Nick,
Let's pull all your issues into this thread instead of scattering them all over. That will make it easier to narrow things down and get you out there saving the Gael Serran.
Okay, first things first. From what I've seen so far, scrap your current W&W install. Remove it, and let's start over.
First, though, there's one thing you need to change. Your virtual memory setting has two things wrong with it: it's too big, and it's variable. Since you've got 256MB of memory, you should set it to either 512/512 or 768/768 (those are min/max numbers). Variable virtual memory only hurts you, and having twelve times your actual memory available is actually problem-prone.
Second... get the latest drivers for your vid card. It can only help...
Third... before you even attempt to run W&W, go into task manager and turn off all unneeded applications. That includes file share programs, printer managers, AdAware and Spybot, antivirus, and (if you've got a hardware firewall), your software firewall. BTW, if you're going to start surfing after playing, reboot so all that stuff comes back to protect you... otherwise, there's another messy problem to deal with.
Fourth... since everything else is off, defrag your hard drives at this point. As I remembered earlier this week, you have to defrag with nothing else running, or else the @%@#$^@#%$ defrag utility will restart every time something else writes to the hard drive...
Fifth... Since you mentioned HiJack This (one of my favorite tools, BTW), get the latest versions of AdAware, Spybot, and HJT and make sure your system is clean. Also go to
www.trendmicro.com and do an on-line scan to make sure your computer is clean. Upgrade your anti-virus definitions and run your own local scan as well. A clean bill of health is a requirement to go forward cleanly.
Sixth... because you've got limited memory and a potentially limited video card, when you go to play for the first time make sure that you are playing in software graphics mode (not hardware), and the lowest resolution possible (600X480). And turn off any special effects. That minimizes many graphics-related problems.
Seventh... we'll take it one step at a time. That means installing the game in its vanilla format first. Try to run, note what things don't work (including exact text from error messages and hardware failures), pass that back, and we'll move on to the next step.
Eighth... don't jump ahead to the last chapter [img]smile.gif[/img] Being methodical and potentially slow about this will take less time than trying a bunch of things to see if they work or not.
Ninth... All discussion on this topic stays in this thread. If it's scattered all over a bunch of other threads, it WILL take longer. Guaranteed.
It does work on XP SP2... I've seen it with me own eyes. It's just a question of getting everyhing set up right so it will behave.
Stick with me on this, and you'll be after the Mavin in no time.
[ 03-11-2005, 05:05 PM: Message edited by: Bungleau ]