As predicted, I installed EF2K and TACTCOM under DOS 6.22 of my Retro Rig. I then booted onto my Win95 partition to install the Graphics+ patch.

So I copied the tactpat.exe to the EF2000 directory (I can access my DOS partition) and ran the patch. Same error message:

"please copy to the tactcom directory".

Does the tactpat.exe have to be in a specific directory before being run?

I had the same problem. try running this version of the patch
http://www.gamefront.com/files/906943/tacpatg.zip
if the one above fails, try this
http://www.gamefront.com/files/899273/tacpatf.zip

kekko wrote:

I had the same problem. try running this version of the patch http://www.gamefront.com/files/906943/tacpatg.zip if the one above […]
Show full quote

I had the same problem. try running this version of the patch
http://www.gamefront.com/files/906943/tacpatg.zip
if the one above fails, try this
http://www.gamefront.com/files/899273/tacpatf.zip

Hi, I tried both of these patches from The Patches Scrolls website. No luck. Still the same problem. I really don't get it and this is rather frustrating.

Is someone able to run both versions (3dfx and Verite) of the patch, extract the files, then zip them up and share them?

did you run full install on hdd?
please run "dir > list.txt" in the ef2000 installation folder and post the txt file here

I ran a full install from the EF2000 installation:

What is EF2000 H.D?

I wasn't sure if I could post such a long list of files, so apologies beforehand:

EF 2000 installation:

1&NUL
2ADLIB.MDI
3ADLIBG.MDI
4ADRV688.DIG
5AILDRVR.LST
6CFG
7CLUMP_3.TXT
8CLUMP_SS.TXT
9CONF.EXE
10CONFIG.BAT
11CONFLICT.CG
12DIAGNOST.EXE
13DID.DAT
14DIG.INI
15EF2000.AD
16EF2000.BAT
17EF2000.CFG
18EF2000.OPL
19ESFM.MDI
20IFF
21JAMMER.DIG
22MDI.INI
23MISSION.CFG
24MISSIONS
25MPU401.MDI
26MT32MPU.MDI
27NAVIG.NAV
28NULL.MDI
29OPL3.MDI
30PAS.MDI
31PASPLUS.MDI
32PCSPKR.MDI
33PROAUDIO.DIG
34RAP10.DIG
35SB16.DIG
36SBAWE32.MDI
37SBLASTER.DIG
38SBLASTER.MDI
39SBPRO.DIG
40SBPRO1.MDI
41SBPRO2.MDI
42SETSOUND.EXE
43SNDSCAPE.DIG
44SNDSCAPE.MDI
45SNDSYS.DIG
46TANDY.MDI
47ULTRA.DIG
48ULTRA.MDI
49UNIVBE.DRV
50UVCONFIG.EXE
51VER
52_EF2000.EXE
53CFG\COL
54IFF\256
55IFF\256\COLCDSCR.LBM
56IFF\256\GAMOPTS.LBM
57IFF\256\INORGEOG.LBM
58IFF\256\INORJSTR.LBM
59IFF\256\INORMAST.LBM
60IFF\256\INORPOL.LBM

61MISSIONS\COL

I then installed the TACTCOM update:

Here is the list of files after the TACTCOM update:

1&NUL
2ADLIB.MDI
3ADLIBG.MDI
4ADRV688.DIG
5AILDRVR.LST
6CFG
7CLUMP_3.TXT
8CLUMP_SS.TXT
9COMMS.CFG
10CONF.EXE
11CONFIG.BAT
12CONFLICT.CG
13DIAGNOST.EXE
14DID.DAT
15DID1ST.DAT
16DOS4GW.EXE
17EF2000.AD
18EF2000.BAT
19EF2000.CFG
20EF2000.OPL
21ESFM.MDI
22IFF
23JAMMER.DIG
24JOYSTICK
25MDI.INI
26MISSION.CFG
27MISSIONS
28MPU401.MDI
29MT32MPU.MDI
30NAVIG.NAV
31NORWBIN.LBM
32NULL.MDI
33OPL3.MDI
34PAS.MDI
35PASPLUS.MDI
36PCSPKR.MDI
37PROAUDIO.DIG
38RAP10.DIG
39SB16.DIG
40SBAWE32.MDI
41SBLASTER.DIG
42SBLASTER.MDI
43SBPRO.DIG
44SBPRO1.MDI
45SBPRO2.MDI
46SETSOUND.EXE
47SNDSCAPE.DIG
48SNDSCAPE.MDI
49SNDSYS.DIG
50TANDY.MDI
51TFXSAV.99
52ULTRA.DIG
53ULTRA.MDI
54UNIVBE.DRV
55UVCONFIG.EXE
56VER
57_EF2000.EXE
58CFG\COL
59IFF\256
60IFF\256\COLCDSCR.LBM

61IFF\256\GAMOPTS.LBM
62IFF\256\INORGEOG.LBM
63IFF\256\INORJSTR.LBM
64IFF\256\INORMAST.LBM
65IFF\256\INORPOL.LBM
66JOYSTICK\F16
67JOYSTICK\F16-TQS
68JOYSTICK\F16-WCS
69JOYSTICK\F16\EF2000.B50
70JOYSTICK\F16\EF2000.BAK
71JOYSTICK\F16\EF2000.M50
72JOYSTICK\F16-TQS\EFA_TQS.B50
73JOYSTICK\F16-TQS\EFA_TQS.BKP
74JOYSTICK\F16-TQS\EFA_TQS.M50
75JOYSTICK\F16-WCS\EFA_WCS.B50
76JOYSTICK\F16-WCS\EFA_WCS.BAK
77JOYSTICK\F16-WCS\EFA_WCS.M50
78MISSIONS\COL

Here are the file differences before and after update:

1COMMS.CFG
2DIG.INI
3DID1ST.DAT
4DOS4GW.EXE
5JOYSTICK
6NORWBIN.LBM
7TFXSAV.99
8JOYSTICK\F16
9JOYSTICK\F16-TQS
10JOYSTICK\F16-WCS
11JOYSTICK\F16\EF2000.B50
12JOYSTICK\F16\EF2000.BAK
13JOYSTICK\F16\EF2000.M50
14JOYSTICK\F16-TQS\EFA_TQS.B50
15JOYSTICK\F16-TQS\EFA_TQS.BKP
16JOYSTICK\F16-TQS\EFA_TQS.M50
17JOYSTICK\F16-WCS\EFA_WCS.B50
18JOYSTICK\F16-WCS\EFA_WCS.BAK
19JOYSTICK\F16-WCS\EFA_WCS.M50

H.D. is hard disk
please select
Start->run
and type
dir c:\ef2000 >c:\list.txt
then upload the list.txt file here

I've given you the list! It's in my previous post, in the first codeblock. That list of files came from using the DIR command.

janskjaer wrote:

I've given you the list! It's in my previous post, in the first codeblock. That list of files came from using the DIR command.

i also need file sizes and last modified date

Hmm... By the way, DosBox set the file creation dates (the result of the copy command etc) as the current date, not the original date. Duke Nukem 3d: Plutonium Pack is the known victim of this error. Maybe the tactcom patch is the same?

Files in the "EF 2000 2.0 DOS" directory (attached),

I've included a DIR list of both my installation of EF2000 and then another following the TACTCOM update.

Unfortunately, it won't show you what you are looking for.

Surprisingly, a fresh install from the CD in either real DOS or Windows 95, installs the game files and uses the current date/time as the modified date.

Interestingly, when I look at the Created date of these files in Windows 95, it's reported as "(unknown)".

The TACTCOM update did the same thing.

This is really bizarre. It's the only game I have installed on my system where the files take the current date as the Modified date.

I've attached a DIR of my EF2000 CD also.

try this version of the tactcom patch:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/ma4rzh
then, install this version of the gfx patch:
http://www.gamefront.com/files/906943/tacpatg.zip

"Patch nicht moglich 'C:\EF2000\_ef2000.exe' Datei ist anders
Erforderliche Grosse".

In other words, this is the German TACTCOM and GFX patch.
If you didn't notice already, I mentioned that I'm using the UK English version of the game.

Also, the 'g' in 'tactpatg' in the URL gave it away! 😉

So, this quest goes on ....

Has anyone else encountered the 'please copy to the tactcom directory' problem when trying to run the Graphics+ patch when applying to the EF2000 UK + TACTCOM installation?

Ok. after I replace my "EF2000: Tactcom" cd - the patch now is installing correctly.
http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/4650/tactcom.jpg

Now there are 2 other troubles with the game.
1) Music and Digital sound diagnostics is failing. "SPAWN ERROR" or no sound at all.
2) Crash at startup:
C:\EF2000>ef2000.exe
GFX+ 3DFX version 7.13
Found 47,692K bytes of memory
clamp: no file `.\3\paul.3` - Solved. Delete the files clamp*.* in the game dir.

Also found this:

Copy To TACTCOM Directory Error If you receive the following message after choosing either 3Dfx or Rendition Verite, it is p […]
Show full quote

Copy To TACTCOM Directory Error
If you receive the following message after choosing either 3Dfx or
Rendition Verite, it is probable that you have run TACTCOM before
installing the upgrade. To rectify this, simply repeat the Installation
procedure again. Remember! Do not run TACTCOM or set up the Preferences
before you install the upgrade!

I had successfully installed ef2000 + tactcom + 3dfx patch some time ago.
Now t try to remember...
ok, try this:

- Install EF2000, use default directory, don't change path and don't start/config the game.
- copy tactom file into ef2000 directory and start it (after patch, don't start/configure the game)
- copy 3dfx patch into ef2000 directory and start it.

if you use different path, you will have problems.

Had the same issue as janskjaer when I wanted to test out this game after so many years with DosBox.
Whatever I did I got the: "please copy to the TACTCOM directory" error.

Solution:
1. Do a clean install of EF2000. Do not run the game or any config.
2. Get the original german _ef2000.exe file and overwrite the english _ef2000.exe (I've included it as an attachment)
3. Run Kekko's Tactcom patch. Thanks to Kekko for reuploading it: http://www.mediafire.com/?1fmzf411k6ufq15
4. Run german to english 3dfx/rendition patch:
http://www.gamefront.com/files/906943/tacpatg.zip

I ran all the files in Windows XP with no problems. Do not run the 3dfx update in Windows 7 64 bit, as you will get an error and you have to start all over. The game will be in english when you are done!

When you run the game you might get a memory error in DosBox, but just set memory to memsize=48 in configuration. Next error that showed up was: clump: no file `.\3\paul.3` but here just delete both clump txt files in the game directory. (thanks gamecollector)

EDIT: ALTERNATIVE BETTER SOLUTION on clump: no file `.\3\paul.3 error
To avoid deleting the files entirely (with unforseen consequences in gameplay), just remove "paul" "paulpaul" and "temp_83" from CLUMP_3.TXT

Next enjoy the game 😀 While you install and get ready I can recommend this excellent video by someone who know how to fly in this game:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBBuQjmzT2E (Just too bad that the soundtrack that follows the game sucks compared to the one featured in this video. I might need to get hold of Spy Game OST and make an audio CD)

Late to the party but here goes:

I have the Ef-2000 V2 edition with Gfx+. It runs great in W95 on a Rendition Verite or Voodoo 1/2 card. I've up-gunned to a Vodoo2 SLI and have run into difficulties. Most of the time it goes to black screen loading a mission, but every so often the mission loads, but with pronounced color distortion. I seem to recall EF had issues with SLI, but I wonder if the 'fallback' V1 autoexec.bat file envoronmental variables work with V2s in SLI? Or maybe addional variables are needed as it's SLI?

tincup wrote:

Late to the party but here goes:

I have the Ef-2000 V2 edition with Gfx+. It runs great in W95 on a Rendition Verite or Voodoo 1/2 card. I've up-gunned to a Vodoo2 SLI and have run into difficulties. Most of the time it goes to black screen loading a mission, but every so often the mission loads, but with pronounced color distortion. I seem to recall EF had issues with SLI, but I wonder if the 'fallback' V1 autoexec.bat file envoronmental variables work with V2s in SLI? Or maybe addional variables are needed as it's SLI?

Try the regular batch file of enviromentals. set SST_SLIDETECT = 0 will disable SLI.

Google turned up this:

1SET SSTV2_GRXCLK=90 
2SET SSTV2_FT_CLK_DEL=0x4 
3SET SSTV2_TF0_CLK_DEL=0x6 
4SET SSTV2_TF1_CLK_DEL=0x6 
5SET SSTV2_VIN_CLKDEL=0x1 
6SET SSTV2_VOUT_CLKDEL=0x0 
7SET SSTV2_TMUMEM_SIZE=2 
8SET SST_SLIDETECT=0 
9SET FX_GLIDE_SWAPINTERVAL=0 
10SET SSTV2_SCREENREFRESH=60 
11SET SSTV2_FASTMEM=1 
12SET SSTV2_FASTPCIRD=1 
13SET SSTV2_SWAP_EN_WAIT_ON_VSYNC=0 
14SET FX_GLIDE_NO_SPLASH=1 
15EF2000.EXE