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Wing Commander seriesPrivateer 2 - Slowdown fix and better FMVs(69 posts)(69 posts)
(69 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted September 20, 2013
high rated
Hey guys! Privateer 2 was an instabuy because it was one of my very fist PC games I've ever played

The slowdown problem with big/lots of ships and planets seems to occur to everyone using DOSbox. Fortunately the Win95 "deluxe" version runs fine and even with better cutscenes!

Here I figured out how to apply this on the GOG release, it is pretty simple though:

1. Install your awesome GOG version (if not already done)
2. download this file http://originalthp.solsector.net/privateer2win95/priv2windowspatch.zip (source: http://originalthp.solsector.net/privateer2win95/)
3. extract that archive in your Privateer 2 GOG install folder
4. launch the install.exe in your folder (probably you'll get a strange colored screen but you should be able to the see and click the install button)
5. click install (you can move the created directory freely after that; check NOTE 1 for paths reference)

IF the installer tells you have not enough disk space on C:\DARK simply create a folder called DARK on c:\ and hit "install.exe" again. Now it should be working.

6. start playing by clicking dark.exe within the new directory!

In case your game runs too fast you could try this one: http://www.wcnews.com/wcpedia/Deluxe_Edition_Speed_Fix
I don't need it.

NOTE 1: Your GOG install folder act like the CD. Look at the DARK.CFG in your new DARK folder. There are the paths.
NOTE 2: It's possible that there are some slight sound creaking during gameplay. It seems to be a little unsteady since sometimes it occurs and sometimes it doesn't. You can try launching the launch settings shortcut in the GOG folder and set the MIDI and digital audio driver to Creative Labs Soundblaster or 100% compatible. Maybe you have to fiddle around a bit with these settings, IF it works at all. But it seems to improve the sound quality for me.

If this little guide works for you let me and the others know for verification!

CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQckOhgqUc0

TO GET THE MIDI WORKING IN SPACE:
By the way, for me to get midi music during spaceflight I had to set the compatibility mode of DARK.EXE to either Windows 95 or Windows 98/ME.
thanks to sndwv!
Post edited September 21, 2013 by Filben
Posted September 20, 2013
"3. extract that archive in your Privateer 2 GOG install folder"

Do you overwrite the files from the GOG folder or not? I did overwrite them but now the game gives an error and doesnt startup when i try starting it from the "new" DARK folder.

I really hope i can get this game running in the w95 mode, just as I used to play it :)

Thanks
Posted September 20, 2013
I actually tried to do yesterday before you even posted it up.

All I got out of it was, windows EXE started crashing and giving me 'write to memory' errors.

I might try again, and see if your instructions gives a different step then I tried.
avatar
AlwinVDD: "3. extract that archive in your Privateer 2 GOG install folder"

Do you overwrite the files from the GOG folder or not? I did overwrite them but now the game gives an error and doesnt startup when i try starting it from the "new" DARK folder.

I really hope i can get this game running in the w95 mode, just as I used to play it :)

Thanks
I'd avoid writing over the dos 'dark.exe' and renaming it to something like Darkdos.exe. You can write over everything else, and that dark.exe will still function. You can still change the GOG shortcut to link to it.
Post edited September 20, 2013 by Baggins
Posted September 20, 2013
What OS did you use? I tried this on W7/64 and when running DARK.EXE afterwards it quits with 'not a valid WIN32 application'.

edit: works now, human error ;)
Post edited September 20, 2013 by sndwv
Posted September 20, 2013
I use Win7 x64.

I did overwrite all the files in the GOG folder. Remember to start the DARK.exe in the folder created by the install.exe, NOT the DARK.exe created by the GOG installer. That one indeed doesn't work anymore after overwriting these files with the patch.

Did you install (via install.exe) the patch to the default folder (c:\) ?

I made a quick video explaining how I've approached: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQckOhgqUc0&

I hope it helps!
Post edited September 20, 2013 by Filben
Posted September 20, 2013
Tried this fix, but didn't work

Clicked Dark.exe at that another folder and only got memory erro problems.
Posted September 20, 2013
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Filben: I made a quick video explaining how I've approached: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQckOhgqUc0 I hope it helps!
Yes, this works perfectly for me now, thanks!! I thought I was clever the first time and changed the install path in the actual installer to a folder where I already put all the game resources (so I would not have to merge folders later), but that apparently messed things up.

Amazing how everything runs at it's proper speed now, I never even managed that with the DOS version back in the day :)

Any idea what sort of speed-ups could occur that might need the slowdown patch? As I see no apparent issues so far.
Posted September 20, 2013
I think its slows down music, and perhaps some planetside stuff.
Posted September 20, 2013
@people that get the memory error, the troubleshooting page mentions running dxdiag.exe and disabling ddraw and direct3d hardware acceleration. I do not have this issue so I can not confirm if this helps, nor if this creates performance problems, but you could give it a go...
Posted September 20, 2013
There is also a music patch as well in the Wing Commander Superpatch I linked to in the other thread I think.
Posted September 20, 2013
I followed the instructions shown in your video and it works perfectly. Thank you very much. I use Windows 7 32 bit.
Posted September 20, 2013
Keep in mind if you back up the original exe, you should still be able to use it in dosbox if for any reason you need to use the dos version for troubleshooting past any unforseen bugs.

I was reading this over at the CIC.
Posted September 20, 2013
Similar or same problem like PsiEye. Getting following:

"Application Error
The instruction at 00421856 referenced memory at 000000000
The memory could not be written"

Got also 64bit Win7/Home Premium SP1 with 8GB RAM.

Any ideas?
Posted September 20, 2013
By the way, for me to get midi music during spaceflight I had to set the compatibility mode of DARK.EXE to either Windows 95 or Windows 98/ME.

The only thing so far that *might* be off is that the music in Joe's bar sounds slightly different to what I'm used to from the DOS version: more reverb, like it is played twice at the same time. Could be how the W95 handles sound, could be speed-related. Anyone knows?
Posted September 20, 2013
'Install' crashed after about 65% installed.
Win8 x64 here. Manually created DARK dir on c:/
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Wing Commander seriesPrivateer 2 - Slowdown fix and better FMVs(69 posts)(69 posts)
(69 posts)