This tool will help us to understand the installation problems some of you still have:

http://mw4.ngi.it/evilbot/files/MekTekChecker.zip
http://www.netbattletech.com/monitor/MekTekChecker.zip

Put the exe in you Mercs directory and run it, it will produce a little report. When you have a problem just cut and paste the report.

The tool just check and CRC all the required files and dont change things. Reading the report we will be able to suggest you how to fix the problem.

NOTE: I need a german player that run the tool on a MekPak installation and send the report to me (no huds installed please).

just so you know if your having problem getting the pak to work, you are not alone, I also am experiencing troubles.
and we are tryign to work it out.



my props file is fine, something is mis reading in certain areas of stuff....
I can jioin host and play pr1 games, just cant update to pak1

Your props is not fine, the changed CRC means that it is altered somehow, replace it with a Props.mw4 from a clean Mercs PR1 install and you will be fine.

no really? already did that, several dozen time sine 4 pm yesterday afternoon to today, i must of uninstalled reinstalled several dozen times and got several downloads from serveral areas, even had the pros.mw4 files sent to me by several other players who are trying to help......

all with the same results....

Evil... can to take a peek at my post in the Help SEction and tell what I'm doing wrong here?

Nacht's problems

I'd appreciate it.

You are doing nothing wrong, if that idiotic safecast crewing you...
Try a global reinstall, I can really help you with this problem

For me the checker locks up and crashes the computer so I can't really use it, but I can't fir the Heavy Lasers and about five or six of the skins have problems.

I get an access violation.

This is from a clean install of both Mercs and PR1 with the pack added on.

Well this really special, I got the checker to run finally and it said the props file is bad, even though I've reinstalled it about six times (and erased every save game, variant, etc).

So it sort of runs but it crahses when ever I fire the following weapons.

PPCCAP
Heavy Lasers
ATMs
HVACs

yet the RL and the AGL works.
And this is rather retarded, because I really want to use my Maraduer:(

I just did a reinstall off the cd then re d/l PR1 and applied the auto d/l patch.. t took a LONG time (& Im on cable) it looked like it locked the program but I left it alone....installed great, hud patch works too, only prob is I cant run PR1/classic..it crashes me when I go to instant action or the mech lab with an error something about explosion sound I THINK is the error..

edit: with the checker I ger this tto
Resource\VariantsMercs.mpk - PR1 variants folder not present
Resource\VariantsMercs.pr1 - PR1 variants folder not present
when running it in both modes
I have a VariantsMercs.mpk & a VariantsMercs folder only...

If you need help, do the following:

1 - Describe the problem.
2 - Post the WHOLE report from the diagnostic tool.

Missing files into the report are not an error, some files should be missing (PR1 backup if you switched to PR1 and MekPak backup if you switched to MekPak).

I have ben thinking about the cdc errors that are popping up.

Ok if you hudpatch a grid type into the game, then unpatch it it goes back to the original.

What happens if you hudpatch a grid type, then hudpatch a different grid system, then unpatch it? Is it possible its not returning the files to a completely origianal state?

???????????

I dont know the details of the hun patcher, sorry...

Just like to add some things that maybe overlooked before installing MekTek's Mech Patch.

Make sure to free up at least 350MB of space where the operating system is creating temporary files. Without this free space, MekTek installation will result into an error ... and the error messages aren't helpful (more on the patcher utility, not because of Mech Pack).

Hope this helps other players out there who has the same setup as mine (ie. primary drive is almost full, also default system drive for storing temporary data ... but data / app drive has a whopping free space left to accomodate 5 copies of full MW:Mercs installations).

Hitting the Unapply button alone for the HudPatch does not work, nor does emoving it via Add?Remove programs.

For all the people in my unit who had problems I had them uninstall Mercs via Add/Remove and then go and manually delete the leftover folders. Obviously you want to backup your large downloads(unless you saved them elsewhere when you dl'd them) but once they did that everything hs worked fine.

It's odd really the Install can be really simple (as it was wiht me and others) or it can be really complicated...mostly due ot the widespread use of the HudPatch. I can tell you this, I won't be downloading the Hudpatch again anytime soon no want to go through the crap you guys are having to to install the next pak..lol

Actually, instead of doing that. Perhaps we could just write up a little guide that tells people to make copies of certain files like the some of the .mw4 files in the ~/resource directory before you apply the a hud patch. Then when you want to use the next pak, just copy those files over, upgrade and redo the hud patcher again.

Or someone could write a little vbscript and hand it over to MT.

Evil:

Heres my report. Same as above. Already guessed id need a clean install because ive had official (clan and IS) mech pack Safedisk problems i have done a lot of installing and reinstalling already to try and fix it without success.

Game analisys starting

Checking switcher installation
Switcher.ini - Switcher installation file not present

Checking default game files
MW4Mercs.icd - 34CD7A81, Standard PR1 ICD file
Resource\core.mw4 - 4720F21B, Standard PR1 Core file
Resource\props.mw4 - 349B3DDF, Unknown Props file
Resource\textures.mw4 - FB666AAE, Standard PR1 Textures file
Resource\VariantsMercs - Default variants folder present

Checking PR1 backup files
MW4Mercs.icd.pr1 - Missing file
Resource\core.mw4.pr1 - Missing file
Resource\props.mw4.pr1 - Missing file
Resource\textures.mw4.pr1 - Missing file
Resource\VariantsMercs.pr1 - PR1 variants folder not present

Checking MekPak1 backup files
MW4Mercs.icd.mpk - Missing file
Resource\core.mw4.mpk - Missing file
Resource\props.mw4.mpk - Missing file
Resource\textures.mw4.mpk - Missing file
Resource\VariantsMercs.mpk - PR1 variants folder not present

The PR1 patch is installed and running the patch says it is stalled.
I do not rule out corrupt files at this point though. My install is a standard one for the reasons mentioned above, eg clan and is safedisk problems and multiple install attempts to fix it.

So there seems to be more wrong here than simply the mektek pack not installing. I dont have time to try a fix right now but when I do i'll let you know how i got on.

PS great work on all these tools. Very helpful

Giskard

well, i have tried uninstalling and reinstalling everything mw4 related...

still no go...

funny thing is even in a virgin mercs install now i am not even getting the message that there is an update available, ie pr1 on the in game updating notice...

when i attempt to install pr1, (which I already have and gotten several good copies of) i come across an error 0039 or 0009..

but when i launch mercs i see my version has up graded and I can play pr1 games.

just plain weird... but there is still hope that i will find the soultion....

PR-1 shows up as a registry key but I forget where. I ran into this once with a pr-1 upgrade that failed before finishing. The system was positive I'd upgraded till I deleted that key.

well now i finally got pr1 to install again...lol

but now im getting bad textures.mw4 file...lmao

time will tell.

Now you've got virgin / clean PR1 installed MT, make sure to use the utility and verify if its not corrupted.

If its good (all the .MW4 files and the .ICD file) and after installing the MTMP you still get an error ... you've got low disk space. Am pretty sure of this, because its what i've encountered yesterday

Delete some porn like i just did

44.6 gb free, space not the problem....

theres got to be something in resident memory somewhere.....

Classic/PR1

Game analisys starting

Checking switcher installation
Switcher.ini - Switcher installation file present

Checking default game files
MW4Mercs.icd - 34CD7A81, Standard PR1 ICD file
Resource\core.mw4 - 4720F21B, Standard PR1 Core file
Resource\props.mw4 - 09990D64, Standard PR1 Props file
Resource\textures.mw4 - 42574079, Unknown Textures file
Resource\VariantsMercs - Default variants folder present

Checking PR1 backup files
MW4Mercs.icd.pr1 - Missing file
Resource\core.mw4.pr1 - Missing file
Resource\props.mw4.pr1 - Missing file
Resource\textures.mw4.pr1 - Missing file
Resource\VariantsMercs.pr1 - PR1 variants folder not present

Checking MekPak1 backup files
MW4Mercs.icd.mpk - 2058FD87, Standard MekPak1 ICD file
Resource\core.mw4.mpk - 861EE0A8, Standard MekPak1 Core file
Resource\props.mw4.mpk - 9B7A8438, Standard MekPak1 Props file
Resource\textures.mw4.mpk - 435512A9, Unknown Textures file
Resource\VariantsMercs.mpk - PR1 variants folder present

Enhanched

Game analisys starting

Checking switcher installation
Switcher.ini - Switcher installation file present

Checking default game files
MW4Mercs.icd - 2058FD87, Standard MekPak1 ICD file
Resource\core.mw4 - 861EE0A8, Standard MekPak1 Core file
Resource\props.mw4 - 9B7A8438, Standard MekPak1 Props file
Resource\textures.mw4 - 435512A9, Unknown Textures file
Resource\VariantsMercs - Default variants folder present

Checking PR1 backup files
MW4Mercs.icd.pr1 - 34CD7A81, Standard PR1 ICD file
Resource\core.mw4.pr1 - 4720F21B, Standard PR1 Core file
Resource\props.mw4.pr1 - 09990D64, Standard PR1 Props file
Resource\textures.mw4.pr1 - 42574079, Unknown Textures file
Resource\VariantsMercs.pr1 - PR1 variants folder present

Checking MekPak1 backup files
MW4Mercs.icd.mpk - Missing file
Resource\core.mw4.mpk - Missing file
Resource\props.mw4.mpk - Missing file
Resource\textures.mw4.mpk - Missing file
Resource\VariantsMercs.mpk - PR1 variants folder not present

15+ gb free space...

^^^^

One last try here MT and Deslock. Do you guys have multiple hard disks or logical partitions on you HDs?

The reason i ask is because i've got alot of freespace in Drive E: and could easily accomodate multiple copies / back-up of MW:Mercs. With fresh and valid copies of .MW4 and .ICD files (after veryfying through EC's utility ie. Standard PR1 files as current files), i still couldn't install the mechpack ... the reason is that the patch creates huges temporary files in my Drive C:. And unfortunately, my Drive C: is at critical space level already ... that's only about 100MB free left (i've deleted some freeware games and some >

EDIT: Woot, Wad already spotted the problem for Deslock.

well it works for me and i have the hudpatch
i just selected default uninstaled
then downloaded mp1 and switchear and installed according to instructions
applied my madcat, novacat, vulture overlay extures + hud
and it works

Giskard, your problem is the Props file:

Resource\props.mw4 - 349B3DDF, Unknown Props file

The CRC is wrong, the file is not the standard PR1 Props and this prevents the installation of the patch. You can fix the problem by replacing your file with the correct Props.mw4 from a clean PR1 installation.

Looking at the CRC, it is the Props file from the unpatched Mercs (the one directly from the CD).

You can both just replace the file or reinstall the game and patch up to PR1. You dont need to uninistall mek paks.

This mean you have a corrupted Props.mw4 on your CD. I dont understand how this can happen because it is in a CAB file...

The error you get while installing the PR1 is the MS equivalent of the CRC error but they dont stop the process and let you use a screwed version.

I think you have to find a new CD.

I begin to think to hardware problems.

Your Texture.mw4 changed after the pack installation, may be you installed the HUDs or something like that.

You will have problems with next updates if you will not correctly uninstall them.

Not helpful - but I just re-installed Mercs with it over-writing existing files, updated to PR1 and then ran the installer and everything seems fine. Very smooth.

Regards,

RocketDog.

*grumbles*

after messing around for hours i've now discovered that it doesn't seem tolike being installed in a different DIR.

I never install things in the default directory, but looks like i will have to ths time.

Odd beak. my install is into c:\games\mercs not the default. But on the patcher, I had to use the default backup name ext.

still working on it guys, fear not well get it......

i would like to know if maybe it has something to do with the map / mission editor or the is/clan paks...

all during the alpha and beta I didnt not encounter any problems... I easly converted back and forth between two directoris...

The issue may be related to the Clan and IS packs.

Does anybody know what they install or modify exactly ?

If the CRC is different most patch programs would fail. Let us not forget that the mektek pack has to patch a game thats already been patched and already has 2 packs out for it. There are bound to be issues.

Giskard

It is not related with mekpaks, they do not modify any file in the game but just enable a "license" for the content, content that is already in Mercs.

hey guys.....i ran into alot of the same probs you are dealin with...especially CRC and props file probs......
BREWDWER set me streight.....dont cut corners!!!!!!!!this is what i had to do:

uninstall mercs.....reboot
delete mercs directory and any leftover files.......reboot
install mercs.......reboot
install clan and is paks........reboot
install PR1.......reboot
download switcher.......reboot
get online and execute swithcer from mercs directory......it will hang up on props....core etc......just leave it alone and it will work

after 13 hrs of dikin with this stuff......this method worked like a charm!
i think the reboot after each step helps to insure things stay claen
i was doiun uninstall/reinstall mombo left and right and it just frustrated me.....BREWDER reminded me cutin corners just magnifies problems when it comes to installs and uninstalls
i hope this helps................peace out...............SPIDER®

Thanks Evil

I realise any attempt at modding mercs in this way will run in to serious problems initially. After all it was never designe to be modded at all. Even if they devs did say why always wanted a map editor the game it self proves they did no work in that area so adding new mechs is one step beyond something simpler that was never supported.

Can you help me disple some rumours Evilcow.

Some of the mechstorm guys are claiming theres 3 versions of the pack out.

Can you tell me if this is true ?

They also say 1 version doesnt work at all.

If the above is true and this is true can you tell me the version that does not work.

I know these rumours are annoying but id prefer to hear the facts from the horses mouth and get my own facts right so to speak. If you can do that for me ill update my guys with the correct information.

SPIDER®: Do you think the above install method may reset the safedisk stuff for the clan and is packs too ?
Got problems in that area you see.

Giskard

There are only 2 versions: German and English.

Most installation problems fall in the following categories:

- HUD patch or QSkinner installed: texture.mw4 corrupted.
- NOCD crack installed: mw4mercs.icd corrupted.
- Not enough disk space: the patcher fails to create backup files (at least 500MB are needed).
- Hardware problems: files are corrupted while the system moves large amount of data.

And I suspect too:

Cheats done altering mw4mercs.icd or some of the .mw4 files. Even if the last one implies that somebody found the key to open archives and smart enough to understand the content (a waste of talent make cheats if somebody is capable of that...).

Thanks Evil

I think your right about the causes, the "Hardware problems: files are corrupted while the system moves large amount of data." sounds about right to me. I did a lot of moving files when my IS and Clan pack issues arose.

Giskard

Everything ran fine until I installed the switcher. Now I lost all mecs in Mechlab in in the expansion and in Standard mode when I try to open mechlab it bombs out the game with the following:
: EXCEPTION : Attempt to read from address 0x00000010 in MW4MERCS! (+0xD1206)

Here are the results from the checker:
Checking default game files
MW4Mercs.icd - 34CD7A81, Standard PR1 ICD file
Resource\core.mw4 - 4720F21B, Standard PR1 Core file
Resource\props.mw4 - 09990D64, Standard PR1 Props file
Resource\textures.mw4 - FB666AAE, Standard PR1 Textures file
Resource\VariantsMercs - Default variants folder present

Checking PR1 backup files
MW4Mercs.icd.pr1 - Missing file
Resource\core.mw4.pr1 - Missing file
Resource\props.mw4.pr1 - Missing file
Resource\textures.mw4.pr1 - Missing file
Resource\VariantsMercs.pr1 - PR1 variants folder not present

Checking MekPak1 backup files
MW4Mercs.icd.mpk - 2058FD87, Standard MekPak1 ICD file
Resource\core.mw4.mpk - 861EE0A8, Standard MekPak1 Core file
Resource\props.mw4.mpk - 9B7A8438, Standard MekPak1 Props file
Resource\textures.mw4.mpk - C40626D2, Standard MekPak1 Textures file
Resource\VariantsMercs.mpk - PR1 variants folder present
Please let me know if you can help.
Kergin
labartels2000@yahoo.com

The switcher is correctly installed. Your problem is that you have variants for new mechs/weapons in the Standard variants folder. Just remove them (or move them in the mektek variants folder) and you will be ok.

Thanks- I deleted the files and away I went. Banzai!!!!!!!!!!!