Fallout 3 working for me...

[sygnus21]

After hearing all the complaints about FO3 not working with Windows 7 I thought I’d give my retail copy (Fallout 3 GOTY (Game Of The Year) Edition) a try. And thus far, after playing for an hour, no issues. This is on a Win 7 machine. Click System Specs link to see specs.

A few things to note…

Not sure how the steam version goes (i.e. if it also uses GFWL) but if you’re playing the retail version, it DOES require that you have a Game For Windows Live (now Game for Windows Market Place) account! So if you’re running the game without either of those game managers (GFWL, Steam), the game is hacked, and it will be problematic!!! That said, for the retail version…

- Install the game…
- Install the latest patch - 1.7 which you can get here - Bethsoft.com - Support
- If you have a GFLW account, login (if not, you’ll need to create one)….



Once you login, you’ll be asked to provide the game’s product ID….



Once done, your profile will begin downloading, and the game may also ask to be allowed through your firewall.



From here all should be good, and the game should be automatically updated,



but…. GFLW can be a pain in the ass and you may get this….



even if you have the latest version of GFWL – (which should be Games for Windows Marketplace) installed!!! What I did…

- First, make sure you’re signed out of GFWL (Marketplace)
- Then, as I mentioned earlier, patch the game, then…
- Search the disc and find the redistributable g4wl exe and install



After that, launce FO3 again, sign into your Live account, it should properly update, and you will probably kick you back to the desktop once done. Simply re-launch the game, login to your live account, and all should be good. Play the game.





Yes, I realize this may not solve the issue of FO3 and Windows 7, but with the above procedures, for me, all is good. You just need to make sure you have a legit copy that can be activated. And you need a Live account (though I'm not sure about Steam).

Good luck.

 

[MrSH4RKYY]

How do you know this! lol i had so much problems with this i just went onto the xbox live website and made an new account for windows games and then it finally logged me in.

 

[Wishmaster]

Its been my experience that every game that need GFWL, you are better off going to the site and installing it before you install any GFWL game.
If I let the games install it I end up with hiccups getting things running properly for whatever reason. But if its already there, no issues.


I have the Steam version of FO3 GOTY here:
Same as the retail, it does require GFWL, except there's no patching required. (Steam gives the patched version of FO3 when you DL it)
Otherwise, same as sygnus21's post.

I always instal GFWL first. Then, install. Run the game 1 time, then off to modding
No issues with Steam version and Win7 here either.

 

[sygnus21]

How do you know this! lol i had so much problems with this i just went onto the xbox live website and made an new account for windows games and then it finally logged me in.

Huh??? :huh:

I know this because I obviously did this, thus my written instructions

As for GFWL (now Marketplace), the thing is, I had the latest version. The problem is FO3 wouldn't accept it, thus installing the (older) version from the game's disc, and then letting it update from there. Getting it directly from the site didn't help because it's the latest version. You might want to re-read my post.

As for FO3 working, I have zero issues running it and I've put in about 6 hours since reinstalling it.

 

[Wishmaster]

Odd as Ive had the opposite experience. Issues with older version updating, but fine with latest version already present.
Not sure why that is. I suppose it may just be that GFWL is finicky.

 

[sygnus21]

Yes, GFWL is finicky to say the least. It's the most buggiest game manager of the big 3 - Steam, EA/Origin, and buggy GFWL.

Anyway having the latest version doesn't mean success when running older games. Example my post on getting Halo working under Windows 7. You have to basically do the same thing, resort to an older version, then let it update from there - http://www.sevenforums.com/gaming/252972-how-get-halo-2-working-under-windows-7-a.html

At any rate I did (and still do) have the latest version of GFWL (Marketplace) and still got the error shown.

Anyway I wrote these for those having problems. It also deals with those pesky GFWL issues.

I just thought of something, by you (Wishmaster) having the Steam version, which already comes patched, that may have had something to do with the way your version worked with GFWL. Your game was already patched. Just a guess.

And I did say I didn't know how the Steam version worked in relation to GFWL.

 

[Dude]

Yes, GFWL is finicky to say the least. It's the most buggiest game manager of the big 3 - Steam, EA/Origin, and buggy GFWL.

Anyway having the latest version doesn't mean success when running older games. Example my post on getting Halo working under Windows 7. You have to basically do the same thing, resort to an older version, then let it update from there - http://www.sevenforums.com/gaming/252972-how-get-halo-2-working-under-windows-7-a.html

At any rate I did (and still do) have the latest version of GFWL (Marketplace) and still got the error shown.

Anyway I wrote these for those having problems. It also deals with those pesky GFWL issues.

Steam I am very confortable with, Origin I can deal with (not as good as steam, but they are getting there), but GFWL...tried it once never again, worst manager of all. Just my opinion