Please Help! (Space Quest Collection, 2006)

[starsine]

Hi everyone

I just bought a shiny new Space Quest Collection (2006) for Windows XP -
and for two days now I have been close to throwing my PC out of a window because I can't get the software to work!

I'm running XP Professional (2002 version, SP3) on a Pentium 4 (3.00 Ghz) Dell PC with 2,558 Mb of RAM and an external Creative 24 bit soundcard.

The software *seems* to install okay - but besides opening a main menu, it refuses to run any of the games themselves!

I click the menu option to launch SQ 1 - and all that happens is a DOSBox window opens, turns black, shows a few numbers etc. at the top of the screen, then the window vanishes. No game gets launched The main menu just re-appears.

Same story for SQ 2, 3, 4, 5, 6....

I've tried the 2006 patch - but the same thing happens:
Nothing.
Nada.
Zilch.
(Etc.)

I have used computers from the CBM Vic-20 onwards (my first computer back in the early 80s) - I used Sinclair Spectrums, a C64, ZX81, Acorn BBC, Acorn Electron, MSX, Tatung Einstein, PET, an Apple IIe etc. Most of the time they all used to work - whether I programmed them myself or used bought software.
I used various Amigas during the 90s, even an Atari ST - and they worked most of the time too. I even used to use Dos on a 386 back in the early 90s, and then Windows 3.1. But then I moved on to a PC with W95 - and that's where the problems started creeping in......

I'm quite computer savvy - but for the life of me can't get SQ (2006) to work on my XP system.

I've tried changing the Compatability Mode - but with no response.
I've tried disabling the anti-virus/spyware/malware software on my system - but with no response.
I've tried changing video settings, audio settings (as advised on the Activision support site) - but with no response.
I've tried the 2006 DOSBox patch - but with no response.

Has anyone else had this problem? (title menu launches - but nothing else)
Are there any known fixes?
I can't find anything on the 'net that seems to help.
Maybe I need to buy another release of the collection?
Or try another (earlier) XP version?

Any thoughts?
Any ideas would be MUCH appreciated - I've got withdrawal from planet retro!!!!!
Please help!!!!
Thanks,
Stu.

[Collector]

Install the collection in "C:Sierra\Space Quest Collection" then run the patch.

[starsine]

Thanks, Collector.

This is what I have already been doing - but
I still can't get any of the games to work

Just to be sure, I checked everything was uninstalled, then:
(1) Installed Space Quest Collection again from CD-ROM.
(2) On completion, checked location "C:Sierra/Space Quest Collection"
Notably only SQ1VGA, SQ2, SQ5 and SQ6 seem to have been installed by the
installer (SQ3 & SQ4 seem to be missing).
(3) Ran the patch (SQCollectionDBUpdate),
Checked "C/Sierra/Space Quest Collection" again:
Now SQ1 to SQ6 are *all* present and correct.
(4) Double-clicked on the new "Space Quest Collection" icon on my desktop.
A window opens with icons for SQ1 to SQ6.
(5) Double clicked on SQ1.
A DOSBox window appears (orange with DOSBox logo). This is quickly replaced by a black window (with white text at the top) - which also quickly disappears
Then....
Nothing.

(6) I tried this for each of the new SQ icons (SQ1 to SQ6) - with the same result for each: Nothing.

I'm starting to think there must be something wrong specifically with my system.
Maybe a missing/corrupt .dll or other OS file?
Or perhaps one of my security programs may have blocked/erased a needed system file?

I'm running out of things I can think of trying without using another OS or different release of the collection.

Thanks for your help!
Stu.

[Collector]

Give me some time and I'll take a look to make sure that there in not something wrong with the patcher. In the meantime, check this post to have some information ready for me:

viewtopic.php?f=27&t=1252&p=12221#p12221