The game demanding to be run with administrator privileges is not unexpected, since RvS is treats Windows like a 32-bit DOS anyway.
This however is a bit of a problem:
For the lays, DirectInput is an old DirectX way of accessing devices and the stuff starting with U are classes from the Unreal Engine, which powers the game.
Unless anyone has any ideas, I may be converting to SWAT 4 on a more permanent basis then my routine toggles between our games.
*_hopping up and down cursing Microsoft and Ubisoft the longest blue streak in American history*_.
It's fixed by way of a mini kludgezilla!
Timbo suggested that a program was likely interfering with RvS, quite close. I applied scientific testing methods and came to the conclusion that the game would only crash when XFire and or TeamSpeak were running.... why? What do these programs have in common - DirectInput?
Xfire hooks Windows and DirectX in order to do its magic, because many games use DirectInput instead of Windows Messages, Xfire obviously must be aware of both (and many ohters) in order to function correctly with its "In game chat".
TeamSpeak needs to do similar hackery in order to receive "Push to Talk" and key bind events while the game is running. By default it uses robs the DirectInput pot (and play nice with as many games as possible). Sure enough disabling DirectInput support in TeamSpeak, allows it to run in the background.
The error message that RvS crashes with indicates problems creating an input device, but doesn't provide anything except a vague backtrace. I have a realitively intimate knowledge of how BSD and X11 do their magic - and a feature that I oh so love about UNIX, is the ability to strictly control access to the machines graphics card and system resources. Try to crash a properly secured UNIX box, will often result in you getting terminated prematurely ;). Windows NT however, often results to unnecessary GOD-mode elevations and nasty API features in order to get things done, as a matter of standard operating procedure.
On my PC, Windows will not permit RvS run as an Administrator to function correctly, because Xfire and TeamSpeak (with DirectInput on) need to muck around with a bit of code injection to do there things while the game runs, which they can not do when run as a limited user. $10 says these programs and games like RvS need to muck with a address spaces in a way to closely bound for different user accounts to share - and the resulting mumbo jumbo makes Unreal take a flying leap, because either Windows, DirectX, or the CPU refuses to allow the necessary mutilations. Which is technically a *good thing* on Windows case.
Running an Unreal Engine game as a regular user, while Xfire or TS runs as an administrator - causes the game to crash.
Running an Unreal Engine game as an administrator (required for RvS), while Xfire or TS runs as a regular user - causes the game to crash.
The result? You have to run them (and any comparable programs) as the same user as the game is run. Perhaps there is some hidden Policy setting or \\device\notation thing to change that, but I personally doubt it is possible without digging into the native API.... which would be making things even worse. The correct solution would be for Raven Shield to have been made properly in the first place.
My conclusions: it is impossible to run Raven Shield without compromising a systems security or getting into some serious shoe-horning. This also affirms my belief that the *best* gaming machine for Raven Shield, would be an old Pentium 3 box with a GeForce 6600GT and Windows 98SE !!!
In order to play both Raven Shield and SWAT 4 on my secured system, without compromising the whole show, I have had to employ a little black magic of my own in order to side step it smoothly. Windows 7 and Windows Vista would make the process easier, but I'm personally surprised that RvS runs on either... looool. Nor am I about to spend $200 for a proper upgrade.
RvS is back in action - great thanks to Timbo, for getting me off my duff and poking my nose all over the techy stuff ^_^.
I understand that your RVS is working again, the rest is all martian
nice work m8!
I really enjoyed reading your "story", but I doubt that 90% in here really understand what you have written down
But I must say that I was never aware that you were running the programs in different user-modes. Thats quiet unusual
Those who believe to be something, have stopped to become something
I am sorry there Spidey, I only speak english and most of that is backwoods.
I am sure that if a marsian came to talk to me... I would undertstand even more of his conversation
Join the Dark side! We have cookies!
Hahaha MB
Sorry, you can take the computer from the geek, but you can't take the geek from the computer 8=)
In short: It's running again - so all is fine...
DUKE, Germany
"What's the plan?
Track'em, find'em, kill'em!"
Im just waiting for the day he starts talking in 1's and 0's
Noli Mi Tangere!!! Don't Tread On Me!!!
I usually just look for the Smiley's when I see a Spidey Rant...hehe
ROTFL ROTFL ROTFL
Those who believe to be something, have stopped to become something
1010-100 - Spidey