Operating system compatibility
From PlanetsWiki
Contents |
[edit] Overview
[edit] Install Instruction
- Install v4r23.exe mirror
- Install V4r23_update.exe
[edit] Administrator rights
I have a few new answers for a few select problems that have been encountered.
First off id like to mention that both windows xp pro using service pack 3 and windows vista operating systems use the same security measures and thus are identical in they are problem resolutions being that of security issues. I also suspect this may be the case for XP home edition service pack 3 but not entirely sure.
There must be an understanding that program that changes overwrites or modifies files or folders such as updates or even running the programs needs to have security measures resolved to such a point that normal program operation is allowed to bypass the increased security.
Here a few examples of security preventing normal operations of the programs running, updating and even new installations.
Administrator rights. you first must have administrator rights if you don't it will cause problems. the initial installation of any new program must be set to "run as administrator" for it to run properly. this is done by right clicking the folder you wish you install, and selecting" run as administrator.
Not running as administrator when installing seems to cause lots of problems.
If your set to administrator and problems still occur. there are two resolutions that are against security related. First off you need to be sure that when u log on to your computer you do so with a password protected login. No password will prevent administrator rights from occurring. Secondly if after this you still have the problem check your user account information theres a box there is sometimes marked, its called " prevent alien programs from modifying files" if this is checked then planet will not only install improperly but it will cause other bad things to happen such as file sizes too small and additionally it will prevent race pack updates from actually changes the files to the new updated files.
make sure this box is unselected and that your user account is password protected. also ensure that anytime you install planets files or programs,(this includes Diplomat and VidiVici and alternate VCR as well) you install then with the run as administrator option.
I hope this helps all those of you who are new to planets and or new to a foreign operating system.
ProtoOperatingSystemAdminister
- Do not use any spaces in the game directory (Like "C:\Planets 4")
- Best is to use the default directory C:\Planets4. Something like C:\Games\Planets4 is safe, too.
- Need to have a OS Temp folder like c:\windows\temp, c:\winnt\temp
- Make sure the directory C:\Temp exists, if not create it. Make sure you have read, write and deletion permission on this folder.
- Make sure you also have a Temp directory in the main planets dir, like C:\Planets4\temp Make sure you have read, write and deletion permission on this folder.
- Make sure your main planet directory & all its sub directories (and all files in them) have read, write and deletion permission.
- If you want to use another drive as temp drive add the lines
TempDrive = Driveletter (e.g. TempDrive = Z )to your .fig file. (works for host.exe only)
- Install the latest version of the game package and updates that may not be included from Drewheads.
- Install latest game package
- Install latest client update
- Install latest host update
- Install latest race updates
- Install latest master updates
Check the Specific advice for your OS, if still having trouble see Bugs
[edit] Win95
[edit] Win98
[edit] Win98SE
[edit] WinMe
[edit] Win 2000
[edit] SP1
[edit] SP2
[edit] SP3
[edit] SP4
[edit] Windows XP
- Working
[edit] SP1
- Works perfectly
[edit] SP2
- Work perfectly
[edit] SP3
- Working fine (Client 65)
- confirmed by 8+ users (From Drewhead: Dumbo, Crad, Miedeth, morningstar, DeerHunter, corvusarpa, Ataraxa) (From Newsgroup: General Khael)
Some user have trouble with SP3 and client 66.
"Run-time error '372': Failed to load control 'MMControl' from mci32.ocs. Your version of mci32.ocx may be outdated. Make sure you are using the version of the control that was provieded with your application."
Try regsvr32.exe with the ocx file in as the target
Found the old version of mci32.ocx in Windows/system32, replaced that with the new one from the patch. Everything works fine.
[edit] Windows Media Center
[edit] Windows Vista
Working
- Make sure your main planet directory & all its sub directories (and all files in them) have read, write and deletion permission.
[edit] Solution 1
- Do not use any spaces in the game directory (Like "C:\Planets 4")
- Best is to use the default directory C:\Planets4. Something like D:\Games\Planets4 is safe, too.
- Make sure the directory C:\Temp exists, if not create it. Make sure you have read, write and deletion permission on this folder.
- Make sure you also have a Temp directory in the main planets dir, like C:\Planets4\temp.
- It works fine on Vista. If you have problems with unpack RST´s this is because you don´t have the rights to do that in the specific folder. Change the rights and everything is working. You only need the replacment VCR.
- What location are you using for your RST/TRN files? If you have them set under "Program Files (x86)", those directories are now locked down with UAC. Either right click on Planets4.exe and select "Run as Administrator" or change your RST/RTN paths to use a non-UAC locked location (somewhere under "<SystemRoot>Users<YourUsername>" should work fine, but I drop mine on a seperate FAT32 drive to avoid all problems.) Aphor Noethe (drewhead)
- You might have to repeat the procedure for other exe-files (like vcr.exe)
[edit] Run this program in compatibility mode for
On start menu, right click on the program you want to launch
From pop-up menu, select properties
In pop-up window, select Compatibility tab
Under Compatibility tab, in Compatibility mode area, check box next to "Run this program in compatibility mode for:" (Try Win Xp or Win 98)
Use list box to choose preferred operating system.
Click on "Okay"
[edit] Solution 2
- I had problems with the RST, too. As a workaround I use an Windows XP running in a virtual machine (Virtual PC). Microsoft provides both Virtual PC and a legal(!) XP image for free. The only drawback is that the image will only work till August - well, still better than nothing ;)
[edit] Alternate VCR
Trouble running the default VCR ? Not working ? No sound ? Try this one from Tim.
VCR.EXE 4.000.015 vcr15mix.exe (255 k)
Does not use DirectX (uses wavmix32.dll )
[edit] Install notes
Once downloaded, place vcr15mix.exe in your main planets4 folder (Default location is C:\Planets4), double click on vcr15mix.exe
(If when you click on the file, the extraction does not work, you can always right click an extract it, if you have winzip installed this is mainly a trouble on vista 64)
It will extract 4 files:
- VCR.EXE
- VCRSUP.DLL
- WAVEMIX.INI
- WAVMIX32.DLL
Place those 4 files in your planets directory, (when it ask to overwrite say yes) it will overwrite the original VCR.exe.
- Make sure your main planet directory & all its sub directories (and all files in them) have read, write and deletion permission.
[edit] Client 66
[edit] Trouble
[edit] new client option for the colours in Vista
- Missing comdlg32.ocx missing or not registered.
Solution
It seem to be a common problem that comdlg32.ocx is missing. If you type the error message in google you get solution. In short form if comdlg32.ocx not existing on your computer you can find it when you paste the file name in google. Then use a tool or the text base commands to register the file.
- Download link and info for the COMDLG32.OCX (English)
http://www.ascentive.com/support/new/support_dll.phtml?dllname=COMDLG32.OCX
look here for a german site to solve this problem: www.drwindows.de/windows-vista-allgemein/1294-problem-mit-comdlg32-ocx.html
[edit] Windows Vista X64Version
Working
- Make sure your main planet directory & all its sub directories (and all files in them) have read, write and deletion permission.
[edit] mci32.ocx
Anyone having this error with Vista 64:
"Run-time error '372': Failed to load control 'MMControl' from mci32.ocx. Your version of mci32.ocx may be outdated. Make sure you are using the version of the control that was provided with your application."
To fix this:
Replace/rename the "mci32.ocx" file in the "c:\windows\SysWOW64" directory with either the one that Rick (Magik) included in his zip file or the one posted on Wiki.
Thanks to "ruky" for finding the resolution. See URL http://vgap.drewhead.org/perl/bb.cgi?a=s&i=1235636488.14442
And further info on this topic at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WOW64
[edit] Notes
You should also do a search and delete all other files names mci32.ocx, except the new on in the WOW64 folder.
[edit] How to install
[edit] Workaround A
Winzip can extract it, you just need to right click the packed .exe and unzip it directly. For some reason the executable extraction is blocked, but Winzip still recognizes it as a zipped file. Zolzar
[edit] Workaround B
Copy your planets folder to a 32bit machine,DL the VCR15mix, execute and overwrite.
Copy overwrite back the modifyied files to your 64bit vista, bingo.
Vista 64 can extract the April 1st, 2008 Complete shareware package v4r23.exe (29 meg) (big exe) without any problems, however the fix for the VCR (vcr15mix.exe (255 k)) , as well as the race pack exes only can be extracted on a 32 bit machine. Again, they work nicely on vista64, its apparently just the extraction which won't run.
It would be nice if Tim site would provide a zip file in place of the replacement vcr and racepacks changed after the April 1st, 2008 for the 64 bit version. Or we could have the zip hosted at the wiki or drewhead. Lord Lancelot 10:47, 11 November 2008 (CET)
[edit] Linux
- working with some oddities and some (infrequent) crashes
[edit] Wine in Linux
- Host & Client p063/064/065/(065p) will run with a reasonably current wine. Host works out of the box, client requires some tweaking.
[edit] Step by step installation instructions
- install wine
- Downloaded v4r23.exe from drewheads
- $wine v423.exe
- Klicked through the setup process, accepted defaults everywhere
- Created a link on the desktop $ ln -s ~/.wine/drive_c/Planets4/ ~/Desktop/planets (for convenience)
- Copied an original windows "olepro32.dll" to ~/.wine/drive_c/windows/system32/olepro32.dll
- Started wine configuration utility: wine -> Configure Wine
- "Libraries" Tab and selected olepro32. Added and set config to (native, builtin).
- Downloaded and unpacked "planets4_v65p.zip" and "vcr15mix.exe" from drewhead
- Downloaded and unpacked "Host213.35.zip" from drewhead
- Renamed all executables/libraries to lower-case (probably superstition)
- First test: while starting the client wine bitches that it can't load "MSVBVM60.DLL"
- Rolled back to stock p065 (used an old local copy, not available at drews), this works
- Second try: did not bitch about "MSVBVM60.DLL", but about missing functionality in "mci32.ocx"
- Copied "mci32.ocx" (from "planets4_v65p.zip") to ~/.wine/drive_c/windows/system32/ (per installation.txt)
- Starts and loads rst without error-msg.
[edit] User reports
Tell others about your experience.
[edit] Rumata
I've been playing exclusively on Linux since ~Dec/07. All the tools I'm using (Scriptzors, Diplomat, raceview/host/master) work. The client works, but there are some annoyances. I'd rate the usability about 90%, compared to Windows XP.
Problems/workarounds:
- Blank map: On startup every now and then the map is blank (this keeps happening in my case, seems to be connected to starting a new game / unpacking an rst in a new slot). Zooming in/out usually fixes it. Selecting an object through the data-grid, centering on that object and zooming always fixes it.
- Object selection pop-up-window: If one clicks on a map-location with multiple objects, a selection window appears. If this is not used (closed, something selected from it) and one clicks on another part of the client, it disappears into the background. Further clicks on the map do _not_ bring it to the foreground again. If the window shows up in the taskbar, it can be brought to the foreground that way, otherwise I restart the client.
- Internal pop-ups (data-pad, data-grid, resource-rings, ...) tend to (partially) pop under e.g. the command window.
- "Space Command" sometimes "sticks" to the mouse-pointer (unsticks after random left-right-clicking)
- Crashes: The frequency of crashes is higher than in Windows. I'd guesstimate something on the order of two-three hours between freezing. I run it from a console, and ctrl-c, arrow-up, return brings it up again very quickly.
- The crashes are not usually an issue, since client constantly saves the current state. However, I suspect that's not (always) the case for HQ stuff (ministers, taxes, tech ...). As a work-around I do those at the very end of the turn now.
It's worth it for me, since planets was the last application I was using Windows for. Running it slightly degraded on Linux is a big win for me compared to rebooting every time I want to play. HTH, YMMV, HAND
- Setup: Ubuntu Hardy (8.04) with wine 1.0
- Tested/using: Host up to 213.35; Client 065 (used for ~180 game-turns), client 065p (basic smoke-test); Diplomat (~50 sims); Scripzors (26 scripts)
Rumata 14:29, 7 June 2008 (CEST)
Updated Rumata 03:31, 7 February 2009 (CET)
[edit] Zaabur
It's not easy to understand how to install wine so I will tell you the process that I did on my Ubuntu laptop.
Process to install planets4 with wine:
- Install latest version of wine
- Install Planets4 from command line with : wine v4r23.exe
- Find and download fron Internet olepro32.dll. It's easy.
- Copy this library to .wine/drive_c/windows/system
- Start wine configuration utility: Configure Wine
- Go to the "Librarys" Tab and find the olepro32. Add them and set config to (native, builtin).
Now planets4 runs good but you must install the VCR as It's said over
Problems that I have:
- New windows on Planets4 over wine does not works good. When you click on datapad and select one new window, that new window does not go to the "top" level so it's displayed on the botton on the datapad. You must move datapad to see your ship or base that is very, very nasty. I do not know how to fix this error.
Zaabur 18:43, 11 December 2008 (CET)
[edit] Ruky
I had some problems with files that had their names in uppercase, so I strongly suggest rename all planets installation to lowercase. You can use this [1] script to do it faster.
The script replace the spaces in names for underscores, to keep the spaces unchanged you can replace the translate code as below for all instances in the script:
From:
y=$(echo "$x" | tr '[A-Z ]' '[a-z_]');
To:
y=$(echo "$x" | tr '[A-Z]' '[a-z]');
ruky 16:27, 25 March 2009 (CET)
Many has reported that new windows aren't opened at the top. To solve it:
- Execute winecfg.
- At the Graphics tab uncheck the "Allow the window manager to control the windows".
-
Also uncheck "Allow the window manager to decorate the windows".It will remove the maximize, minimize and close buttons which might be annoying. - Apply changes.
- Launch planets4.exe and try.
[edit] Virtual Machines in Linux
[edit] Virtual Box 1.5.6_OSE
Virtual XP ussing Virtual Box in Linux does not work for Planets4. XP works good and you can install Planets4 and see your turn, view VCR, etc, etc but If you click on Datapad to move the map, It seems that this action is not supported by Virtual Box and the screen go to max or min X/Y of the map and you cannot unlock this movement.
It seems that Virtual Box does not manage fine the OnRelease of the mouse when you try to un-click from Datapad. Zaabur 12:13, 29 October 2008 (CET)
- Note: This but was fixed on latest Virtual Box versions. I do not know what is the version that start to be free of this bug. It works good with Virtual Box 2.1.4_OSE. Zaabur 08:27, 5 October 2009 (CEST)
[edit] Vmware Server 2.0
Works perfect on this product with virtual XP. Only thing to speak about is that you must install Vmware graphic drivers on your virtual XP to have good mouse performance. Zaabur 12:13, 29 October 2008 (CET)
[edit] Client 66
I upgraded to client 66 on my linux box and it works perfectly for me. I haven't noticed any bug, but just in case you can easily restore the old Planets4.exe file if you start experiencing trouble. I'm using Ubuntu 8.04 and Wine 1.0. luccox
[edit] Mac
[edit] OSX
No
[edit] Mac with windows
- Parallels Desktop for Mac to create a WinXP virtual machine. This solution is fast for a VM and is constantly being improved by the developers. This doesn't require rebooting and I can run OS X simultaneously.
- Windows XP on a Mac through Boot Camp. (Need to reboot to alternate betweem Windows Xp & OS X)
[edit] Emulation Software / Virtual Machine
[edit] VM Ware
[edit] Wine
[edit] Darwine
It's a port of Wine to the Mac.
The Darwine project intends to port and develop WINE as well as other supporting tools that will allow Darwin and Mac OS X users to run Windows Applications, and to provide a Win32 API compatibility at application source code level.
Host and Master only (does not work with planets 4 client)
[edit] Windows 7 beta release RC-1
MERKLE
Windows 7 RC1 build 7001 - 64 bit
Planets installed and ran properly first time with no tweaking of the files except for one minor problem listed below. I did use Protomatter's V4r23_Update file http://planets.boogieboycarts.com/ to bring everything up to speed. MCI32.OCX was placed in the SysWOW64 directory automatically. Downloaded and installed the newest client and host from Drewhead.
Planets.exe, host.exe, master.exe and raceview.exe should be run first as administrator. Right-click each file in Planets4 directory and choose "Run As Administrator". There is no other option for a different user. This should enable the executable files to be "unblocked" or marked as not harmful.
- If you double-click the file on first run it may or may not run properly afterwards.
One small problem with VCR.
1. On my first Planets run, when clicking the VCR tab in client interface and choosing a VCR fight to watch, clicked "load", an error message box pops up.
"Unable to initialize DirectSound - sound card may not be present"
then after five or six seconds .....
"Runtime error '282' No foreign application responded to a DDE initiate" box popped up.
2. Tried to install vcr15mix.exe wavemix.dll application. For some reason Win 7 doesn't execute the vcr15mix file. Normally it runs in a command DOS type box but in Win 7 it doesn't run at all. No extraction of the files happens. I was informed that if you have WinZip installed, that may work. Didn't try but is supposed to work in Vista according to Zolzar.
If you use Winzip, WinRar or 7zip or any other compression software you can right click on vcr15mix.exe install file and extract the content, this step is also needed in vista 64. Lord Lancelot 05:49, 7 May 2009 (CEST)
3. WORKAROUND : Copied from previous planets installation that used vcr15mix VCR.EXE, VCRSUP.DLL, WAVEMIX.INI, WAVMIX32.DLL files and pasted them into C:\Planet4 directory (your choice)
4. After doing this and opening a vcr you will still get the Runtime error '282' message box but if you do not acknowledge the box, VCR plays and sound works properly.
Ignore the box, do not click "OK" or the red "X" in upper right hand corner. If you do either one, Planets immediately drops out of memory.
After a re-boot the problem with VCR disappeared.
June 28,2009 - Had problem with VCR again and another problem "Runtime error 380" while trying to view different sectors of the universe but only in one game. Runtime error 380 disappeared for one turn in that game then reared it's ugly head again the next turn. Windows 7 has a built-in troubleshooting routine, go to "Control Panel" - "Action Center" - "Troubleshooting" - "Programs" section. Run programs made for previous versions of Windows. Choose PLanets 4 from the list and follow instructions. It automatically configures planets to run optimally.
As far as I can tell, this version of Windows is BAAAD TO THE BONE!
[edit] See also
- Bugs
- VCR
- p4-on-a-mac Klingon Kommand
- Planets 4 on a memory stick (USB KEY)
- Planets4 on 2 screen
- VmWare for free
