Remove the need of ra2.exe/yuri.exe

thexshadow · Last edited by thexshadow on Fri Oct 10, 2014 3:05 am; edited 4 times in total

Hello all, I have been lurking for a while and decided to join. Laughing

Now, I was wondering if there is a way to remove the need of ra2.exe/yuri.exe (I guess they were for patching?) and launch from game/gamemd.exe. In the XWIS release, you can launch the game with game and gamemd, but gamemd requires YR.dll. I'm guessing this is for patching.

I will try looking through the game code later, just asking to see if anyone has done this.

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Glukv48 · Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2014 1:49 pm Post subject:

thexshadow, keep in mind that if you delete the files on Win8, you will get a black screen instead of the menu.

CCHyper · Defense Minister **Joined**: 07 Apr 2005

Glukv48 wrote:

thexshadow, keep in mind that if you delete the files on Win8, you will get a black screen instead of the menu.

The game requires these (launcher executables) to be present, unless you patch the GAME(MD).EXE to not check for there status.

I don't see how these can produce a black screen as these are only doing a simple communication between each other, nothing graphics related...

Graion Dilach · Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2014 3:32 pm Post subject:

I suspect some specific made-for-RA2 compat setting detections causing that.

Yes, Win7-8 is known to have such.

Not to mention, Ares ignores that launcher too and uses own as Syringe.

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Glukv48 · Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2014 9:34 pm Post subject:

CCHyper, I do not know exactly how it works, but requires that win8 in the game folder was a file ra2(MD).exe. And also requires that the executable file is called game(MD).exe. When this content ra2(MD).exe can be anything, you can even put empty files. But if you do not respect these requirements, then you get a black screen, or the lack of buttons on the menu, it happens even if you use Ares.

All of the above applies only to the Windows 8.

thexshadow · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2014 5:23 am Post subject:

Well, I got it working for RA2 so far, link in OP. I will be posting the one for YR tomorrow.

thexshadow · Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2014 12:33 am Post subject:

YR Hex patch is done, link in OP.

Glukv48 · Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2014 1:43 am Post subject:

thexshadow, Seems to work well, but it does not work with NPatch. You can make a hack for NPatch?

thexshadow · Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2014 2:55 am Post subject:

It looks like it works for me? make sure you are using the YR patch and not the RA2. Try removing the RA2 from hacks.yr.ini, it appears to interfere sometime. If it still doesn't work, could you send me your exe?

Glukv48 · Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2014 2:59 am Post subject:

thexshadow, I said that it works as expected. However, this does not work with NPatch (This hacked gamemd from yr, which adds a lot of new things for mod developers. http://www.ppmsite.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=29537 )

thexshadow · Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2014 3:17 am Post subject:

Ah, misread. I am looking through it now, it should be working, but it is not. I will have to play with it a bit more. Also, if you are on W8, could you test and see if it works (not npatch).

Glukv48 · Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2014 3:21 am Post subject:

thexshadow, Why do you have doubts about the Win8? I can check later on my netbook...

thexshadow · Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2014 3:33 am Post subject:

I know some people have the black screen error, and I wanted to see if this has that problem, or if it had something to do with the yuri.exe

Glukv48 · Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2014 3:37 am Post subject:

thexshadow, I'll check, but I'm 99% sure that this problem will remain, so I suspect that this check is carried in windows, and not in the game.

Edit: I tested. Not a sensation. Still requires the presence of any file with the name ra2 (md) .exe in the game folder, otherwise you will not see the buttons.

E1 Elite · General **Joined**: 28 May 2013

It works on Win7 as expected but game.exe/gamemd.exe filename couldn't be changed.

Glukv48 · Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2014 5:04 am Post subject:

E1 Elite, What happens if you change the file name? I does not get this problem on win7

E1 Elite · General **Joined**: 28 May 2013

Says, application was unable to start correctly (0xc0000142) - may be a Win7 security problem.

Glukv48 · Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2014 5:12 am Post subject:

E1 Elite, Maybe you are what that specific compatibility settings in exe file? If you rename a file, the compatibility settings are not copied.
I'm talking about "Right click (game(md).exe, ra2(md).exe) > Properties > Compatiblity"

E1 Elite · General **Joined**: 28 May 2013

None of the compatibility is needed for this but I tried that also. Still the error on renamed file.

thexshadow · Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2014 10:59 pm Post subject:

E1 Elite wrote:

None of the compatibility is needed for this but I tried that also. Still the error on renamed file.

That's interesting, I can run it with any filename. Confused

What exe are you using? Are you using a nocd exe?

Edit: Looks like you cannot run the renamed file if you have UAC enabled. I will look into it.

E1 Elite · General **Joined**: 28 May 2013

On original exe with only hex changes for this fix and UAC at never notify setting, result is the same
error on filename change.

Googling gives several reasons, most of them I have tried. I remember it happened for a few arcade
game exe as well on a fresh Win7 installation with same graphics drivers as was on XP. XP doesn't
have this problem. On Win7 both 32/64 bit, it happens with only a few exe files when renamed.

Time permitting, I could try switching to onchip/onboard graphics and removing nVidia drivers
and testing it.

FunkyFr3sh · Cyborg Soldier **Joined**: 23 Sep 2014

I have a similar problem with my dune2000 patch, i cannot rename dune2000.dat or else it wont start up properly anymore (no drawing). I could fix the drawing problem with a lil fix in the CreateWindow winapi call but the game is still not working properly (runs slow) ... pretty strange stuff Very Happy

Happens only on win8... Really need to find out what is going on there lol

Glukv48 · Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2014 10:24 am Post subject:

FunkyFr3sh, "runs slow" - In ra2\yr is solved with the addition of VideoBackBuffer=no in ra2(md).ini

Know that there is no in Windows8 native DirectDraw. MS did emulator.

FunkyFr3sh · Cyborg Soldier **Joined**: 23 Sep 2014

In dune 2000 "VideoBackBuffer=no" also solves the problems for some people, but it is not a perfect solution cause the game doesnt run as good as with the original filename. Also, "VideoBackBuffer=no" does not work for everyone either while running the game with the original filename works perfectly fine for those who have problems with "VideoBackBuffer=no"

Glukv48 · Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2014 10:41 am Post subject:

In this case, I think we need to turn to MS for an explanation. Although I think they will not give an explanation.

thexshadow · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2014 2:53 am Post subject:

E1 Elite wrote:

Says, application was unable to start correctly (0xc0000142) - may be a Win7 security problem.

Try going into regedit and go to this key:

Code:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion \Windows\LoadAppInit_DLLs

If it is 1, change it to 0. If it is already 0, this this is not your problem.

E1 Elite · General **Joined**: 28 May 2013

Already checked, reg entry LoadAppInit_DLLs is always 0, autoruns show no AppInit dlls etc. Confirmed that
graphics drivers are also not the problem. I even cleaned up all RA2YR entries from registry. Most likely it is
some Win7 security that I can't figure out.

Only a handful of exe has this problem. I can rename TS game.exe to anything, also dune2000.dat can be run
as an exe, no problems there.

DaRTzO · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2014 5:38 am Post subject:

UAC enabled? It doesn't get along with these old games and is known to cause problems.

E1 Elite · General **Joined**: 28 May 2013

UAC is at never notify setting. Also tested with removing HIPS software.

E1 Elite · General **Joined**: 28 May 2013

Renamed exe not working in Win7 problem solved. LAN fix wsock32.dll by Scorpio9a in the game folder
was not allowing it. Available here: http://nyerguds.arsaneus-design.com/cncstuff/ts_ra2_lanpatch_1_00.zip
It causes this problem for TS exe as well.

Removing that workaround wsock32.dll from the game folder, solves it.

Also was able to test renamed exe for 1 player LAN with a different wsock32.dll, from DTA mod for TS.

thexshadow · Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 12:55 am Post subject:

Awesome, that is good to know!

DaRTzO · Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 1:34 am Post subject:

E1 Elite wrote:

Also was able to test renamed exe for 1 player LAN with a different wsock32.dll, from DTA mod for TS.

I would guess that that the wsock32.dll in DTA is from the cncnet client?

Which has been proven to be less problematic than the other patch you mentioned.

Glukv48 · Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 3:09 am Post subject:

wsock32.dll from CnCnet4 is much more stable than the version of Scorpio9a.

FurryQueen · General **Joined**: 24 Jul 2010 **Location**: Liyue

If you remove the dependency of ra2.exe and yuri.exe, would that mean you'd be able to create a standalone version of a mod project?

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DaRTzO · Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2014 5:33 pm Post subject:

Yes, but it would basically be the same as removing copy protection. (no-cd)

If your mod is for Yuri's you'll still require all the ra2/yr mix files (and other stuffs).

Besides there are current legal limitations to being able to release a stand-alone mod for those games. Speeder has already contacted EA in relation to that.

For personal use all you need to make a mod standalone is just a no-cd patch and the game can run without any registry entries, etc.. You can also remove the need for the files loaded from the CD though some exe hacks.

Iran · Pyro Sniper **Joined**: 23 Mar 2011

DaRTzO wrote:

Yes, but it would basically be the same as removing copy protection. (no-cd)

If your mod is for Yuri's you'll still require all the ra2/yr mix files (and other stuffs).

Besides there are current legal limitations to being able to release a stand-alone mod for those games. Speeder has already contacted EA in relation to that.

For personal use all you need to make a mod standalone is just a no-cd patch and the game can run without any registry entries, etc.. You can also remove the need for the files loaded from the CD though some exe hacks.

It will be stand-alone but it will require running the game as administrator the first time because BLOWFISH.DLL is registered as COM+ object..that DLL is only needed for protected/encrypted MIX files but if missing it will crash the game when it tries to load those kind of MIX files. CCHyper had a hack for TS to make the game load blowfish.dll without requiring administrator rights but he lost it. He didn't remember much when I asked him about how it works, as it's pretty do-able to add all the blowfish.dll code to the game exe itself and remove blowfish.dll completely. On other thing that could be done is loading in your own code to read the MIX protection as I don't think BLOWFISH.DLL reads the whole MIX file, it probably just does something related to encryption.