Consolidated FOF2K7 Vista Issues Threads

[gelat]

Does FOF2007 work with Vista?


SKYDOG EDIT: I suspect that the same questions are coming up over and over. If a Vista user would take the time to go through this thread and come up with a few bullet points for an FAQ, I'm sure it would be appreciated by those with issues in the future.

[fofgamer]

For the game itself, try the demo. If the demo runs fine, the game itself
will. However, the electronic licensing may well not run on Vista. You
should ask ViaTech or watch their FAQ for more information.

--------------------------------
Ethan Potter
Customer Service
Solecismic Software

----- Original Message -----
From: "Russ Ward"
To:
Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2007 10:25 PM
Subject: Windows Vista


> Hello Solecismic,
>
> I was just wondering how FOF2K7 will work with Windows Vista. Will a
> patch of some kind be necessary or should the transition be pretty
> much seamless. I know this sounds silly but I am waiting to upgrade
> my operating system until I hear back from you so I don't screw up my
> FOF playing experience!
>
> Thanks again for your great game and all the support.
>
> Regards,
>
> Russ Ward
>

[Iceman99]

Anyone able to get it to run there?

[SegRat]

http://www.fof-usfl.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=1049

[Daimyo]

Yeah... there is a thread here somewhere you can search for. Basically you have to run it as admin the first time and then change some folder permissions.

[azjoe_02]

Originally Posted by Daimyo

Yeah... there is a thread here somewhere you can search for. Basically you have to run it as admin the first time and then change some folder permissions.

I just got a new (Vista loaded) laptop and cannot get FOF2k7 to open up. It appears to install correctly. But when I try to open it, it does nothing. I did a search for the thread you mentioned but can't find anything. I am "admin" on the machine, but I don't know what folder permissions to change...

Any help is MUCH appreciated.

[azjoe_02]

Dola

Forgot to mention that the Demo installed and opened up just fine...

[gstelmack]

The needing to put files in the Program Files area is a real PITA. As a commish, my e-mail program can't save there without me granting IT special permissions. The data needs to get out of Program Files ASAP.

[Daimyo]

Originally Posted by azjoe_02

I just got a new (Vista loaded) laptop and cannot get FOF2k7 to open up. It appears to install correctly. But when I try to open it, it does nothing. I did a search for the thread you mentioned but can't find anything. I am "admin" on the machine, but I don't know what folder permissions to change...

Any help is MUCH appreciated.

http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/...ighlight=vista

Basically you need to navigate to the FOF2007 folder under program files (default location is C:\Program Files\Solecismic Software\Front Office Football 2007). Find the FrFoot.exe application, right-click on it, and select "Run as Administrator". It should load up fine. You only need to do this the first time you launch it... the regular shortcut should work fine after that.

The other thing I had to do to save games is change the permissions on the FOF2007 folder. Right click on it and select properties. Then click the security tab. Click the Edit button. Under "group or user names:" select "Users" and then under "Permissions for users" check the box under allow for modify (write will automatically get checked when you do that). Click OK to close all the windows. You have to do this because Jim does not confirm to modern (since Windows 98?) standards for windows programming...

[Coder]

Originally Posted by gstelmack

The needing to put files in the Program Files area is a real PITA. As a commish, my e-mail program can't save there without me granting IT special permissions. The data needs to get out of Program Files ASAP.

I read a post by you some time ago when you mentioned this. Are you basically saying that Vista won't allow applications to save data in any other place than under "My Documents"? This will mess up quite a few text-sims I think..

For me personally I always prefer to have data in a subdirectory of the main app.. I've done this for many years even if I've had the opportunity to save under MyDocuments.

[azjoe_02]

Originally Posted by Daimyo

http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/...ighlight=vista

Basically you need to navigate to the FOF2007 folder under program files (default location is C:\Program Files\Solecismic Software\Front Office Football 2007). Find the FrFoot.exe application, right-click on it, and select "Run as Administrator". It should load up fine. You only need to do this the first time you launch it... the regular shortcut should work fine after that.

The other thing I had to do to save games is change the permissions on the FOF2007 folder. Right click on it and select properties. Then click the security tab. Click the Edit button. Under "group or user names:" select "Users" and then under "Permissions for users" check the box under allow for modify (write will automatically get checked when you do that). Click OK to close all the windows. You have to do this because Jim does not confirm to modern (since Windows 98?) standards for windows programming...

Thanks! Done, and works just fine!

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by Coder

I read a post by you some time ago when you mentioned this. Are you basically saying that Vista won't allow applications to save data in any other place than under "My Documents"? This will mess up quite a few text-sims I think..

For me personally I always prefer to have data in a subdirectory of the main app.. I've done this for many years even if I've had the opportunity to save under MyDocuments.

The key issue is that since WindowsXP (2000?), non-Administrators have not been able to write to the Program Files directory. The change in Vista is that almost nothing runs as Administrator, even if you are an Administrator on your box. This is to help keep viruses, etc from infecting your programs.

Microsoft has been recommending since at least the XP days (2002 or so) that you not save data in Program Files. Instead use the ShGetFolder API and pick an appropriate place (My Documents for user-specific data, AppData for application-specific data). This means that apps like FOF, BBCF, and the like would not run with Limited Users on XP unless they got special permissions. Now with Vista, EVERYONE is basically a Limited User, so everyone is having fits with them.

It's pretty straightforward to fix. You just call ShGetFolder with the correct path you want, and prepend that to all your file save calls. And if you really want to support Win98 or earlier, you can redistribute the DLL (they have one up at Microsoft) and include the signature in your apps.

If any of the developers are reading this and need help, let me know. I've retrofitted a few apps (including with Win98 support) before, and I can recreate the necessary code fairly easily if you need it.

And yes, Extractor is broken because it writes to Program Files. I'll be updating it to write to My Documents soon (if I didn't in one of my last updates, I need to double-check as I've been intending to).

It should also be noted that there are some cool manifest things you can do with Games under Vista to have them fit the new gaming stuff they have in there. I have not messed with this yet, however.

[FOFGirl]

Has anyone attempted (maybe successfully run) FOF2k7 with Windows Vista? I got the demo to install and it will pop up on on the screen, but the full, licensed version does absoluately NADA! Last I head the eLicensing with Vista doesn't work...anything new in that area? I recently had to purchase a new computer due to my other one practically dying on me and just what I was afraid of has happened! Does anyone know anything about this? Is there a patch or driver that I can download to help this run properly? Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!!

Thanks in advance!
Heather
FOFGirl

[Northwood_DK]

http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/...ad.php?t=56755

Check this first. That might give you the answer.

Welcome to FOFC

[gstelmack]

More specifically, see post #7 in that thread.

[FOFGirl]

Worked PERFECTLY! I must have missed the other thread, but thank you SO much for pointing it out. I am now a lot less frustrated with my new computer and Vista!

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by FOFGirl

I am now a lot less frustrated with my new computer and Vista!

You shouldn't have been frustrated with Vista. E-License shouldn't need the "Run As Administrator" bit for that first launch (or if they do, they need to be shipping a manifest that says so so it will ask instead of making you right-click the icon), and FOF shouldn't be writing to its own folder, forcing you to change permissions. The E-License thing is new to Vista (although Microsoft has talked about it for a while), while the "Don't Write to Program Files" goes back 5 years or so to XP.

[Emiliano]

Welcome to FOFC!

[gstelmack]

One more small issue: Vista does not include a .hlp viewer, so you can't read the help file. They are working on one, but recommend developers stop using the format (which is about 3 generations of help technology out-of-date).

[Solecismic]

I don't want people to get the impression that Microsoft actually issues comprehensive statements or bulletins of any sort for those who aren't specifically looking for them. This is all news to me, and I do stay fairly current. But now that I'm in the real world, I don't have the luxury of going to conferences any more, getting the proverbial street buzz.

I rely very heavily on the documentation Microsoft puts out with its development environment. I read the notes associated with documentation for any function I use. There's absolutely nothing about this connected with the documentation, as of the last release of Visual C++.

Frankly, I'm surprised they'd make such a change without significant warning, over the course of years. This may have a small impact on my work, but it will blow other people with much larger legacy code completely out of the water. Essential programs with pieces written and understood only by people long since gone from the scene.

For now, I'm going to investigate the run-as-adminstrator options. At least for the life of the current products, it makes sense to provide these instructions in the FAQ rather than make everyone else pre-Vista adjust with a patch. It's the most seamless change, especially when you realize that some people will be installing Vista on older machines.

And if they simply eliminated WinHelp, no idea why they would move in that direction. It's an interface that works and is seamlessly integrated with Visual C++. Yes, it's nice to have the most modern help method, but learning a new product and converting a lot of working code takes time and would come at the expense of more interesting new features.

[gstelmack]

First thing you need to do then is subscribe to the MSDN flash newsletter so you can keep up with news from Microsoft for developers:

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/flash/default.aspx

Here is a blog and some other links talking about UAC and its implications:

http://blogs.msdn.com/uac/
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/w.../aa905108.aspx
http://channel9.msdn.com/Showpost.aspx?postid=255622

The Windows logo requirements are handy, too. While Windows Logo is a marketing thing, the requirements tend to explain what you need to do technically to support their OSes:

http://microsoft.mrmpslc.com/Innovat...artedcert.aspx

Check the Quick Links on the right.

Here are some other useful links. The Application Compatibility Toolkit is a great help:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/w.../aa905078.aspx
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa480150.aspx

[gstelmack]

Ugh, can't believe I forgot the second-most important link (next to the MSDN flash link)! The Games for Windows Technical Requirements!

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb173456.aspx

This is a relatively new program, but the requirements in there explain other Vista bits, such as how to get into the Game Explorer. That's probably the best summary of everything you need to be aware of.

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by gstelmack

One more small issue: Vista does not include a .hlp viewer, so you can't read the help file. They are working on one, but recommend developers stop using the format (which is about 3 generations of help technology out-of-date).

Microsoft has released the WinHelp viewer for Vista:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...DisplayLang=en

[MizzouRah]

I upgraded to Vista and FOF 2007 works just fine. For the help file, like gstelmack said, there is a patch to download from Microsoft which fixes that issue. Other than that, I didn't have to do a thing.

Once you try to open up the help file, it will pop up a link that gets you right to the patch.

[Leonidas]

Just got my new laptop today and it's my first experience with Vista. I have tried installing 2K7 three times and every time when I click on it the hourglass comes up for a second like something is going to run, then it stops and the program never comes on. I checked task manager and it's not coming on in there either. Is there some Vista setting I am oblivious too at play here or is there something else. I bought this laptop just to take with me on my deployment so I could still play MP.

[Leonidas]

I'm reading through other discussions and the most common approach seems to be the run as administrator thing. Just one problem with that, it's not coming up for me as an option when I right click on the application. Brand new machine, no printers installed. No other massive applications taking away memory. The only firewalls involved are windows and my wireless router.

[Leonidas]

OK, I figured it out. Never mind.

[ShaneTheMaster]

Originally Posted by Leonidas

OK, I figured it out. Never mind.

Glad I can help.

[Doug5984]

I just got a new laptop with Vista, and it's not loading FOF when I click on it. Does anyone else use FOF & Vista together, anyone having any problems with it?

[Doug5984]

Dola- Got it working, I had to go into program files and run it as the administator, and allow it and now it is working. Going to take a while to get used to vista...and figure out all the little things about it.

[Leonidas]

Originally Posted by ShaneTheMaster

Glad I can help.

I had no idea how much asspain Vista would cause me. I'd say it took me about 4 hours to get the game working properly for MP. The fixes were kinda simple, but you had to figure them out. Who knew an OS would require you to grant permission to yourself to manipulate files. I'm really dreading the day the government switches over to Vista. We'll be swimming in trouble tickets.

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by Leonidas

I'd say it took me about 4 hours to get the game working properly for MP. The fixes were kinda simple, but you had to figure them out. Who knew an OS would require you to grant permission to yourself to manipulate files. I'm really dreading the day the government switches over to Vista. We'll be swimming in trouble tickets.

You haven't been paying attention here, have you? There is a thread here with instructions on how to set up for Vista, and another one with me ranting and raving about apps writing to the Program Files directory instead of the Documents or Settings areas.

As for granting yourself permission to manipulate files, welcome to the reaction to the beating Microsoft keeps taking over security (when their main problem is popularity, since every other OS has similar holes that no one wants to take advantage of). One of Microsoft's reactions for XP was to push apps to separate their code and data (Limited Users on XP had the same issue), and on Vista they cranked up the heat.

[Leonidas]

Originally Posted by gstelmack

You haven't been paying attention here, have you? There is a thread here with instructions on how to set up for Vista, and another one with me ranting and raving about apps writing to the Program Files directory instead of the Documents or Settings areas.

As for granting yourself permission to manipulate files, welcome to the reaction to the beating Microsoft keeps taking over security (when their main problem is popularity, since every other OS has similar holes that no one wants to take advantage of). One of Microsoft's reactions for XP was to push apps to separate their code and data (Limited Users on XP had the same issue), and on Vista they cranked up the heat.

I kinda come and go around here. It was bits and clues from other threads that eventually led to me figuring all this out, but not one single thread that got it all right.

As for the security and OS issue, I've seen this at work too. The security folks can reach a point where their measures to secure a network are more intrusive than the threat. I believe Vista has reached that point. I also have it at work. Nothing more annoying in the whole wide world to see 4 hours worth of work killed because of security issues. I'm sorry but there is no virus/trojan ever in my entire 16-year career I have picked up that caused more harm to my job than that issue from our security-Nazis last week.

[MizzouRah]

Sometimes I feel like going back to Windows XP as I feel like XP is much faster and easier to do certain things. I will admit thought, I have the clock, calendar, and the weather on my side bar and I love it. It's to the point I turn my pc on in the morning to see what the day is going to be like and what the weather is currently outside.

I know there's weather bug and what not, but this doesn't hog up resources or install anything on your pc.

[digamma]

I'm getting a pretty consistent crash in SP games run on my lap top with Vista. It happens when I open the "Execute Trades" menu. I get the "Microsoft has detected a problem" followed by "Front Office Football 2007 has stopped running."

Anyone else seen this?

[digamma]

Dola...

This seems to only be happening if I try to open the execute trade screen in the same session after starting a new game. If I start a saved game, then it seems to work fine.

Nevermind. Just got the crash again.

[Doug5984]

Another Vista problem, not so much FOF per se but related- I am trying to extract files from my save folder straight to the leagues folder, and Vista is not allowing me to do this. I know there is probably some silly little setting I have to change to allow access to do this, but I can't seem to figure it out. I have my FOF folder set to allow all changes by "Users"...Any ideas? I can get it to work by extracting to the desktop and cutting and pasting but that takes time.

[gstelmack]

Not sure. I set the FOF Folder up correctly, and WinZip just extracts everything fine. Is it maybe set up that the FOF folder allows users to write, but the leagues, etc don't?

[cocacolakid]

I was a loyal FOF2004 junkie and purchased and downloaded FOF2007. It opened fine and I was able to register. Then when I hit 'start' it disappeared and will not open. I've uninstalled FOF2004. I've uninstalled and re-installed FOF2007 3 times. I've tried repairing FOF2007, and I still cannot get the program to open, not even to get the initial welcome screen again.

I'm on XP, SP2. Everything else is running great. FOF2004 was running great earlier today before I uninstalled it for this. Any ideas?

[Eaglesfan27]

There are a few programs that seem to cause conflicts with FOF 2007, rarely-occasionally. I'd try to reboot after you've installed it, if it won't open.

[ShaneTheMaster]

Something is holding it up.. if the process is still running, open task manager, and unload processes that could hold it up, like virus programs, etc. until it opens.

[cocacolakid]

Originally Posted by ShaneTheMaster

Something is holding it up.. if the process is still running, open task manager, and unload processes that could hold it up, like virus programs, etc. until it opens.

I've tried that. I've shut down my AV. I've shut down basically all other user programs. I've tried every tip on the Solecismic FAQ page. No luck. I'm going to need a refund if this isn't going to work.

[yabanci]

Originally Posted by cocacolakid

I've tried that. I've shut down my AV. I've shut down basically all other user programs. I've tried every tip on the Solecismic FAQ page. No luck. I'm going to need a refund if this isn't going to work.

It sounds like a crazy idea, but you might try sending an email to support at solecismic.com.

[cocacolakid]

Originally Posted by yabanci

It sounds like a crazy idea, but you might try sending an email to support at solecismic.com.

Thanks. I have done that and they are just offering the same list of ideas that have been posted here or on the solecismic FAQ page. I've tried them all. I have no idea why it won't work. I've never had a program not work like this and I'd like to think I'm pretty computer literate. I was so looking forward to the new version of FOF.

[azjoe_02]

Are you running XP or Vista?

If Vista I would try this thread

[azjoe_02]

My bad, I just noticed that you said XP...

[Yellow5]

Try this:

http://yellow5.org/archives/elicpatch.zip

If that doesn't work, contact the elicense folks.

[cocacolakid]

Originally Posted by Yellow5

Try this:

http://yellow5.org/archives/elicpatch.zip

If that doesn't work, contact the elicense folks.

That didn't work. The elicense guys have been very nice but nobody has been able to figure this out yet.

[yabanci]

Assuming you haven't done so already, you might try a clean boot to see if the game will run. If it does, you can troubleshoot from there.

(I personally would use the manual method, and where it says in step 7 to disable all services, I would disable all except the LicCtrl Service)

[Skolleck]

Originally Posted by cocacolakid

I've tried that. I've shut down my AV. I've shut down basically all other user programs. I've tried every tip on the Solecismic FAQ page. No luck. I'm going to need a refund if this isn't going to work.

Disable your firewall, you may have a software or hardware firewall.

If you have a hardware firewall disabling all the services will not help, you will have to disable the hardware firewall from the firewall/router setup page.


If that does not work;
Make sure the Microsoft services are still running and disable all the other services and startup programs other than the eLicense service.

Can can try to enter into safe mode with network support and try to start the eLicense and try the game.

If you have a router and can plug directly into your broadband modem, try that and see if it works.

If you have two systems, try it with the second system.

IF all that does not work, send me a PM and I will see if I can provide any other tips.

Thanks,
Scott Kolleck
AIM:swkolleck