vista fix??

[jake_kile]

I found a video on Youtube by quill18 and it seemed simple enough However, I can't get it to work!!!
After putting that new conf.file in the first time, the game went main menu, and I unchecked that "t&L" box. But when tried to start a new game, I got a CTD. Tried to lauch again, but no go, not even to main menu. So, I went back into files and low&behold, that new conf. file is not there!!!!
The game some how keeps re-acquiring the old normal conf.files. So, I re-extracted the patch conf. file again, but game won't launch. I have fiddled with the extraction, that is, copying it to conf file, extracting, and drag&drop the file into data/configuration file, nothing works. I took out the 2 files there dropping on desk top. Tried again. Nothing I do now launches the game!!!

I have two questions. 1). in the original conf.file there are two files, but the download from hawkdawg.com only has one file. Quill18 indicates both original conf. files should be replaced.
What's up with this?? Anyone know???
2). I have Vista home premium. does that "t&l" box need to be checked or unchecked???

Also, I tried getting quill18's link for the replascement files, but can't access for some reason.
Anyone got that link??

Thanks

[shiggies713]

ok so I just went through this. Had the urge to play RT3 for the first time in awhile. I have the disk though, not the steam version, but I do have vista. It did not work for me obviously the first time. I did not install the direct x 8.01b the first time, I was simply getting "out of range issues", the music was playing, the game running, but the screen was black.

I tried reinstalling and using the direct x 8.01b against my better judgement and it now was producing an error and crashing. So I uninstalled again and then started reading up on the issue.

I found that hawkdawg site and downloaded the vista fix. Did exactly what the readme said to do, simply copy and paste that file into the directory and started it up. I was still getting "out of range issues" screen was black etc, but I could hear the music and knew the game was in fact running properly as indicated by the task manager.

So I went to the Railroad Tycoon directory and selecting the "launch in safe mode, windowed", low and behold it started working and I could see the game finally, though it was only on a small portion of my screen. Went to settings, changed the resolution to the one closest to my monitor's native resolution, and switched it to full screen, and now it is all working properly.

[jake_kile]

Thanks for reply, by I can't see how to do what you are talking about in last paragraph!! What part of directory; nothing by r-clicking on exe. allows this. I am a dummy, and may seem clear to you, but I can't see where this is done. Also, the game doesn't keep the fix in files. I load it up launch game, uncheck that "t&l" thing. All the while, the game is stable, go back to main menu and start new campaign, AND game CTD. Then I look in data/config file and game has vanilla files again.

Thanks

PS I found on steam how to run in safe mode, but no grahics at all!! I hear music, and steam won't shut down, because it says RR3 is running!! But task manager doesn't show anything, and the only way to get back, is to restart cpu. Thanks.

[shiggies713]

ok to find the railroad tycoon directory, probably easiest way to do that is click on the microsoft button at the bottom left of your screen. It has a search bar, use that, type in "railroad tycoon".

it will find various files (and folders), you want to select the folder named "railroad tycoon 3". There you will find the batch files that allow it to launch in various safe modes. You need to pick the safe mode that also includes windowed mode. hope that helps

[jake_kile]

No, it didn't work. A window opens momentarly, looking like old daose file, then tells me
steam can't be found.

[shiggies713]

sounds like it is more of a steam issue than a vista issue. I'm not completely sure, but the game might have worked for me even without that vista fix as long as I didn't install the old direct x. It basically suffered the same symptoms (out of range) and if I would have tried the safe windowed mode before I applied the patch, its hard to say what would have happened.

It was basically an issue where the game was by default using resolutions and frame rates well beyond what is normal for today, so it was out of range for my monitor.

Sounds like to me that the steam version is automatically applying the old direct x, but I don't really know enough to say that for sure. The batch file might be able to be edited, for the path directory to point to your steam directory instead of the default install location, but I am not really sure on that either. I would only say to perhaps raise the issue with steam, sorry.

[jake_kile]

thank you very much for taking the time, and I have come to a conclusion that it is an issue with
Steam. I can do a verification, exit out of Steam, and then go back in , do another verification, and again within 5 minutes or so, it again acquires files. I have done numorous verifications, and it seems game won't retain all files. I have had, numorous games with Steam do this, and all I get
from Steam is, "it must be your computer."

Thanks again.