WC2 crashes during second mission

M

Myself

Guest
I'm playing WC2 with DOSBox 0.72 (with which I've got a number of other games to work including TIE Fighter, Tyrian and Syndicate) under Windows XP Home. It runs more-or-less fine until just after I've cleared out the Kilrathi fighters assailing the Concordia - I think what's meant to be happening is a cutscene of the Concordia contacting me - at which point DOSBox suddenly closes. I've tried the "loadfix" thing and it makes no difference. Any ideas?
 
Here goes...

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

# This is the configurationfile for DOSBox 0.72.
# Lines starting with a # are commentlines.
# They are used to (briefly) document the effect of each option.

[sdl]
# fullscreen -- Start dosbox directly in fullscreen.
# fulldouble -- Use double buffering in fullscreen.
# fullresolution -- What resolution to use for fullscreen: original or fixed size (e.g. 1024x768).
# windowresolution -- Scale the window to this size IF the output device supports hardware scaling.
# output -- What to use for output: surface,overlay,opengl,openglnb,ddraw.
# autolock -- Mouse will automatically lock, if you click on the screen.
# sensitiviy -- Mouse sensitivity.
# waitonerror -- Wait before closing the console if dosbox has an error.
# priority -- Priority levels for dosbox: lowest,lower,normal,higher,highest,pause (when not focussed).
# Second entry behind the comma is for when dosbox is not focused/minimized.
# mapperfile -- File used to load/save the key/event mappings from.
# usescancodes -- Avoid usage of symkeys, might not work on all operating systems.

fullscreen=false
fulldouble=false
fullresolution=original
windowresolution=original
output=surface
autolock=true
sensitivity=100
waitonerror=true
priority=higher,normal
mapperfile=mapper.txt
usescancodes=true

[dosbox]
# language -- Select another language file.
# memsize -- Amount of memory DOSBox has in megabytes.
# machine -- The type of machine tries to emulate:hercules,cga,tandy,pcjr,vga.
# captures -- Directory where things like wave,midi,screenshot get captured.

language=
machine=vga
captures=capture
memsize=16

[render]
# frameskip -- How many frames DOSBox skips before drawing one.
# aspect -- Do aspect correction, if your output method doesn't support scaling this can slow things down!.
# scaler -- Scaler used to enlarge/enhance low resolution modes.
# Supported are none,normal2x,normal3x,advmame2x,advmame3x,hq2x,hq3x,
# 2xsai,super2xsai,supereagle,advinterp2x,advinterp3x,
# tv2x,tv3x,rgb2x,rgb3x,scan2x,scan3x.
# If forced is appended (like scaler=hq2x forced), the scaler will be used
# even if the result might not be desired.

frameskip=0
aspect=false
scaler=normal2x

[cpu]
# core -- CPU Core used in emulation: normal,simple,dynamic,auto.
# auto switches from normal to dynamic if appropriate.
# cycles -- Amount of instructions DOSBox tries to emulate each millisecond.
# Setting this value too high results in sound dropouts and lags.
# You can also let DOSBox guess the correct value by setting it to max.
# The default setting (auto) switches to max if appropriate.
# cycleup -- Amount of cycles to increase/decrease with keycombo.
# cycledown Setting it lower than 100 will be a percentage.

core=auto
cycles=auto
cycleup=500
cycledown=20

[mixer]
# nosound -- Enable silent mode, sound is still emulated though.
# rate -- Mixer sample rate, setting any devices higher than this will
# probably lower their sound quality.
# blocksize -- Mixer block size, larger blocks might help sound stuttering
# but sound will also be more lagged.
# prebuffer -- How many milliseconds of data to keep on top of the blocksize.

nosound=false
rate=22050
blocksize=2048
prebuffer=10

[midi]
# mpu401 -- Type of MPU-401 to emulate: none, uart or intelligent.
# device -- Device that will receive the MIDI data from MPU-401.
# This can be default,alsa,oss,win32,coreaudio,none.
# config -- Special configuration options for the device. In Windows put
# the id of the device you want to use. See README for details.

mpu401=intelligent
device=default
config=

[sblaster]
# sbtype -- Type of sblaster to emulate:none,sb1,sb2,sbpro1,sbpro2,sb16.
# sbbase,irq,dma,hdma -- The IO/IRQ/DMA/High DMA address of the soundblaster.
# mixer -- Allow the soundblaster mixer to modify the DOSBox mixer.
# oplmode -- Type of OPL emulation: auto,cms,opl2,dualopl2,opl3.
# On auto the mode is determined by sblaster type.
# All OPL modes are 'Adlib', except for CMS.
# oplrate -- Sample rate of OPL music emulation.

sbtype=sb16
sbbase=220
irq=7
dma=1
hdma=5
mixer=true
oplmode=auto
oplrate=22050

[gus]
# gus -- Enable the Gravis Ultrasound emulation.
# gusbase,irq1,irq2,dma1,dma2 -- The IO/IRQ/DMA addresses of the
# Gravis Ultrasound. (Same IRQ's and DMA's are OK.)
# gusrate -- Sample rate of Ultrasound emulation.
# ultradir -- Path to Ultrasound directory. In this directory
# there should be a MIDI directory that contains
# the patch files for GUS playback. Patch sets used
# with Timidity should work fine.

gus=true
gusrate=22050
gusbase=240
irq1=5
irq2=5
dma1=3
dma2=3
ultradir=C:\ULTRASND

[speaker]
# pcspeaker -- Enable PC-Speaker emulation.
# pcrate -- Sample rate of the PC-Speaker sound generation.
# tandy -- Enable Tandy Sound System emulation (off,on,auto).
# For auto Tandysound emulation is present only if machine is set to tandy.
# tandyrate -- Sample rate of the Tandy 3-Voice generation.
# disney -- Enable Disney Sound Source emulation. Covox Voice Master and Speech Thing compatible.

pcspeaker=true
pcrate=22050
tandy=auto
tandyrate=22050
disney=true

[joystick]
# joysticktype -- Type of joystick to emulate: auto (default), none,
# 2axis (supports two joysticks,
# 4axis (supports one joystick, first joystick used),
# 4axis_2 (supports one joystick, second joystick used),
# fcs (Thrustmaster), ch (CH Flightstick).
# none disables joystick emulation.
# auto chooses emulation depending on real joystick(s).
# timed -- enable timed intervals for axis. (false is old style behaviour).
# autofire -- continuously fires as long as you keep the button pressed.
# swap34 -- swap the 3rd and the 4th axis. can be useful for certain joysticks.
# buttonwrap -- enable button wrapping at the number of emulated buttons.

joysticktype=auto
timed=true
autofire=false
swap34=false
buttonwrap=true

[serial]
# serial1-4 -- set type of device connected to com port.
# Can be disabled, dummy, modem, nullmodem, directserial.
# Additional parameters must be in the same line in the form of
# parameter:value. Parameter for all types is irq.
# for directserial: realport (required), rxdelay (optional).
# for modem: listenport (optional).
# for nullmodem: server, rxdelay, txdelay, telnet, usedtr,
# transparent, port, inhsocket (all optional).
# Example: serial1=modem listenport:5000

serial1=dummy
serial2=dummy
serial3=disabled
serial4=disabled

[dos]
# xms -- Enable XMS support.
# ems -- Enable EMS support.
# umb -- Enable UMB support.
# keyboardlayout -- Language code of the keyboard layout (or none).

xms=true
ems=true
umb=true
keyboardlayout=none

[ipx]
# ipx -- Enable ipx over UDP/IP emulation.

ipx=false

[autoexec]
# Lines in this section will be run at startup.
MOUNT C C:\OLDGAMES
C:
MOUNT D D:\ -t cdrom

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

It's almost exactly as when I installed it; the only change I've made is setting it to mount the C: and D: drives at startup in the [autoexec] section.
 
This is a common problem, you may have wanted to check the CIC Tech Guide on installing and running WC2 in DOSBOX, but I'll tell you what you need to do.

When preparing to run WC2, you have to tell dosbox to load it into higher memory so it will operate correctly. The command to do this is 'loadfix'. You can tell DOSBOX to allocate between 1 and 64kb of memory to the program by adding a space, then a dash ( - ) and the number immediately following it. The best value I've found to use for WC2 is 32kb. So the next time you run the game, instead of doing it like this:

  • Z:\> C:
  • C:\> cd [WC2 Directory]
  • C:\[WC2 Directory]> WC2

You would do it like this:

  • Z:\> C:
  • C:\> cd [WC2 Directory]
  • C:\[WC2 Directory]> loadfix -32 WC2

That should solve the problem. You might want to try this on other programs that unexpectantly freeze or lock in DOSBOX for no apparant reason.
 
I repeat, "I've tried the 'loadfix' thing and it makes no difference."
 
I repeat, "I've tried the 'loadfix' thing and it makes no difference."

Yeah... you can actually try a few different values for the loadfix error and see if that fixes it. I beleive there are a few other values listed in that tech support guide.

If all else fails you can just download a copy of Dosbox 0.65

You're computer shouldn't have a problem with multiple versions installed.
 
I've tried other values, I've tried DOSBox 0.65 (with "cycles" adjusted to 4000 in the .conf file as the guide suggests) and the problem remains.
 
One thing that stands out to me. is that it wouln't hurt to try the game with normal core it dosbox .65 with the walkthrough settings including loadfix. Make sure you aren't installing the dosbox versions to the same directory either. Also set xms support to false since you don't need it and eliminating any possible conflicts will help.

Also it wouldn't hurt to make sure no other programs are running at the same time as dosbox. Also, can you give us some more detailed info on your system specs?
 
I've already tried the advice in the previous two posts (but thanks for trying, I appreciate it!).

I think I'm beginning to have a vague idea of why it's not working. Some of the following may be irrelevant, and if so I apologise, but better to include too much information than too little.

My copy of WC2 (which includes SO1+2) is on a CD that came with a PC bought back in 1995 which also has Ultima 8, Strike Commander and Syndicate (the latter two with their respective expansion packs). Each game has files in its own folder on the CD, but WC2 (and only WC2, as far as I can tell) also has files in the D: root directory. These include the files to install and play the game: winstall.bat and wc2.bat (and so1.bat and so2.bat).

What appears to be the trouble is that loadfix is for .exe files, not batch files. I didn't cotton on to this at first. When I typed "loadfix -32 wc2" (or some other number in place of 32) I got the following message:

32 kb allocated.
32 kb freed.

Then it returned to the D:\> prompt and I typed "wc2" to run the game. I assumed loadfix was in fact doing its job. Then I looked at the guide again and it seemed to imply that the loadfix command is meant to actually run the game, in which case it hadn't been having any effect when I used it.

In the wing2 folder on the CD are four .exe files with the same names as the four .bat files I mentioned above, so I tried running the wc2.exe file with loadfix. This time the loadfix command actually ran the game - but now there's no sound, whereas the sound (including speech) was working perfectly with the .bat file in the D: root directory.

Any thoughts?

P. S. You asked for more info on my system specs. Here goes: Windows XP Home; 1.5GB RAM; Intel Pentium 4 3GHz; Raedon 9600 128MB graphics card; Sound Blaster Live! sound card. Anything else you'd like to know?
 
Allright buddy, I think you're right about the batch files. Can you open up this CD and find a WC2 executable and the gamedat files? If so, my suggestion would be to copy all of the Wing Commander 2 files off the CD into a directory on your hard drive. Then attempt to install and run the game from that directory.
 
I've already tried the advice in the previous two posts (but thanks for trying, I appreciate it!).

I think I'm beginning to have a vague idea of why it's not working. Some of the following may be irrelevant, and if so I apologise, but better to include too much information than too little.

My copy of WC2 (which includes SO1+2) is on a CD that came with a PC bought back in 1995 which also has Ultima 8, Strike Commander and Syndicate (the latter two with their respective expansion packs). Each game has files in its own folder on the CD, but WC2 (and only WC2, as far as I can tell) also has files in the D: root directory. These include the files to install and play the game: winstall.bat and wc2.bat (and so1.bat and so2.bat).

What appears to be the trouble is that loadfix is for .exe files, not batch files. I didn't cotton on to this at first. When I typed "loadfix -32 wc2" (or some other number in place of 32) I got the following message:

32 kb allocated.
32 kb freed.

Then it returned to the D:\> prompt and I typed "wc2" to run the game. I assumed loadfix was in fact doing its job. Then I looked at the guide again and it seemed to imply that the loadfix command is meant to actually run the game, in which case it hadn't been having any effect when I used it.

In the wing2 folder on the CD are four .exe files with the same names as the four .bat files I mentioned above, so I tried running the wc2.exe file with loadfix. This time the loadfix command actually ran the game - but now there's no sound, whereas the sound (including speech) was working perfectly with the .bat file in the D: root directory.

Any thoughts?

P. S. You asked for more info on my system specs. Here goes: Windows XP Home; 1.5GB RAM; Intel Pentium 4 3GHz; Raedon 9600 128MB graphics card; Sound Blaster Live! sound card. Anything else you'd like to know?

You should not need any of the files in the root directory to run the game. Just copy the Wing2 directory to your harddrive. Use the "winstall" that is in the wing2 directory to set up sound and you should be good to go from there.
 
You should not need any of the files in the root directory to run the game. Just copy the Wing2 directory to your harddrive. Use the "winstall" that is in the wing2 directory to set up sound and you should be good to go from there.

It worked!

Thanks very much, everyone. If I have any more trouble, I know where to come. :)
 
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