S4 League

[maki250]

Ugh... can't right now, it's 00:00 AM here, I'll try it in ~17 hours...
And I heard a talk on the internet that some AV programs were causing the black screen, though when I uninstalled them, I still got the black screen...

 

[Lordbob75]

Alright, well let us know when you do.

~Lordbob

 

[maki250]

Ok, sorry for the late reply... (since I kinda messed up my computer when I tried to remove the video card... :shock
There's no way to connect the monitor when I remove the video card (does that mean I don't even HAVE a mobo video?)
For now I have (mostly) repaired my computer with a screwdriver and a vacum cleaner...
Any other ideas?

 

[Lordbob75]

Well I looked it up and it doesn't appear to have on board video.... Interesting. I would try to grab another card (PCIe) and try it out. You could get an old one for like 20 bucks.

~Lordbob

 

[maki250]

Well... my video card IS weak... but if I'm going to buy a new one, I'm going to buy a better one, any recommendations?

 

[Lordbob75]

Depends what you can handle. Your mobo will support a PCIe card, so if your PSU can take it, then you can use anything you want.

I would recommend a NVidia card, but its your option. Depending on what you are doing:
A 6000 series would handle everyday stuff well
A 7000 can handle medium games and photo/video
An 8000 series can take medium to high lvl games and photo/video editing.
A 9000 series would take almost any game on the market on high (except maybe Crysis) and photo/video editing
A 200 series is just a beast, and an amazing card. That will play Crysis on high and take on new, better games for at least another year.

~Lordbob

 

[maki250]

Ok, so before I could buy myself a new video card, I upgraded my os to build 7048 and that solved my problem...
Thanks for helping me!

 

[Lordbob75]

Well there you go. Good Job.

~Lordbob

 

[maki250]

Ok, it didn't fix the problem, but after comparing what I did before and what I did after, I came to this conclusion:
1. Remove s4_option_en.s4 from the game folder (C:\Program Files\alaplaya\S4League\)
2. Stop a service called "Desktop Window Manager Session Manager"
You can do it in by going to Task Manager -> Services -> Right-Click on "UxSms" and click "Stop Service"
To restore your desktop to normal, do the same as you did before, but click "Start Service" or restart your computer
3. Start the game!

 

[maki250]

Ok, fully tested (Had to make TOO many restarts)
1) If you run the game w/o stopping the service, it corrupts your settings file and you need to delete it if you want to play
2)If you deleted the settings file and stopped the service, you don't have to delete the settings file anymore (Unless you forgot to stop the service)

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Since I'm too lazy to do that all the time, I made some batch files that help you fasten the process:
Run This 1st.bat - Deletes the settings file, stops the service, starts the game and then deletes itself
S4 League START.bat - Stops the service, starts the game
S4 League STOP.bat - Starts the service again (Use this after you closed the game)

Download: http://www.mediafire.com/?mnzv2zg3zdz
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These batches work ONLY, when you have installed the game in the default folder (C:\Program Files\alaplaya\S4League\)

 

[Lordbob75]

Good job. Make sure they are fully tested and working though.

~Lordbob

 

[maki250]

Ok, I need a volunteer to test those, It works perfectly on my computer, but IDK about everyone elses computer.
BTW, after you exit game, your game might still be working and see a black screen, but the taskbar is working and after you wait a while (or log out and then log in), the screen disappears.
I wonder if Catastros still remembers this thread? Maybe he would like to test it out...
Or not (Last Activity: 02-02-2009)

 

[Eri17]

Okay, I tried it. Unfortunately, it did not work for me. Below is what I experience with S4, and what I experienced after trying your batches.

Issues I have with s4:
-Black screen after game launches
After downloading, installing, and patching the game, I press "start" on the patching menu. After, the hackshield icon will pop up in the lower right corner with a loading bar. My screen resolution also flickers from 1280x800 to 800x600 and stays in the 800x600. The hackshield loading bar will load 1 bar, then 2 bar, then instantly all bars. Then the main small hackshield logo will pop up in the middle of my screen. The resolution flickers 2 more times, and then the black screen happens. After that, I have to force shut down my computer with the power button.

Something I noticed is s4 works fine on my friend's new Vista laptop. I'm using Win XP service pack 3 on my laptop. Even with my firewall and anti-virus turned off, I still have the same issue.

Now, after trying what you did:
1) removing the s4_option_en.s4 file from the s4 folder did not affect the black screen.
2) downloaded your batch files. I tried 3 different methods with it.
2a) just used your batch files--nothing was solved.
2b) removed the s4_option_en.s4 file, used batch files--nothing solved.
2c) restored s4_option_en.s4 file, turned off firewall and anti-virus, used batch files--nothing solved.

How i used your batch files: Unzipped onto desktop. Clicked on Run this 1st. Then I noticed it disappeared off the desktop. s4's patch window pops up, no patches to install, so I press start. Hackshield and resolution stuff happens, then black screen.
Second way I tried it: Ran Run this 1st. s4 pops up. Pressed cancel. Clicked file s4 league start. s4 pops up, I click start, hackshield and resolution stuff happens, then black screen pops happens.



Hopefully all this information helps you solve it or makes you more confused xD

 

[maki250]

Ok, this made me really confused :shock:
Just confirm this... are you running it on Win XP SP3 ???
The fix was ment for Win 7, but oh well...
I've run S4 from Win XP SP2/SP3 , Win Vista and Win 7 : XP and Vista worked ok for me, Win 7 did not (I tested it on 4 different PC). I tested the batch files on my friends PC and it worked, so I think you are looking for another solution.

I think I have an idea:
1. Run the batch file called "Run this 1st.bat" and click cancel when the game window pops up OR just remove "s4_option_en.s4" from your game folder.
2. Download the batch file KILL_ALL_UNREQUIRED_PROCESSES.bat and run it. WARNING: Your internet browser will close after you run the .bat file so I suggest you read the following steps carefully before running the file.
3. After you run the .bat file, you should only see your background image and nothing more, but don't fret, ok!
4. Press CTRL-ALT-DEL and select Task Manager.
5. Click on the "Applications" tab and then click "New Task..."
6. Browse for your game shortcut or go to the game folder and select "patcher_s4.exe"
7. Start the game!

If it works I'll try to think of a shorter solution, if not, then I'll think of something else

Edit: Ok, there is a big chance it won't do anything to solve your problem (But try it out anyway)

 

[Eri17]

Haha, you were right--that didn't help me at all. But it's okay. I'm not a big s4 fan and I can play it on my other computer. Just wanted to volunteer for your batch files--but I wasn't the right volunteer--to help out other folks who might be having the same issues.
You're really good at this, I'm sure you helped someone who's lerking around here.

 

[frke]

I am using build 7048 and it is working perfectally.

 

[dinh]

Im using Build 7000 and I got the same Problem, then i tried the solution of maki and it works!
Thanks a lot.
The Batch didnt work at mine because i got a german 7 version. So for the others, the Service called in german "Sitzungs-Manager für Desktopfenster-Manager"

Edit:
1.Sometimes when i start the game, i get a blue screen but after some restarts the game works again

2.After I exit the game, it still be working and i can see the black screen, but the taskbar is working, same like maki.
So before I start the Game i open the Task-manager and after the game I can close the process because the taskbar still working, then I dont have to wait and the Game close immediately

 

[maki250]

I didn't get a e-mail notification that the thread has new posts '
Oh well.. btw, I also do the same (I mean opening the Task Manager)
And since german win 7 is a bit different I made some updates...
Test it out plz... will ya?

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S4 League International Batch Files (US/UK and Germany)

So called changelog:
1) Should now work on german win 7
2) When starting with the .bat file, it will also open a minimized Task Manager

Download: http://www.mediafire.com/?mtt5mjzazn3
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[SHADOW6]

HOW TO PLAY S4 League on vista and windows 7

well this is how i did it .....
Facts: the game is installed in fragments

so lets fix that

step 1 : install the game

step 2: download "Smart defrag" it will organize you hard drive

step 3: Play!

im currently playing s4 league on vista home prem

 

[Metroid]

Ok, fully tested (Had to make TOO many restarts)
1) If you run the game w/o stopping the service, it corrupts your settings file and you need to delete it if you want to play
2)If you deleted the settings file and stopped the service, you don't have to delete the settings file anymore (Unless you forgot to stop the service)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Since I'm too lazy to do that all the time, I made some batch files that help you fasten the process:
Run This 1st.bat - Deletes the settings file, stops the service, starts the game and then deletes itself
S4 League START.bat - Stops the service, starts the game
S4 League STOP.bat - Starts the service again (Use this after you closed the game)

Download: http://www.mediafire.com/?mnzv2zg3zdz
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
These batches work ONLY, when you have installed the game in the default folder (C:\Program Files\alaplaya\S4League\)

thanks, this worked for me as S4 wouldn't work on my W7 partition.
Also, I posted this info into a forums of a game I play for other S4 Euro players

EDIT: Fixed