Suddenly Stopped Working?

[tsb4eva]

Well, i got the game about 2 weeks ago, and it was working fine. Seeing that i had Windows XP and DirectX 9.0, i used the patch that made it work (sfc3_dx9_fix.exe or something simular). Everything was working fine, and i was playing through the game well, untill one day when i started playing it didn't work. I opened up the game, went to single player skirmish mode, but when i clicked to start the window closed and went back to the desktop! I tried restarting but it was still the same. It was even the same in all of the quests. Realising something must be wrong, i scanned my computer for viruses with an up to date McAfee Virus scan, and scanned it for spyware with Ad-Aware 6.0, but it still wouldn't work after that. I tried reinstalling the game, but it still closed and went back to the desktop when i played it. I looked in the help guide, and it said something like this might happen if EZDesk.exe was open at the same time, but i searched my whole computer for EZDesk.exe and it didn't find anything. I've tried everything i can think of. Perhaps a file or something might be missing on the CD, so there are 304 files and 49 folders if that's the case. If anyone can please tell me why this is happening it would be very helpful, thanks!

[strayhero]

this happens to loads of people, i had a problem were the game wouldn't even start.

first thing to try is, if you are running win xp:
1)go to the desk top icon right click on it
2)open properties
3)go to compatability and turn OFF visual themes

if that doesn't work or you aren't running win xp the do this: (you should do this anyway, even if the rubbish original version works!!)

1)uninstall the game
2)delete the game directory in c:/program files/activision
3)reinstall the game
4)download the 1.01 Beta 2 - UK Patch or 1.01 Beta 2 - US Patch, depending on were you live, from www.sfc3files.com (u can do this bit wenever u want)
5)install the patch
6)run the game


have a look at the mods on www.sfc3files.com aswell if you have a broadband or dsl modem (or 2 days to waste downloading) they turn the ultimately rubish game of sfc3 into a wonderfull joyhouse of gaming lovelliness some with around 250 playable ships. (i say that last bit because you say you recently got the game, if you know about mods ignore me, like my family do)

also you might want to get the newest beta patch and install that.

hope any of this extensive load of letters works for you

[tsb4eva]

Well, i did the 2nd option earlier, other than the Activision folder removal.

The thing is, i can't actually find the 'compatability' tab. I pressume you mean the Desktop icon in the Documents and Settings folder, and i also pressume you are referring to Windows XP? A bit of direction would be useful, i hardly ever go through the tabs to change settings like this so i don't really know, thanks again.

[y2k_37]

dude. i have the same problem exept that i get an error.

[tsb4eva]

Well if someone could tell us where the 'compatability' tab is then i guess it will work.

[tsb4eva]

Okay, i've found it now, if anyone needs a solution:

Right click on 'My Computer'
Properties
Advanced
Performance Settings
Visual Effects
Click on 'custom'
Disable 'Use visual styles on windows and buttons'
Apply

...Thanks alot for your help strayhero!