Running CFS3 in Windows 10: solved for now

hairyspin

hairyspin

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It had to happen sooner or later...

I'm running Windows 10 on a separate HD from my trusty Win7 setup. This is not an upgraded setup, it's a new, clean install for evaluating the new OS.

Yesterday I got CFS3 installed from scratch on my Windows 10 hard drive and the installation went smoothly. BUT... CFS3 won't run in Windows 10. It doesn't seem to know how to look for the CD to authenticate the install each time it runs. FS9 users have reported the same problem with their CDs. :banghead:

The answer is well known to many of us, and it's the no-CD patched version: CFS3 starts and runs with that every time. I don't see any reason ETO, MAW and the rest shouldn't also work that way.

As many of us also know, discussion of this patch on SOH is barred as a longstanding policy. Please refer to Tom Clayton's post in the FS9 forum for the reasons and do any file hunting away from SOH.

Thank you!


Edit: Recent updates borked that too, see hypercide's post (#13) below for the current answer.
 
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Hi Hairyspin,

My dvd copy of CFS3 comes with the no-CD/DVD version as standard, so the game does not need to refer back to the installation disk. Perhaps SOH might reconsider its approach to discussion on the subject.

All of my separate installs use the later official cfs3.exe which is just over 4Mb in size, whereas the original cfs3.exe was IIRC 4.6Mb. Sounds like the smaller, later exe version might be needed for Win10?
 
Likewise mine.

I believe that the DVD version was put out by UBISOFT, and like the original is still available on a certain well known selling site.

I am still awaiting for my Windows 10 "Upgrade".

Really quite pleased about that as many of the wrinkles should have been resolved before I do install it.

Kev
 
If you have the facility Kev, download the ISO and burn it to a DVD. Saves hanging on a broadband connection.
 
CFS3 and Windows 10

I upgraded from Windows 8 to Windows 10 and now my CFS3 will not run nor MAW, OFF, ETO, ...ANY SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM? Thanks, Ed Burk
 
I have also found that the "patch" is required.

Now have 9 separate installs all running with no issue`s in W10.

The only thing I found when install my WOFF, is that V1 was not working in W10.

There are two solutions to this. Add Ankors shaders to WOFF V1 or upgrade to V2.

Kev
 
I believe that CFS3, being made before Vista was released (when UAC first came out) there is mass undiscovered saving/running problems even with windows 7. Either read only problems or some major privilege problems preventing the game from running and SAVING correctly as it should. XP never had all these run as admin options etc for security, and problem never really existed. I'm doing constant testing.
 
hairyspin said:
I'm now not getting CFS3 to run in Windows 10 at all. Oh bother.
Click to expand...

Hi Hairyspin, I'm having the same problem with Win10 and my half-dozen or so installs. Discovered I couldn't run Pat's BoB yesterday.

Solution: set up to WinXP SP3 compatibility mode by right clicking on the cfs3exe and going into properties.

Suspect: Sodding recent Win 10 update. These are now forced on us with no user choice. I could start ranting about how we are now, as owners of PCs and payers for the privilege of MS software, held HOSTAGE to our software and the software CONTROLS access to our own sodding hardware!! Switch on PC for a quick flight or to test something, and in the background PC performance grinds down as background updates for innumerable things occur, even when I try to disable them in the Startup menu....grumble rant rave....:banghead:.

Incidentally I was running CFS3 installs directly on my root pathway to D: drive. Now I've created a Program files (x86) additional folder in my D drive for cfs3 installs, can't see any difference really, but maybe running cfs3 would be better if install is outside of program files folder, like I had originially?? Given the problems (speculative) with Win10 upgrades.

HTH,
 
This worked for me

Hi folks,


Bought CFS3 from old-games yesterday because I wanted to buy WOFF. Initially no joy under Win 10 Home, with XP SP3 compatibility mode, running as Admin--the only suggestions I could find on the net.

Then, in a what-if kind of moment, I toyed with the "Settings" options under the Compatibility tab in the cfs3.exe Properties. I've enabled "reduced color mode" at 16-bit, "Run in 640-480 screen res" and "Display display scaling" (in addition to XP SP3 and run as admin). This works, and in game you can then fiddle with the display options. Additionally, I have it running in its own directory in my second hard drive. And I've successfully installed the current WOFF bundle (also on second hard drive) and did three different mission types over 45 mins with no problems. Joy.

(I have a Dell XPS with a GeForce GTX 745)

Tim
 
hypercide said:
... I toyed with the "Settings" options under the Compatibility tab in the cfs3.exe Properties. I've enabled "reduced color mode" at 16-bit, "Run in 640-480 screen res" and "Display display scaling" (in addition to XP SP3 and run as admin). This works, and in game you can then fiddle with the display options...
Click to expand...

Tim, you are a steely-eyed missile man. And I have my CFS3 running again in 1680x1050, full colour, YAY! :jump:
 
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Woff patch for windows 10

I know that any patches are taboo on SOH. But the WOFF team have developed a patch that will make WOFF run in windows ten, so it would be
nice if there is one for CFS3, otherwise I am trying to avoid upgrading to windows 10. And so far I feel I have made a wise choice.

as far as the DVD version of CFS3 I can't find that anywhere.
 
Patched W10 to latest update last night and had to redo the compatibility settings as per Tim's advice above, but I have CFS3 running in W10 as before.
 
Much tweaking and experimentation later, here's the lowdown on CFS3 in Windows 10. My thanks again to Tim (hypercide) for his discovering this.
applause.gif



  1. Install CFS3 from your original CDs (or DVD if you're lucky). Make life easier by not installing to the default folder, use something like C:\CFS3 and avoid UAC problems later. Don't run the sim yet!
  2. Apply the 3.1 and 3.1a patches. Don't run the sim yet!
  3. Replace cfs3.exe with the unmentionable patch but don't run the sim yet!



Now set the patch program's compatibility as shown :–


z10IVKG.jpg




Yes, the program is being set to run in 640x480 display mode and reduced colour. Don't panic!

Now run CFS3 and once the sim starts (in ghastly 1998–style graphics) you can set the display resolution and colour depth to suit your system (in my case 1680x1050 and 32-bit colour.) CFS3 will run happily but to exit the program use Control-Shift-Q.

With this done you can now use cfs3config.exe (run in XP SP3 compatibility) to set your preferences: disable intro movie, switch off dual-pass render, switch on high resolution z-buffer, the usual suspects. But one thing you must not do is switch on anti-aliasing. If you do there's a crash to desktop every time.

If your experience differs, let us know!
 
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Thanks for the info. Prior to the last update I was running it, now this one is a no go. Will give it a try. Thanks.
 
win 10

Hi fellas, I have only just reinstalled CFS3 after not using it for a loooong time. This thread peaked my interest as I have installed it on win 10 and had no problems (yet). I have the single DVD version. When installing, I have a CFS3, setup folder. In it I have 10 sub folders ordered 1-10.(Doesn't include aircraft) Number one has the 3.1 and 3.1a patches of which you only need 3.1a if you have the DVD version apparently.Number 2 has the unmentionable thingy which is possibly why I didn't hit problems.3 has the NEK's . 4 foxes super effects package. 5 Winding Mans scenery and so on. I have spent all day installing planes trains, automobiles , airfields and have quite a size able install . I only just tried it ,before coming on here, and it is working fine ...... touch wood. The point is don't be afraid of win 10 with CFS3. This is the first time I can play it with all sliders up to max due to a new computer. I am looking forward to playing again.
Tony
 
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