Re-installling on a new PC problem

[stockwellpete]

I have loaded the base game from a disc that I purchased with the original download 2 years ago - then I updated, using the 1.8.1 installer on the Matrix forum. So far so good but then the small launch screen (about 5-6 inches square) that you get to after double-clicking on the desk top icon is a bit haywire - the "Register" button is greyed out and does not work; the "Cancel" and "OK" buttons do work but the "OK" button is actually sitting just outside the launch screen on the desktop (on the right hand side). This means I cannot register the expansions that I do not have discs for "Eternal Empire", "Decline and Fall" and the "Battlepack". I have downloaded the other expansions from the disks OK.

I have also updated my video drivers today (my PC is brand new).

Any suggestions?

[IainMcNeil]

Can you try adjusting the font sizes for your system. There was an old bug that if the user had their font at 125% in their windows settings then it caused odd isues like this. Changing to 100% seemed to help.

Ifit doesnt help the only other option is to install the expansions and then patch 1.8.1 again.

This should all get resolved when we get the new version.

[stockwellpete]

I have changed the font size and the launcher box is set up properly now - the only thing is that the "Register" box is still greyed out and I cannot enter my key codes for "Eternal Empire", "Decline and Fall" and the "Battlepack". Should I do a complete re-install with the new font size then? Is the correct order of installation as follows - base game, then all the expansions, then the 1.81 patch (presumably this updates everything)?

For the current install, I followed the sequence - base game - 1.81 patch - then the expansions.

Thanks for your help, Iain.

[IainMcNeil]

Is this the button to register the serial online or to unlock the expansion pack? Can you send a screenshot so I understand exactly what you mean?

[stockwellpete]

I am not sure how to do screenshots, Iain. It is when you double-click on the FOG desk-top icon to start playing the game - then a small launcher box comes up (5/6 inches square) with the options "Register", "Cancel" and "OK" at the bottom of it. I assume that "Register" is where I am supposed to enter my serial numbers, except that "Register" is greyed out. "Cancel" and "OK" work properly. "OK" launches the game, "Cancel" clears the desk top.

EDIT: I have sent a screenshot to you by e-mail, Iain. I have no idea how to put it on the forum though.

[hidde]

I have the same problem.
New PC. FOG installed and patched

Time to register the pre-loads but a greyed out "Register" box is all I get

[batesmotel]

Try running autorun.exe from the directory where FoG is installed. This also has a button to register army packs in the version I have.

Chris

[hidde]

Thanks for the help.
I had a look but couldn't find any file by the name autorun.exe.
Then I checked the FOG directory on my old computer and there it was!
My new install is made by a DVD I burned way back when I first bought FOG.
Can that be what's causing this?

[stockwellpete]

My new install is made by a DVD I burned way back when I first bought FOG.
Can that be what's causing this?

I think we have the same problem, Anders. My disc was purchased from Plimus in October 2010. I cannot find any way to register my serial numbers at the moment. I don't even get the left hand side of your screenshot at all in my launcher screen. I can't see the autorun in my Slitherine folder either.

[IainMcNeil]

I'm going to find out how to launch the register thing and get back to you on this. Not sure what went wrong here.

[batesmotel]

When I run my current version of FoG.exe, the register button is also grayed out so I think that is only for registering the original game. What is different on mine is that there is a separate "Serials" button for registering the army pack serial numbers and that seems to be missing from Pete's and Anders versions. I suspect that was added in the RoR army pack and that their version of FoG.exe doesn't have that update applied since they just installed the original version of the game and then updated from there.

Chris

[hidde]

Problem solved
Well, I have no solution for greyed out or missing buttons but I managed to install all the expansions.
Did it the old fashioned way; one by one from burned DVDs. Didn't really think it would work with patches and all but it seems like it did.
Have access to all books and have successfully finished and sent a turn to my opponent in a current game.

[batesmotel]

Problem solved
Well, I have no solution for greyed out or missing buttons but I managed to install all the expansions.
Did it the old fashioned way; one by one from burned DVDs. Didn't really think it would work with patches and all but it seems like it did.
Have access to all books and have successfully finished and sent a turn to my opponent in a current game.

Anders,

Out of curiosity, if you run FoG.exe now, do you see the "Serials" button?

Chris

[hidde]

Problem solved
Well, I have no solution for greyed out or missing buttons but I managed to install all the expansions.
Did it the old fashioned way; one by one from burned DVDs. Didn't really think it would work with patches and all but it seems like it did.
Have access to all books and have successfully finished and sent a turn to my opponent in a current game.

Anders,

Out of curiosity, if you run FoG.exe now, do you see the "Serials" button?

Chris

Running FoG.exe takes me directly to the game without that first "splash screen" or whatever it's called.
Autorun.exe, however, give this:

I guess that's what you see as well.
For some reason the "User Account Control" asks if it's ok to run FoG so I have to click yes every time!?

[batesmotel]

I think the autorun.exe is setting aregistry value for FoG and that causes the warning message from access control. It would be an improvement for usability if autorun checked to see if it actually needs to change the value (unless it really needs to be changed everytime autorun is invoked which seems a bit odd).

Chris

[stockwellpete]

I have made some progress too. I loaded the game from the beginning again using the Plimus disc (V1.33 purchased in October 2010) - the "Register" box was greyed out. I then added the expansions (by using the discs) in the order that they were released - ROR, SOA, IF (all v1.33), then S+S (v1.40) and then LT (v1.50). It was after loading LT that the "Serials" box appeared on my screen and it was working (it showed me as having registered the base game and the 4 serials) - the "Register" box was still greyed out. So then I downloaded the 1.81 patch from the Matrix site - I first tried to use the "Update" function in the game itself but it would not work - I got the message "Sorry, could not load update (could not resolve host)". Once I had successfully downloaded the patch from Matrix I was then able to enter my serial numbers for "EE", "D+F" and the "BPK". So I am up and running again.

There is just one oddity remaining. After I double-click on the desktop icon to start the game I go through to the smaller launch screen. Instead of the images (advert for EE, picture of a tank etc) on the left-hand side of the yellow launcher screen depicted in hidde's screen (below), I have got a flashing message stating, "MISSING_IDS_LAUNCHED_CHECKING". It doesn't seem to be affecting the game at all. I have all armies in the DAG and can get through to multi-player OK.

[stockwellpete]

Running FoG.exe takes me directly to the game without that first "splash screen" or whatever it's called.
Autorun.exe, however, give this:

I guess that's what you see as well.
For some reason the "User Account Control" asks if it's ok to run FoG so I have to click yes every time!?

Yes, this is the same for me too.

[IainMcNeil]

If you get the autorun menu up then click register army pack serial and it will let you unlock your expansions.

[stockwellpete]

Any ideas on this, Iain?

There is just one oddity remaining. After I double-click on the desktop icon to start the game I go through to the smaller launch screen. Instead of the images (advert for EE, picture of a tank etc) on the left-hand side of the yellow launcher screen depicted in hidde's screen (below), I have got a flashing message stating, "MISSING_IDS_LAUNCHED_CHECKING". It doesn't seem to be affecting the game at all. I have all armies in the DAG and can get through to multi-player OK.