The crashing instruction is cmov (conditional move), which was introduced starting with Pentium Pros.

I guess it's just not compatible on Socket 7 then. That's too bad.

Kahenraz wrote on 2024-03-03, 14:03:

I guess it's just not compatible on Socket 7 then. That's too bad.

PCGamingWiki lists Incoming as released in 1998, with a minimum requirement of Pentium 133 MHz. I remember running it on a k6-2 400. I don't know why the game is crashing, but general incompatibility with socket 7 doesn't sound right.

What was the installation done on? I am wondering if either windows, the graphics driver, DX, or Incoming installed a version requiring cmov if installed on a PII+ system, whereas it wouldn't have if installed on a bare min P133.

This may actually be the GOG release, I'm not sure. I've been using it for a while on my test drive because it's able to run the game with music without requiring the CD to be inserted.

I played it in 1998 as well, but that was on a Pentium 2, not a Socket 7.

Get the original CD image and perform an installation, the game should run just fine afterwards.

Kahenraz wrote on 2024-03-03, 17:17:

This may actually be the GOG release, I'm not sure.

In my experience, GOG releases of Win9x games often integrate fan-made fixes without explicitly mentioning that anywhere. The end result is that the game executable may not work correctly on actual retro systems.

I suggest trying the retail release + latest official patch. It's doubtful that the original developers would have made P6 a requirement for a 1998 game.

I just tested Incoming from a CD install on my Ezra-T and it worked fine... I don't think Ezra-T has CMOV.

mockingbird wrote on 2024-03-03, 17:37:

I just tested Incoming from a CD install on my Ezra-T and it worked fine... I don't think Ezra-T has CMOV.

It should have it, even the Cyrix MII had it. Which ironically makes them 686- class CPUs as opposed to the K6 which is 586 class because of this CMOV instruction. It is also the exact same instruction that prevents « modern-ish » linux distros from being installed in a K6.

Note that the crash is in "win32.dll". This is almost certainly part of some patch that GoG have included with the game, that was probably compiled for a target machine with no regard to the original game's target.

Just tested this on my P133 430FX and it installs and runs fine from the original CD.

Minutemanqvs wrote on 2024-03-03, 18:03:

It shouldn't have it, even the Cyrix MII had it. Which ironically makes them 686- class CPUs as opposed to the K6 which is 586 class because of this CMOV instruction. It is also the exact same instruction that prevents « modern-ish » linux distros from being installed in a K6.

Fixed. You're mistaken. Ezra does not have it... Whether Ezra-T has it is the question, but that's doubtful. Ezra's successor, Nehemiah, has it.

Samuel might have it, Cyrixes next gen was trashed in favor of the Winchip team designs, so Ezra isn't really Cyrix

edit: NOPE got it backwards, Joshua was Cyrix, Samuel was winchip/centaur, which was the design that evolved.

BitWrangler wrote on 2024-03-04, 04:23:

edit: NOPE got it backwards, Joshua was Cyrix, Samuel was winchip/centaur, which was the design that evolved.

Learn your Prophets... It's chronological... Ezra and Nehemiah lived loooong after Joshua and Samuel.

mockingbird wrote on 2024-03-03, 21:28:

Minutemanqvs wrote on 2024-03-03, 18:03:

It shouldn't have it, even the Cyrix MII had it. Which ironically makes them 686- class CPUs as opposed to the K6 which is 586 class because of this CMOV instruction. It is also the exact same instruction that prevents « modern-ish » linux distros from being installed in a K6.

Fixed. You're mistaken. Ezra does not have it... Whether Ezra-T has it is the question, but that's doubtful. Ezra's successor, Nehemiah, has it.

Ah I indeed didn't account for the Centaur core switchover, my bad. But well, as other said I ran Incoming on a K6 perfectly fine at the time, so no CMOV needed with the original version.

Joseph_Joestar wrote on 2024-03-03, 17:22:

GOG releases often integrate fan-made fixes. The end result is that the game executable may not work correctly on actual retro systems.

I haven't seen them inject those into the CDs though, just the installed files. So if a release isn't just loose files but includes a disc image then that should still be a good starting point.