Problems with Installation

[Luthien]

Originally Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 2:45 pm

Ah, my first post and I already know that this is a friendly place!

Anyway! I was installing the original KQVI on Windows XP with the directions from the sierra help pages from Collector (who has already kindly directed me over here. Thanks.)

The installation appeared to be going fine until the last step. I installed VDMS successfully, but when I got to step 14 (to launch the game) it gave me this message and wouldn’t go any farther:

Loading ‘VDDLoader.dll’…

C:\PROGRA~1\SIERRA>Sciwv.exe win\sierra.ini
Bad command or file name
_

What’s to do? I know I did something wrong…but what was it? If I haven’t made myself clear, just tell me. I don’t understand the inner workings of computers very well.

Thanks in advance for help!

[Tawmis]

I can't recall if KQVI will work off of DOSBox - but personally, that's the route I'd go, if KQVI has a DOS version. (My Sierra boxes are all safely locked away - so I don't know off hand - but I am fairly sure KQVI was the last one to work off of DOS, cuz I think - not sure - KQVII was the first to be a Windows only enviroment) - er - but Collector can come in and probably:

1. Fix your issue.
2. Correct me on KQVI.
3. Correct me on KQVII.

LOL!

Welcome to the forums, and as I said in the email - please feel free to throw yourself into the rest of the forum.

Most of us don't bite.

And the ones that do - they don't bite... too hard.

[SycoTroll]

Most of us don't bite.

And the ones that do - they don't bite... too hard.

*snarls and gnashes teeth* Fresh meat.... *makes vulgar slurping noises*
*points at Luthien while looking at Acothea* Mistress, me munch now? Leg bone gooooooddddd.....

------------------------------------

Unplug (don't just turn off) your machine for about 30 seconds and then try to reinstall the game. That will clear the buffers and process calls.

If that doesn't work, try what Tawmis said and give DOSBox a shot.

Windows XP and newer OS's use the NT file system. Microshaft CLAIMS that the NT system is backwards compatible, but we all know different.

[Tawmis]

Another thing you may wanna do is install KQVI in a directory that follows the "old" DOS rules of no directories longer than - gah - seven? - characters long.

So try installing it into a directory like:

C:\SIERRA\KQIV>

And see if that helps and try VDMS from there.

(Just thinking of things while the great wisdom of Collector comes beaming down... with the real fix). LOL!

[Collector]

The problem with the DOS version is that you lose the high rez dialog images. KQ6 is just about the only Sierra game that the Windows version is superior to the DOS version. I see the problem, though. You have an invalid character in your batch file. The current path called is:

• C:\PROGRA~1\SIERRA>Sciwv.exe win\sierra.ini

">" is an invalid character. Try moving the game to "C:\SIERRA\KQ6". The bat file should say:

• Sciwv.exe .\sierra.ini

If your sierra.ini is in the game's folder or:

• Sciwv.exe win\sierra.ini

if it is in a "win" sub folder. Delete the existing .VLP file after you move it. Right click on the edited bat file and choose "Run with VDMS"

[Luthien]

Hey, wow! Thanks for all the advice, guys. Gratefulness abounds! Oh, just a little tip: Lord of the Rings freaks don't make very good eatings; stringy, you know. Too much studying.

--------

Ok! I'm really quite awake now, I swear!

I'm a bit doubtful that my version of KQVI is purely DOS. It came packaged as a bonus with a Compaq computer back in 1995 and was meant to run with Windows 3.1. It did, quite dutifully. It worked with Windows 95 on a 1998 Compaq (which has, more or less, bitten the dust along with my Tomb Raider bonus game) and never worked on any of the computers purchased after that. I tried Collector's help page as a bit of a last resort.

I've been studying up a bit on the different releases of KQVI and found that there are several different colors of packaging. Black packaging seems to be made for Macintosh with a 3.5" disk. I'm unsure of the red packaging, but I believe it is the version that runs from nine separate floppy disks. The white packaging (the version I have) is a 5 1/2"x 5 1/4" paper envelope case, including the Green Isles guidebook, a use manual and, of course, the game disk which looks the same as any ordinary disk used today.

My problem may be that I'm approaching the installation process from the wrong perspective. It's the first and only version I've had of the game, so it was a little baffling to find that there were other versions with different graphics, different music quality, the lot.

I honestly do not know what I'm doing. Heck, I work with photoshop, I never had to type anything to control what it did. Just put the pen to the tablet. I've been spoiled by modern technology. Does what I've learned have any effect upon installing the game?

[Luthien]

Sorry to bother you again, Collector, but even after having tried your advice, I'm still having the same problem with the game. It just looks a little different. VDMSound now informs me that:

C:SIERRA\KQ6CD\WIN>Sciwv.exe win\sierra.ini

is still a 'bad command or file name'. If '>' is indeed still the problem, how can I remove that pesky little symbol from my command? I'm stumped again.

[Collector]

The bat file should be:

Sciwv.exe win\sierra.ini

Right click on the bat file and choose "Edit" and post what is in it.

[Luthien]

Sciwv.exe win\sierra.ini

That's it. That part is exactly how it should be.

[Collector]

Both the bat file and Sciwv.exe need to be in the "C:\SIERRA\KQ6CD" folder.

[Luthien]

Holy shoot! Great gumball! SWEET PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY!

IT WORKS!

Eh, ah...I mean, installation was successful.

Thank you x 20! Collector, you are officially a member of 'Problem Solvers Anonymous'! ...But I'm sure you've heard all that kind of stuff before... So I'll just leave it at a 'Golly, you're cool, man.' Really, thanks bunches. It means a lot to me and you've truly made me happy. Credit! Give yourself lots of credit for it!

Nod

[Tawmis]

Collector is a Man God, and that's all there is to it. The site he has off here is amazing. And clearly warranted its own forum section which he had modding powers to! He's just amazing... And I am VERY glad I have lured him here to host all of that info - so it's always, very easily, at my disposal.

[Collector]

Bows

[Luthien]

He's just amazing... And I am VERY glad I have lured him here to host all of that info - so it's always, very easily, at my disposal.

I don't even need to tell you that you and all of us sierra gamers are very lucky for that. Very Happy Thanks again, Collector. The game works beautifully.