badflame wrote on 2024-07-26, 16:11:

Since it obviously works for you, my question would be: what version of the game do you have? 1.13 or 1.11? Does your CD have a "spanish" folder?

It's the v1.11 version according to the version.txt file on the CD.

The CD has the English, French, and German folders. No Spanish folder to be found.

I'll try to start from scratch and produce a guide on how to install the game and WIN32S.

I have been using the same template of a preinstalled French copy of WfW3.11 + WinG + Win32S + QT + VfW packed with DOSbox v0.74-3 for so many years, I don't remember exactly how I installed it. Just that the primary source is the Windows 3.1x Guide available here on VOGONS.

xcomcmdr wrote on 2024-07-26, 20:22:

It's the v1.11 version according to the version.txt file on the CD. […]
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It's the v1.11 version according to the version.txt file on the CD.

The CD has the English, French, and German folders. No Spanish folder to be found.

I'll try to start from scratch and produce a guide on how to install the game and WIN32S.

I have been using the same template of a preinstalled French copy of WfW3.11 + WinG + Win32S + QT + VfW packed with DOSbox v0.74-3 for so many years, I don't remember exactly how I installed it. Just that the primary source is the Windows 3.1x Guide available here on VOGONS.

In that case, I think the problem is probably specific to version 1.13.

It is certainly a rather "fussy" game to get working. I did manage to get version 1.11 working, but by default it did not install correctly because it detected my Windows 3.11 configured as Spanish and apparently tried to install the Spanish version that is not included on the CD. The solution was to install the game on a Windows 3.11 configured with English.

I also tried adding the SPANISH files from version 1.13 to 1.11. In that case the installation was completed, but when running the game other errors occurred that I don't remember now.

exofreeze wrote on 2024-07-25, 22:46:

I have it running. Please PM me and I'll be happy to explain what to do

I sent you a private message, I look forward to hearing from you 😉

After several days without getting a response from exofreeze, I have to assume he was confused when he claimed to have gotten the game working and offered me help privately.

I have my version working in DOSBox, do you need a guide ?

It's different from yours, however.

xcomcmdr wrote on 2024-08-02, 07:20:

I have my version working in DOSBox, do you need a guide ?

It's different from yours, however.

Thanks mate, but we do have to assume some kind of difference between version 1.11 and 1.13, since I already used the "system.ini" you posted and other configuration options for DOSBox.

Your later version *requires* Windows 95. Here is the French README:

xcomcmdr wrote on 2024-08-07, 14:41:

Your later version *requires* Windows 95. Here is the French README:

Well, as you can see in the CD-Rom file tree, the disk has a specific directory with files for Windows 3.11. Also a Win32s directory that is exclusive to that version and not compatible with Win95.

On the other hand, the game installer detects the Windows version and installs the game. The problem arises when running it, with that vshell.exe error.

I think that, apart from the information in the README, it is quite obvious that the game is designed to work on Windows 3.11. Another thing is that it can work from DOSBox, which it seems not.

I installed your version without any issues, but on launch it just does nothing.

The previous version worked fine with DOSBox.

I suspect that the folders you mention are merely artifacts from the previous version. The fact that it does not run anymore only confirms what the README states clearly: Windows 95 is required.

I really don't think that DOSBox is at fault here.

xcomcmdr wrote on 2024-08-08, 15:13:

I installed your version without any issues, but on launch it just does nothing. […]
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I installed your version without any issues, but on launch it just does nothing.

The previous version worked fine with DOSBox.

I suspect that the folders you mention are merely artifacts from the previous version. The fact that it does not run anymore only confirms what the README states clearly: Windows 95 is required.

I really don't think that DOSBox is at fault here.

In my case I did launch it, but only until I the "vshell" error I described in the post at the beginning of this thread.

In any case, it's clear that this is a problematic game, and whether it's an editor or emulation error, it seems impossible to get it to run.

Thanks for responding to my request xcomcmdr.

File sharing support¶ […]
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File sharing support¶

Certain Windows 3.1x programs that rely on SHARE.EXE or VSHARE.386 would display an error on startup, complaining that SHARE.EXE has not been loaded. This mostly affects office programs (e.g., Microsoft Office, Lotus Office, Peachtree Complete Accounting, etc.), but also a few games.

The previous workaround was to rely on a small utility called FAKESHAR.COM which, as the name implies, fakes that SHARE.EXE is running. This worked mostly fine with games but could lead to data corruption when using application programs.

We’ve added support for file sharing and locking, which means workarounds like FAKESHAR.COM are no longer necessary. All Windows 3.1x games that complain about SHARE.EXE not running should now work out-of-the-box. This fixes at least the following games:

Comix Zone
Garfield Caught in the Act
Microsoft Flight Simulator (v5.0, ATC Workshop)
Monopoly
Ultimate Yahtzee

https://www.dosbox-staging.org/releases/relea … sharing-support

It might make your version work with WfW 3.11 (assuming Win32S is installed).

xcomcmdr wrote on 2024-08-21, 17:41:

File sharing support¶ […]
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File sharing support¶

Certain Windows 3.1x programs that rely on SHARE.EXE or VSHARE.386 would display an error on startup, complaining that SHARE.EXE has not been loaded. This mostly affects office programs (e.g., Microsoft Office, Lotus Office, Peachtree Complete Accounting, etc.), but also a few games.

The previous workaround was to rely on a small utility called FAKESHAR.COM which, as the name implies, fakes that SHARE.EXE is running. This worked mostly fine with games but could lead to data corruption when using application programs.

We’ve added support for file sharing and locking, which means workarounds like FAKESHAR.COM are no longer necessary. All Windows 3.1x games that complain about SHARE.EXE not running should now work out-of-the-box. This fixes at least the following games:

Comix Zone
Garfield Caught in the Act
Microsoft Flight Simulator (v5.0, ATC Workshop)
Monopoly
Ultimate Yahtzee

https://www.dosbox-staging.org/releases/relea … sharing-support

It might make your version work with WfW 3.11 (assuming Win32S is installed).

I already tried running FAKESHAR.COM (Re: EarthSiege 2 vshell.exe error) , but it did not prevent the error.

Maybe "DOSBox Staging" will be able to get it working, but on one hand I'd rather not add more emulators to my collection (I'm already using two different DOSBox builds for the MS-DOS game system) and on the other hand I've already decided not to spend any more time on getting this game working, as I still have a lot of other games to check and configure on my Hyperspin.

Anyway, I really appreciate your dedication to my consultation. Thanks 😀

Had this error when after delta sector briefing. Ticking "Run in 256 colors" in properties solved it.

Windows did not get that option until XP. This thread concerns Windows 3.1 within DOSBox which is likely already using 256-color video drivers.