Messages

1

Archive / Re: Portable FF7 *UPDATE: Now with video proof!*

« on: 2008-09-30 10:09:23 »

That's what others are saying about the SSD trend in laptops, but, apparently, no one has encountered any such effects yet 

I use an XD card for my Olympus digicam. While I always buy one each year (since it is bad practice to keep your eggs in one basket), my first card (256mb) has gone through 3 different cameras and is still in commission to this day, with nary a read/write glitch.

The best way to make it last is to transfer or duplicate its essence to various cards (every year or two). I keep one in my HDD and another in a flash drive.

2

Archive / Re: Portable FF7 *UPDATE: Now with video proof!*

« on: 2008-09-09 16:12:37 »

Yup, right before they do their pose. I only installed the Chocobo patch and the MGP. I bypassed the laptop patch and all the others in YAMP.

* Ok, I disabled the truemotion codecs in K-Lite and everything seemed to run just fine. Solved... for now :p

* I think this would be the last big problem for the moment --- my movies won't play.

* After several experiments, I was able to isolate the cause and find a solution. I merely uninstalled K-lite, then reinstalled everything (KLM and TM). I used a different TM20 codec though (from the wiki... still the same but it's an executable). After disabling Truemotion in ffdshow and avi splitter in codec tweaks, I finally got the movies to run smoothly. Thanks again for this invaluable guide.

Oh yeah, it is normal for the game to quit to desktop when you finish playing? After the Red XIII epilogue and the explosion vid?

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Archive / Re: Portable FF7 *UPDATE: Now with video proof!*

« on: 2008-09-09 16:04:39 »

Argh, my first real problem. The first battle... When it was time for the victory fanfare, I was brought back to Windows. Any ideas why?

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Archive / Re: Portable FF7 *UPDATE: Now with video proof!*

« on: 2008-09-09 15:18:33 »

Thanks! Heh, brain lag  

I wonder why moviecam.lgp remained in the movies folder of the original discs though.

* and I am done!

FF7 Config = success
Entered the splash screen = success

Then this problem arose. Was going to quit to Windows. Pressed Ctrl+Q but couldn't move the cursor to Yes, even though I had the numlock key lit. Should I proceed with the cfg file?

* Nevermind... 4 and 6 (U and O without Numlock) were the left and right arrows.

5

Archive / Re: Portable FF7 *UPDATE: Now with video proof!*

« on: 2008-09-09 15:01:08 »

That's odd. I copied all the movies from Discs 1-3. Overlaps aside, disc 1 contains 54 files in the movie folder, 2: 62, and 3: 30. The moviecam isn't in any directory and I'm still hunting for that other file.

Here are screencaps:




If it's any help, I am using a newer EA Classics version of the game.
http://img366.imageshack.us/img366/8853/702de2.jpg
http://img387.imageshack.us/img387/4770/701mp9.jpg

* Moviecam.lgp is in ...Final Fantasy VII\data\cd

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Archive / Re: Portable FF7 *UPDATE: Now with video proof!*

« on: 2008-09-09 14:10:02 »

Yes it does. Pressing the Fn key activates it.

Am now at the movie transfer step. I am only getting 104 files though, instead of 106.

7

Archive / Re: Portable FF7 *UPDATE: Now with video proof!*

« on: 2008-09-09 12:56:08 »

But if I wish to keep the game as a permanent laptop program, then would it be best to do the k-lite codec tweaking after I've edited/patched the reg files and registered the *.bat file?

Installing the chocobo patch and the mgp as of this moment...

* Oh yeah, since you mentioned that I should attend to the patches prior to editing the exe file, then that means the laptop patch (cfg file) has to be transferred as well?

8

Archive / Re: Portable FF7 *UPDATE: Now with video proof!*

« on: 2008-09-09 12:39:46 »

Yeah, the burning itch to play seems to have returned in a more potent fashion. The laptop is actually on standby beside my desktop as I type.

Thanks. I got the file. Here's a virtual hero drink! Out of curiosity, I tried playing a movie file while waiting. It wasn't upside-down, so it didn't require the patch. I'm guessing this was because I bypassed the "install movie player thing" on the splash page. Anyway, since I am a K-lite user, I might as well anticipate for any future mishaps by installing TM2.0.

I was browsing through the forums to find these related stuff:

<If you installed K-Lite Codec Pack, you may have to install the Truemotion 1,2 codecs again. You'll have to go into FFDshow Video Decoder, and activate TrueMotion 1,2 (set it from Disabled to Libracodec or whatever that one that starts with a L is). You'll also have to make sure to uninstall any other codec pack before hand, otherwise they may conflict>

<If you have ffdshow installed (it comes with some popular codec packs, including the K-Lite codec pack and the CCCP), you must disable ffdshow's "True Motion" support through the ffdshow Video Decoder Configuration>

and this from another forum:

http://www.warp2search.net/contentteller/compatdb_details/final_fantasy_vii_windows,3.html

<YOU DON'T HAVE TO UNINSTALL CODECS!!!!!! That post is for EVERYONE WHO USE ffdshow. Truemotion 2.0 codec have been replaced by a different one in the ffdshow and you have to disable it. It's IN FFDSHOW VIDEO DECODER in the tab DirectShow Controls in the left. Put ff7.exe in the exceptions : "Do not use directshow in these applications." Edit... and browse for the ff7.exe. But you have to install Truemotion codec 2.0 http://wiki.qhimm.com/FF7/Technical/Customising the truemotion 2.0 codec And for each time you update your K-lite mega codec pack or whatever have ffdshow, you have to rewrite ff7.exe in the exception and have to reinstall ff7. That the bad news but it works>


I guess I can bypass True Motion 1 then... And I have no other choice but to disable the codecs. Now, regarding these actions, is it best to do them after everything else (i.e. step #18)?

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Archive / Re: Portable FF7 *UPDATE: Now with video proof!*

« on: 2008-09-09 12:02:55 »

I am currently approaching step 3. Since I don't plan on using a hi-res patch, I hope the separate chocobo patch and minigame patch would be enough.

Oh yeah, your tm20dec.ax (Truemotion codec for FMVs) link seems to be broken

Thanks, as usual, for the assist.

10

Archive / Re: Portable FF7 *UPDATE: Now with video proof!*

« on: 2008-09-09 09:49:35 »

Understood.

Now, onto the other speedbumps.
- Re: patching link ... Do I have to follow everything all the way to EAX? If yes, then what is the rationale with "screwing" with it? And why the numerous choices (i.e. MOV EAX,ESI)? I am under the impression that EAX is audio-related (and not some other acronym).

- I can remove OllyDbg when I am through with the procedure? I got 1.10.

- I think this will be my biggest hurdle (for OCD purposes): K-Lite. During my last PC install back in '06 (XP SP2), it went well, but I had to install riva tuner and the upside-down patch. However, when I upgraded my KLMCodec, the FMV's turned green. I don't know if it was a filter but anyway...
Suppose I install tm20dec.ax, do I have to deactivate certain filters/codecs in K-Lite (like libav)? And would this cause conflicts with my non-FFVII related media viewing?

11

Troubleshooting / Re: New to the boards and some help needed

« on: 2008-09-09 07:43:18 »

3. Ok, just d/l'ed and installed the 4.12 version of the SYXG-50

5. So what you are saying is that basically the reg file searches for the ffvii files (regardless of where they are installed) instead of being programmed to run from a removable directory? Then there is no need to rename directory files and reg entries of the guide to match the HDD target folder?

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Archive / Re: Portable FF7 *UPDATE: Now with video proof!*

« on: 2008-09-09 02:00:13 »

Cloudster:

I was reading the reg entry and the entries say 1.00. Shouldn't they be 1.02, since you've performed the upgrade at step #2?

Also, what changes to I have to perform in that reg file and any other concerned file if I want the game to be run from an HDD folder instead of a memory card?

Helpful guide, btw!

13

Troubleshooting / Re: New to the boards and some help needed

« on: 2008-09-09 01:34:50 »

2. Thanks!

3. Can I do without the whole Yamaha thing altogether?

5. I'm not an avid ISO user. I'd rather pick a no-cd patch or just do a reg tweak. Hmm, is there a way to modify that process from the link you sent me so that it runs from the HDD (specified folder) instead of a memory card?

14

Troubleshooting / New to the boards and some help needed

« on: 2008-09-08 22:58:45 »

Hi! It has been 2 years since I last installed/played this game and now I am feeling the burning need to play it again. This time, however, I plan to install it on my laptop. Here are the specs:
2gb RAM
Pentium Dual Core T2390 (1.8g)
160 GB (5400 rpm) HDD
X3100 integrated graphics
Windows XP SP3

Due to its modest specs and IGP, FFVII would be a good game for it. I just intend to run the basic game (full install, movies from HDD, 1.02 patch, Chocobo patch) without the additional stuff (YAMP, SBLive patch, NPC Project patch, Advent Children avatars, etc). Here are my questions:

1. When do I install the laptop patch? After everything else?

2. Since I have an Integrated, non NVIDIA card, will installing RIVATuner be necessary?

3. I bypass the DX5 stuff during my installs. Would it be fine if I also bypassed the Yamaha Synthesizer as well? (i won't be using the patch for high-quality FFVII music, though)

4. I have K-lite 4.1.7 installed on this PC and I am a regular updater. Since I don't want to compromise the whole laptop's operation by installing old codecs/downgrades for a single game, what is the best way to go about/around this thing? 
   
5. Being a laptop, I don't wish to subject the internal DVD drive to constant wear and tear. Now, with mixed feelings for no-CD patches (and I am wary of running a years-old DOS file on it anyway), is there a way to run the data from my HDD and bypass disc usage and disc swtiching altogether (i.e. editing the reg file, etc)? This would preserve not just my DVD drive but my CDs as well.

6. Is there anything else I should be aware of? Any tips or further advice?

Oh yeah, I took pictures of my game in case proof is needed:
http://img366.imageshack.us/img366/8853/702de2.jpg
http://img387.imageshack.us/img387/4770/701mp9.jpg

I can take more upon request.

Thanks!