[EM 2.878]New computer install, Runtime Error 8204 - File is not open at line 87399 *INFO*

[unmog]

I've never got this before, I was on windows xp and now Im on windows 7. I googled it and the only topic about error 8204 had something to do with registry errors and such... I tried finding a fix for it but the link started spamming with with virus alerts so I figured it's safer to ask everyone here.

So, hi... I'm new to the forum but not the game. Is 8204 something wrong with my registry or missing file? Can someone help me locate the file or fix that I need? Im worried about getting virus's and such on my new comp after I get everything working so I would appreciate the assistance if anyone has previous experience with this problem.

[Vice]

Hello,

That error indicates your system blocked the game from performing a load/read file operation it needed. Check your running security programs and make sure the game has sufficient permissions in both the install and save data folders (if different) to be allowed to access its own files. You can optionally launch the game with the 'Run as administrator' option in Windows to see if that changes the behavior also.

[unmog]

Ah I wasnt sure where my post went, I was waiting to see if it got approved. >.> I guess I posted in the wrong forum my bad.

Yea I tried run as admin first before I posted here, and I'm automatically logged in as admin so that's never been a problem that I've had to deal with but I try it first anyway. I admit though I am new to win7 though, so maybe its something to do with UAC. If I got the name right... I'll look into how to make an exception for it or something if I have to. Is it specifically with my OS or my anti virus? I'll try both... I think if it was my anti virus [Avast] then it would have popped up that it specifically blocked it though, so it may be UAC. I'll try to disable it temporarily and see if that helps, if so, I'll see what I can do about allowing the exception if its being prevented.

Hmm, well disabling the virus protector temporarily didnt work, and I moved the slider all the way down to never and it still gave me the error... I guess I need to restart my computer for UAC to take effect so I'll post now. I was going to wait until I found out if it worked or not. Well I'll give more information when I have it.

Edit: Well I disabled UAC still didn't work... I guess I'll check the permissions of the install folder. It should be fine since its just in my steam folder and the other games there seem to be fine. But worth a look.

[Edited on 9-24-2014 by unmog]

[Vice]

Are you using the Steam version or direct download?

It can be he OS, depending on where you install it to and what user conditions apply. It can also be antivirus software, depending on settings and type.

Also, try clearing out the save data folder entirely (back up the files as desired if there are some you want to restore later), then relaunch the game and allow the game to rebuild its setting files based on what it detects. See if the behavior changes after that.

Security program's interference can potentially damage a game file. The game is capable of rebuilding and repairing some damage on its own, but sometimes a reinstall and or rebuilding of certain files may be needed. You'll still want to trace down the root cause of the problem though, so it doesn't happen again.

[unmog]

Im using steam, though Im not against using the direct download.

I guess I should be more specific though. I had moved over my steam game folder over to my new computer... and although most of the games were fine since I installed them originally to an external hard drive some were not. Evochron for instance was not, and it was giving me the same error some of the other games were giving me. It was saying it needed to update, but it wouldnt ever update. The only solution was to delete the other games and reinstall them. So, I deleted and reinstalled it on steam... assuming I'd lose my save file for my ship and such but that was better than not being able to ever play it again. I tried playing it afterwards since it didnt take long to download and install it again, and now I got this error. But I'll check out my save data folder, maybe that was spared and its causing problems, maybe I wont have lost my ship after all.

Well I found the saves folder, it still had files in it. I deleted the saves folder entirely and tried running the game again, same error. So I decided to uninstall it again and check to see if it left any files behind. It did, so I made a copy of them and deleted the remains. So, while Im typing this Im reinstalling it again for the second time after removing everything else entirely.

So, after making sure nothing of the original install remains and redownloading and installing it on steam Im going to try playing it again~ UAC is disabled, computer is restarted... performing first time set up... and it works... Must have been something with those files. I'll try reallowing UAC, but how can I get my saves back and still have the game work? Can I just put the saves file back and have it work?

Well I tried putting back my saves folder, didnt work, guess I lost it after all. Not against starting over again new though its been awhile since I first played so interested to see what the differences are. At least I can play it again like I wanted~ Im guessing one of those files I had left over prevented me from getting it to work. Once I got rid of them and reinstalled it again, everything worked like a charm. No need for registry fixes or UAC or firewalls or Anti virus or running as admin.

[Edited on 9-24-2014 by unmog]

[PaulB]

Im using steam, though Im not against using the direct download.

I guess I should be more specific though. I had moved over my steam game folder over to my new computer... and although most of the games were fine since I installed them originally to an external hard drive some were not. Evochron for instance was not, and it was giving me the same error some of the other games were giving me. It was saying it needed to update, but it wouldnt ever update. The only solution was to delete the other games and reinstall them. So, I deleted and reinstalled it on steam... assuming I'd lose my save file for my ship and such but that was better than not being able to ever play it again. I tried playing it afterwards since it didnt take long to download and install it again, and now I got this error. But I'll check out my save data folder, maybe that was spared and its causing problems, maybe I wont have lost my ship after all.

Well I found the saves folder, it still had files in it. I deleted the saves folder entirely and tried running the game again, same error. So I decided to uninstall it again and check to see if it left any files behind. It did, so I made a copy of them and deleted the remains. So, while Im typing this Im reinstalling it again for the second time after removing everything else entirely.

So, after making sure nothing of the original install remains and redownloading and installing it on steam Im going to try playing it again~ UAC is disabled, computer is restarted... performing first time set up... and it works... Must have been something with those files. I'll try reallowing UAC, but how can I get my saves back and still have the game work? Can I just put the saves file back and have it work?

Well I tried putting back my saves folder, didnt work, guess I lost it after all. Not against starting over again new though its been awhile since I first played so interested to see what the differences are. At least I can play it again like I wanted~ Im guessing one of those files I had left over prevented me from getting it to work. Once I got rid of them and reinstalled it again, everything worked like a charm. No need for registry fixes or UAC or firewalls or Anti virus or running as admin.

[Edited on 9-24-2014 by unmog]

I haven't tried putting any games on my new win 7 mini tower from my laptop yet (various reasons).
But my plan is to install the games from scratch.
Then I've made copies on a USB flash drive of the "player" files, in the case of EM:
pilot[x].sw
maplog[x].sw
flightlog[x].sw
weapontemplate[x].sw
keymap[x].sw
I think that's all the game files that may get updated each time you play.
Plus any mods I have like the \\hud and \\environment folders (which will only be present if you have done any mods.

If you follow that proceedure then you should have your game up and running with no loss of your progress fromthe previous computer.

I hate new operating systems (even though I was a computer technician). Planned obsolescence - the Satan of capitalism and the Black Hole into our wallets and purses. That's al they are for the most part.

[Vice]

As Paul pointed out, those are the core save files. The most critical files are the pilot#.sw files, which you could try to restore first. It's likely one of the other files is the problem.

[unmog]

Hmm well I have some files but I put them in the saves folder again and it didnt take. Maybe its just not reading them?

I should ask, where is the normal save files located? I assume maybe I changed my save location, since I found an old save dir file pointing to a location I dont have anymore on said external "J" drive. [I think it died on me ] So I changed the letter to the new drive location and I got my old profiles back. But, now Im wondering where my "new" save would have went, Id like to clean that up... so where does Evochron save stuff by default?

[Edited on 9-25-2014 by unmog]

[Vice]

Details are available here:

http://www.starwraith.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3433

In short, the default location is c:\\sw3dg\\EvochronMercenary

[unmog]

Thanks again for all your help Vice. I think that solves all my problems, and I think I can even keep my saves if I want to instead of having no choice but to start a new character.