.\XFileStructs.cpp 268: Unable to lock vertex buffer.

[HrBoes]

I just bought the game, but can't run it because of this error message. I could see the Deep Silver and Animation Arts logos and it asked me whether or not I want a customized menu. After completing the questions the game crashes.

Does anybody have a solution for this problem?

[HrBoes]

I found the problem! I was running the game using the debug version of D3D9. I switched to the retail version of the DLLs in the DirectX Control Panel and now it works. Yay!

[pgcrc]

I have a similar but not identical problem. I bought and tried to play both Secret Files 3 and Sam Peters. SF3 started OK, and I was able to completed the custimised menu procedure. But after starting a new game (my first game of SF3) my op system crashed at what appeared to be the end of the initial video sequence that shows ships in a stormy sea.

I have previously played SF1 and Puritas Cordas without difficulty. Sam Peters, however, failed in the same way as SF3, with an operating system crash.

I did try the D3D9 procedure, after downloading the DirectX Control panel, but no success.as unable to switch from debug to retail DLL version.

I'm running on a Parallels 9 virtual version of Windows 7 Ultimate, under Mac OS Mavericks.

Anyway I'm stuck and have no idea how to get the games to work. Any advice would be much appreciated.

[pgcrc]

I finally found a workaround to this problem. This was to locate a game save file on the internet (e.g. http://justadventure.com/index.php/2013-05-20-21-09-14/1112-secret-files-3-savethrough) and load from there when starting the game, rather then starting a new game - thereby avoiding the introductory video which seemed to cause the crash. The save file on Windows 7 needs to be in the following location: My Documents\Secret Files 3\Savegames. The only other thing needed was to peek at a YouTube walkthrough so I could see what had happened up to the point of the save file. It turned out that I missed only a few moments of the game using this approach.