Fallout 2 and Winxp

Odin

Odin

Carbon Dated and Proud
Admin
As many of you I have a problem with starting Fallout 2 and I've tried to many different things, I've disabled the sound bit in the dxdiag, I've upgraded the graphics card drivers, done the manual install of Fo2 and so on..

What happens is that I start up Fallout 2, get the first loading screen then black, next it drops out of Fallout 2.

Since I was going to install my new computer I decided to drop it for now, but the new computer came and I still had problems.

I decided to do some digging, as in debugging and got these results:
Fade time is 47
Fade steps are 893
Chi squared is 16.801500, P = 36.420000 at 0.05
Sequence is random, 95yonfidence.
>partyMember_init Initializing sound system...soundInit: Setting primary buffer to: 16 bit, 2 channels, 22050 rate
soundInit: Primary buffer settings set to: 16 bit, 2 channels, 22050 rate
success.
Reading SNDLIST.LST Sound FX Count: 1361
Sounds are on.
Music is on.
Speech is on.
>gsound_init >initMovie >gmovie_init >moviefx_init art_read_lst failed in art_init
art_init failed in iso_init
Failed on iso_init
Click to expand...
So it doesn't stop on the sound bit, but rather the loading of the art/movies.

Any of you modders out there that can come up with a solution ?
 
Hmm...try dropping back the graphics acceleration in DXDiag, or from Desktop -> Properties -> Settings -> Advanced -> Troubleshoot. The third tick from the left on that slider bar may be exactly what you need to run it in, as that is a standard DirectX setting for diagnosing acceleration problems in DirectX, but you might have to try several settings.
 
Yeah, I thought about that too (my bad for not writing that in my initial post). It only produces the same error in the debug log.
 
Damn, other than paths, missing or corrupt files, or graphics acceleration, I am kind of stumped as to what it might be. I haven't encountered this problem before.
 
Neither have I, the paths are correct and the files are also ok. I am digging some more tho, hopefully some of the modders could help out here.. :look:
 
Looking at the messages, it says art_read_lst failed. The LST files are in each of the art directories in master.dat. The strange thing is that it seems to fail in moviefx_init, the movies are in \art\cuts, but that art directory doesn't have LST files. It only has the movie (MVE) and associated config (CFG) files plus palette (PAL) files. Still, based on the debug messages it looks like the engine is having trouble reading the movie art files. Is it possible your master.dat has been corrupted?

I have an idea here, I used MD5 to generate a 128-bit signature by reading the contents of master.dat. This is like a much better CRC (cyclical redundancy check). We should get the same signature if our two master.dat files are the same. I generated a signature from master.dat copied directly from the FO2 CD.

So download the md5.zip, extract md5.exe to where your master.dat is, and in a command shell do:

md5 master.dat

When I do that I get the following:
F20539C899E702848D0F70B0A2D94181 master.dat

For an easier way to compare output rather than visual, instead to this:

md5 master.dat > odin.txt
then compare my signature with yours:

fc odin.txt md5.txt

Are the two signatures the same?
 
Fallout 2 had no problems when I used to use XP, I did run into trouble sometimes with FOT, however.
 
Odin ... here is one other thing you can try ... since it seems to be failing on movie initialization ... copy this nomovies.exe into your Fallout2 directory, and start the game by clicking on that instead of Fallout2.exe. The nomovies.exe is an FO2LC loader that will read your Fallout2.exe and disable movies (in RAM, it won't alter anything). If you get to the main menu using this loader then you know its the movies that are the problem.

Could be funky directx behavior on winxp.
 
Right the MD5 thing gave me this result:
B1D16AC9345694AAF28426EE2B5CB304 master.dat
So not the same

The nomovies.exe also dropped me out of the game, just like it did earlier. One strange note tho, I install Fallout2 using the installer. I now tried to copy the dat files over manually, and all of a sudden the critter.dat file failed.

So I'm looking for the other cd I have of Fallout 2, then I'll post an update when I manage to copy over that file.
 
I used WinISO to create one big ISO file for each of FO1 and FO2, and I use Daemon Tools to read those ISO files (it emulates a CDROM drive). So I never take the FO CDs out of their case anymore ....

Its sad that we're stuck on crappy windows for so much, on linux you don't need any special tools to do either of these things (make an iso or mount an iso). Unfortunately not many people make games for linux, although Fallout and FOT can run on WINE (windows emulator) on linux.
 
I'd now have to agree that it is likely a disk read error, of an optical sort. Common between both systems, I then assume that they would have different readers (problem when no specs are given...heh, I had to), different graphics cards, settings, etc. It then becomes a matter of the media, and as the kiddies say, mad props to MD5 - good tool to have. I also have to confess, I have used the disk image installation method a number of times, so a read error did not occur to me.

Now if you can't seem to find your other CD, I think we can manage to arrange an...uh...content transfer. (Aw, shit, we're all fuckups now...) :p

As the techs in the Navy would say, I tried to "nuke" the problem too much and forgot simple half-splitting and component isolation troubleshooting. I can excuse myself by saying I am no longer a tech, I am an engineer. :D

dude_obj, thank you again for your expertise in this matter.
 
Just an update, I did find my other Fallout 2 cd (lucky me that have 2 copies of each Fallout game, actually I have 3 of Fallout :P) and I'll try it later today.

The weird part is that when installing the game like one should (through the installer) the disk error doesn't appear and the critters.dat file is copied like a charm, when trying to view the contents of the critters file using dat unpackers it works too, but I cannot copy the file from the CDROM.

I actually just made an ISO of the Fallout 1 cd I have and are going to do that with the Fallout 2 cd also, just so I don't loose any of them.

Thanks so far guys!


I must say tho, damn I should have tried this a looong time ago. Now I just feel like a noob.
 
Damn, now I just feel like a real noob. I tried the second copy I have of Fallout 2, copied over both the master.dat and the critters.dat and wouldn't you know it..it worked..

As punishment I gotta make a how to install Fallout 2 on xp article (or troubleshooting as I've earlier planned to do) :D

Code: 
Fade time is 31
Fade steps are 1354
Chi squared is 32.162500, P = 36.420000 at 0.05
Sequence is random, 95yonfidence.
>partyMember_init	Initializing sound system...soundInit: Setting primary buffer to: 16 bit, 2 channels, 22050 rate
soundInit: Primary buffer settings set to: 16 bit, 2 channels, 22050 rate
success.
Reading SNDLIST.LST Sound FX Count: 1361
Sounds are on.
Music is on.
Speech is on.
>gsound_init	>initMovie		>gmovie_init	>moviefx_init	>art_init		>tile_init		>obj_init		>cycle_init		>intface_init	>iso_init		>gmouse_init	>proto_init		>anim_init		>scr_init		>game_load_info	>scr_game_init	>wmWorldMap_init	>CharEditInit	>pip_init		>InitLoadSave	>gdialog_init	>combat_init	>automap_init	>message_init	>message_load	>scr_disable	>init_options_menu
>endgameDeathEndingInit

Playing movie: iplogo.mve
Direct Playing at (0, 0)  not scaled
Movie aborted
Frames 48, dropped 0

Playing movie: intro.mve
Direct Playing at (0, 0)  not scaled
Movie aborted
Frames 18, dropped 0

Playing movie: credits.mve
Direct Playing at (0, 0)  not scaled
Movie aborted
Frames 50, dropped 0
Loading background sound file 07desert.ACM... finding background sound  playing succeeded.
Loading sound file nmselec0.ACM...succeeded.
Loading sound file nmselec1.ACM...succeeded.
Loading sound file ib1p1xx1.ACM...succeeded.
Loading sound file ib1lu1x1.ACM...succeeded.
Loading sound file ib1p1xx1.ACM...succeeded.
Loading sound file ib1lu1x1.ACM...succeeded.
Loading sound file ib1p1xx1.ACM...succeeded.
Loading sound file ib1lu1x1.ACM...succeeded.

Playing movie: elder.mve
Direct Playing at (0, 0)  not scaled
Movie aborted
Frames 39, dropped 0
Loading background sound file wind2.ACM... finding background sound  playing succeeded.
OVERRIDE_MAP_START: x: 88, y: 87
[Party Member 0]: Narg



[Party Members]:
Total Critter Count: 2

Loading sound file gntlwind.ACM...succeeded.

Gsound: playing ambient map sfx: gntlwindLoading background sound file 17arroyo.ACM... finding background sound  playing succeeded.
Loading sound file ib2p1xx1.ACM...succeeded.
Loading sound file ib2lu1x1.ACM...succeeded.
Loading sound file ib1p1xx1.ACM...succeeded.
Loading sound file ib3p1xx1.ACM...succeeded.
Loading sound file ib3lu1x1.ACM...succeeded.
Loading sound file ib1p1xx1.ACM...succeeded.
Loading sound file ib1lu1x1.ACM...succeeded.
Resetting sound system...done.

Scripts: [Game Reset]Loading background sound file 07desert.ACM... finding background sound  playing succeeded.
Loading sound file nmselec0.ACM...succeeded.
Loading sound file nmselec1.ACM...succeeded.

Game Exit

Fun thing to note (MD5 of the DATs:
Code: 
B1D16AC9345694AAF28426EE2B5CB304  master.dat
9B16E92AC88D168E81126B72E6F9AB3C  critter.dat
 
Odin said:
Code: 
B1D16AC9345694AAF28426EE2B5CB304  master.dat
9B16E92AC88D168E81126B72E6F9AB3C  critter.dat
Click to expand...

Interesting you got the same MD5 sum for master.dat as you did before when it didn't work.
Another interesting thing, your critter.dat MD5 sum matches mine, but master.dat doesn't:

F20539C899E702848D0F70B0A2D94181 master.dat
9B16E92AC88D168E81126B72E6F9AB3C critter.dat

I guess your master.dat is different than the US102d version.


Per said:
Damn n00bs
Click to expand...

Keep an eye on that Odin character :lol: Make sure he lines up in orderly fashion and uses protective eyewear.
 
dude_obj said:
Interesting you got the same MD5 sum for master.dat as you did before when it didn't work.
Another interesting thing, your critter.dat MD5 sum matches mine, but master.dat doesn't:
Click to expand...

Is that surprising? The critter.dats are the same (including the damn kids), but the master.dats have those small text changes (chem/drug) and other MYSTARY DIFFERENCES which may be none at all really. Since Odin's in Norway I assume he has the UK version like me.
 
Nah this version is the US 1.0, so it strange that it's not the same. I also have the UK version (ack!), but I refrain from installing that one.
 
Odin said:
Nah this version is the US 1.0, so it strange that it's not the same.
Click to expand...

Mine is from the US dual jewel FO1 and FO2 set, maybe the master.dat is slightly different from the original FO2.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top