234 replies to this topic

[ThunderPeel2001]

The game is fully compatible with Windows 7, I'm sorry to say I don't know what the problem is you're experiencing. Have you tried following the guide? Nowhere does it tell you to put anything on your desktop. Nor does it tell you to mount anything :/

[rtr86]

The cache=1 setting can be improved by setting the NTFS permission of the cache file to reject write in.Therefore,no cache will be made.Relatively,Cahce=1 setting still caches.Another rectification:"CD1:=C:\Program Files\Black Isle\Torment\CDALL" is meaningless,feel free to ignore line CD1 the same as line CD5.Your work is highly appreciated.

Interesting, but what one is the cache file?

[English learner]

The language above is Chinese.Select cache property-security-select "Administrator"-edit-permission:all refuse,this method does work!(support NTFS only)

[Jarno Mikkola]

The cache=1 setting can be improved by setting the NTFS permission of the cache file to reject write in.Therefore,no cache will be made.Relatively,Cahce=1 setting still caches.

Yes, but is it better to make the computer have a reason to copy a file to a folder and then restrict that action on a lower action level... that's like making the second counter always measure a 17 second periods of time, and then making it not able to show the 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, but allow the 17 again, guess how many times you would be able to stop it at the 17... a bad idea.

Interesting, but what one is the cache file?

It's not a file, it's a folder... the game uses it to store read info(from the CDs), so the game doesn't need to find the info in the CD3 while the CD2 is inserted, for example... but as you have the Full install, the all the CD's info is already in the data folder("CD1:=C:\Games\Torment\CDALL\" -folder) or in the game folder itself, so the size can be set to 1(as that's 1 Megabyte, which isn't much to store any info in it).

Posted Image

At least my default browser doesn't show anything else but this text, so I looked and the following picture in ?Chinese? was it:

To get to it, use the Right click on the folder... Then one only needs to push the "Advanced" and deny the "Write" option... Erhm, so it took it's time but now it's see-able here too.

Edited by Jarno Mikkola, 03 October 2010 - 09:23 AM.

[English learner]

[quote name='Jarno Mikkola' date='04 October 2010 - 01:09 AM' timestamp='1286125769' post='498268']
To get to it, use the Right click on the folder... Then one only needs to push the "Advanced" and deny the "Write" option...
This is it and the method works well.Personally,I cannot see any detriment in this approach,though it acts at a high level as changing the permission.

[ThunderPeel2001]

The cache=1 setting can be improved by setting the NTFS permission of the cache file to reject write in.

This is fascinating. I'll try it out, soon. Great idea!

(I have to wonder if just deleting or renaming the cache folder would have the same effect.)

[ThunderPeel2001]

I received the following message in my private inbox the other day. Rather than respond there, I'll do it here. That way anyone wondering about the same things can see my answers (and improve on them or contradict me, if needs be).

You have this: "Note: You can ignore the CD5 line, it's not used." in the main page... you should remove the whole "CD5:=D:\" reference as it's unneeded and totally out of place...

It is out of place, but it also causes no harm and is added by the game itself. Rather than complicate further an already extremely extensive installation procedure, I've simplified it as much as I can. Anything that doesn't actually give any benefit to the user (like this, or deleting the "CD1" line) is skipped.

and what you do with the 4 CD versions CD's info is bad idea, as you should be separating them to the CD2, CD3 and CD4, and reflect that into the torment.ini ... yes, it takes a bit more space, but at least you can know that you didn't delete the files from their respectable places(locations)

This is how the guide used to be, but changing it (thanks to a tip from a reader) made the entire installation process easier. Now users don't have to check four different folders for the correct number of files. Instead I give them one number (188 for the 4 or 1 disc version, and 108 for the 2 disc versions) and they can see immediately if there is a problem.

As you've pointed out, it additionally benefits the user by preventing them having an astonishing 500 megabytes(!) of duplicate files on their harddrive (almost an entire CDs worth!). It's a win-win improvement, I think.

Why do you put the "Maximum Frame Rate=40", when by default it's "...=30"

I felt that everyone looked like they're moving in slow motion on modern machines. 40 fps slightly improves their speed making the characters look more "real" and lifelike. (Increasing it further, though, makes them look like they're in a cartoon.) The slight speed increase also means you don't have to wait for ages for your characters to cross the screen, which is a good thing.

why the hell is there no end slash in these ? These: "\", without the quotes in:

HD0:=C:\Program Files\Black Isle\Torment
CD1:=C:\Program Files\Black Isle\Torment\CDALL
CD2:=C:\Program Files\Black Isle\Torment\CDALL
CD3:=C:\Program Files\Black Isle\Torment\CDALL
CD4:=C:\Program Files\Black Isle\Torment\CDALL

They all need them, well or they should have them so the computer programs don't have to be build in systems that do it.

This is how the folders are created by the game installation. I was very careful to check that there were no trailing slashes by default, in order to make sure that the guide was completely accurate. I have no idea what "the computer programs don't have to be build in systems that do it" means, but obviously the game doesn't need them, and adding them (going against the normal .ini file as created by the game) might, at worst, cause problems that are not immediately obvious.

And I would advice that you put something else than "Program Files" into that so the Windows Vista and 7 users get it that it's not the best place to install the game as the "Program Files" sub-directories all are protected by the Operation Systems so that they mirror the changed files to or from to other User Account -folders.

Yup, this message was actually many many added months ago. No idea why those looking to help improve the guide seem to miss it (I've had a few messages from people telling me to add it), but I've now put the text it in a large red box, hopefully it'll be more obvious.

I also received a message on the blog telling me I was a "monkey" for creating the "CDAll" folder, and that the user could just install all the files into the C:\Program Files\Black Isle\Torment folder. Hopefully the reasons why this is a bad idea are now obvious to anyone who's read the above.

Edited by ThunderPeel2001, 09 October 2010 - 06:58 AM.

[English learner]

The cache=1 setting can be improved by setting the NTFS permission of the cache file to reject write in.

This is fascinating. I'll try it out, soon. Great idea!

(I have to wonder if just deleting or renaming the cache folder would have the same effect.)

I have posted the same thing in your blog by the same name(740419913) weeks ago, but maybe you just missed it.I have tried to delete the folder or do something like that,only to find the game recreated "cache" folder itself. Therefore I thought of this permission method.
I once suggested to delete CD1 line，but your words of doing a effective and simple work sounds reasonable.By the way, I am 740419913@qq.com.

Edited by English learner, 09 October 2010 - 05:35 AM.

[ThunderPeel2001]

The cache=1 setting can be improved by setting the NTFS permission of the cache file to reject write in.

This is fascinating. I'll try it out, soon. Great idea!

(I have to wonder if just deleting or renaming the cache folder would have the same effect.)

I have posted the same thing in your blog by the same name(740419913) weeks ago, but maybe you just missed it.I have tried to delete the folder or do something like that,only to find the game recreated "cache" folder itself. Therefore I thought of this permission method.
I once suggested to delete CD1 line，but your words of doing a effective and simple work sounds reasonable.By the way, I am 740419913@qq.com.

Hi! Thanks for your reply. Yes, I think I remember seeing your message, but seeing it again here jogged my memory. It does seem like an excellent idea, and I'm looking forward to trying it (I'm hoping it will speed up loading times). Sorry for not jumping on your idea immediately, it's just very hard to find the time necessary to dedicate the amount of attention I need to.

[ThunderPeel2001]

It's not a file, it's a folder... the game uses it to store read info(from the CDs), so the game doesn't need to find the info in the CD3 while the CD2 is inserted, for example... but as you have the Full install, the all the CD's info is already in the data folder("CD1:=C:\Games\Torment\CDALL\" -folder) or in the game folder itself, so the size can be set to 1(as that's 1 Megabyte, which isn't much to store any info in it).

Actually, I'm not sure what the "1" stands for, but it's definitely not 1 megabyte. Mine is set to "1" and I currently have 125MB of cached files in it.

[Jarno Mikkola]

but I've now put the text it in a large red box, hopefully it'll be more obvious.

It probably wasn't indeed clear enough... and yes, the red box is lovely.

This is how the folders are created by the game installation. I was very careful to check that there were no trailing slashes by default, in order to make sure that the guide was completely accurate. I have no idea what "the computer programs don't have to be build in systems that do it" means, but obviously the game doesn't need them, and adding them (going against the normal .ini file as created by the game) might, at worst, cause problems that are not immediately obvious.

The program I am talking about ... is the WeiDU.exe that for example the Widesceen mod uses to install itself...

-cache folder-
Actually, I'm not sure what the "1" stands for, but it's definitely not 1 megabyte. Mine is set to "1" and I currently have 125MB of cached files in it.

The one would stand for the x in; maximum limit of "x MB" 's the cache can use, currently... if it would not been set by some other minimum, or is previously filled to maximum. You can and sometimes should actually clean up the "cache" folder... as it's just copied files from the previous games that have loaded them "for use" from the CD's... this removal can in theory at least slowdown the load time somewhat(but it should be just a few milliseconds), but it also can improve the crash freeness, and resource use.

Perhaps the best thing you could do(for load time) is first make a clean install which includes the starting of the game so it autosaves, then adjust it's size to huge("4000"), then to completely remove the "cache" folder... install mods, and then play the game until the cache folder has consumed all the data the game has(if it ever does), and keep it that way, until you wish to install another mod, then you just remove the whole cache folder, install the mod and then play again...

Edited by Jarno Mikkola, 27 October 2010 - 02:51 AM.

[ThunderPeel2001]

Hello everyone and thanks for an awesome installation guide for PST.

I've got the GOG-version with all the mods and I use D3DWindower to stop graphical bugs.

However - no ingame videos launch. Any tips on how to resolve this?

Ninja, I'm sorry I don't have your answer But can I ask you to confirm that you've installed the Fixpack onto your GOG version of the game and NOT had any problems with the game asking you for Disc 2? Thanks!

[English learner]

I wonder what will happen if we place all the ".bif" in the cache folder and maximize(or delete)the cache=1 line. It seems the game runs well at the beginning while I ain't sure if the cache folder will delete some files to remain its size limit.If it doesn't then this method would be rewarding.

[Jarno Mikkola]

I wonder what will happen if we place all the ".bif" in the cache folder and maximize(or delete)the cache=1 line. It seems the game runs well at the beginning while I ain't sure if the cache folder will delete some files to remain its size limit. If it doesn't then this method would be rewarding.

Well, you need to have the files twice, as you shouldn't be able to just place them to the cache folder cause they are refered to be in the data folder by the chitin.key or alike game library.