MS Vista

[Stukadriver]

I know that this question may irritate someone, seems all forum submissions anywhere irritate someone...but I am asking if the IL2 series, from original to updates, can be played on a computer that runs on Vista. I had installed the game some time ago, but of course it does not run correctly...sound issues, etc., and I would really like to run the game again. When I bought a new computer with really beefy memory, etc, it came with Vista. I plan to buy COD which looks like it runs on Vista, but I still would like to have IL2 available...or am I just dreaming?
Thanks.

[Dano]

IL2 will run happily under Vista, just make sure you do not install it to the default Program Files directory as that has been known to cause issues.

[brando]

I know that this question may irritate someone, seems all forum submissions anywhere irritate someone...but I am asking if the IL2 series, from original to updates, can be played on a computer that runs on Vista. I had installed the game some time ago, but of course it does not run correctly...sound issues, etc., and I would really like to run the game again. When I bought a new computer with really beefy memory, etc, it came with Vista. I plan to buy COD which looks like it runs on Vista, but I still would like to have IL2 available...or am I just dreaming?
Thanks.

As Dano rightly says, IL-2 works fine in Vista and Windows 7. Create a new folder in C:\... and call it Games, or FB or whatever you want. Installing the game to this folder will get you around the permissions issues that come with the User Account Control (UAC) system and Program Files.

[Stukadriver]

Excellent. Thank you gentlemen. I very much appreciate your replies.

[mazex]

And if the autostart installer does not start on the DVD, open the DVD to browse the contents by right clicking on the DVD in windows explorer and select "open" and then run "a.exe" that will start the installer...

[mazex]

Maybe kind of obvious maybe but make sure that you have all service packs for Vista and your graphics card as vanilla Vista ran OpenGL real bad which is the renderer you want to use in IL2 and not DirectX. You select that under "Hardware Setup"->"Video Modes".

Some other hints if you are new to IL2:

Don't forget to go into "Hardware Setup"->"Video options" and set all to the maximum possible (high,high,excellent,excellent and perfect in that order. The last one (Landscape) will not have the "perfect" option if you have not selected OpenGL.

Don't forget to go and edit the file conf.ini in notepad or similar that you find in the installation directory. At least change the top part to be able to run other resolutions than the standard ones that are rather old like this if you have a 1920x1200 screen:

EDIT: Pasted the whole file (just changed localhost to local IP). I think (hope) it's maxed out, anyone that see something that is not maxes out please let me know!

[il2]
title=Il2-Sturmovik Forgotten Battles
hotkeys=HotKey game

[window]
width=1920
height=1200
ColourBits=32
DepthBits=24
StencilBits=8
ChangeScreenRes=1
FullScreen=1
DrawIfNotFocused=0
EnableResize=0
EnableClose=1
SaveAspect=0
Use3Renders=0

[GLPROVIDER]
GL=Opengl32.dll

[GLPROVIDERS]
Open GL=Opengl32.dll
DirectX=dx8wrap.dll

[NET]
speed=40000
routeChannels=0
serverChannels=31
localPort=21000
remotePort=21000
SkinDownload=1
serverName=No Name
serverDescription=
remoteHost=
localHost=192.168.0.1
socksHost=
checkServerTimeSpeed=1
checkClientTimeSpeed=0
remoteHost_000=

[MaxLag]
farMaxLagTime=10.0
nearMaxLagTime=2.0
cheaterWarningDelay=5.0
cheaterWarningNum=-1

[chat]
region=(dx=0.69285715,dy=0.17714286,x=0.0,y=0.0)
adr0=ALL
adr1=MY_ARMY
msg9=Sorry for that!
msg8=S!
msg6=<gunstat
msg5=<tl
msg4=<gs
msg3=<nextmap
msg7=<obj<blue
msg1=<obj<blue

[game]
Arcade=0
HighGore=0
mapPadX=0.6685714
mapPadY=-0.046666667
viewSet=33
Intro=0
NoSubTitles=0
NoChatter=0
NoHudLog=0
NoLensFlare=0
iconTypes=3
eventlog=eventlog.lst
eventlogkeep=1
3dgunners=1


[HotKey game]
PrintScreen=ScreenShot
P=pause
Pause=pause

[HotKey gui]
Escape=activate

[HookViewFly Config]
timeFirstStep=2.0
deltaZ=10.0

[HookView]
MouseLeft=Len

[HookView Config]
AzimutSpeed=0.1
TangageSpeed=0.1
LenSpeed=1.0
MinLen=1.0
DefaultLen=20.0
MaxLen=3000.0
Speed=6

[HotKey builder]
MouseLeft=objectMove
MouseRight=popupmenu
Enter=freeView
Shift MouseLeft=worldZoom
Alt MouseLeft=select+
Alt MouseRight=select-
Alt Ctrl=unselect
PageDown=change+
PageUp=change-
End=change++
Home=change--
Ctrl MouseLeft=insert+
Insert=insert+
NumPad-0=insert+
F=fill
Ctrl MouseRight=delete+
NumPad.=delete+
Delete=delete+
Backspace=cursor
Tab=cursor
F10=land
F11=onLand
NumPad-=normalLand
NumPad+=toLand
NumPad-5=resetAngles
NumPad-8=resetTangage90
NumPad-7=stepAzimut-5
NumPad-4=stepAzimut-15
NumPad-1=stepAzimut-30
NumPad-9=stepAzimut5
NumPad-6=stepAzimut15
NumPad-3=stepAzimut30

[MouseXYZ]
F1=SpeedSlow
F2=SpeedNormal
F3=SpeedFast
MouseRight=XYmove
F4 MouseRight=Zmove
MouseMiddle=Amove
F5 MouseRight=Amove
F6 MouseRight=Tmove
F7 MouseRight=Kmove

[MouseXYZ Config]
RealTime=1

[HotKey Console]
Shift Tab=Activate
[Console]
HISTORY=1024
HISTORYCMD=1024
LOAD=console.cmd
SAVE=console.cmd
LOG=0
LOGTIME=0
LOGFILE=log.lst
LOGKEEP=0

[sound]
SoundUse=1
SoundEngine=1
Speakers=1
Placement=0
SoundFlags.reversestereo=0
RadioFlags.Enabled=1
RadioEngine=2
MusicVolume=8
ObjectVolume=14
MusState.takeoff=1
MusState.inflight=1
MusState.crash=1
MusFlags.play=1
MasterVolume=14
Attenuation=7
SoundMode=3
SamplingRate=2
NumChannels=3
SoundExt.occlusions=0
SoundFlags.hardware=1
SoundFlags.streams=1
SoundFlags.duplex=1
SoundExt.acoustics=0
SoundExt.volumefx=0
SoundFlags.voicemgr=0
SoundFlags.static=1
VoiceVolume=12
Channels=2
SoundExt.extrender=0
SoundFlags.bugscorrect=0
SoundSetupId=8
ActivationLevel=0.02
Preemphasis=0.85
RadioLatency=0.5
AGC=1
PTTMode=1
SoundFlags.UseRadioChatter=1
SoundFlags.AutoActivation=0
RadioFlags.PTTMode=0
RadioFlags.PlayClicks=0
ActLevel=0
MicLevel=0
SoundFlags.forceEAX1=0

[rts]
ProcessAffinityMask=2
mouseUse=2
joyUse=1
trackIRUse=1
DisableIME=0
locale=
JoyProfile=0

[rts_mouse]
SensitivityX=1.0
SensitivityY=1.0
Invert=0
SensitivityZ=1.0

[rts_joystick]
X=0 1 4 9 16 25 36 49 64 81 100 0
Y=0 1 4 9 16 25 36 49 64 81 100 0
Z=0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
RZ=0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 0
FF=1
U=0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 0
V=0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 0
1X=0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 0 0
1Y=0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 0 0
1RZ=0 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 0 0
1U=0 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 0 0
1V=0 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 0 0
1X1=0 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 0 0
1Y1=0 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 0 0
1RZ1=0 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 0
1U1=0 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 0
1V1=0 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 0
1RX=0 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 0 0
1RY=0 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 0 0
1Z1=2 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 0
1RX1=0 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 0 0
1X2=0 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 0 0
1Y2=0 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 0 0
1RZ2=0 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 0 0
1X3=0 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 0 0
1Y3=0 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 0 0

[Render_DirectX]
TexQual=3
TexMipFilter=3
TexCompress=0
TexFlags.UseDither=1
TexFlags.UseAlpha=0
TexFlags.UseIndex=0
TexFlags.PolygonStipple=0
TexFlags.UseClampedSprites=0
TexFlags.DrawLandByTriangles=1
TexFlags.UseVertexArrays=1
TexFlags.DisableAPIExtensions=0
TexFlags.ARBMultitextureExt=1
TexFlags.TexEnvCombineExt=1
TexFlags.SecondaryColorExt=1
TexFlags.VertexArrayExt=1
TexFlags.ClipHintExt=0
TexFlags.UsePaletteExt=0
TexFlags.TexAnisotropicExt=0
TexFlags.TexCompressARBExt=1
TexFlags.TexEnvCombine4NV=1
TexFlags.TexEnvCombineDot3=1
TexFlags.DepthClampNV=1
TexFlags.SeparateSpecular=1
TexFlags.TextureShaderNV=1

HardwareShaders=1

Shadows=2
Specular=2
SpecularLight=2
DiffuseLight=2
DynamicalLights=1
MeshDetail=2
VisibilityDistance=3

Sky=2
Forest=4
LandShading=3
LandDetails=2

LandGeom=3
TexLarge=1
TexLandQual=3
TexLandLarge=1

VideoSetupId=2
ForceShaders1x=0
PolygonOffsetFactor=-0.0625
PolygonOffsetUnits=-1.0
Water=4
Effects=2

[Render_OpenGL]
TexQual=3
TexMipFilter=3
TexCompress=0
TexFlags.UseDither=0
TexFlags.UseAlpha=0
TexFlags.UseIndex=0
TexFlags.PolygonStipple=0
TexFlags.UseClampedSprites=0
TexFlags.DrawLandByTriangles=1
TexFlags.UseVertexArrays=1
TexFlags.DisableAPIExtensions=0
TexFlags.ARBMultitextureExt=1
TexFlags.TexEnvCombineExt=1
TexFlags.SecondaryColorExt=1
TexFlags.VertexArrayExt=1
TexFlags.ClipHintExt=0
TexFlags.UsePaletteExt=0
TexFlags.TexAnisotropicExt=1
TexFlags.TexCompressARBExt=0

TexFlags.TexEnvCombine4NV=1
TexFlags.TexEnvCombineDot3=1
TexFlags.DepthClampNV=1
TexFlags.SeparateSpecular=1
TexFlags.TextureShaderNV=1

HardwareShaders=1

Shadows=2
Specular=2
SpecularLight=2
DiffuseLight=2
DynamicalLights=1
MeshDetail=2
VisibilityDistance=3

Sky=2
Forest=3
LandShading=3
LandDetails=2

LandGeom=3
TexLarge=1
TexLandQual=3
TexLandLarge=1

VideoSetupId=2
Water=4
Effects=2
ForceShaders1x=0

PolygonOffsetFactor=-0.15
PolygonOffsetUnits=-3.0
[QMB]
PlaneList=1
[rts_joystick3]
1X=0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 0 0
1Y=0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 0 0
1RX=0 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 0 0
1RY=0 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 0 0
1RZ=0 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 0 0
1U=0 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 0 0
1V=0 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 0 0
1X1=0 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 0 0
1Y1=0 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 0 0
1Z1=2 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 0
1RX1=0 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 0 0
1X2=0 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 0 0
1Y2=0 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 0 0
1RZ2=0 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 0 0
1X3=0 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 0 0
1Y3=0 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 0 0
FF=1

[Stukadriver]

Wow...thanks very much. That is a lot more technical than I feel comfortable with although I will try.
I installed the original IL2 game and, other than a glitchy start...doesn't seem to want to start up from an desk top icon, I just go to the program and start it and it runs pretty good. However, when I tried to install "Forgotten Battles", although the installation walks all the way through the process, when I try to run it, only the first screen shot which shows a Russian aircraft with open cockpit (I should know the type) comes up and it goes no further.
I assume that the details you gave me would serve to make Forgotten Battles run?
I am content with waiting until COD comes out, but you know how it is when you start something like this and it becomes almost an obsession to get it going correctly.
Thanks again. This renews my faith in forums.

[mazex]

Wow...thanks very much. That is a lot more technical than I feel comfortable with although I will try.
I installed the original IL2 game and, other than a glitchy start...doesn't seem to want to start up from an desk top icon, I just go to the program and start it and it runs pretty good. However, when I tried to install "Forgotten Battles", although the installation walks all the way through the process, when I try to run it, only the first screen shot which shows a Russian aircraft with open cockpit (I should know the type) comes up and it goes no further.
I assume that the details you gave me would serve to make Forgotten Battles run?
I am content with waiting until COD comes out, but you know how it is when you start something like this and it becomes almost an obsession to get it going correctly.
Thanks again. This renews my faith in forums.

OK, then I'd try right clicking the shortcut you launch the game from and select "properties" at the bottom of the menu. Then select the tab called "compatibility" and check the box "Run in compatibility mode for:" and select "Windows XP (Service Pack 3)". Then check "disable visual themes" and "disable desktop composition". For the sake of it check "Run this program as an administrator" too...

I'm using Windows 7 so I hope they are called the same (they are at least almost the same as I recall it).

EDIT: It seems like you have the forgotten battles version of IL2? In that case make sure to download the 1.22 patch (which is the highest patch for that version. I really recommend buying IL2 1946 witch is at version 4.10 now and cost like $8 in a web shop near you. IL2 will not die for many years even though CoD gets out!):

http://www.fileplanet.com/128984/download/IL-2:-Forgotten-Battles-1.22-Patch

Good luck! /Mazex

[Stukadriver]

This is very good. Thanks. Will do as you suggest. Again, I do appreciate your help. Will get patch...yes, it is an original FB which, of course, ran very well on my "old" machine that ran on XP. (I still have that computer, too...my wife has cabbaged it...maybe I should get another joystick and hardware and take it back over.)

[Former_Older]

Vista may- or may not- be 'friendly' in the FMB. It took some tweaking (and I forget exactly what I did) to make my old machine with Vista 32 run the FMB smoothly

[kimosabi]

Note that mazex' conf.ini OpenGL settings are Nvidia tuned. ATi cards won't like that OpenGL conf.ini.

[mazex]

Note that mazex' conf.ini OpenGL settings are Nvidia tuned. ATi cards won't like that OpenGL conf.ini.

Good point, should have thought of that!

And another thing, I did not realize you where on the Forgotten Battles version and my conf.ini is for IL2 1946 4.10 so don't use it for version 1.22 accept the top part with resolution that has not changed and it was the part I was really going to point out without causing too much confusion... :)