SS2: Crash after loading screen / options

[665c9f315300aCrash to windows :(]

I'm having a big problem with SS2, regardless of whatever I do I ALWAYS crash to windows whenever I try to get past the main menu. If I click options = crash. If I press new game, I can select difficutly, then the intro plays then theres a loading screen and crash. Sometimes it crashs before the menu.

I'm using the HOTU version after using the OOG starter to create the two files.
I've tried using the SSTool thing to merge the CTFs, I tried vanila, I've tried using DDfix to get rid of my pink screen (worked but still crashed), I've tried using SSTool to use bug patchs, I've changed the affinity to a single core, I've tried mod manager I've tried everything.
I've tried pretty much every combination of the the above things. I've also tried using the user.cfg safe texture fix, and changing hardware 1 to 0 in shock.cfg. Oh and I've tried compatibility mode to win 98.

Eventualy I want to try to get it working with:
Straylights ADoaB
SHTUP
SHNUP
Arcaniac Graphics Pack (I think it stays true to the older models better than rebirth)
High Res MOD to get it to 1680x1050
Mod Manager

I'm not using rebirth because I don't think it matchs the original models, the midwife model especialy.

I really want to get this to work but this error is really getting fustrating.

My system specs are : 8800GT/E8400/P35-DS3L/2x1GB 800 mhz RAM just in case there is any conflicts.

[665c9f31532a0miracle.flame]

I guess that's case for ddfix

[665c9f315359bRollerBall]

I guess that's case for ddfix

Tried it, didn't work.

[665c9f31536f0miracle.flame]

Well no other ideas... it looks absolutely like typical case of 8800 nVidia problem for ddfix.

I'd suggest starting over with clean install, no compatibility modes, no user.cfg altering, no mods... just double check to use ddfix exactly the way it's supposed to be otherwise it won't do.

[665c9f315382eRollerBall]

Okay I'll try a fresh install with only DDfix. On the download do I download the GUI, unpack it into the root install folder and run the .exe, then click apply patch yeah?

Just wondering what the shock2.exe download is at the top of the post.

[665c9f315393bRollerBall]

Tried a fresh install with only DDfix, same thing happened. Crash to windows >.>

[665c9f3153b79rccc]

maybe a version other than HOTU helps? I suggest this one, worked like a charm for me.

[665c9f3153ea7RollerBall]

maybe a version other than HOTU helps? I suggest this one, worked like a charm for me.

Okay, I'll try it and leave it to download tonight. It's pretty slow speeded torrent but hopefully i t won't take longer than a day. I was hoping to get this working before school on Tuesday but ah well. Stupid thing though, I've been trying for about a week before I stumbled across here.

[665c9f315401amiracle.flame]

there's somewhat important part about matching resolutions set in ddfix.ini and cam.cfg
don't overlook that

[665c9f31542a5RollerBall]

there's somewhat important part about matching resolutions set in ddfix.ini and cam.cfg
don't overlook that

What do you mean? I used the widescreen patch from the DDfix link to set it to 1680x1050 do I need to do anything else?

[665c9f315442cmiracle.flame]

ddfix is this for taffer's sake!

and like I said... resolution in cam.cfg must be the same as in ddfix.ini

[665c9f3154704RollerBall]

ddfix is this for taffer's sake!

and like I said... resolution in cam.cfg must be the same as in ddfix.ini

Yes I know I don't understand why you're getting so high rate. I've tried ddfix and it DID NOT WORK. I'm just about to try the non HOTU version of SS2 so I'll try it again with that.

[665c9f315484eRollerBall]

/sigh new install. Patched with SSTool, installed DDFix and no dice. Still crashs to windows.
And In cam.cfg I can find no reference to resulution figures so I'm going to guess that might be my problem.

[665c9f3154950miracle.flame]

it's supposed to be line like this
game_screen_size 1024 768

[665c9f3154c0aRollerBall]

it's supposed to be line like this
game_screen_size 1024 768

Thanks I'll try adding it in now. See if it it'll work.

[665c9f3154d1bRollerBall]

Nope still no dice. It is possible to play it on an 8800GT right?

[665c9f3154ee9Kolya]

If you have any compatibility modes on, turn them off.

[665c9f315515aRolleBall]

If you have any compatibility modes on, turn them off.

What do you mean? It isn't running in 98 mode if thats what you mean. Its running as a bone fide XP program.

[665c9f31552c9Kolya]

Fine then. You mentioned before that you tried compatibility mode. I just wanted to make sure you didn't accidentally leave it on since it can stop SS2 from running.

[665c9f31555b4RollerBall]

Fine then. You mentioned before that you tried compatibility mode. I just wanted to make sure you didn't accidentally leave it on since it can stop SS2 from running.

Ah kk, nope I took it off. It is possible to run SS on an 8800GT right?

[665c9f315579dKolya]

I don't have the card, but it's unlikely to be a hardware incompatibility. Miracle is right, you need DDFix, but you seem to have another problem that causes the crash there. You will also need the Dual-Core/Hyper-Threading - fix (single core affinity). But since you don't even seem to get into the game that's probably not the showstopper either at this point.
Things you don't need (because they're useless or worse) are changing the hardware setting in user.cfg and the aforementioned compatibility mode.
You may want to update your graphics drivers though if you haven't done so already. Also make sure no other program interferes, eg overeager antivirus or certain game enhancement programs. I have no better idea atm and I have to go to work. Hope you get it running, otherwise we'll talk later again.

Oh and that topic title is ... I'll change it.

[665c9f3155a05miracle.flame]

Let's give it one more go...

• with ddfix you need to have these files in your shock2 gamedir:
  ddfix.dll, ddfixGUI.dll, ddfixGUI.exe, ddfix.ini
• you have to patch you shock2.exe - either download the one (already patched) you wondered about at TTLG page or use ddfixGUI.exe to apply the patch... or do it manually which I don't recommend.
• check ddfix.ini file and the resolution set in there... eg.
  gWidth=1024
  gHeight=768
• the same resolution has to be set in cam.cfg file.. that means
  game_screen_size 1024 768
• also check in cam.cfg to have game_hardware 1

should be it

[665c9f3155bb7RollerBall]

I turned off all my anti virus/spyware programs and it still doesn't boot. I've tried affinity changer and setting it to core 0 or 1. Neither work.

All of those files are in the shock 2 dir. It's patched using SSTool. The res is the same in cam.cfg and it is in DDFix.ini. Cam.cfg has gamehardware_1 in it too.

I've deleted my user.cfg file since all that was in there was safe_hardware_mode which I put in myself and it still doesn't work.

Going to go update my GFX driver.

[665c9f3155ccfRollerBall]

Turns out I already had the latest driver (175.19) for my 8800GT.