psclient and pssetup do not work(start)

[ede]

Time of test: 2006-08-14 16:00
OS: Windows XP, SP2(+ latest updates)
Processor: AMD Athlon XP 3000+
RAM: 1GB
Video Card: ATI All in Wonder 9800+(RADEON 9800 SE AGP)
Video Card Memory: 128MB
PS Client Version: 0.3.015
Description of the bug:

No error presented. Client(psclient.exe) starts and exits immediately. Same for pssetup.exe.
This was with installed 0.3.015, patched with patch015.zip and after running update.
Yes, the MD5 sum is right for the PlaneShift_CBV0.3.015.zip.

I uninstalled everything(rebooted), and installed the client package again (MD5 sum was correct). Client doesn't start at this occasion, neither the pssetup.exe. (By doesn't start, I mean it starts and exits immediately, no errors presented, no user interface visible).

Updated patch015.zip, client doesn't start, setup application does not start.

Ran updater, it downloaded lump of data without errors.
Client still doesn't star (same for the pssetup.exe, it doesn't start at any occasion either).

I've got directX9.0c(4.09.0000.0904).

Is there any error log or debug log or any way to diagnose where the execution halts (or why it will exit)?

System requirements should've been met.

[ThomPhoenix]

Try launching it with --verbose in the commandline.
You can also check start-->run-->eventvwr-->applications to see if at the time when you started psclient there were any errors.
If there where errors, post them here.

[ede]

Hello!

Nothing printed when running with --verbose(either the client or the setup application).

No errors nor warnings in event viewer either(Application, security nor the system - all cleared prior to run).

Updater starts ok, it checks for (after the first time update) missing or damaged files: which are none.

I do not have any virusscanner or similar running during the test either.

I noticed, if I start pssetup.exe with --help (from command line) it starts, opens a console window, prints nothing on it and quickly exists.
Running psclient with --help does the same, but for the brief moment the window is open I can barely recognize the message:
"DEBUG: Sound System Software Renderer Initializing..."

Wait a second, if I run psclient.exe --help --verbose I get more stuff to the window, but it closes so fast I cannot really see what in there even by running client multiple times :-( Managed to take a snapshot of the window:

Here goes:
SCF_NOTIFY: loading plugin c:\program files\planeshift crystal blue\vfs.dll to satisfy request for csVFS
VFS_NOTIFY: loaded configuration file: c:\progra~1\planeshift crystal blue\vfs.cfg
VFS_NOTIFY: merged configuration file c:\program files\planeshift crystal blue\vfs.cfg
SCF_NOTIFY: loading plugin c:\program files\planeshift crystal blue\freefnt2.dll to satisfy request for csFreeType2Server
SCF_NOTIFY: loading plugin c:\program files\planeshift crystal blue\csfont.dll to satisfy request for csDefaultFontServer
SCF_NOTIFY: loading plugin c:\program files\planeshift crystal blue\fontplex.dll to satisfy request for csFontServerMultiplexer
SCF_NOTIFY: loading plugin c:\program files\planeshift crystal blue\gl3d.dll to satisfy request for csGraphics3D
SCF_NOTIFY: loading plugin c:\program files\planeshift crystal blue\glwin32.dll to satisfy request for csGraphics2DOpenGL
SCF_NOTIFY: loading plugin c:\program files\planeshift crystal blue\sndsyssoft.dll to satisfy request for csSndSysRendererSoftware
DEBUG: Sound System Software Renderer Initializing...
SCF_NOTIFY: loading plugin c:\program files\planeshift crystal blue\sndsyswin.dll to satisfy request for SndSysDriverDirectSound
...(sndsysogg.dll, xmlreader, binddoc, dsplex, imgplex, spr3dbin, engine, csparser, csssynldr, sndmanager, csopcode)
SCF_NOTIFY: loading plugin c:\program files\planeshift crystal blue\reporter.dll to satisfy request for csReporter

the csReporter is the last line

But alas, that all..   

[ede]

One addition, the game runs well on Windows 2000...

"...
SCF_NOTIFY: loading plugin E:\Program Files\PlaneShift Crystal Blue\reporter.dll to satisfy request for csReporter
SCF_NOTIFY: loading plugin E:\Program Files\PlaneShift Crystal Blue\stdrep.dll to satisfy request for csReporterListener

crystalspace.graphics3d.opengl:
  Texture LOD bias -0.3
csDetectDriver: monitor name is '\\.\DISPLAY1'
csDetectDriver: driver name is 'NV4_DISP'
csDetectDriver: maybe DLL 'NV4_DISP' exists
csDetectDriver: found DLL 'NV4_DISP'
"

May be the game dies to loading the csReporter or the csReporterListener on my XP?

[ThomPhoenix]

Instead of doubleclicking on psclient.exe, you can also start it in dos directly.
Start-->Run-->cmd
Then type
E:
cd E:\Program Files\PlaneShift Crystal Blue
psclient.exe --verbose (or with the help added)

This way you can get a better look at the errors instead of just Prinscreen'ing at the right moment.

And as the game runs fine on your win 2000, try setting the compatability mode on Windows XP for psclient to win2000 and see what that does.
Shortcut to psclient-->rightclick-->properties-->compatability tab-->compatability mode.

Another thing you can try is removing both
E:\Program Files\PlaneShift Crystal Blue\reporter.dll
and
E:\Program Files\PlaneShift Crystal Blue\stdrep.dll
and run the updater to get the files again.

[ede]

Thanks for Your reply.

I'm running the program actually from the CLI. It doesn't print anything on the CLI window, but opens a new console (like in W2K, but there the opened console stays open - even if client exits to an error...asking to press enter to close the debug window). In XP, right after the reporter.dll is loaded, the client dies unexpectedly and closes the debug window (console) without any way to get it stay open. That's why only way to see what's going on is to use the print screen ;-(

Dunno if debug output of the client is buffered. If it is, then the actual place of death could very well be later - perhaps in the video driver loading (I've tried software rendering also  with no luck).

I've tried running in compatibility mode - no luck there either.

I've also tried removing the DLLs (temporarily by renaming them in hope for the client to die at DLL loading and perhaps allow me to pinpoint the actual location). Still the same, debug console and the client just vanish.

And tried to remove the DLLs and run updater, but problem remains :-(

I filed a bug report also, but apparently it is not considered as a bug :-)

Just have to hope they get a better built client out with more debug options. If I had VC7+ I'd try to build it my self. (It doesn't compile on VC6 they say).

[Bereror]

It is not considered a bug, because for most of the people the game works. There must be something on your PC that the game doesn't like.

The interesting thing is that the official 0.3.015 binary doesn't work on my PC either and the symptoms are exactly the same (the last message I see on the console window is the csReporter). Older versions didn't have any problems. Our PCs seems to be quite different, I have P4 2.4GHz with NVidia GeForce4 Ti 4200. We both do have Windows XP with SP2 installed. I don't have the latest M$ patches installed because I start my Windows PC only when there is no other way around

The development version built from sources works fine. Since you know what CLI means, perhaps you should consider building from sources   Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition is a free download and my development version is built with it.

Of course finding out what makes the game to not start on our PCs would be interesting as well.

[ThomPhoenix]

If you're going to try building from source, use this guide. Just paste it in an html file and open it up with your browser.

[LARAGORN]

Just a suggestion here;
   Since you both ( Ede and Bereror ) are having the same problems, maybe you both have a program or aplication, PS conflicts with.
I would suggest comparing your proccess list while trying to launch, perhaps you will find a common item.
    There dosent seem to be anything out of the ordinary with either system specs, and almost everyone else never has this prob.

Just my two tria

[ede]

Okay I'll eventually end up compiling the CVS HEAD client on windows (as the Express editions seem to be supported).

Gotta install the platform SDK, DirectX SDK, C++ express, Cal3d,CrystalSpace etc .. and get them all compiled together as well, alas sounds awfull lot of work just to give the client a try.
(or may be I'll just compile it on linux, sounds lotsa simpler, not to mention 1Gb less to download and install - but then I wouldn't have a chance to know what's really the problem..hmm

Thanks for all of you.

[ede]

Heh, well it went thru eventually, got the package built. Updater claims being newer than server and will not really update everything (thus the client won't properly start). I should copy art data et. all from original installation over to the debug, but that'll have to wait some..

I copied the psclient over the 0.3.15b and run it. It started, logged in even and crashed (which is obviously another story)

Just FYI, the debug build(of CVS HEAD) did whine about Reporter problems, which seems consistent with the prebuilt 0.3.15b client

DEBUG: Sound System Software Renderer Initializing...
WARNING! Suspicious: object with tag 'iReporter' does not implement interface 'iReporter'!
NOTIFY: PlaneShift Crystal Blue
WARNING! Suspicious: object with tag 'iReporter' does not implement interface 'iReporter'!
NOTIFY: This game uses Crystal Space Engine created by Jorrit and others
WARNING! Suspicious: object with tag 'iReporter' does not implement interface 'iReporter'!
NOTIFY: 0.99 r0 [Win32-X86-VisualC]
WARNING! Suspicious: object with tag 'iReporter' does not implement interface 'iReporter'!
NOTIFY: You will be PROMPTED before a crash dump is generated.  Format is Normal
 (Stack and Backtrace information only)
All LOGS are off.
Mounting skin: /this/art/skins/elves.zip
Mounting skin: /planeshift/art/skins/base/client_base.zip
WARNING! Suspicious: object with tag 'iReporter' does not implement interface 'iReporter'!
NOTIFY: psEngine initialized.
Using fontsize 13 for resolution 800x600
WARNING! Object '_s_bridge_01' is not closed!
WARNING! Object '_s_sigil_03' is not closed!
WARNING! Object '_s_sigil_01' is not closed!
WARNING! Object '_s_sigil_05' is not closed!
WARNING! Object 'spikes_03' is not closed!
WARNING! Object '_s_walls_01' is not closed!

So obviously there's something wrong...well gotta debug it further someday...