One of the recent patches must have borked this for me, either that or it's due to one of the recent graphics driver updates or something?

Anyway, whenever I either try to save my options settings, or start a new game, BOOM! Instant crash.

Error log:

Start
Build=2.1.2400 (27 September 2020)
DXVersion=12.0.0
GameDistributor=GOG
Visual C++ 2010 (x86) found
Visual C++ 2010 (x64) found
VC 8.0 SP1 (x86) found
VC 8.0 SP1 ATL Patch (x86) found
VC 9.0 SP1 (x86) found
Operating system=Windows 8 build 6.2.9200 [x64]
Processor=Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-6500 CPU @ 3.20GHz (4 cores)
CPU Clock=3199 MHz
Physical Memory Total=16314 MB
Physical Memory Available=12753 MB
Page File Total=18746 MB
Page File Available=13177 MB
Virtual Memory Total=2047 MB
Virtual Memory Available=1945 MB
Cache Size=393216 KB
Loading configuration files.... ok!
Creating window.... ok!
Sound interfaces are:
- Primary Sound Driver
- Headset Earphone (HyperX Virtual Surround Sound)
- S24C350 (NVIDIA High Definition Audio)
Selected interface: 2 channels at 44100 Hz, 16 bit
Initializing sound.... ok!
Loading libvorbisfile.dll....ok!
Pre-fetching music.... ok!
Initializing DX9.... ok!
Videocard=NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
Driver=nvldumd.dll
Max Texture Size=16384x16384
Desktop Resolution=1920x1080
Available Resolutions=1024x768, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x768, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1360x768, 1366x768, 1600x900, 1600x1024, 1680x1050, 1920x1080
Initializing Direct3D device... ok!
Available Video Memory=4169728 KB
Available Video Memory Override=262144 KB
Display Mode=1920x1080 60Hz
Sound=True
Music=True
fLoad... ok
fPanelLoad... ok
Load MatrixGame.dll .... ok
Robot.Support()=0
Physical memory usage is increasing (3824 MB)
Memory Info
Physical Memory:
Used=3916520 KB
Available=12789152 KB
Total=16705672 KB
Virtual Memory:
Used=485808 KB
Available=1611216 KB
Total=2097024 KB
Cache Size=140426 KB
Textures Cache Size=0 KB
fPanelLoad... ok
fMainForm... ok
fPlanetQuest... ok
fLoad... ok
fPanelLoad... ok
fGameSettings2... ok
fIntroduction... ok
Rescaling Bm.PanelMain2.2BG... ok
fPanelMain... ok
fPanelPlanet... ok
fPanelRuins... ok
fPanelLoad... ok
fHangar... ok
fPanelMain... ok
fPanelPlanet... ok
fPanelLoad... ok
fPlanet... ok
fPanelMain... ok
fPanelLoad... ok
fPlanetNO... ok
fPanelMain... ok
fPanelRuins... ok
fPanelLoad... ok
fRuinsTalk... ok
ab_MainForm... ok
fPanelLoad... ok
fPanelMain... ok
fPanelPlanet... ok
fPanelRuins... ok
fPanelLoad... ok
fEquipmentShop... ok
fPanelMain... ok
fPanelPlanet... ok
fPanelRuins... ok
fPanelLoad... ok
fGoodsShop2... ok
fPanelMain... ok
fPanelPlanet... ok
fPanelLoad... ok
fGov... ok
fPanelMain... ok
fPanelPlanet... ok
fPanelRuins... ok
fPanelLoad... ok
fInfo... ok
fPanelMain... ok
fRewards... ok
fPanelMain... ok
fShip2... ok
fScaner... ok
fPanelMain... ok
fPanelLoad... ok
fStarMap... ok
fFilm... ok
fPanelMain... ok
fGalaxy2... ok
fPanelLoad... ok
fJump... ok
fSaveManager... ok
fGameLoad... ok
fPanelLoad... ok
fGameMenu... ok
fCfgSettings... ok
fGameEnd... ok
fAbout... ok
fScore... ok
fSelectFace... ok
fPanelMain... ok
fJournal... ok
fPanelLoad... ok
fLoadRobot... ok
fPanelLoad... ok
fLoadQuest... ok
fLoadAB... ok
fAchievements... ok
music\rev\theo_running_away.dat
Rescaling Bm.FormMain2.2AnimMain... ok
Rescaling Bm.FormGameSet2.2bg... ok
Rescaling Bm.FormGameSet2.2Footer... ok
Exception Exception with message TFileEC.CreateNew. FileName=C:\Users\squid\Documents\SpaceRangersHD\newgame.txt
Exception TFileEC.CreateNew. FileName=C:\Users\squid\Documents\SpaceRangersHD\newgame.txt
Exception Exception with message Error in procedure TMessageLoopGI.SysMessage, label = 16
Exception Error in procedure TMessageLoopGI.SysMessage, label = 16
Exception Exception with message Error in procedure GR_WinMessage, label = 10
Exception Error in procedure GR_WinMessage, label = 10
Exception Exception with message Error in procedure TMessageLoopGI.Run, GameSettings, label = 22
Exception Exception with message Error in procedure TMessageLoopGI.Run, GameSettings, label = 22

I've attempted to manually adjust these settings via the cfg.txt file in my documents folder, but no matter what I choose this happens.

I should note that the only reason I was even able to get to this point (i.e. being able to reach the main menu of the game!), was by copying an old backed up cfg.txt that I had lying around for some reason, which is possibly missing some config items. Prior to doing this, the game wouldn't even start at all, it looked like it had some issues creating the config files in the first place! (as in, the game would appear in task manager, then disappear seconds later).

If anyone could shed some light, that would be good. I haven't played this in ages and just when I want to dive back in, this crap happens.


Addendum: thinking it might be due to incorrect patch application, I blew away the old version, redownloaded the very latest full installation, then installed it from that. Didn't help.

Update:

I was able to get this game working again, but I had to dig up an old installer for 2.1.22880 (28336)!

Luckily I still had this lying around, since it's no longer possible to get from GOG's download area - there's only the latest version available, and that version CTDs instantly every single time I try to either start a new game, or save the options.

Not sure if GOG or the devs ever read these, but if so:

1. Please fix this game so that versions beyond version 2.1.22880 will actually run properly on everyone's machine - because currently this is not the case for me.

2. Until 1) above is fully resolved, please put version 2.1.22880 back into the downloads area, so that if anyone else has this issue (or I lose my backup) then it's at least possible to grab a working version.

Thanks.

Not that anyone seems to care, but it turns out the latest patch as of this writing (2.1.2424) resolves this issue, so the game is now playable again. Woohoo!

Thanks for sharing your fix. Not my current problem, but I'll keep looking.

(For reference, my problem was the black screen. fixed with compatibility mode Win98/ME.)

Do you still have to use compatibility mode with the latest patch to fix the black screen issue?

I just installed (via GOG Galaxy) yesterday, so it's the latest GOG version. It appears to be v2.0. Did you have to find the latest patches elsewhere?

I should also note that the compatibility mode fix lets the game start and run, but if I Alt+Tab out, the screen will go black when I return. (When I come back to the game you can see the game screen for a split second before it goes black.)

I believe I downloaded the latest version as a full installer at the time of my post above (the one where it was solved), due to the latest patch somehow not wanting to install on top of my previous installation. That was version 2.1.2424. Since then there have been two more patches which supposedly fixed further issues: a hotfix to that patch, and finally 2.1.2436.

Galaxy should be identical, and it usually gets updated before the offline installer do. It's definitely not 2.0, as the "initial English release" of HD was already 2.1.1414 according to the changelog.

I never alt+tab out of SR so no idea about that - but it wouldn't surprise me if SR2HD is just one of those games that doesn't like Alt-Tabbing out of it...

I used to Alt+Tab out of it all the time before to refer to the help file. I also forgot to mention that it's not actually running through GOG Galaxy. It won't start through GOG Galaxy. I have to run Rangers.exe directly (and in aforementioned compatibility mode). This wasn't a problem before, and I'm pretty sure I've run the game on this very laptop some years ago.

I just took a quick look in-game, and it also says v2.0 at the bottom right of the screen. Is it possible that GOG has somehow regressed versions? If you don't mind looking, what version does GOG say you can download?

Those version numbers were from my downloaded exes, and a quick check shows that's the one available via download.

If you go to SR2HD in Galaxy, and choose "Configure" or something similar, it should show a list of the latest versions - it should have 2.1.,2436 selected.

It's possible the in-game version is off though, I didn't even know there was an in-game version.

If you check your SR2HD folder (wherever Galaxy installs it - you should be able to open the folder from within Galaxy I believe), there should be a text file in there called CHANGELOG_ENG.txt - scroll to the end of that and that should also show you your version number (it'll be the last entry).

Edit: I tend to never start games through Galaxy, but if you had to change compatibility settings that's probably the reason (I think Galaxy effectively launches with its own settings).

Well, that was quite interesting.

• Selecting "Configure..." from GOG Galaxy doesn't show the version.
• I can view "Patch Notes 2.0".
• I do not have CHANGELOG_ENG.txt but I do have ########.log which shows this string: "Build=2.0 (2007.08.08)". This could be a file reflecting the latest error log, since it exactly matches the content of the last error log.

I know that it has to be some sort of updated version, though, because I have access to the updated ships like Rapid Housing I, Invulnerable Housing III, etc.

[edit] I just realised we're talking about different games. You're playing HD: A War Apart. I'm playing 2: Rise of the Dominators. Screenshot attached.

Ah, now that explains it!

I think I still have a copy of Reboot around from many years ago, but I haven't tried to get it running on anything since I upgraded from XP some time ago. And I didn't get this from GOG either so I suspect getting it to run would be really annoying.

If you still have issues though you might want to hit up GOG support, as they're supposed to ensure that all their games run on modern systems - even though SR2: Reboot isn't sold any more, they might still have some ideas?

Personally the stuff they added to HD makes it worthwhile to get, although some people have complained that they don't like some of the additions (such as the pirates) - but it's even more customisable than earlier versions, and it has mods to change stuff that isn't customisable normally...

Sorry for the late reply.

I thought HD was just a HD visual upgrade to the game. I can get Reboot to run, just not through GOG Galaxy, and Alt+Tab stops the video from showing. Apart from that, I've been able to play a full game.

As a side note, I remember struggling to survive on the most expensive gear until they updated the game to include Rapid Housing, Invulnerable Housing ships, Pigamar scanner, Tau-Titanium engine, etc., which are cheaper and hence less expensive to maintain. I think they had an imbalance and tried to rectify it, but it just makes the old ships less attractive.