Hi, i have run out of option to achieve this game to run in windowed mode.
It uses direct X 6 and runs at 640 x 480.
I have used many other programs already, DXwnd, D3Dwindower, WindowedBorderlessGaming, i even tried ScummVM and Dosbox. Searched for hours online that only turned up that it IS possible according to one user from another site (that gave no indication of what he did).
There is a Dll file included in the game folder named "ddraw.dll".
DXwnd runs the game in a window, but still comes through as if in Fullscreen. Plus the black background continues to flash with my desktop when i move the mouse outside the game window, thought doesn't show in a print screen. http://i.imgur.com/Oli32SC.png
I have tried with different compatibility modes, from 95 to win 7 (I use win 8), admin settings have all been set on all Exe's.
I feel like i am running out of luck, i wish to be able to live stream this game, Game Source cannot be captured as it is DX6, so windowed mode is my only option.
Thank you for taking the time to read.
ShabbyOrange
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Sure it is a game that deserves some care!
I installed it on my PC ages ago and, sadly, never finished it. Maybe it's the right chance to do it. Let's rock!
Last edit: gho 2014-01-23
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I included a link above, in reply to Aqrit, that solved all my issues with installing on a 64bit machine and the Shooting range problems.
As so many sites have different information and fixes supplied everywhere, i think maybe it would be a great time to have all the fixes in one spot.
Just to have Windowed mode is what could possibly be the final fix/addition to the Blade Runner PC issues.
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Sorry for being quite late on this subject, I had a couple of very busy working days, so I were able to make some tests only when the problem was fixed.
Anyway, thank you for the patch suggestion (I was able to install the game without, but it was not running at all...) and I got this result:
the game installed with the german rePlaying.de installer (don't worry, it's in english language and apply to all language versions of the game) works in fullscreen and there's no aqrit wrapper to neutralize (I think Alexander installed it from some other Blade Runner's patch).
Setting dxwnd to catch BLADE.EXE works fine with almost default settings: the only thing to add is the "Hide cursor" option.
Warmly suggested to any adventure's lover. A great classic and a must!
Ha, unbelievable, still have original 4 disc (EA) set of this baby. I'll see how it does on w8.1x64 , doesn't take long to finish, 1 hour or such. It was 16 years ago when I've played this, if my memory serves well there are at least 2 endings.
Cheers
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@Bigmanjapan: Uhm, I deleted the game install some time ago and now I can't remember what sort of release it referred to. Anyway, thying to reinstall it from my archives, I found that it's not so easy even to simply install it on win10 64bit. So, before I give you some support on the wrong target, would you mind to clarify what type of game distribution / patches / target OS did you use?
Looking at your later EDIT, if the problem is now fixed, would you post here the exported configuration for this game? I loaded the one in DxWnd export folder, but I found it rather odd: I can't figure out why the "Hook Glide" flag is set, probably the file is completely obsolete and I'd like to replace it with yours.
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Here on Win7 64-bit the game ran on default dxwnd settings. I have the 4 CD version of the game. There is also a DVD version if I remember correcly so it might be different there.
To install the game you need to do the following on a 64-bit Windows machine:
-Copy the "BASE" folder from CD1 to your hard drive and rename it to "BLADE".
-Copy "CDFRAMES.DAT" file from \CD1 -forder of the optical drive to the "BLADE"
directory on your hard drive and rename the file to "HDFRAMES.DAT".
Attached is a .dxw export file with the installation notes added.
There is also a patch for the game that was nessesary to fix some CD seeking problems. I am not sure if it needed anymore though.
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Very good. In the meanwhile I found this DVD version V2 (it seems that the v1 has an installer no good for 64bit architecture). This is pretty nice because it leaves almost everything exposed: you have
BLADE.EXE - I presume the original 4CD original exe, maybe somehow patched
BladeXP.exe - seems one of the first versions patched for modern OS like XP, but I couldn't make it work
Blade7.exe - I suppose it is a even more recent patched version.
The installation was so smooth that I would suggest to forget everything else. Now the results:
1) first of all, glide wrapping was useless and probably a leftover from older flags. Forget about it.
2) BLADE.EXE works unexpectedly well. Only problem, it needs the "Send WM_ACTIVATEAPP message" flag, otherwise it sleeps at startup until you wake it up with some lose-focus, get-focus operation.
3) BladeXP.exe: so far I couldn't make it work. I get a black bullscreen followed by a suddent crash. Nevermind ...
4) Blade7.exe: working ok with default settings. What could you want more?
So, next dxWnd release will have some updated export files to support this wonderful game.
Interesting... I have no problems running the game with the default dxwnd settings on "blade.exe".
No need for "Send WM_ACTIVATEAPP message" flag. The exe size is "585,248" kb.
Edit:
Looks like the patch for the CD version (named bladecd.exe) crashes the game on start up. The size of this exe is "590,880" kb
Last edit: Riitaoja 2016-11-12
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I see Blade Runner has an Application Compatibility Toolkit Shim: "Correct File Paths". It is mated to the executable file name "BLADE.EXE". So it turns out if the exe is named differently then the shim will not be used and the game crashes at startup.
So for example previously I reported that the "bladecd.exe" patched executable produced a crash but after renaming it to "blade.exe" it works.
Additionaly I see the unofficial patch at the german site includes Aqrits ddraw.dll. It may cause a conflict with dxwnd so it might be a good idea to delete it from the game folder if it is there.
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Hi, i have run out of option to achieve this game to run in windowed mode.
It uses direct X 6 and runs at 640 x 480.
I have used many other programs already, DXwnd, D3Dwindower, WindowedBorderlessGaming, i even tried ScummVM and Dosbox. Searched for hours online that only turned up that it IS possible according to one user from another site (that gave no indication of what he did).
There is a Dll file included in the game folder named "ddraw.dll".
DXwnd runs the game in a window, but still comes through as if in Fullscreen. Plus the black background continues to flash with my desktop when i move the mouse outside the game window, thought doesn't show in a print screen.
http://i.imgur.com/Oli32SC.png
I have tried with different compatibility modes, from 95 to win 7 (I use win 8), admin settings have all been set on all Exe's.
These are the options i have selected for Blade Runner.
http://i.imgur.com/nqB68Lv.png
I feel like i am running out of luck, i wish to be able to live stream this game, Game Source cannot be captured as it is DX6, so windowed mode is my only option.
Thank you for taking the time to read.
ShabbyOrange
there is a good chance that is my wrapper.
there is a game speed issue with the shooting range IIRC
Last edit: aqrit 2014-01-23
I believe it is indeed Sir, thank you for your work, i think it was your patch/files that allowed me to install my discs on my 64bit machine on win 8.
I have solved the shooting range issues with the patches (Namely the CPU patch) included on this German site.
http://www.replaying.de/blade-runner/blade-runner-patch-windows-vista-7-8-x64/
Sure it is a game that deserves some care!
I installed it on my PC ages ago and, sadly, never finished it. Maybe it's the right chance to do it. Let's rock!
Last edit: gho 2014-01-23
I included a link above, in reply to Aqrit, that solved all my issues with installing on a 64bit machine and the Shooting range problems.
As so many sites have different information and fixes supplied everywhere, i think maybe it would be a great time to have all the fixes in one spot.
Just to have Windowed mode is what could possibly be the final fix/addition to the Blade Runner PC issues.
Solved.
After installing all those patches and fixes, inside the blade runner folder there is a aqrit.cfg.
Turn all options to 0 and use the settings i have already shown in the link above.
Finally!
Sorry for being quite late on this subject, I had a couple of very busy working days, so I were able to make some tests only when the problem was fixed.
Anyway, thank you for the patch suggestion (I was able to install the game without, but it was not running at all...) and I got this result:
the game installed with the german rePlaying.de installer (don't worry, it's in english language and apply to all language versions of the game) works in fullscreen and there's no aqrit wrapper to neutralize (I think Alexander installed it from some other Blade Runner's patch).
Setting dxwnd to catch BLADE.EXE works fine with almost default settings: the only thing to add is the "Hide cursor" option.
Warmly suggested to any adventure's lover. A great classic and a must!
Last edit: gho 2014-01-24
Hey gho, I tried running Blade Runner with your export file and got this result. I'm running Win 7 64. Any idea how to fix?
Edit: GDI mode emulation seems to solve it (thanks Roundlay). :)
Last edit: Bigmanjapan 2016-11-11
Trim your monitor with a saw? :) No, maybe I can find some better idea. Give me some time to test & fix it.
Ha, unbelievable, still have original 4 disc (EA) set of this baby. I'll see how it does on w8.1x64 , doesn't take long to finish, 1 hour or such. It was 16 years ago when I've played this, if my memory serves well there are at least 2 endings.
Cheers
@Bigmanjapan: Uhm, I deleted the game install some time ago and now I can't remember what sort of release it referred to. Anyway, thying to reinstall it from my archives, I found that it's not so easy even to simply install it on win10 64bit. So, before I give you some support on the wrong target, would you mind to clarify what type of game distribution / patches / target OS did you use?
Looking at your later EDIT, if the problem is now fixed, would you post here the exported configuration for this game? I loaded the one in DxWnd export folder, but I found it rather odd: I can't figure out why the "Hook Glide" flag is set, probably the file is completely obsolete and I'd like to replace it with yours.
Sorry for the late reply, but just in case I'm using:
1. Game files: BLADEDVD.iso (MD5 9b60a2c1ac32a74ff577fd650d9ffe78)
2. Patch: http://www.replaying.de/blade-runner/blade-runner-patch-windows-vista-7-8-x64/
3. Windows 7 64 Enterprise (6.1.7601.23418 (Win7 RTM))
The export configurattion that I used is literally the default Blade Runner.dxw that comes with v2_03_95_build but with "GDI mode" flag set.
Last edit: Bigmanjapan 2016-11-14
Here on Win7 64-bit the game ran on default dxwnd settings. I have the 4 CD version of the game. There is also a DVD version if I remember correcly so it might be different there.
To install the game you need to do the following on a 64-bit Windows machine:
-Copy the "BASE" folder from CD1 to your hard drive and rename it to "BLADE".
-Copy "CDFRAMES.DAT" file from \CD1 -forder of the optical drive to the "BLADE"
directory on your hard drive and rename the file to "HDFRAMES.DAT".
Attached is a .dxw export file with the installation notes added.
There is also a patch for the game that was nessesary to fix some CD seeking problems. I am not sure if it needed anymore though.
Very good. In the meanwhile I found this DVD version V2 (it seems that the v1 has an installer no good for 64bit architecture). This is pretty nice because it leaves almost everything exposed: you have
BLADE.EXE - I presume the original 4CD original exe, maybe somehow patched
BladeXP.exe - seems one of the first versions patched for modern OS like XP, but I couldn't make it work
Blade7.exe - I suppose it is a even more recent patched version.
The installation was so smooth that I would suggest to forget everything else. Now the results:
1) first of all, glide wrapping was useless and probably a leftover from older flags. Forget about it.
2) BLADE.EXE works unexpectedly well. Only problem, it needs the "Send WM_ACTIVATEAPP message" flag, otherwise it sleeps at startup until you wake it up with some lose-focus, get-focus operation.
3) BladeXP.exe: so far I couldn't make it work. I get a black bullscreen followed by a suddent crash. Nevermind ...
4) Blade7.exe: working ok with default settings. What could you want more?
So, next dxWnd release will have some updated export files to support this wonderful game.
Last edit: gho 2016-11-12
Interesting... I have no problems running the game with the default dxwnd settings on "blade.exe".
No need for "Send WM_ACTIVATEAPP message" flag. The exe size is "585,248" kb.
Edit:
Looks like the patch for the CD version (named bladecd.exe) crashes the game on start up. The size of this exe is "590,880" kb
Last edit: Riitaoja 2016-11-12
Just FYI I tested all v2_03_96_build Blade Runner export files with my game build (https://sourceforge.net/p/dxwnd/discussion/general/thread/8152e7a8/#e566/1c63) and so far none of them work, game won't even start. And v2_03_95_build Blade Runner export file with "GDI mode" flag still works flawlessly!
Last edit: Bigmanjapan 2016-11-14
Oops! I forgot the shooting range bug fix. So attached is a better .dxw export file.
updates to .dxw file:
Cursor visibility: Hide
Removes the double mouse pointer.
Timing -> Frames per Second - Limit delay 40 msec (25 FPS)
Fixes the shooting range by limiting FPS.
I see Blade Runner has an Application Compatibility Toolkit Shim: "Correct File Paths". It is mated to the executable file name "BLADE.EXE". So it turns out if the exe is named differently then the shim will not be used and the game crashes at startup.
So for example previously I reported that the "bladecd.exe" patched executable produced a crash but after renaming it to "blade.exe" it works.
Additionaly I see the unofficial patch at the german site includes Aqrits ddraw.dll. It may cause a conflict with dxwnd so it might be a good idea to delete it from the game folder if it is there.
Got Blade Runner.dxw from v2_03_96_build working by deleting ddraw.dll. Nice find!
Hi, on W10x64 with v2.03.99.fx3, this game doesn't appear inside the window.
Anyone else have this issue? Thank you.