Sitzkrieg

I didn't know if this should be posted in the Tech forum or not. It isn't a tech problem (yet) but more a warning. On a lark, I downloaded and installed the new Detonator 40 drivers for Windows 2000/XP at work on Friday. This is also where I downloaded the CM:BB demo (fast connection plus being the admin are good things sometimes ). Anyway, I tried the demo on my machine at work with the Detonator 40 drivers installed. With any anti-aliasing set, the scenario list comes up blank. Seems to be a similar issue to what was occurring with Windows 2000/XP and CM:BO until Nvidia got something right (finally). Seems they got it wrong again. This is not an issue for me as I'm using Windows ME or 2000 Server at home without the Detonator 40 drivers installed. 4x anti-aliasing is working just fine. So for anyone thinking of downloading and installing the new Detonator 40 drivers, stay away for now. Forgot to add some specs: I'm using a Dell P3 866 running Windows 2000 Pro SP3 (plus latest updates) with a VisionTek Geforce4 MX (64MB). [ September 01, 2002, 01:12 AM: Message edited by: sitzkrieg ]

Except you won't have fog until maybe the CM engine rewrite with an ATI card. I would go with an Nvidia card. I guess the Geforce4 Ti4200 gives pretty good bang for the buck. Avoid the MX series. I'm waiting for prices to drop a bit on the Ti4600. I plan on getting one maybe around Christmas (nice present for myself ). Should provide CM:BB with plenty of graphics processing power, even in the very large battles.

I wasn't offended. It was a joke. Note the after the :mad: Keith

Well, not exactly. If I remember from my dealings with it, C++ Builder is a hybrid RAD tool that combines Object Pascal (for the UI from Delphi) and C++, probably with it's own extensions. I would think that some of the core processing code would be portable (if separated into it's own classes or C modules) but probably not the UI. As far as it being "REAL, REAL programming", as a professional VB hack I take offense at that. :mad: Not really. It's not by choice. Just where I could find a job at the time. I've been pushing for a C++ or Java rewrite where I'm currently at but it looks like we'll got to .NET instead. VB is a pretty decent development tool and can be very powerful, if used by professional developers. However, too many unqualified people use it as a crutch for sloppy programming (slap together a UI and remember my old High School QuickBasic). I should know, I work with several of them. I'm always rewriting their code to make it readable and so the damn thing will work. Keith

Nope, you guessed wrong. It was written in Borland C++ Builder. Email Gordon if you want all the details. I'm sure he will be more than happy to have someone port his system to the Mac. Keith

Gunny Bunny? Is that you? He was bragging up how he "broke through the perimetre" (his spelling) on alt.games.combat-mission today. Be on the lookout for a fuzzy bunny troll.

Loose BMPs.

Thanks for your effort, Schrullenhaft. While not the creator of the software, I did do some work for Gordon on the installations. So far, everything that Schrullenhaft has posted is exactly what should be done (shutting down everything possible, disable anti-virus, etc.). During testing of the installs, I ran into problems with an automatic update utility for a piece of software. It would lock the Temp directory and only allow one installation, then a reboot, then another installation. If I turned off/disabled this piece of software, I did not have this problem. However, this was on a Windows ME machine. I have run the installs on Windows XP Pro and experienced no problems. The install itself is a 32-bit program created with InstallShield 5.1 and PackageForTheWeb 2.01. I have no idea why it would be calling the install a 16-bit program. There might have been a similar incident on Windows 2000. I will have to look through my email tonight and see if that issue was resolved. Here's a link to the thread: Install problems on Windows 2000 Keith [ August 26, 2002, 03:59 PM: Message edited by: sitzkrieg ]

This one should be good. [unfolds lawn chair, sits down and opens another beer, waiting for The Bald One to appear]

You're right. You should have saved the money to buy a new keyboard or at least get that CAPS LOCK key fixed or somefink. WTF!!! [ August 16, 2002, 05:38 PM: Message edited by: sitzkrieg ]

WARNING!!! Poobear == Gunny Bunny Check alt.games.combat-mission for the proof (i.e. the "bunny" made out of parens and such) DO NOT FEED THE TROLL!

Okay, this one is really tough. Hint: He is a German, was a Wehrmacht officer who fought on just about every front. This picture was taken, obviously, post war.</font>

Naw. If she was from Finland should could have just used a toothpick. Keith

Uninstalling probably won't delete the save game files. Most install/uninstall programs don't delete files they didn't put there (for instance data files, like save games). Uninstall, then delete the Strategic Command directory (under C:\Program Files by default). Then reinstall and see if you still get kicked back to the desktop. Disregard if you have already done this. Keith

I agree. I got mine this morning (Yeah! I got mail! Yeah!) and it came in a better condition than gunnergoz's package. But the case still had a small crack on the back. I believe someone else had an experience similar to gunnergoz (case crushed to bits) in another thread. I would agree with the bubble wrap. We use something similar at work (FedEx envelopes that might be lined with bubble wrap or somefink) to ship CD's to our clients and haven't had a severely busted case yet. Of course I realize you are still at the mercy of the shipping service (USPS, UPS, FedEx, whatever) but at least provide a bit more protection so something short of it getting crushed by a very heavy box would keep the case intact. Keith [ August 03, 2002, 01:10 PM: Message edited by: sitzkrieg ]

It's not so much the laptop as the drivers for the laptop. They can sometimes be a bit more touchy. Neutral Party, you might want to look at getting the latest drivers for your hard drive/IDE controller and motherboard chipset if you haven't done so already. Like the Via 4-in-1's. These drivers would probably come from your laptop's manufacturer or the component's manufacturer (like Intel for the motherboard or Seagate for the hard drive). XP might be a good move as it might have more driver support out of the box for your laptop. It might also have less driver support since it is a newer OS. Some manufacturer's really lag on drivers for a new OS. Also, XP is based on NT like Windows 2000 so the problem might still persist in that regard. Not trying to negative. Just a couple of things to consider because of the world according to Bill. Keith

Let me add a couple of other thingssomething else as Gordon's "Windoze" guy. This install was tested on Windows 2000 Pro SP 2. So it does work on Win2K, just not on your computer for some reason. I would definately look at the items Gordon mentioned and see if this gets rid of your problem. If not, we'll go from there and see what we can do. Keith

Apparently delivery skipped right over Iowa. I was thinking maybe today but when I didn't see it in the mail, I figured tomorrow or Monday. But now I'm really bummed because people farther west are getting the game. Probably find out on Monday that my co-worker, who ordered the game at least 3 days later than I did, will get his before mine. And I had to be one of the first 50 pre-orders (I was a "refresh monkey" waiting for the pre-order announcement). Oh well. Guess it's back to CM:BO and some CMMOS projects for the weekend. Can't wait to get my hands on this one and take out the Soviets. Keith [ August 02, 2002, 06:26 PM: Message edited by: sitzkrieg ]

I have an MG-42 mod I created by modifying the original BTS sounds. I increased the volume and bass and by accident came up with something that is a bit more terrifying and impressive to listen too. Has that ripping sound. Let me know if there is any interest and I will email you a copy. Keith

Plus loss of job which leads to loss of house, car, dog, PC, then CM:BB because you can't play it out of a cardboard box. So I guess you can loose the wife, just not the job. Keith

Damn, that's impressive! You've definately got your work cut out for you. I wish you would have had that list of German uniforms a couple of months ago. I had a helluva time trying to track these down to add to CMMOS. Looks like I missed a few. More additions in the future I guess. Keep up the good work. Your site is a greate resource for the CM community. Keith

Like those in the Peng Challenge thread. They always like to chat enthusiastically with newbies.

Screwed.

Agreed. I would second changing the sig. Gaylord Focker, unfotunately you cannot change your username. You will have to register again with a different name. Keith

Some game shops in the US are the same way. Some do allow returns, though. I wasn't saying it would be the drive manufacturer's fault. They are stuck in the middle, much like the end user. I was just stating that sometimes the user is stuck with no firmware upgrades for the CD-ROM drive as prescribed by the game publisher/SafeDisk to resolve the problem. It would be the game publisher and SafeDisk that should be the target.