ok, first of all, vdms doesn't need and never does actually patch your exe, so it doesn't matter if it is on the CD.
However for Wing Commander 3 you need to do:
1. disable the CD-Rom "driver" in %windir%/system32/autoexec.nt (put a rem in front of the line).
2. get sapucdex (look in the vdms-development forum here).
3. run vdms from the command line, run sapucdex, run wc3.exe
4. install wc3 to the hardrive (choose c:\wc3 as it puts config files there anyway). download the joystick patch from http://www.wcnews.com/files.shtml#wc3 if your joystick control is slightly troubled. put the dll in there into c:\wc3.
5. do steps 2+3 again to enjoy WC3...

if you have problems with Vesa look into the recent thread in the vdms-development forum for a possible fix... (not for the weak at heart).

The reason you need sapucdex is that MS' cd-driver for the command prompt is not doing all the stuff needed to run WC3 and the game will quit on start up otherwise.

Originally posted by Dominus ok, first of all, vdms doesn't need and never does actually patch your exe, so it doesn't matter if it is on the CD.
However for Wing Commander 3 you need to do:
1. disable the CD-Rom "driver" in %windir%/system32/autoexec.nt (put a rem in front of the line).

I think it would be a heck of a lot easier if he just chose these options using the GUI Launchpad.

SAPUCDEX is available here. You place it in your Windows' SYSTEM32 directory.

For game executables that are on a CD-ROM (or other place where you cannot write), create a batch file with Notepad or similar text editor. You type in the letter of the device (my CD-ROM is H: ), then type the name of the executable or batch file.

Like this:
H:
GAME.EXE

You then save that file to someplace easy to remember and change the last 3 characters of the file from .TXT to .BAT, you then run VDMSound on your new batch file.

To use SAPUCDEX with VDMSound+GUI, you right-click on the game's .VLP shortcut (created the first time you try to run a game with VDMSound+GUI), choose "Properties", disable "Low-level CD-ROM" access (no checkmark), click "Advanced", click on the "DOS Environment" tab, then type "SAPUCDEX" into the AUTOEXEC.BAT box. Click OK, then OK again.

You might also keep an eye out for the "Kilrathi Saga" made by Origin for a short while. That has Win9x versions of WC 1,2, and 3.

true enough.
and I think Vlad should make a new all-in-one package and include sapucdex and have it availlable in the gui with a box like "high level cd-rom support".
of course only if the author of sapucdex (Sapu?) is okay with it.

As for the Kilrathi-Saga, it is very hard to come by or better worded, you can find them on ebay but they go for insane prices already. I gave up after a couple of auctions...

Heh heh, yes, VDMSound 2.1.0. Coming...later. (I swear it works perfectly, I just don't have the GA from Vlad.)

Well I did what Nicht Sehr Gut suggested, but I diddn't have a problem with cdrom anyway. After all those instructions (using GUI) I'm still at the same point - no sound and FMVs stopping just when they start. VLP file and bat are all in the c:\wc3\ with installed files (no exe there, cause WC3 still runs from CD)

Maybe audigy is a problem here?

You say The Kilrathi Saga plays OK under Windows? Even XP? No problems with sound or FMVs?

Audigy is not a problem, I have one myself. Anyway, this suggests a video driver problem more than a sound issue.

Try this:
Open a command prompt, run sapucdex, run wc3 (you might have to rename c:\wc3 to something else, so it doesn't try to use these settings).
now configure it to run without sound and play. If it still fails it is a graphic driver problem.
look at one of the threads I pointed out above.

Originally posted by prankster After all those instructions (using GUI) I'm still at the same point - no sound and FMVs stopping just when they start.

Hrmm. My CD's aren't accessible so I can't test this myself, but I haven't heard of anyone else having this problem. If it allows for "No Sound", choose that for your audio and check to see if it operates properly. Sounds like there's more than one problem...

Maybe audigy is a problem here?

Doubtful. XP doesn't allow direct hardware access, which is why you need a tool like VDMSound to access it in a "system legal" way.

You say The Kilrathi Saga plays OK under Windows? Even XP? No problems with sound or FMVs?

Well, it was made for Windows 95, so I would presume you'd need compatibility mode applied. Sound and FMV are running on a Windows "engine", so if the game works, all of it should work.

Originally posted by Dominus As for the Kilrathi-Saga, it is very hard to come by or better worded, you can find them on ebay but they go for insane prices already. I gave up after a couple of auctions...

Note to Origin: Sell the "Wing Commander" franchise to someone who actually cares about it. Come to think of it, just sell everything except "Ultima Online" as it's obvious that's the only thing you care about anymore. Sell the "Origin" name back to Lord British, W.C. back to Chris Roberts and let some people actually have fun with the titles that you absolutely ignore...

Amen