Long Time Falcon user....needing help

[Cu-Melter]

Hello Everyone. Just found this forum by accident while googling the past, present,future of Falcon 4, Hasbro, Microprose and Spectrum Holobyte (which I started with years & years back)...Falcon 3.0 and MiG-29 add-in
Reading through the intro pages, I see that I should install a fresh copy of Falcon 4. Should I also install the patch (1.08 that is included on the Hasbro disk? Thanks to all and it appears a special thanks to those behind the curtains that keep the Falcon heritage alive and well. I'm d/l the FreeFalcon5.0.exe now as I post this and if there are any last minute reminders that I need a heads up on, please chime in..
My system today isn't a gamer's platform just yet...I'm slowly building this system up. Its an Intel board, 3.2 GHz w/HT, 2 Gb ram, 2 Gb permanent swap file..onboard video (yea, I know...=(
Will the NT File system be an issue? I have an older Western Digital Caviar drive that's formatted w/FAT32 should Falcon prefer this file system.
I've loaded Falcon 4 on this system, used the patch, and all seems good for awhile...then poof- to the desktop w/a message that F4 created errors and they are being logged...bummer.
This aggravation left me thinking that my system is wacked or simply that F4 won't run on XP service pack3....
It's been awhile since I was deep in trouble-shooting systems that wouldn't run Falcon.
Please chime in and thanks again-
Ed in 'Bama
'Roll Tide'

[TommyGun]

Hi,

I'm not sure whether what you tried to install is the sim these forums are devoted to... Most folks here download and install FreeFalcon 5.5 + 5.55 patch + (optionally) a cockpit pack and some extra theatres. And to accomplish this you don't need the original Falcon 4.0 CD or any previous patches at all. You can find all necessary info regarding the download and installation on this website.

As for your rig, mine is probably inferior and yet I'm able to run Free Falcon even though, quite naturally, I experience some slowdowns especially during the initial phase of a dynamic campaign, when there are many aircraft in the air an ground forces are numerous and busy...

I'm by no means an expert, and it is certain that someone more knowledgeable will pop in with a more detailed reply, but I hope you'll find my brief introduction useful. All the best and happy flying!

Tomasz

[Tom]

Hi Cu-Melter, please check out the FaQ forum and my noob guide:

http://www.freefalcon.com/forum/showthread.php/20731-FAQ-(Read-First)

http://www.freefalcon.com/forum/show...de-on-FF-s-UIs

That will give you a start, you only need FF5.5 and the FF5.55 upgrade. Other theatres and the cockpit pack (see above guides) are optional.
Cheers

Tom

[Cu-Melter]

Just got up and I've only got one eye open for now. Having trouble locating the 5.5 patch file link

[TommyGun]

Just got up and I've only got one eye open for now. Having trouble locating the 5.5 patch file link

On the home page in the article 'Free Falcon 5.5 is released' you'll find the download link and install instructions for the main game installer, in 'FF5.5.5 upgrade' the details of the current version which overrides all previous patches, so what you need in the ff5.5 installer and the 5.5.5 upgrade path and you're good to go unless you want some tasty addons

[Cu-Melter]

Well, at this point, I've just completed the Falcon 5 install processes onto the spare Caviar drive (FAT32) (D:\FreeFalcon5)....
Launched via the desktop icon and a nogo....Falcon5 has generated errors and will terminate. Error logs being recorded....bleh bleh-
Perhaps it didn't like being installed on a seperate drive....???
Downloaded patch file (122 mb)..patch appears to be an older release...wouldn't update the current Falcon5 install..
My main drive is a Seagate 200 Gb and I know people will ask "Why would I want to use an IDE drive over a SATA drive for the installation"..
Experiencing difficulties running Falcon 4 led me to examine options. After all, NTFS wasn't main stream when Falcon 4 was popular.
Reinstalling Falcon 5 now on the main Seagate drive bypassing the program files directory and instead using-
C:\FreeFalcon5
Results are in:
Still a 'No-Go'....what areas should I look into to correct this issue.
I installed the VTP 9 a couple weeks ago and it appears to play nice w/XP sp3...

[Drix]

Hello Cu-Melter, from the sounds of it I am guessing that the file system format of FAT32 is not supported by today's FF5. I have had no issues whatsoever running an IDE Western Digital, XP SP2 and FreeFalcon.

Also during your installation process it is very important that you install everything you want first before launching any of the .exe files. If you install FF5 and then launch the game, then attempt to install FF5.5.5 it will not work.

Another thought is that we know on laptops, FF will not work with integrated GFX cards, so it could be the same case with your tower? I'm sure a dev will be along shortly to confirm/deny this.

Good luck!

[Tom]

Please also check this:

http://www.freefalcon.com/forum/show...-new-ques.-lol!!!!


It may well be you badly messed your install with having had Falcon 4 installed previously, pretty sure here.

I would recommend completely deleting all Falcon installs and also checking the registry (see linked post above) for all Falcon or FF aka Microprose keys and deleting those if you find any.

Delete FF with the main install's FF Uninstall exe.

Just a sum up from the post linked here..


My procedure:
Download and install FF5.5, I use the default C:\FreeFalcon5 path offfered.


After installation, do not run the Config Editor.
Instead reboot the PC and install the FreeFalcon5.55 upgrade.

Now is a good time IMO to make user adjustments in case you are familiar with the FreeFalcon
"FFViper Config Editor.exe".

Otherwise open it once and hit apply, close it.

Reboot your PC.

If you want the cockpit pack for Korea, you can now go ahead and install it, it is not needed for ITO2-the Israeli Theatre of Operations which has a dedicated cockpits folder.


If you installed the cockpits for Korea, reboot again and go for the next optional step which would be install any officially approved add-on theatre, which I will show by the example of ITO2.

Get ITO2 here:
http://www.freefalcon.com/forum/show...O2-is-released

Further info about additional ITO2 options read here:
http://www.freefalcon.com/forum/show...6-ITO2-Release


...

"

Chrs
Tom

[Tom]

PS:

FreeFalcon basic downloads:

http://www.freefalcon.com/forum/show...-INSTALL-TOOLS

[Cu-Melter]

Just getting back on the system. Today was errand day into town for the monthly supplies. It's raining and everybody's in a rush to spend their checks.
I made it back in one piece, witnessing a good rear-end collision since folks don't know how to drive anymore.
On the way to town, the thought had crossed my mind that using the graphics supplied via the MB could present an issue...perhaps looking into a dedicated video card would solve some things. But this is 2012....who's writing code today that is so finicky about hardware setups this day and age. I can see that back in 1997-98 when solving problems w/Falcon meant blowing big money on a Voodoo 5 card.
I mean-really.....? this board does have a 'so-so' graphics compliment to work with.
Telling the bios to dedicate max allowable for video (128 Mb aperture) (256 Mb video)
Intel Pentium4- 3.20GHz H/T
Code name: Prescott
Model: Family 15 model 4 level 1
Count 2
L1 Cache- 16Kb
L2 Cache-1024 Kb
Bios Date: 2-14-2007
Bus Speed: 200
Version: AG915103.15A.0816.2005.0214.1818
Motherboard Intel D915GAG
So I noticed that Falcon : Alllied Forces was released in 2005. Anyone here care to comment on its pro/con

Meanwhile, I'll clean the registry of old Microprose/Falcon mentions then do another install.
Thanks for holding my hand through this way too familiar process-