I have this game on disc and from Steam. I don't seem able to play either.

I had it downloaded for some time so tried to play that but was getting a message that the game was already open, and it was clocking playing time but the game was not open. I looked at the Steam troubleshooting but it did not really help me. I did not uninstall and re-install as I decided I would just play the game in my XP. (When I had MY XP, the game ran fine but I never actually played it, only started it to see what it looked like.)

I just installed it in the XP I use now but get an error message that main.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close.

Any suggestions (easy ones only please)?

Thanks.

I see in the Windows 7 and Games thread that this game plays on Windows 7 so uninstalling Steam and going to try the disc in here.

The official patch removed the SecuROM v7 copy "protection" on the game disc because even at the time the game was released it prevented the game from starting on some legitimate buyers' computers.

So I recommend trying the patch.

Just because a DVD drive was able to work as intended with the copy "protection" several years ago doesn't mean that the same DVD drive, now many years older and with more variability of speed due to age, can still work as intended with that same copy "protection."

I think the patch at patches-scrolls.de is the correct one, or you can try downloading the patch through the web archive of the game website ***here*** (which seems to be very slow -- the patch was only 18.7 kb but took several minutes to download).

There are quite a few suggestions in this thread about getting the Steam/Windows 7 version to work.

You may want to check the Discussion forum on Steam for Vampire Story. Several people have had issues getting the game to run and there are several different suggestions on how to fix it. Some got it to work, others didn't. Looks like you had the same idea Marian.

I'll look around some more and think on it. I really don't like fiddling as I worry I will mess up my computer.

It does not work in my Windows 7 either, not Steam or the disc. It does appear to be running somewhere in here but not where I can see and play it. In task manager, it does not show under applications but if main.exe is the game, that does show under processes.

Jenny - I'm not trying to play it in a computer/DVD drive I used before. These are different computers.

Thanks to all 3 of you for you suggestions. If I get it running somewhere, I'll let you know.

They both downloaded in just a minute or so for me. The patch does not appear to remove SecuROM. I've downloaded it from both places and it doesn't appear to make any difference. This is what it says:



What is AA graphics card support? Brain is not picking up on that!

Keep in mind that SecuROM v7 is the kind of DRM junk that may actually be blocked outright in current versions of Windows 7, preventing any chance of the game running. Of course there could be some other problem preventing it from running since the Steam version wouldn't have disc-based DRM.

Try the patch -- if you haven't already. Removing the SecuROM wasn't all it fixed. There is a readme with it that mentions "safe AA" if you're having trouble starting the game. Here is the readme from the patch downloaded from archive.org. Bolding/underlining is mine and has to do with an option the patch adds for the game not starting.



AA (anti-aliasing) is implemented differently in current video cards from how it used to be in older video cards/older drivers/older DirectX. I'm not sure if Vampyre Story is an old enough game that this is a concern, but if it is, that could prevent the game from starting.

Ah, of course! Anti-aliasing. Duh!

I played the game from my disk on my Windows 7 drive before they "updated" the OS with the DRM blocking like Windows 8 and Windows 10 have. Don't get me started on THAT!

Anyway, the patch is the same from both patches.de and from the link you provided, Jenny. But it doesn't seem to remove the SecuROM junk.

I tried the patch in Win 7 but it did not seem to work and then I lost the main.exe in the game files. I don't know if/what I did wrong but I'm done playing with it in Win 7. I uninstalled the game. Not worth wrecking my computer. Anyway though, why would it be running somewhere in the system (under processes anyway) but not actually running?

It's still installed in my XP. I'm already too frustrated with it to continue any trouble shooting now. Maybe later, but it looks like I will probably not be playing this game.

Can't say I blame you, oldbroad. It's such a great game - definitely one of my favorites.

I don't remember where I read about the patch removing the SecuROM (10 years ago so I can't search to check the source). There are some No-DVD's that you can find with a web search, but a SecuROM problem with the disc version wouldn't explain why the Steam version doesn't work for so many people.

There may be more than one issue with newer operating systems like Windows 7 -- or at least with "Windows 7 with recent updates" -- even though Steam lists Windows 7 as compatible. Maybe it really only works with Windows 7 if it's unpatched and has no service packs added.

Anyway, I think installing the patch with the "Safe AA" option on XP might be worth a try.

I was thinking the same thing - nothing to lose!

EDIT: No luck. One thing I made sure I did was drill down to the game location for the patch. The default is to c:\Program Files (x86)\A Vampyre Story. The game actually installs to Program Files(x86)\The Adventure Company\A Vampyre Story.

So Draclvr, are you unable to play the game in your Windows 7 now? And did you just try the patch in XP or Win 7?

I already uninstalled in XP also but am actually re-downloading from Steam, though I'm not sure why. I guess I'm just not quite ready to give it up.

Try looking at the suggestions from Steam posters through that link in my previous post.

Hi Marian. Sorry, I did not mean to ignore you. I did look at the suggestions in the Steam link you provided but most of what is there is not something I will attempt. Probably. We'll see.

Thanks!

Suggestions for the Steam version (from Marian's Steam forum link):

• Run the game directly from Main.exe and not through Steam.
• Run Main.exe as Administrator (right-click Main.exe and select Run As Administrator)
• Use compatibility mode on the Main.exe with the box for "disable display scalings on high DPI" checked.

The first part of the problem is that I don't know where to find the Steam games, other than in the Steam ap. This is not the first time I've looked and been unable to find them. Since I can't find the games, I can't find the main.exe to change any compatibility.

OMG - now I think I found the games but when I clicked on A Vampyre Story, all of a sudden it is no longer in the list of games??????????

2nd Edit: Yep. I tried to "play" from in the Steam ap and got an error that the executable file is missing. Going to restart my computer and (maybe) try again or maybe play Quern!!

No, I'm working on it in Windows 10. But it won't work in Windows 7 either because of an update they did several years ago which blocks certain forms of DRM as it does in Windows 10. A Vampyre Story has SecuROM DRM on it which is one of the forbidden forms of DRM.

How weird.
I've only heard of that when an antivirus deleted a game exe
So you didn't see a "Main.exe" at all there?


Not too surprising considering your previous error.
Steam thinks it isn't there.
Did it uninstall itself?
Can you reinstall?
Is this on the Windows 7 computer or the XP computer?

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I have the DRM-free version of Vampyre Story from DotEMU and it won't start on my Windows 7 x64 computer. I haven't tried the patch or the compatibility toolkit yet, but I'm thinking the problem isn't limited to the DRM.

Maybe I should boot up my Windows 7 drive. I wonder if the game is still on it.

I don't know what is going on here. I posted something that seems to be gone now. I guess I didn't hit submit. I restarted my computer and A Vampyre Story folder was still not there but I did find it. I accidentally moved it into the 1 Moment of Time folder above it. (This is why I don't like messing around too much. I don't trust myself.) Anyway, I tried the following with no luck.



Is that toolkit thing as easy as it sounds and safe or am I better off not attempting it?

I'm in Windows 7 with Steam. I reinstalled the game to try it again. I thought Norton might have done something to it because I know it did quarantine some games on me but I don't see that being a problem with this one. Although, I couldn't find the right spot to check in Norton so I thought the reinstall might show me something if that was the problem.

It comes from Microsoft and you're not using it on anything but the game's exe so it should be safe.

I haven't used it (never heard of it before the Steam thread) but the directions "Adeptus Mechanikum" gave don't look too bad.

Jenny, did you happen to try the toolkit?

I just got back to looking at this game and decided to try the rest of the suggestion in Steam where you change the libpandadx9.dll to have a 2 at the end, start the game, turn off anti aliasing, and then go back and remove that 2. If there is a cut scene at the beginning, I did not see it but the game did open up to the menu. I also restarted my computer because the game did say restart was required after changing the aa (unless it meant restarting the game, I don't know). Anyway, the game will not start again now, but, I noticed in my task manager, next to the main.exe*32 under processes, in the CPU column it shows a 13 or a 12 in there (it changes back and forth). All other processes show 00 under CPU. Does this mean anything useful or is that normal?

Also, trying the patch again since I'm not sure what I did with it the other day. I put it in the game folder and extracted it and moved the extracted .exe into the game folder (it goes into it's own folder when extracted) but then you have to install it and it shows that it will install to
C:\Program Files (x86)\A Vampyre Story.

Is that correct or should it have all the Steam/Steam Ap etc. in there? I clicked the "Safe AA" and it shows "Completing A Vampyre Story Patch Wizard - A Vampyre Story has been patched on your computer, but the game still does not start. When I click on the patch exe it just goes through the patch installation again.

Oh now I remember. I tried the patch with my disc version but I don't think I did it right after seeing this tonight.

Another edit: I tried to do the toolkit download but got a 404 error - not found - download no longer available. Well, that was when I clicked through the Steam posting. I googled and found the download but it does say it is no longer supported. Downloaded but not sure about trying it. At least not tonight.

I think the patch has to be located in the same folder as the game's exe before you run the patch. So if you're using Steam, the location would be where Steam puts the game's .exe file.

Thanks Jenny. I'm not sure when you posted your response but I added more stuff to my post. I think I'm done for tonight though.

I do have the patch in the same folder, I just don't know where it's actually installing.

I put all the steam\steamapps\common\game in there with A Vampyre Story. Still nothing. Maybe I'm doing it wrong. Don't know.

Well, I'm trying the toolkit but used 64-bit administrator and it says that that program only fixes 64-bit applications, not 32-bit applications and that I should use the 32-bit administrator. Sound right?

Out of interest, after reading through this thread, I just installed the game on my Win7 machine to see what might happen.

[I have the DVD version which I bought when it was originally released but have never got round to playing.]

It took a very long time to install and the version of DirectX that was on the disk was also installed.

Once I had cursor control I moved the character a little then saved. Moved the character again and then loaded the save I had just made. And all was fine.
[Everything else appears to be working perfectly, too.]

EDIT : I do have the patch to try, though, in case that happy state of affairs doesn't continue

My computer specs are :

Operating System
Windows 7 Enterprise 64-bit SP1
CPU
Intel Core i5 3570K @ 3.40GHz 38 °C
Ivy Bridge 22nm Technology
RAM
8.00GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 800MHz (9-9-9-24)
Motherboard
Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. Z77-D3H (Intel Core i5-3570K CPU @ 3.40GHz) 28 °C
Graphics
Hanns.G HL196 (1280x1024@60Hz)
1023MB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti (CardExpert Technology) 32 °C
Storage
465GB Western Digital WDC WD5000AAKX-22ERMA0 (SATA) 30 °C
931GB Seagate ST1000DM003-9YN162 (SATA) 26 °C
465GB Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex USB Device (USB (SATA)) 29 °C
Optical Drives
HP DVD Writer 1270t
Audio
NVIDIA High Definition Audio

Do you have a link to the file you downloaded? Maybe what you downloaded is a different version of the file? Adeptus Mechanikum's post is from Sept. 1, which isn't that long ago, and I was able to download the ApplicationCompatibilityToolkitSetup.exe file from
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=7352
just now so the link should still be good.


I don't see any exact instructions from someone who got it working in that Steam thread, but the readme for the patch I downloaded (which is for the DVD version) says this:

So it appears that you can adjust the path during the process of running the patch, which means you shouldn't have to worry about putting the file in the same folder before running it -- provided you have the same patch. Did the patch you used come with a readme?


Make sure you have version 5.6 of the toolkit. "Adeptus Mechanikum" didn't say whether he was using 64-bit or 32-bit, but most people have 64-bit and he didn't mention anything about only fixing 64-bit applications.

If you haven't used the "compatibility troubleshooter" that's built into Windows, you could try that. One of the posters at Steam said the following (though I'm not sure he actually tried it):


One problem with my version of the game (from DotEMU) is that the DirectX 9 installer didn't appear to run, so I may be missing the specific versions of DirectX 9 files the game needs. That could be why mine isn't working -- I double-click the file, the mouse cursor indicates something is trying to load for a couple of seconds, and then gives up. I haven't played many games on this installation of Windows 7, and the ones I have played are either made for Windows 7 or use DOSBox or ScummVM, so it's quite possible I'm missing DirectX 9 files. I'm not sure if that applies to your problems since you installed the disc version (which should have the DirectX 9 files the game needs included with it).

As for why you'd need to install DirectX 9 when you've installed it before for different games,
https://www.howtogeek.com/323523/why-does-every-pc-game-install-its-own-copy-of-directx/

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Mad, it's interesting you're able to get it running.
You're the only person I know who has Windows 7 Enterprise, though I don't know if that has anything to do with the game running.

Did you (or your tech) ever at any time in the past use the "fix" to allow SafeDisc and SecuROM to run?
The "fix" is described here
https://www.howtogeek.com/230773/how-to-...-8-7-and-vista/

Hi Jenny100

I can't see why having the "Enterprise" version of Win7 should make a difference as to how a game might run. But then what do I know ????

And no. Neither my Son in Law (who builds my machines) nor I have ever used that fix.

Windows 7 "Enterprise" is strictly a business class version of Windows 7 and not available for purchase by home users. Home users may be able to purchase "Pro" and "Ultimate" versions of Windows 7, but those aren't the same as "Enterprise."

There may be differences in what programs are allowed to run on the "Enterprise" version. There are certainly other differences, even between "Enterprise" and "Ultimate."

Some people will swear up and down that only SafeDisc was blocked by security updates in Windows 7. Other people (like HowToGeek) say both SafeDisc and SecuROM are blocked. Some users say they're able to play SecuROM-infected games only after applying a NoCD, which certainly suggests there is a problem with SecuROM. So it depends on who you ask. Add to that that Windows 7 Enterprise may have slightly different restrictions from the versions of Windows 7 that home users are able to purchase.

Jenny, that's where I downloaded the toolkit so that is the one I have. In the installed folder it has both a 32-bit and a 64-bit Compatibility Administrator. I used the 64-bit because my computer is 64-bit. So is it safe to use the 32-bit? Apparently the game is 32-bit? I don't know enough about this "bit" stuff so didn't want to go ahead and use the 32-bit without asking.

Right now I have been trying to work with the Steam version. I had uninstalled the disc version after the patch didn't work (and again, I am thinking I didn't do something right with that). The problem I'm having with the patch is that it doesn't "run" it just keeps installing. Maybe I still have the path wrong but I just don't know.

I may install the disc to my XP again and transfer the patch over there to try it. I just haven't been able to find my disc that I've been using to transfer stuff from my Win 7 to my XP.

Mad, the game won't even launch for us, let alone play. Are you going to play it now that you've got it installed?

The compatibility updater operates on the 32-bit exe, not Windows itself, so it should be fine to use the 32-bit compatibility administrator.


You mean it never finishes installing?

A Vampyre Story Patch.exe (application). When I right click and "open" or if I double click, it just goes to the install wizard, every time, even though when I say yes and accept it and it installs again. It says that "A Vampyre Story has been patched on your computer".

I don't see any other .exe to use and the main.exe still does not open the game. So, either I'm missing something or it is not working.

That's what the patch does for me too, oldbroad. I think it's working because I mistakenly forgot to direct it to the actual folder the game is in under The Adventure Company and it installed directly to the C drive and made its own folder.

I did that at first though too Drac. I didn't know to direct it to the Steam folder. I first just installed it to what showed and it made it's own folder I'm pretty sure as I do see an A Vampyre Story folder in the C drive.

So, your game is working? In Windows 10 or 7? From the disc right?

I wasn't able to get it working on my Windows 7 computer.
I did get the patch to install to the location where the game exe was located (which was in a "game" subfolder of the Vampyre Story folder), and the patch prompted me about choosing AA or Standard, but the game still wouldn't start afterwards.

The Compatibility Toolkit didn't work either -- at least not with the options the guy on Steam suggested.

I also tried installing a version of DirectX 9, but it said I already had a newer version.

I might try getting the game to run on a computer with XP, but I've uninstalled it from the Windows 7 computer.

I was just coming in to say that the Compatibility Toolkit instructions posted by the Steam person are not what shows up for me when I try it. There are 2 screens requiring information not shown in the Steam post and I don't see anything about backing up my database so I'm cancelling out of it.

Thanks for checking it on your end Jenny.

The toolkit had lots of other options besides "Layer_ForceDirectDrawEmulation" that the Steam guy recommended, but figuring out what might have made a difference on my particular computer was a bit much. Even if I did manage to find something that worked on my computer it might not work on yours. I think it's easier just to use an older computer -- which is why I have one.

If you want to know more about the steps in using the Application Compatibility Toolkit, this guy has a video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgbjlrdkvUk

He only shows general steps in using it though -- nothing specific to A Vampyre Story.

Yes, lots of other options and then different screens after that with more options that were not mentioned in the Steam post.

Thanks.

Are you going to try it on your XP computer?
If you do, let us know how it goes.

Well, I've played quite a chunk of the game now and it's still behaving perfectly and I'm enjoying it.
But I can't locate the saved games anywhere

I've looked in all the usual places - for hidden and unhidden files - checking for "Autumn Moon Entertainment, "Crimson Cow" or "Focus" .... and found zilch
[I can't think what other name check for.]

I even found an old thread by MaG - but her save game route wouldn't have been for Win7 (??) and it was via "The Adventure Company".
My version doesn't mention The Adventure Company and a search on my Win7 machine didn't find anything at all by them, anywhere.

That made me wonder if I bought a "UK" release - which might be different in some way - and might help to explain why it will play on my computer ??

Anyone got any ideas ??

Maybe you do have a different version. Mine is DVD Version DPV 1.0 and is made in Canada. It mentions Crimson Cow, The Adventure Company, JoWood Productions, and Dreamcatcher but I don't see any reference on it to Autumn Moon.

Oops - now I see the Autumn Moon reference!

There was a UK DVD release that was different from the US DVD release -- at least the box was different. You can see a picture of the back of the UK box here
https://www.mobygames.com/game/a-vampyre-story/cover-art/gameCoverId,130558/

Mobygames doesn't seem to have a picture of the US DVD release, but it says "The Adventure Company" on the back, to the right of where the specs are listed. As you can see, the UK release doesn't list The Adventure Company -- only Crimson Cow, Focus, and Ascaron.

So that affects the location of the game's installation folder and possibly other aspects of the game. Download versions would be different from either DVD release as regards installation folder, etc.

If you check the save games at
http://www.nicouzouf.com/en/?id=avampyrestory
they seem to be made up of two .bmp files and a .bin file and they claim the save folder is
A Vampyre Story\game\assets\scripts\
I assume that is a subfolder.

So that doesn't look like either saves or a save folder and it would be easy to miss it. I would expect a save folder to be called "saves" and not "scripts."

Hi Jenny100

Yes. That DVD case showing at the "Moby Games" link you provided IS the one I have.

And just now I followed the "A Vampyre Story\game\assets\scripts\" path you found and GOT to my saved games.
They are all just called ".bin files".
[I wouldn't have recognised them as saved game files.]

Plus, weirdly, although I made some saves earlier today, none of those files show today's date. In fact the latest one listed is 3rd November.
[But I know my computer does have the correct time and date.]

HOWEVER .... You have done it for me yet again Solved my techie problem And, as always, I am very grateful. Thank you SO much.

So you don't have any .bmp files in there?
I wonder if that's because of a difference between your version of the game and whatever version the nicozouf saves were made from.


It's certainly a weird save system.

No. Just ".bin".

But I did notice that the saved games at that site are from a patched version of the game.
And my game is not patched.

Could that make a difference. ?

Who knows.
They may not be using the UK version of the game, or they may not be using a DVD version at all, and that could be the difference.

Yes. So many possibilities !!

So, I went ahead and tried this again in my XP with and without the patch but still no luck.

Getting this game to work properly seems to be a problem for a lot of people including those running Windows 7. Check out this Steam discussion.

I played A Vampyre store on my Windows 7 computer just fine - but that was before Microsoft issued the security updates that block certain forms of DRM. Now, I can't play it and the patch did NOT remove the DRM. I sure wish someone would issue one.

Well, stupid me again! I started playing this game from GOG and didn't find any "how to play" information first.

How do I save the game and/or get to the menu? I've tried the escape button but the game freezes up.

EDIT: Well, I see the walkthrough says to use the escape key so I will hit it again and walk away quickly. Maybe I am not allowing enough time. The game is a bit slow responding. Fingers crossed as I have been playing for an hour now.

2nd EDIT: It still froze but this time when I went back in (I am able to use the Windows key fortunately to get out and back in the game) the menu was there and I hit "save". It says it saved so I sure hope it did!

oldbroad, let me double check, but I think we have the user manual in the database at Mystery Manor. I have the game from GOG loaded and I'm pretty sure it was Esc, but I'll double check. I didn't have any problems with the game being slow at all.

EDIT: Yes we do have the manual. I thought I remembered scanning it.

https://mysterymanor.net/gamemanuals/A%20Vampyre%20Story%20Manual.pdf

Thank you Drac! Saves me from having to hunt my physical game copy down to find the manual. It wasn't in the one place I looked where I thought it would be.

When I first started the game I got a black screen just like with the Steam version. I thought it was not going to play at all. I used the Windows key then too and then the game started. It keeps kind of hitching up on me if you know what I mean.

Yes, I do know what you mean! Luckily I had zero problems with the GOG version.