Re: Dark side of the moon text problem
[Re: sanford]
#941012
02/19/14 02:17 AM
02/19/14 02:17 AM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,243
Delaware, USA
SharonB
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Delaware, USA
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This game is well known for not showing the text. The DVD version does not have this problem. When I had the CD version the only way the text would show was by running it in Microsoft Virtual PC. It was quite a while back so I don't remember the details but this was one of those games that needed to run through VPC. This site has a very good explanation of VPC and tells you how and where to go to set it up. Metzomagic VPCGood luck, Sharon 
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Re: Dark side of the moon text problem
[Re: sanford]
#941052
02/19/14 09:49 AM
02/19/14 09:49 AM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 40,644
southeast USA
Jenny100
GB Reviewer Glitches Moderator
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GB Reviewer Glitches Moderator
Sonic Boomer
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 40,644
southeast USA
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This is where GreyFuss originally posted the fix for text at Gameboomers. ***Everyone can now play Dark Side of the Moon***The fix was originally posted by Winterfury at Adventuregamers, and the thread is now in their archive http://archive.adventuregamers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3837This is a quote of Winterfury's post with the information about riched32.dll. Make sure you have the right version of riched32.dll. It needs to be from Windows 98, Windows 95, or Windows ME. The link to riched32.dll in GreyFuss' and Winterfury's posts no longer work. It explains why you need to have the right version of riched32.dll. I'll provide some details in case anyone is interested. The common belief is that the problem with the missing text in DSOM is caused by the game being unable to read text or some files not installed properly. I've run the game in the debugger and found out that it is not really the case - the text is actually there in memory while the game is running, it's just that for some reason it's not showing up. While examining the game in the debugger, I've also found out that DSOM handles text in Rich Text format and uses Microsoft Rich Edit control. Up till now there are several versions of Rich Edit and the newer ones, according to Microsoft, are supposed to be backward compatible with the older ones, but in reality it’s only true up to some degree. Now, different Rich Edit versions (read: different DLLs) are distributed with different versions of Windows. Rich Edit 1.0 (riched32.dll) is included in Windows 95. Windows 98 includes both Rich Edit 1.0 and Rich Edit 2.0 (riched32.dll and riched20.dll accordingly) and Windows XP includes Rich Edit 3.0 (its corresponding DLL is confusingly named riched20.dll) and Rich Edit 1.0 emulator (riched32.dll, which is in fact a thin wrapper around riched20.dll). DSOM loads riched32.dll, i.e. uses Rich Edit 1.0 (which figures, since the game was made for Windows 95.) I suspected that there might be an incompatibility between the Rich Edit 1.0 which the game was programmed with in mind and the emulator provided by the recent versions of Windows. So I copied the riched32.dll from my Windows 98 distribution to the game folder where there other DLLs that depend on it and you know the rest.
Also, there are three different versions of riched32.dll (can you imagine that) and only one of them (with the version number 4.0.993.4) is redistributable. Fortunately, the one that is also happens to be just the one that is required by the game.
The bottom line is that Microsoft is to blame for breaking compatibility and creating this mess. There is also a patch for 64-bit which is discussed in the Adventuregamers thread, as well as a video patch. Ultimately, using Virtual PC might be easier.
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Re: Dark side of the moon text problem
[Re: sanford]
#941098
02/19/14 07:21 PM
02/19/14 07:21 PM
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,000
Hicksville, NY USA
sanford
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Hicksville, NY USA
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Thanks everybody for your input. I have a feeling that I'll never be able to play DSOM because of the missing text problem, but I will look into the "Microsoft Virtual PC" option before I call it quits.Thanks again. If I can get it to "work", I'll let you know.
Sandy
OK, after reading the "Metzomagic VPC" article, I decided it was NOT worth it to me to go through all of those steps just to be able to run ONE game. Just call me "a coward" LOL
Last edited by sanford; 02/19/14 07:38 PM. Reason: added text
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Re: Dark side of the moon text problem
[Re: sanford]
#941323
02/21/14 02:49 AM
02/21/14 02:49 AM
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,000
Hicksville, NY USA
sanford
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Hicksville, NY USA
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OMG I can't believe it. I took Uncle Reg's advice, went to page 2 of that Adventuregamers forum, downloaded the "TEXT PATCH provided, and downloaded the "Video Fix" as well. I just re-installed the game, extracted the CORRECT riched32.dll file to the "BIN" folder in the game directory, started the game and "LO AND BEHOLD", the TEXT DOES appear now where it's supposed to be including in the SAVE\LOAD files. After 11 years, I am finally now able to play the game properly. I have NOT installed the "VIDEO FIX PATCH" yet. I WILL if I need it.
Thank you ALL for your input, and a special THANK YOU to Uncle Reg
who put me in the right direction.
To all those who have DSOM on their "shelf" or have downloaded it:
Play the game and ENJOY it after you have installed the two "fixes".
Sandy
P.S. Be sure to go to the adventuregamers forum link provided above by OUR JENNY to get those two "fixes" that are seen on Page 2 of the thread.
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Re: Dark side of the moon text problem
[Re: sanford]
#941370
02/21/14 09:52 AM
02/21/14 09:52 AM
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 20,684
Near St. Louis, MO
Draclvr
Reviews Editor - Hints/Glitches Mod - Site Support
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Reviews Editor - Hints/Glitches Mod - Site Support
True Blue Boomer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 20,684
Near St. Louis, MO
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The lesson here, Sandy, is that Gameboomers NEVER let you give up when it comes to getting a game to run!
Gardens put to bed. Time for more reading and gaming.
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Re: Dark side of the moon text problem
[Re: sanford]
#941426
02/21/14 03:17 PM
02/21/14 03:17 PM
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,000
Hicksville, NY USA
sanford
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OP
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Hicksville, NY USA
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Thanks, everybody, for NOT giving up on me.I had all but QUIT looking for a solution to the problem in question. Come to think of it, I DID play DSOM on my old WIN 98 computer, but didn't get to far with it at the time. NOW, I'm an "experienced" Adventure Game Player, so I think I'll get through this game after all. I say I'm "experienced" now, but without OUR Mag's MAGnificent WT'S,I couldn't do what I'm doing now with these games.I'm 82, and I find it difficult to keep up with the skills of my 11 year old grandson. LOL Happy Gaming, fellow Boomers.
Sandy
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Re: Dark side of the moon text problem
[Re: sanford]
#941554
02/22/14 02:00 PM
02/22/14 02:00 PM
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,660
GreyFuss
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Glad to hear you got the game working Sandy, it is a great game IMO, one of my Top Ten. I sure wish someone would take the story and create a new game with full screen graphics and FMV.
"Don't Hate Me Because I Am Beautiful...There Are Many Other Reasons!"
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