Problem with Installation of SPQR

[Veton]

Hello.

First of all, I´m going to introduce myself. I´m spanish (from Spain, not from South America), so excuse me if my english is not good enough. I´ve played Roma total War and RTR and now I would like to try with SPQR.
I´ve readen a lot of posts about installation an troubleshooting. I,ve deleted manually all the files. I have a dvd of the Golden Edition. My system is Windows Vista. And is not working.
But is not working for a really silly problem. The icon for the executable (.exe) does not appear in the installation. And the one it should be has an ico extension. So when i open it, it goes to Paint or something similar.
I´ve tried to change the extension but i can´t, maybe beacuse the Vista.

¿could anyone help a poor dummy for computers matters ? ¿could anyone help me to make work the program?

Thank you very much

[Hesus de bodemloze]

To start the game you just double click the original Rome total war icon.

[Veton]

Thank you for the quick response. But I´ve tried it before (just to "what if?") and only starts my normal Rome Total War Golden Edition.
So, I´m going to check again in the posts and may be try to reinstall again.

[Hesus de bodemloze]

Could you make a picture of your main Rome total war folder and post it? Because when some one tells me he starts the game and the vanille version (normal Rome) pops up, well in most cases it means you installed the game to the wrong place.

Now it could also mean it is related to vista and if it is i will not be able to help you any more as i am not using vista. Maybe some other members will be able to help you if it is vista related.

[Raglan]

no this doesn't sound perticularlly like a vista problem - i agree with hesus it sounds more like you installed in the wrong place

if you could post us a picture of the inside of your rome total war folder this would be great

also a quick way of checking is to look inside the folder and look for a SPQR_Readme folder if its there then okay but if its missing then you definatly installed to the wrong place

[Veton]

Well, here is the image, where you can watch that the spqr readme file is just where it should be. I´m thinking now that is not a problem neither from Vista itself nor the mod, but of one kind of files called ffdshow o something similar, that have caused problems to me in the past with other games.
I´m going to check this possibility now

Thank you again

[Hesus de bodemloze]

Game is installed correctly, this is a vista problem i believe.

[S u l l a]

@ Veton - first welcome to SPQR!

First - The exe / Icon you should use the one for normal RTW. The other Icon (opening Paint) is there for you to manually replace by right click original RTW exe and go to properties. Just for the graphics and not necessary to do.

I have VISTA and SPQR works fine for me. I see you have installed RTW into your program folder. Better to install RTW directly under C, like C \ Creative Assembly or Activision \ RTW.

[Raglan]

okay this is a stupid question, but does the desktop icon that runs SPQR (or should run) point to this folder

i'm thinking that maybe you made multiple copies of rtw and installed SPQR into one of these but the desktop icon is pointed at the other

also for future reference, it is unwise to install games (not just rome total war) in programme files, and whilst my Spainish is pretty none exsistant i believe that Archivos de programa translates as programme files (this is a vista issue, but should only have an effect if you reinstalled rtw to the same place as before)

[Veton]

also for future reference, it is unwise to install games (not just rome total war) in programme files, and whilst my Spainish is pretty none exsistant i believe that Archivos de programa translates as programme files (this is a vista issue, but should only have an effect if you reinstalled rtw to the same place as before)

Yes Lord Raglan, your spanish is well enough, "archivos de programa" means "program files". But Why do you advise me this? I,ve been doing this since a year or so because a supossed "expert" on this kind of things advised me to do this way for prevent errors on installation of upgrades and mods. Before of this, I used to create files directly on C. So, what´s the right thing?

By the way, the spqr is working now. It looks gorgeous. What a wonderfull work you have done. Congratulations.

The RTW and the SPQR Still are in the same directory. I didn´t change the UAC settings. It seems was a question of graphics. This ffdshow (or something similar) was creating a problem. From my readings on the subjetc on the net, this is a new tipe of files that works with windows vista. And they caused me some other troubles with other games. I said this because could be useful for someone.

Thank you to all of you. Quick and efficient response.

You can close if you consider convenient.

[S u l l a]

... It seems was a question of graphics. This ffdshow (or something similar) was creating a problem. From my readings on the subjetc on the net, this is a new tipe of files that works with windows vista. And they caused me some other troubles with other games. I said this because could be useful for someone.

Hey man, im interested, can you please tell me a bit more about this? What is "ffdshow" and can you post a link to the readings on the net?

Thanks / Sulla

[Ejergard]

After you have installed a program (game) into the c:\program-folder (whatever this standard folder is called in your install...), it is not possible for external programs, such as the installer of SPQR to alter or replace already existing files in this said folder! That means that the installer will make the new folders and files (such as the SPQR_Readme-folder), but won't change any of the already existing files. This is valid if UAC is activated. You can either deactivate UAC (google for it...), or install it in a different directory to solve this problem.

[Hesus de bodemloze]

It seems like some of you have experience with vista, i would like to ask one of you to write up an install guide for vista wish will be posted in the FAQ & .... thread.

[Zycon XSC]

It seems like some of you have experience with vista, i would like to ask one of you to write up an install guide for vista wish will be posted in the FAQ & .... thread.

First of all, I have a windows vista SP2 Professional - not premium. my system is athlon 64x2 at 2.2 ghz core speed radeon hd 4800.... cant recall so as I am good with Vista, Iam going to show people 2 ways to install SPQR to their vistas without any headaches

First way. This I find is the easier one compare to others. 1. Copy your originial RomeTW or BI or Alex or Whatever. and paste if on your desktop. 2. Download the SPQR 7.0 and also the 7.0 Senate Bugfix from Lt1956's post. or click this BUTTON. 3. install SPQR by clicking the SPQR.zip file, a install wizard or manager will put you on a screen that guides you to the bar, which shows the destination of your installation. 4. cutomize YOUR installation by editting the location of your installation. for Example: instead of C:\program_files\ *X*X*X*X use this : C:\Users\YOUR USERNAME\Desktop\Activision\RomeTW 5. lastly if you have your RTW installed on desktop, please cut and paste the game to location: C:\ then create a shotcut of the game on your desktop.

DONE !!!

Second way. this is a little bit tricky but also simple. I only use this because I rebuilt my own application mss32. anyways 1. copy your rome TW and if you have a third or second drive move it there. 2. Install your SPQR 7.0.zip and you are officially done installing. FAQs... how to "Move" the Game? right click the File in C:\program_files\activision\RomeTW\ (or Rome) then press the button ( COPY ) FAQs... My Rome total war is running but not the installed version of SPQR !!! WHY ??!!??!?! ANSWR because you need to create a shortcut for your game going into the MOD version of ROMETW whether in your D: or E: . Then, right click the Icon of RomeTW, press Create Shotcut "button". Voila !! copy the short cut to your desktop. Bueno !! Magnifico !! run the game and Enjoy ^_^

Oh and some common FAQs, To anyone new here, The SPQR mod Does NOT support interenet game so plz do not go to gamespy with this mod. Also some other things you should know about Quick Battles does NOT Work, Prologues ... Iam not sure but its not fun to play anyways so don't play. Lastly the Historical Battle Does not Work, Only one of them can function, but you win right after the battle begins.
That is all Folks.

well if you install games into the programme files folder, vista trys to protect these games by removing certain files and placing them in a protected location - this in general is supposed to protect your games from file corruption and so forth, of course the instalation of a mod could be classed as deliberate file corruption (as you replace the files with the desired ones). The very thing that vista is trying to protect agaist.

This can result in partially installed mods where nothing works or the mod/game could work fine - the reason why i and most others recommend agaist installing in programme files is because it makes the computers behaviour more prediticable, of course you can de-activate UAC (user acount control) which will stop this, but since UAC also has other functions (such as command promt when downloading) i prefer to keep it as it seems safer.
Of course none of this is a problem if you only play the installed/correct version of the game but as most people play mods (seems obvious as this is a modding site) then it is just easier to install outside programme files

Vista has got a bad reputation, but really can do some wonderfull things when you understand the system - problem and reason for the bad rep is that many people come across a feature that irritates them and then instead of learning about vista switch back to xp (which if i recall annoyed people to start with as well)

@ LordRaglan, Its not even that, Even with UAC on it is useless, Most of Win32 is Restricted to all. I find Vista Fool proof for the ability of protection of cancelation from either software or administrators. I personally never use the program files for anything for the problems here and there. The biggest problem however, is if you are a programmer like me, and you know a file in C:\ *X*X*X*X has a virus, but you cannot delete it with a anti-virus software, therefore you have to use Cmpt then guess what, the system will back up for you (-_-) the files you deleted. the only tool useful is cmpt and the control pannel almost all files in the program files that has a exstension . such as config or DLL are disabled from direct delete. a simple way is to go to Control Panel and use the add/remove program or if you use cmpt, make sure your system does NOT have the Back up ability. thats all

sincerely, Zycon

[Raglan]

i've been meaning to do this for a while - i just haven't gotten around to it yet

[Raglan]

well if you install games into the programme files folder, vista trys to protect these games by removing certain files and placing them in a protected location - this in general is supposed to protect your games from file corruption and so forth, of course the instalation of a mod could be classed as deliberate file corruption (as you replace the files with the desired ones). The very thing that vista is trying to protect agaist.

This can result in partially installed mods where nothing works or the mod/game could work fine - the reason why i and most others recommend agaist installing in programme files is because it makes the computers behaviour more prediticable, of course you can de-activate UAC (user acount control) which will stop this, but since UAC also has other functions (such as command promt when downloading) i prefer to keep it as it seems safer.
Of course none of this is a problem if you only play the installed/correct version of the game but as most people play mods (seems obvious as this is a modding site) then it is just easier to install outside programme files

Vista has got a bad reputation, but really can do some wonderfull things when you understand the system - problem and reason for the bad rep is that many people come across a feature that irritates them and then instead of learning about vista switch back to xp (which if i recall annoyed people to start with as well)

[Ejergard]

In fact this mod DOES support multiplayer over gamespy, but there's a few files to be changed, it's been discussed HERE and HERE.
Sry for offtopic input

[Zycon XSC]

@Ejergard, Sorry for my novice, for I don't really know how the interenet was able to be available, ( didn't know that you can program such things) but anyways, great work on the interenet. Have fun to those that can play on the interenet.

[Alast0r]

Ffdshow is just this as far as I know . It's just an video/audio codec that most of us has installed in computers . I don't know if the RTW cinematic scenes use this codec or not , but I don't think it's "a new type of files that works with Vista" . I'm no expert , just my humble opinnion .

[YourOnlineHero]

Ok... I need help.

Ive attempted to follow the advice here. But after an hour of trying different things... still no luck and I need help.

Here is a screenie of my last attempt to get things in the right place. And yes, I had my rtw installed into the program files (I think )...

http://img3.imageshack.us/i/spqrf.jpg/




Help me?