rec.autos.simulators

I've recently purchased a new computer with:

Windows XP Home Edtion
Intel 1.3 Ghz Celeron
Intel Direct MAX AGP 3D
128 Meg SDram
etc

Into this I finally got to install the GPL sim that's been sitting on
the shelf waiting for this day.

My steering wheel is a Thrustmaster Nascar Pro that I've calibrated
via XP, and XP says is A-OK.

At first, I couldn't even launch the game. The intro screen would
appear, and then I would dump back to the desktop.

As per advice, I downloaded/added the 1.02 patch, and the D3D patch.
This seemed to do the trick as last night I was able to drive the sim
for about 30 minutes before it crashed to the desktop. It did this 2-3
times, each session lasting about 30 minutes.

Well, this afternoon, I launched it to take a quick spin, and it
dumped me straight to the "Player" page. After typing my name in
(again), I clicked to move on. It told me it "could not save the
player info".

That was that. I couldn't delete, I couldn't save. I couldn't go
forward, I couldn't go backward. I was stuck. I managed to get
Ctrl+Alt+Del to bring up the task window and end the GPL session. This
happened a couple times before I finally gave up and uninstalled the
"Typical" installation via XP. I then went in and hand deleted all
remaining files in the GPL folder.

Next I did a full install, and patched with the 1.02 US patch, as well
as
the D3D patch.

After the full install w/patches, upon launching GPL, it walked me
through
the opening sequences (Player Info, settings, etc) and allowed me to
save my info. I selected the BRM, and headed for a quick training
session. Once in the car, I could shift and turn, but not accelerate.
Back to the "Control Settings" page to tell it again what my control
selections were. Once at the Control selections page, the game locked
on the first item (as I was attempting to select my steering input).
The game froze on the Select Controls screen, and the computer was
locked up so tight I had to kill it with the power button.

As a desparate measure, I even downloaded/installed the CPU fix, even
though is supposed to be for CPU's above 1.7 Ghz. I tried it again,
and was able to leave the pits before crashing back to the desktop.
Trying to relaunch from XP caused it to lock at the Players Info page
again.

I'm absolutely baffled.

Does the GPL come with its own "Uninstall" program that I need to run
to
eradicate all traces of the sim off my HD (prior to attempting one
more
install).  I cannot find one on the CD, or at least one that is named
so I
can find it.

BTW, when locked, the "End Task" window was flickering... and I noted
my CPU
useage was at 100%. Weird stuff here, guys.

Anyway, right now I'm pretty much discouraged. At this point, I'm
wondering
if I ought to uninstall it again, and forget it. It appears to be a
great
sim, if I could just get it to run on my (cheap-o) system.

Andre Ming

I don't run XP, but is there any way you might have ended up with very
restrictive file access settings where everything is tagged Read Only?

As for the original question, definitely get newer drivers for your
video card and also sound card. That's an oddball graphics card and
sounds that it is almost certainly the cause of your troubles. Also,
try GPL without the patch, see what happens. And do you have any
problems in other 3d games?

Rafe Mc

Couple of utilities you might take time to get, if you haven't already
got them, from http://www.gplpp.com/, CROA which removes any read only
settings on files and End it all which will allow you to shutdown all
processes not required when running GPL, this might help with the CPU
being at 100%.

markp..............

First add the GPL folder to a zip file, then add the zip file to the CD.
When you unzip the contents they will have the original attributes set.

--

Ian P
<email invalid due to spam>

"Rafe McAuliffe"  wrote

Exactly. I do this every few weeks with GPL. It's also the only way to get
my GPL folder *onto* a CD now, as it's getting kinda big...

Or...  if you have a second hard disk that you don't want in your
computer or a third HD, get an external usb housing for it and plug it
into your usb port.  Can be used to back up - and not just from your
computer -  data and proggies very easily.  And with USB 2.0 just
becoming more prevalent transfer speeds could soon become pretty good.

I have a 30Gb HD that I use in this way.  It only uses USB 1.1, but can
back up a Gig in about 10 - 12 minutes. I can then transfer files to
others just by plugging it into their usb ports.  Obviously they need
the software install in order to get access first. :)