confused about that)
3.00ghz
ATI X800 xt All In Wonder with the latest Radeon catalyst(i think its called the 6.10 catalyst, its on ati.com)
1 gig of ram

Every time i open the game, i get a black screen(looks like its loading up), then it just goes back to the desktop with an error saying the program needs to be closed. I've tried tried the fixed .exe file, i've tried a file called shock2_xp_2000_fix, ive tried creating a shortcut so i can manipulate it using xcpu. Ive done the -lghtingforce thing(i know thats not how its spelt, but ive tried that) as well. And while doing those, i switch to every compatibility mode each time which has had no result either.
I'm looking quite forward to playing this game, but im starting to lose hope. As a side note, while looking at solutions, i saw something on the hyperthreading problem, and while i know this is going on(when i can manage, i do the task manager thing and turn it off) but considering my game closes right away, changing that has little effect on anything since the error erases anything i do to it.

bmack7 on 13/11/2006 at 03:23

Quote Posted by Drat

Or perhaps he is mounting an ISO, or he burned one to CD.

Thats exactly what i've done. ive acctually tried both, ive mounted the game and tried a burnt cd. i don't know whats going on ive tried doing everything.

D'Arcy on 13/11/2006 at 08:10

Except, perhaps, putting the actual original SS2 CD on the drive, right? :rolleyes:

Bjossi on 13/11/2006 at 10:13

Quote Posted by SultanofSmash

First, turn off compability mode entirely, it causes more trouble than it fixes, if it fixes any that is. :erm:

There are a few things you can try.
Make the game run in non-HT mode. That is done by simply applying the XP fix (which is no longer downloadable) so instead use Google and search for "imagecfg". You will find a page that explains what it is & does. Just download & install it properly and then type this in command-line:
imagecfg -a 0x1 "C:\Games\Sshock2\shock2.exe".

If the above does no good, you can try perform the same command on a non-SecuROM protected shock2.exe and see if that gives you better luck.

Other things you can try as a last resort is to run the game from command-line and see if you get any error reports that Windows doesn't display.

SultanofSmash on 14/11/2006 at 03:11

Hey Bjossi:

Actually, i remember trying out the imagecfg thing, but i never finished trying to get it to work. I went to this website for instructions as several places recommended it for problems with SS2

(http://www16.brinkster.com/salvage/thief/darkengine.htm)

However, it says here i need to extract the file to Windows\system32 and Windows\system32\dllcache.

The problem lies in that I do not have a folder called dllcache. What should I do?

The Brain on 14/11/2006 at 03:51

You don't have to extract it to windows\system32 or to windows\system32\dllcache directories. Just extract it to your shock directory and run it at there.

And for that you don't have dllcache directory, it's there. By default all critical system directories are hidden from ordinary user.
If you wan't see them then open My Computer and go to Tools->Folder Options->View and click on "Show hidden files and folders" and "Display contents of system folders".

For warning window that comes up when you click on "Display contents of system folders" option, read it carefully and understood it. Then click Yes-button to close it.

Then click OK to close Folder options window. Now you can see dllcache directory in windows\system32 directory.

SultanofSmash on 14/11/2006 at 05:49

Thanks The Brain, however i've run to another problem(i'm not extremely tech in this computer area). I open the imagecfg.exe file, it shows a black command window for a fraction of a second, then closes. any ideas why?

Bjossi on 14/11/2006 at 16:06

You aren't supposed to run it, you are supposed to place two imagecfg.exe's; one in C:\Windows\system32 and C:\Windows\system32\dllcache.

Then go to Start > Run > type cmd. After clicking ok, you will see a black window known as the Command-Line. In there you type the following:
imagecfg -a 0x1 "C:\Games\Sshock2\shock2.exe"

Assuming you installed the game there.
This will make the game always run only on CPU0. (this also works for other executables if you have dualcore problems with other games)

The Brain on 14/11/2006 at 19:15

Quote Posted by Bjossi

You aren't supposed to run it, ... In there you type the following:
imagecfg -a 0x1 "C:\Games\Sshock2\shock2.exe"

Umm, but that is another way to run a program. Yes, I know I should have put intructions how to run it in command line in my post. And there is still no need to put imagecfg.exe in to windows\system32 or windows\system32\dllcache directories.

When you run program by using command line, operating system needs first to know where that program is. It looks first in current directory and if program isn't there then it searches throught other directories, which are defined in PATH enviroment variable. You can see it by typing command "path" (without quotation marks, of course) in command line. And yes, you can see that windows/system32 directory is defined there.

My point is that you don't need clutter windows/system32 directory with programs that you only use once and then forgot them.

And back on the topic.

Quote Posted by Bjossi

Then go to Start > Run > type cmd. After clicking ok, you will see a black window known as the Command-Line. In there you type the following:
imagecfg -a 0x1 "C:\Games\Sshock2\shock2.exe"

Assuming you installed the game there.

Before typing that command, type this : cd "C:\Games\Sshock2". Remember to press enter key. Now your are in correct directory and you can run that program with those arguments at there. Remember to change "C:\Games\Sshock2\shock2.exe" to shock2.exe, as well.