Won't start on XP SP2

[cyberjoe]

Hi folks,

just got wind of this excellent effort yesterday so dl the exe for Windows, installed it and...

nothing?!

Just observed some previous posts and it seems the issue I have follows similar symptoms:

Program starts to load, start screen then,,,I beleive as it starts to load the sound drivers(?), I get a CTD.

FYI:

System specs:

OS - Windows XP Pro SP2
CPU - AMD Barton 3000
RAM - 1 Gb DDR 3200
GPU - NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GS Extreme 256 Mb
SD - Creative Audigy 2

I don't suppose you need to know HD specs?
Again from reading other posts, I gather that my system resources are more than adequate -

the only thing I haven't done is read the error log, but based on what I've just given, can anybody help resolve this issue please?

Thanks for your time.

[kcid]

Just a wild guess, but can you try and install OpenAl first, I know it's done while installing Vdrift, but since I have about the same pc as you and I already had OpenAl installed you never know it might help.

[cyberjoe]

Thanks kcid for the response -

i'll give that a go and report back.

[FFuser]

if openal isn't installed it should give a DLL error.

I don't know the problem (or better the solution). Did you have updated our drivers?
What is the last thing you see on the screen? And have you seen the splash?

[cyberjoe]

OK folks,

uninstalled the game installed the windows version of OpenAl, then re-installed the game and...

nothing..

again..?!

@FFuser:

Game loads, see the splash screen, then it quicly goes to a cmd window, where it starts to load the sound and then...

it CRASHES!

Does this game spit out any error logs anywhere I can check and report back on, perhaps?

Thanks for the time you guys are giving this - it's appreciated.

[joevenzon]

If you could post the contents of any stderr.txt and stdout.txt files in the same folder as the executable as well as the error logs in the logs folder, we might be able to help a bit more.

Also, you might as well try running the game with the -nosound option (set up a shortcut to run "VDrift.exe" -nosound). This disables sound entirely and might stop the crash, if sound really is the problem.

[FFuser]

It can be coincidence, but it seems it crashes on the same moment it crashes for Wine (program to run windows programs on linux).
The reason for that crash was something with the method to load the different resolutions. Maybe it is an SDL error.

Could you download this file: http://www.libsdl.org/release/SDL-1.2.11-win32.zip
and unzip it in the VDrift folder
Than please try again

[cyberjoe]

Hi folks,

back with some success:

@FFuser:

tried your suggestion with no luck - Thanks anyway!

@joevenzon:

stderr.txt:

Unable to find the file: data/cars/FE/interior.joe!
Unable to find the file: data/cars/FE/interior.joe!
Unable to find the file: data/cars/FE/interior.joe!

stdout.txt:

0 joystick(s) found:

No error logs in logs folder.

However assigned '-nosound' option to a shortcut and managed to getit work although...

I HAVE NO JOYSTICK!

...did I miss something here...as in no keyboard support ATM..??!

Also..

this may have been addressed before, but does the game only play in 'windowed mode' ATM?

Well..

I've taken a step forward -

I can load the game, choose a vehicle, choose a track, rev the engine...

BUT,

* cannot control the vehicle as no joystick
* Hear nothing as no sound
* have to squint as it only plays in windowed mode

..so far, so good folks..

[kcid]

Hy again. If you start Vdrift and go to the Options menu and go to Controls there you can select that you wish to use a keyboard for controlling the cars. You also have to select Auto Clutch On for a keyboard. Then go to the Menu option Assign Controls and then Car controls, you can assign keys from your keyboard for left/right, brake/accelerate. You have to click the + sign to assign a control.
If you then go to the Transmission menu and assign controls to Shift up and Shift down your set to go.

[cyberjoe]

Hey kcid -

thanks for the heads up!

Well, my VDrift experience goes from strength to strength and what a surprise I had when I saw an original M3 as one of the models and the fabled Nordschliefe as a track option -

2 of my favourite things in racing and you got them just right!

Driving experience seems amazingly complete for an in-progress project and dare I say it...I enjoyed this more than the other open-source car simulator.

I had a quick scan in the forums and I saw mention of handbrake development -

I have to say, when playing VDrift for the first time, other than the sound missing, I also missed the aforementioned handbrake option; several times I found myself hammering the spacebar(my chosen key-binding for the handbrake in other racing games..), but well..I guess that's something to look forward to.

I know this is probably not a high priority, but will there be any visual damage at some point in-game( I guess my Carmegeddon-side screams out for it..).

Verdict so far: 8/10
(taking into consideration no sound + missing handbrake)

[joevenzon]

Handbrakes are implemented in SVN (our latest working version of the code) and will be in the next release. Proper off-track bumpiness and slickness (something missing from the last release) is also in the latest code... as are a few bugfixes related to texture corruption. There's no plan for visual damage yet. That doesn't mean it won't happen, but it won't happen in the next few releases.

Thanks for the kind words! Sorry the sound isn't working for you.