Curse

BSSuperman · Apr 03, 2007, 08:41 AM // 08:41

Id like to start a thread to start a basis of conversation and problem shooting for Guild Wars related to the brand new monster Windows Vista (lvl 32 Necro Boss!!

)

I admit that I dont have the appropriate fancypants tekni-kal language to back up what Im saying and make it look like I know what Im talking about, but perhaps clevererer rer people than I can properly define what Im trying to get across?

I bought and installed Vista last night on my computer. After looking through the forums Ive seen a few threads saying (basically) 'ARRGH my computer hates GW.'

I think that if some general pointers and tips are made available, it may evite some of the panic (Pah - Nik) that the populace is going through?

What I did was formatted all my hard disk drives (after making appropriate back ups of all valuable photos/etc. as formatting gets rid of all data on the hard disk drive FOREVER) <-(open to discussion but not here

)

I installed Windows Vista following the installation instructions that came with it.

I went and got a VISTA compatible Anti Virus.

I went on the internet and downloaded all the appropriate drivers for all my peripheriques that are attatched to my computer for VISTA. (ie Graphics card/Sound card/Keyboard & Mouse/Monitor/Printer/etc etc. version VISTA)

I reinstalled Guild Wars.

Guild Wars works wonderfully - its just a pain in the butt having to redownload the .DAT file but hey thats the price to pay for progress.

Now, I invite you all to discuss and elaborate.

Please dont thread hijack as I think this could be helpful for people who dont have a lot of experience or savvy when it comes to computers.

Uncleadolph · Apr 03, 2007, 08:59 AM // 08:59

I'd just like to add a little bit to the thread, although not related to JUST Guild Wars and Vista, it is a list of programs that are and aren't compatable with Vista and if you need to do a certain thing to make it run.

Vista Compatability List

Note, Guild Wars is placed in the WORKS area of it. "Guild Wars: All 3 versions ( Prophecies, Factions, Nightfall )"

If you have any problems with it working on Vista but can get a workaround, add it to the list of programs on there. Its very useful and has helped me get a lot of my games and programs to work.

First time installing a new OS?

Despite Vista claiming that the upgrade facility works, don't do it! The old XP and Vista conflict for some reason. Make sure you reformat your PC before installing Vista.

Some Vista Issues

Quote:

The exact words of the message is this:

Unable to Install

The installer could not write Guild Wars to the specified directory. Please check that you have administrative access, that you have permission to install in the specified directory, and there is sufficient space available on the drive.
-Arena Net

I have no clue how to check if i have administrative a access, or if i have permission to install in the specified directory. i know for sure that i have sufficient space availabe on the drive.
What should i do? please help!

Solution

Quote:

Just to let others with the problem know, I fixed my issue, and it turned out to have nothing to do with write permissions, administrator permissions or read only issues.

I just uninstalled it and reinstalled it again.

Problem went away.

I think Vista runs multiple copies of GW on this new update, because when I uninstalled it, it wouldn't remove GW.exe even though it wasn't listed as running, but it acted like it was.

So I rebooted, and removed GW.exe manually after the uninstall.

Then with the GW folder deleted did a new install of the game.

Worked right away after that.

RAM...

Due to all the new fancy things in Vista and the way it pre-caches (don't worry about understanding what that means) your RAM for instant usage, a little bit of extra RAM could be needed to restore smooth play. This has been the solution for many lag problems related to FPS games like BF2, AA etc. Vista uses nearly 1GB RAM itself, i'm sure GW uses a large amount of RAM so if you have lag problems and you can't find anyway to solve it, look into investing in some RAM to increase to at least 1.5GB RAM. One way of reducing the amount of RAM Vista uses ingame is to right click the GW shortcut -> properties -> compatability and tick Disable Desktop Composition. Also, if you don't mind doing this all the time, close the sidebar when you load GW.

If you have a ZIP drive lying around you can plug it into your USB port and use it as a cheap alternative to more RAM!!! This won't run as fast as RAM but it gives you some more RAM if memory amount is what is holding you back. Read more here:

http://uk.gamespot.com/features/6167...x.html?q=vista

Note: I didn't have these problems, I am copying the issue and solution into this thread for all to see.

MirkoTeran · Apr 03, 2007, 09:11 AM // 09:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by BSSuperman

Guild Wars works wonderfully - its just a pain in the butt having to redownload the .DAT file but hey thats the price to pay for progress.

You can backup .DAT file so you don't need to redownload it.

BSSuperman · Apr 03, 2007, 09:17 AM // 09:17

-.-

Ok now I know better for next time.

Dmitry · Apr 03, 2007, 10:31 AM // 10:31

may i just ask, sorry for non topicness

is vista worth it?

Uncleadolph · Apr 03, 2007, 11:04 AM // 11:04

If you're prepared to take the risk of whether your games will run faster or slower, then yes. I initially bought Vista because it looked cool and I wanted to get DX10 early for Crysis. I was happily surprised when all my games, especially Oblivon, ran at least 5 FPS faster. So I was pleasantly surprised :P

BSSuperman · Apr 03, 2007, 11:47 AM // 11:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dmitry

may i just ask, sorry for non topicness

is vista worth it?

What did I say about hijacking this thread...... */picks up huge stick. come here. grr.

I only loaded it up last night - but up until now its running fine and no smoke is coming out of the back of my computer yet.

Vista is going to be worth it as its going to become the benchmark for software to be run from for the next 5 - 10 yrs or so. OR at least thats what Windows say.

Bringing the thread back around to roughly on topic - 1Gb of RAM just for Windows Vista?? Crap.

Gonna have to get more RAM now....

EternalTempest · Apr 03, 2007, 12:13 PM // 12:13

My experience with GuildWars and Vista

Installs correctly / Plays correctly

Shows up in Games Folder w/ Box Art & ESRP Rating Info
->Not sure if glitch, but it shows up 3 times, 1 for each game

EAX doesn't work (which is actually issue w/ Creative Labs and Vista, not gw - all other EAX games are affected as well)
->Work around is Creative Alchemy & if you own a creative X-fi card

DirectSong works, once you get it to install
->You have to install macromedia shockwave/flash in IE 1st - otherwise DS installers will act up / not work.

The Template folder shows up under the user folder vs the GuildWars Folder

Gaile has mentioned there going to make GuildWars certified for Vista

Vista still has a lot of driver issues so some systems are still having a lot of issues with video/audio/mother board drivers and games.

If you have a nice cpu (dual core) and 1gb+ of memory (2+ is preferable) and don't plan on running a bunch of older software, Vista is worth it.
You can also dual boot and split the hard drive, install XP on one, Vista on another (which is what I do).

Lonesamurai · Apr 03, 2007, 12:23 PM // 12:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dmitry

is vista worth it?

if you have a dual core processor, then... YES, GODDAMN YES, DO IT, GET IT NOW!!!

Uh, Hmm...

If you have a single core processor, no, stick with XP

EiS · Apr 03, 2007, 12:51 PM // 12:51

I would say it worth it i only have a single core 3500+ amd CPU and it still made my game run smoother my a increase of around 7 FPS

TyrianFury · Apr 03, 2007, 01:14 PM // 13:14

Guild Wars runs super smooth in for me, I'm using Vista Business 64-bit and i much prefer it to Windows Xp.

The only problem I have is I can't get any of my Direct Song music to work in game. Since there is no flash player for 64-bit operating systems and that the Directsong downloaded is a flash app I have download the zipped music and run the registration app which comes with them, this however failes to register the music to guild wars.

Has anyone found a way to get direct song and vista to work for GW?

EternalTempest · Apr 03, 2007, 01:16 PM // 13:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by TyrianFury

Guild Wars runs super smooth in for me, I'm using Vista Business 64-bit and i much prefer it to Windows Xp.

The only problem I have is I can't get any of my Direct Song music to work in game. Since there is no flash player for 64-bit operating systems and that the Directsong downloaded is a flash app I have download the zipped music and run the registration app which comes with them, this however failes to register the music to guild wars.

Has anyone found a way to get direct song and vista to work for GW?

Yes there is, download & install the Sorrow's Furnace Pack 1st - It uses the old installer pre-flash based one.
This will set up the directory and the registry entries

Then copy over all the files in to the folder it created

I should have a back up of the older installers that are non-flash that I could e-mail you, pm me if your interested in that.

Uncleadolph · Apr 03, 2007, 01:31 PM // 13:31

I've noticed the problem with GW running in the background (although there are no traces of it)... I was looking at my Xfire profile and I wondered why GW had a time of 3 hours when I was only on it for a maximum of 1 hour earlier. I looked at my status and it said "Guild Wars", so its been logging my time as Guild Wars for the past 3 hours :/ I restarted and I'm ok.

I will be filling out a ticket and sending it to Anet or whoever I need to send it to.

TyrianFury · Apr 03, 2007, 02:32 PM // 14:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by EternalTempest

Yes there is, download & install the Sorrow's Furnace Pack 1st - It uses the old installer pre-flash based one.
This will set up the directory and the registry entries

Then copy over all the files in to the folder it created

I should have a back up of the older installers that are non-flash that I could e-mail you, pm me if your interested in that.

Can yuo copy the Factions and Nightfall collectors edition music into that folder or will only the SF music work. I have the old installer so going to give it a try, thanks for the tip

TyrianFury · Apr 03, 2007, 02:44 PM // 14:44

I think there is a problem with the direct song server, I have the original non flash downloader but I keep getting an error message when I use it.

I hope I can get the music working as I have battle pack one which is ace but haven't been able to use it and the others since I got Vista.

SnipiousMax · Apr 03, 2007, 03:08 PM // 15:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by EternalTempest

You can also dual boot and split the hard drive, install XP on one, Vista on another (which is what I do).

Couple of quick questions about that, when you partition to install a dual OS, does the second OS have access to all the programs/files/etc loaded under the first OS? Did you just split your hard drive down the middle? Or did you set aside just enough for Vista to run?

Etta · Apr 03, 2007, 03:21 PM // 15:21

Just to add to the subject , nvidia still hasn't release a fully working driver for its SLI config graphic cards on Vista yet. So if you have SLI setup better wait til at least may before switch to vista.

EternalTempest · Apr 03, 2007, 05:31 PM // 17:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by TyrianFury

Can yuo copy the Factions and Nightfall collectors edition music into that folder or will only the SF music work. I have the old installer so going to give it a try, thanks for the tip

Yes... There is the Directsong folder, there will be 2-3 loose files, and the folder for each album. As long as the album folders are named correctly, and there under the somelocation/Directsong folder, you should be fine. I would grab the most current guildwars.ds file from the ftp site - it's the most current music trigger / music list.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnipiousMax

Couple of quick questions about that, when you partition to install a dual OS, does the second OS have access to all the programs/files/etc loaded under the first OS? Did you just split your hard drive down the middle? Or did you set aside just enough for Vista to run?

I have a 300 GB SATA Hard drive. I used Windows ME Boot disk / Fdisk to split the drivers. I went with 50% (~150 gb each)

Install XP first, to the primary partion. Install Vista 2nd to the extended partion. Vista will see XP and allow you a choice of Xp or Vista when you boot up.

You have to install the program twice, one for each os.

There is a trick you can do for *some* programs. Install the program in Windows XP. Then install the program in Vista but don't choose the default location, have it install where it's installed at in XP.

Uncleadolph · Apr 03, 2007, 06:18 PM // 18:18

I just found something out. The 'Carries on running' problem isn't just Guild Wars and Vista. Its Games and Vista, although i've only noticed it on other games today. Its doing it on BF2142, when I shut it down the game Xfire is still logging my hours as BF2142. Maybe it could be something to do with the most recent Vista update? This could account as to why my hours have been going up rapidly recently...

BSSuperman, the actual programs in Vista will use about 512mb RAM, but... It is because of the Cache-ing of the RAM that I said 1GB. As far as I know, the RAM Cache-ing will, up to the point where there is no more RAM left, Cache a quarter of your TOTAL RAM. To make sense:

You have 2GB RAM. You're on the desktop, Vista is using 512mb RAM. Vista will then Cache another 512mb RAM making it 1024mb that is in use, 1GB. Say you load up a game that uses a further 512mb RAM, that makes the RAM usage (minus Cache) 1024mb. Vista will Cache a further 512mb, 1536mb. And so on, until you get to when Vista is using the full 2GB RAM. I 'heard a rumour' that Vista somehow Caches Page File... Though I don't know whether that is true or not, but that doesn't really matter anyway.

What is the point of Cache-ing? It allows RAM to run faster. Yet at lower RAM amounts you will suffer a performance loss, but at higher RAM amounts (when adding any more RAM won't increase performance) it will increase performance.

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

Just out of interest, is anyone who is getting the game "carrying on" using Alcohol 120% on their PC? To see maybe if it has a conflict for some reason, god knows why :P

Cyclades of Knossos · Apr 04, 2007, 01:24 AM // 01:24

Great idea for a thread.

GW plays very well in Vista.

The only issue I've encountered is the off update that will not install and advises that administrator privileges be sought.

This is a red herring, because even with those privileges, updates will still not install.

Best work around is simply to uninstall and reinstall.

The best idea is to have the basic client on hand instead of the CDs/DVDs. Then the dat file just expands as you need it and you're up and playing GW again in no time.