Trouble reading (some) installed games to HDD

intric8 · 30 January 2016, 19:57

Hi Everyone,

First-time post here. I have an A1200 with an ACA 1221 and 4GB CF HDD.

I have successfully installed (and I have been playing) Eye of the Beholder and Black Crypt - no problems whatsoever.

However, something odd is going on and I'm pretty sure it isn't the games. Last night I installed Syndicate from floppies to my Games partition. Installation went flawlessly. However, after a reboot, I tried to launch the game and I see the "choose your language" screen. I select English and it goes to a Bullfrog screen and hangs. If I click that logo, the game crashes and I get something like "bad loadfile hunk". Something about trying to load the intro totally kills it (I have 2MB graphics memory and 9MB RAM).

I wonder if there is some sort of driver the CF HDD needs to read this data properly?

Additionally, I also have the original disks for Heimdall 2. I get a similar issue when it tries to find the data installed from Disk 1 - again, playing off an installation from the original floppies. With Heimdall, I am able to play off the floppies fine. But if I install the game (which you really have to do to play or you slowly go insane) it won't work.

If I try to play Syndicate off the floppies, it plays the amazing intro like it should.

Any ideas on that odd error I'm seeing? And why it is happening to more advanced/newer games, but not older ones? Thanks

SkulleateR · 30 January 2016, 20:25

The original installs are allways some kind of adventurous ... try to install it with WHDLoad ...

I remember trying to install Syndicate several times (from the original) and I gave up on it ....

Arnie · 30 January 2016, 20:34

Check that the 'MaxTransfer = 0x1fe00' on the CF HD

Click 'Advanced' then 'Change' in HDToolBox to check it.

As Skulleater has said, use WHDLoad to Install the games from floppy or download the pre-installed games from whdownload dot com.

Lord Aga · 30 January 2016, 20:38

Syndicate has a good installer. I have installed and played the game numerous times.

It is most likely max transfer issue as Arnie has suggested.

intric8 · 30 January 2016, 20:50

Thanks everyone. I'll try this approach and post the results.

Lord Aga · 30 January 2016, 22:00

Be sure to press the Enter key after you type in the new max transfer value. If you just type it and click ok it will not be saved.

intric8 · 31 January 2016, 01:43

Well, that didn't work unfortunately.

I fired up HDToolBox and changed the max transfer rate for both DH1 and DH0. Previously, the rates were set to 0xfe0000. I did as you suggested and switched both to 0x1fe00. Pressed 'Enter' before clicking OK. I even rebooted and went back in to confirm the settings held, which they did.

But launching Syndicate still produces the same error.

I should also mention that I've got 2 sets of Syndicate install disks. They both do the same darn thing. I hear you guys with WHDLoad - trying to get it to work off the original disks, and I'm really scratching my head on this one. Both sets install all the way through with no issues. Just for fun I tried to launch using French instead of English, but it didn't make a difference.

intric8 · 31 January 2016, 01:59

I'll try reinstalling the game - perhaps the files were corrupted originally.

intric8 · 31 January 2016, 02:07

Reinstalling with the new max-transfer rate seems to have worked! Thank you so much @Arnie and @Lord Aga!

Woo hoo!

Jope · 31 January 2016, 07:57

Good that you got it working. For some future soul who comes here searching, the corruption was done when the files were written with the wrong max transfer size, hence fixing it will not undo the damage, you will have to rewrite the files.

Lord Aga · 31 January 2016, 11:01

Told ya

Syndicate has a bullet proof installer. Once you installed it with the right max transfer values everything is going to be ok.

Enjoy the game bro !

30 January 2016, 19:57	#1
intric8 AmigaLover Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Seattle, WA USA Posts: 75	Trouble reading (some) installed games to HDD Hi Everyone, First-time post here. I have an A1200 with an ACA 1221 and 4GB CF HDD. I have successfully installed (and I have been playing) Eye of the Beholder and Black Crypt - no problems whatsoever. However, something odd is going on and I'm pretty sure it isn't the games. Last night I installed Syndicate from floppies to my Games partition. Installation went flawlessly. However, after a reboot, I tried to launch the game and I see the "choose your language" screen. I select English and it goes to a Bullfrog screen and hangs. If I click that logo, the game crashes and I get something like "bad loadfile hunk". Something about trying to load the intro totally kills it (I have 2MB graphics memory and 9MB RAM). I wonder if there is some sort of driver the CF HDD needs to read this data properly? Additionally, I also have the original disks for Heimdall 2. I get a similar issue when it tries to find the data installed from Disk 1 - again, playing off an installation from the original floppies. With Heimdall, I am able to play off the floppies fine. But if I install the game (which you really have to do to play or you slowly go insane) it won't work. If I try to play Syndicate off the floppies, it plays the amazing intro like it should. Any ideas on that odd error I'm seeing? And why it is happening to more advanced/newer games, but not older ones? Thanks Last edited by intric8; 31 January 2016 at 05:07.

31 January 2016, 01:43	#7
intric8 AmigaLover Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Seattle, WA USA Posts: 75	Well, that didn't work unfortunately. I fired up HDToolBox and changed the max transfer rate for both DH1 and DH0. Previously, the rates were set to 0xfe0000. I did as you suggested and switched both to 0x1fe00. Pressed 'Enter' before clicking OK. I even rebooted and went back in to confirm the settings held, which they did. But launching Syndicate still produces the same error. I should also mention that I've got 2 sets of Syndicate install disks. They both do the same darn thing. I hear you guys with WHDLoad - trying to get it to work off the original disks, and I'm really scratching my head on this one. Both sets install all the way through with no issues. Just for fun I tried to launch using French instead of English, but it didn't make a difference. Last edited by intric8; 31 January 2016 at 02:05.

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30 January 2016, 20:25	#2
SkulleateR Registered User Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Germany Posts: 325	The original installs are allways some kind of adventurous ... try to install it with WHDLoad ... I remember trying to install Syndicate several times (from the original) and I gave up on it ....

30 January 2016, 20:34	#3
Arnie R.I.P Smudge 18-08-16 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Leicester/UK Age: 66 Posts: 3,968	Check that the 'MaxTransfer = 0x1fe00' on the CF HD Click 'Advanced' then 'Change' in HDToolBox to check it. As Skulleater has said, use WHDLoad to Install the games from floppy or download the pre-installed games from whdownload dot com.

30 January 2016, 20:38	#4
Lord Aga MI clan prevails Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Belgrade, Serbia Posts: 1,443	Syndicate has a good installer. I have installed and played the game numerous times. It is most likely max transfer issue as Arnie has suggested.

30 January 2016, 20:50	#5
intric8 AmigaLover Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Seattle, WA USA Posts: 75	Thanks everyone. I'll try this approach and post the results.

30 January 2016, 22:00	#6
Lord Aga MI clan prevails Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Belgrade, Serbia Posts: 1,443	Be sure to press the Enter key after you type in the new max transfer value. If you just type it and click ok it will not be saved.

31 January 2016, 01:59	#8
intric8 AmigaLover Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Seattle, WA USA Posts: 75	I'll try reinstalling the game - perhaps the files were corrupted originally.

31 January 2016, 02:07	#9
intric8 AmigaLover Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Seattle, WA USA Posts: 75	Reinstalling with the new max-transfer rate seems to have worked! Thank you so much @Arnie and @Lord Aga! Woo hoo!

31 January 2016, 07:57	#10
Jope - Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Helsinki / Finland Age: 43 Posts: 9,861	Good that you got it working. For some future soul who comes here searching, the corruption was done when the files were written with the wrong max transfer size, hence fixing it will not undo the damage, you will have to rewrite the files.

31 January 2016, 11:01	#11
Lord Aga MI clan prevails Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Belgrade, Serbia Posts: 1,443	Told ya Syndicate has a bullet proof installer. Once you installed it with the right max transfer values everything is going to be ok. Enjoy the game bro !

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