No luck getting Wing commander to install on my 386

[oblivion]

well apparently I'm just destined to not play this game. my boxed copy of WC has 4 5 1/4 1.2mb disks. I have no idea how many disks the game originally came on. all the disks work fine and when I get to disk 4 in the install process it installs a few files then asks for disk 4 (the disk installed). on looking at my disk #4 it has "secret missions" on the label leading me to believe that maybe my copy is missing the actual disk #4 and instead I have the 4th disk to the expansion?

so I went on Ebay and bought another copy on 3 1/2 1.44mb disks. unfortunately they are corrupt. you can see all the files on the disk but when you try to run the game from disk or install I get a "abort/retry/fail" error. also tried on a different system and drive to same effect.

so, can anyone confirm how many 5 1/4 disks the original game came on or possibly have a solution? This was basically the game I setup my 386 to play.

oh yeah. also if I go to play the game off the 5 1/4 it loads very slowly, gets past the title screen then crashes due to a memory error. that may of been a 1 time thing though as it involved about a hundred disk swaps so I didn't attempt it a second time.

 

[Stone]

FWIW, I have WC 1 on three 1.2MB disks.

 

[krebizfan]

The copy of Wing Commander 1 I have also has only 3 disks with Secret Missions being just one additional disk.
I would suggest to using one of the CD-ROM versions or copying all of the files to the Hard Disk and install from there. I don't know if there was a bug with the specific installer you have but having all the files and all the disk.00? identity files in the same place, it will find the correct file even if the file is listed on the wrong disk.

 

[Unknown_K]

My boxed WC 1 is a special promo limited edition value priced (whatever that means) 3 x 3.5" HD disks. A 286-12 is what it was targeted for so a fast 386 might be too fast for it (or the installer might crash).

 

[fs5500]

I have original package of WC1 as 5.25" (1.2MB)

WC1 (Original Release in 1990, not re-released in 1991) : 5.25" 2HD (1.2MB) x 3EA (Disk #1 / Disk #2 / Disk #3)
WC1 Secret Mission #1 : 5.25" 2HD (1.2MB) x 1EA --> Also released as Disk #4 of WC1
WC1 Secret Mission #2 : 5.25" 2HD (1.2MB) x 1EA --> Also released as Disk #5 of WC1


WC1 SM#1/#2 is add-on for WC1.
They only can be installed seperately.
It runs on DOSBOX well.

Only Disk 1-3 needs to install WC1 main program.

 

[oblivion]

Why does my install ask for a disk 4 and it won't let me complete the install? I'll try installing disk 1 to 3 tonight and aborting when it asks for disk 4 and see if that works. was there a CD release of this game?

 

[fs5500]

Why does my install ask for a disk 4 and it won't let me complete the install? I'll try installing disk 1 to 3 tonight and aborting when it asks for disk 4 and see if that works. was there a CD release of this game?

You had better send disk image by PM.
I can check the version and its status.

 

[oblivion]

I got it to sort of work. I ran the install and when it asked for disk 4 I just aborted the install.
so now when I run the game I get the title screen and credits fine but right after that I get this error

"error while allocating memory"
INTRO.DAT #0 (ERR 2 PS-1 LB319958 FL0) at LP4

any ideas?

 

[fs5500]

The best way is that you attach the diskimage and compare and check the disk image.

Original 5.25" 1.2MB version of WC1 doesn't ask disk 4 while installing process.

 

[fs5500]

Wing Commander (5.25" 1.2MB 2HD version) file lists


(Disk 1)

Volume in drive A has no label
Directory of A:\

DISK 001 50 09-19-90 5:50a
WC EXE 302,384 09-19-90 7:53a
INSTALL EXE 51,230 09-08-90 12:29p
INSTALL DAT 928 09-18-90 11:18a
GAME PAL 1,120 03-29-90 4:48p
ARROW VGA 299 09-06-90 5:07p
FONTS FNT 7,664 09-07-90 3:30p
WINGLDR TIM 5,596 09-18-90 3:54p
CONVERT PAL 256 08-01-90 4:22p
PCSHIP V00 79,186 09-15-90 6:59p
SHIP V06 92,859 09-07-90 3:22p
SHIP V07 90,532 09-07-90 3:23p
SHIP V08 102,872 09-07-90 3:24p
SHIP V15 99,824 09-12-90 6:22a
SHIP V17 87,302 09-07-90 3:26p
MUSIC MID 139,707 09-12-90 6:51a
MODULE 000 22,085 09-17-90 8:25a
PLANETS VGA 10,548 08-28-90 8:02p
OBJECTS VGA 74,985 08-24-90 12:10a
STRAX DRV 4,869 09-17-90 8:36a
COCKPIT VGA 28,434 09-07-90 3:31p
CAMP 000 651 09-16-90 7:22p
22 file(s) 1,203,381 bytes
5,632 bytes free


(Disk 2)


Volume in drive A has no label
Directory of A:\

DISK 002 50 09-19-90 6:15a
PCSHIP V01 89,328 09-13-90 1:02p
PCSHIP V02 71,847 09-07-90 3:20p
PCSHIP V03 86,409 09-07-90 3:21p
PCSHIP V04 16,108 09-07-90 3:21p
PILOTANM VGA 88,377 08-07-90 3:49p
SCRAMBLE VGA 165,009 08-29-90 4:34p
SHIP V18 94,854 09-12-90 6:23a
SHIP V21 47,855 09-12-90 6:24a
SHIPTYPE V00 43,254 09-07-90 3:28p
SHIPTYPE V01 50,639 09-07-90 3:28p
SHIPTYPE V02 40,923 09-07-90 3:28p
SHIPTYPE V03 47,874 09-07-90 3:29p
SHIPTYPE V09 45,287 09-07-90 3:29p
SHIPTYPE V10 49,511 09-15-90 1:20p
SHIPTYPE V11 53,016 09-07-90 3:30p
SHIPTYPE V12 50,607 09-07-90 3:30p
SHIPTYPE V13 45,517 09-07-90 3:30p
SHIPTYPE V29 8,799 08-20-90 4:01p
COMMUNIC DAT 12,320 09-16-90 4:55p
WINGMEN VGA 29,963 08-07-90 3:56p
MIDGAME V02 62,986 09-13-90 7:58a
22 file(s) 1,200,533 bytes
7,680 bytes free


(Disk 3)


Volume in drive A has no label
Directory of A:\

DISK 003 50 09-19-90 6:19a
SUPERTM DRV 65,281 09-15-90 10:43p
TM DRV 29,283 09-15-90 10:43p
INTRO DAT 630 09-13-90 5:20p
TALKING VGA 137,800 09-13-90 8:48a
BRIEFING VGA 290,931 09-06-90 2:01a
RECROOM VGA 151,583 09-18-90 12:56p
BRIEFING 000 222,360 09-19-90 7:32a
MIDGAME V00 64,561 09-13-90 7:59a
MIDGAME V01 51,885 09-13-90 7:59a
MIDGAME V03 37,231 09-13-90 7:59a
TITLE VGA 150,008 09-17-90 12:48p
SAVEGAME WLD 6,624 09-17-90 11:41p
13 file(s) 1,208,227 bytes
1,536 bytes free

 

[oblivion]

how do I go about doing this? can you recommend a program to use? I've made disk images with winimage or something before but that was in win xp and with 3 1/2 disks. I don't even think xp supports 5 1/4 drives if i did go through the trouble of connecting one.

 

[fs5500]

Wing Commander : Secret Mission (5.25" 1.2MB 2HD version) file list


Secret Mission 1 : (Known as Disk 4 of WC1)

Volume in drive A has no label
Directory of A:\

SHIP V04 98,793 10-03-90 12:17p
SHIP V20 106,178 11-21-90 1:03p
SHIP V05 109,832 10-03-90 12:20p
SHIP V16 98,132 10-03-90 12:23p
DISK 004 8 10-18-90 3:10p
SERIES VGA 15,486 11-07-90 4:03p
INSTALL SEC 256 11-20-90 11:15a
INSTALL DAT 1,120 11-15-90 12:01p
INTRO DAT 687 11-16-90 8:05p
CAMP 001 456 11-21-90 1:27p
MIDGAME V05 136,493 11-21-90 1:26p
MODULE 001 18,595 11-21-90 1:27p
INSTALL EXE 53,696 11-21-90 4:32p
BRIEFING 001 85,455 11-21-90 1:26p
MIDGAME V04 27,618 11-21-90 1:26p
TRANSFER EXE 71,088 11-20-90 3:11p
CONVERT PAL 256 08-01-90 4:22p
17 file(s) 824,149 bytes
386,048 bytes free


Secret Mission 2 : (Known as Disk 5 of WC1)

Volume in drive A has no label
Volume Serial Number is 351D-12EC
Directory of A:\

DISK 005 8 02-11-91 11:35a
MIDGAME V06 38,083 02-06-91 6:06p
MIDGAME V07 148,941 02-15-91 9:04a
MIDGAME V08 83,661 02-14-91 11:49a
BRIEFING 002 91,173 02-27-91 9:43a
TRANS2 EXE 71,200 02-27-91 12:03p
COMMSM2 DAT 12,320 02-24-91 4:42p
SHIP V19 85,884 02-05-91 4:05p
WINGMEN1 VGA 2,057 02-05-91 5:16p
SHIPTYPE V14 48,575 02-05-91 4:04p
PLANETS1 VGA 8,598 02-08-91 2:06p
TALKING1 VGA 33,859 02-12-91 10:45a
CAMP 002 424 02-26-91 3:44p
MODULE 002 17,765 02-26-91 2:45p
INSTALL SEC 320 02-20-91 3:46p
PCSHIP V05 105,764 02-17-91 7:54p
INSTALL2 EXE 56,288 02-20-91 3:50p
TITLE1 VGA 31,467 02-17-91 8:15p
SM2 EXE 305,024 02-26-91 12:40p
INTRO1 DAT 743 02-21-91 4:51p
CONVERT PAL 256 08-01-90 4:22p
21 file(s) 1,142,410 bytes
66,048 bytes free

 

[fs5500]

how do I go about doing this? can you recommend a program to use? I've made disk images with winimage or something before but that was in win xp and with 3 1/2 disks. I don't even think xp supports 5 1/4 drives if i did go through the trouble of connecting one.

You can dump it by Teledisk 2.1x or ImageDisk 2.1x on DOS.
Also you can use DCOPY.EXE or WIMAGE.EXE

 

[oblivion]

You can dump it by Teledisk 2.1x or ImageDisk 2.1x on DOS.
Also you can use DCOPY.EXE or WIMAGE.EXE

ok, that's right I'm slightly familiar with teledisk but its been awhile. I put the game away back in the box under the desk so I will pull it out tommarow and see what I can do and let you know. thanks for the help.

 

[Maverick1978]

FWIW, Wing Commander will run absolutely fine on both a 386 and a 486, although both WCI and WC2 will run really fast in the cutscenes if you're using a 486DX processor.

Jimmy, there were two floppy versions of Wing Commander, the regular version, which was just the main game, and the "Deluxe" version, which also included the Secret Missions 1 and 2. I've never actually my Deluxe, but I can tell you that the label match exactly the standalone products (as Secret Missions were sold separately as an add-on to WC I)

That said, it might be that if you've got the Deluxe version, that the installer program might have been modified to install all 5 disks at once (3xWCI and 2xSM1&2)

 

[fs5500]

FWIW, Wing Commander will run absolutely fine on both a 386 and a 486, although both WCI and WC2 will run really fast in the cutscenes if you're using a 486DX processor.

Jimmy, there were two floppy versions of Wing Commander, the regular version, which was just the main game, and the "Deluxe" version, which also included the Secret Missions 1 and 2. I've never actually my Deluxe, but I can tell you that the label match exactly the standalone products (as Secret Missions were sold separately as an add-on to WC I)

That said, it might be that if you've got the Deluxe version, that the installer program might have been modified to install all 5 disks at once (3xWCI and 2xSM1&2)

At least there is no question for installing from Disk 4 or Disk 5 in 1990 (Original Release -- vB.19).
Deluxe version must be released in 1992.
But if installer asked to install Disk #4 / Disk #5, WC1 version must be updated in 1991 (vB.24) or 1992 (?)
I don't know Installer of WC1 vB.24 asks to insert Disk #4.

 

[Agent Orange]

FWIW, Wing Commander will run absolutely fine on both a 386 and a 486, although both WCI and WC2 will run really fast in the cutscenes if you're using a 486DX processor.

Have you tried turning off the the cache in the 486? I have a small Intel executable that might help. Very easy to run out of a batch.

 

[oblivion]

i'm gonna dig the game back out in a minute but from my research I read a 25mhz 386 was generally agreed to be the "perfect" speed for this game. that's what I'm currently running.

 

[oblivion]

well I got it working but not through the disks. I think the issue was when I forced the game out of the install after disk 3 is never got to the step where it "decommpressed" the graphics. i could be wrong though. I aquired a CD version of the game it installed and runs just fine on my 386.

I did try running teledisk on the 5 1/4 floppies but the program locks up when I try to copy the disk to files. I can do a straight copy of the files and pm them to you if that works but as for a disk image it doesnt seem to be working. the labels on the floppies says 1990 and I cant find anything on the box, disks or paperwork that claims it to be any deluxe edition but i can completely confirm that it aks for disk 4 on install and you can't skip it

 

[Maverick1978]

FWIW, Wing Commander will run absolutely fine on both a 386 and a 486, although both WCI and WC2 will run really fast in the cutscenes if you're using a 486DX processor.

Have you tried turning off the the cache in the 486? I have a small Intel executable that might help. Very easy to run out of a batch.

I'm recalling from memory nearly 20 years ago. I haven't actually ran the original versions since my 486 was the thing to have Since then, I've always used my Kilrathi Saga CD's to play the games. Back then, I had just installed an overdrive processor on my 486sx25 to make it a 486DX2-50. Before doing this, WC1/2 ran at normal speeds in the cut-scenes, with WC2 animation perfectly in-sync with the audio. After installing the Overdrive, WC2 animations would be over in seconds while the audio played at normal speeds.

My Packard Bell had a Turbo Button on it, which actually did cut down on the speeds (whether by turning caching off or by playing with the clock, I don't really know - I've never investigated it). Turning Turbo off would make things a little better in WC2, but not much. Setting Turbo to off and running some of the slowdown utilities of the day helped even further.

That's the best as I can remember, anyways.