Problem with Animevamp's XP Patch

[littledrop]

Well, after reading what some of you had to say on these forums, I regretted installing the XP Patch and now I'm pretty pissed about it. You see, the patch seemed to have permenantly changed my MIDI synthesizer... Is there a way that I can bring it back to normal?

[Aaron]

That's the problem with the patch.  It replaces your GM.DLS file with a new one that makes the MIDI sound crappy.

You can restore the GM.DLS file from your Windows CD-ROM.  For Windows 2000/XP, the file is stored on the CD in the i386 folder as "GM.DL_" and you can extract it with Winzip.  However, you may run into Windows's automatic file protection (you try and overwrite GM.DLS but it just replaces it with the old one, because it thinks you're trying to mess with system files).  I can't remember how to get around this off the top of my head, but someone else might know or you can Google it.

Alternatively, you could use something besides the MS synthesizer (if you have anything else). You can select which MIDI device is default in the Sounds and Audio Devices control panel, Audio tab (MIDI Music Playback option).

[littledrop]

Thanks once again. Haha, you're the same guy who helped me with my ficedula.dll post  

[EmperorSteele]

Yeah, your problem was using that patch in the first place... =(

[Messiah99]

However, you may run into Windows's automatic file protection (you try and overwrite GM.DLS but it just replaces it with the old one, because it thinks you're trying to mess with system files).  I can't remember how to get around this off the top of my head, but someone else might know or you can Google it.

I believe you just replace the file in Windows' DLL Cache. Ive never had to do it myself, someone tell me if Im wrong.

Alternatively, you could use something besides the MS synthesizer (if you have anything else). You can select which MIDI device is default in the Sounds and Audio Devices control panel, Audio tab (MIDI Music Playback option).

Easy way out: Install the Yamaha MIDI Synth from the FF7 install disc.

[Aaron]

The Yamaha MIDI Synth included on the FF7 install disc does not work in Windows 2000/XP.  The install seems to go fine, but no new MIDI devices are available for use afterwards.  (The Yamaha S-YXG50 4.0 Synth does work in Windows 2000/XP, but it isn't free, and last I heard it had been discontinued.)

I looked in the DLL Cache folder and didn't see a GM.DLS, but I still thought that was the correct solution myself.  Oh well.

[Goku7]

No, it's registry key you have to modify in order to disable the DLS auto-replacement, or remove GM.dls from the list of protected files.

The information that I'm basing this method on can be found here.

Granted, its for WinME, but the other versions of windows probably do the same thing the same way.

1.) Open up C:\Windows\System\Restore\filelist.xml in notepad/wordpad.

2.) Search the file for any mention of GM.DLS, and remove it.

3.) Save the file.

Hopefully, that should make windows turn a blind eye to your manual replacement of GM.dls.

[Jedimark]

I think maybe the switch:

sfc /scannow

Will scan all protected system files and check that they are the orriginal versions and replace them if they are not.

[J*** H*******]

Message

[Aaron]

Yeah, I just tried messing with the GM.DLS... looks like XP didn't really care. Maybe ME is the only OS that cares about you replacing that file.