- How do I run TTD/TTDPatch on Windows NT/2000/XP?
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Please read Windows 2000/XP compatibility
- Which version of the patch do I need?
-
TTD comes in two different versions, an older one from 1995 that runs in DOS,
and a newer one from 1999 that only runs in Windows and uses DirectX. The gameplay
is identical, the only difference is what operating system they need.
Also, only the Windows version of TTD runs on Windows NT, 2000 and XP.
To find out which version you have, look at the title screen of your game.
The Windows version has a large "Fish UK" logo on the screen, whereas the DOS version
does not have that logo. If you see this logo, you need the TTDPatch file that ends
in a W, i.e. ttdptxxxW.zip, where xxx is the version number.
Conversely, if you don't see this logo, download ttdptxxx.zip without the W.
Another clue is the executable file. The DOS version uses TTDX.EXE
or TYCOON.EXE, whereas the Windows version uses GameGFX.exe.
Simply by finding which of these files you have, you can determine your version.
- How do I make a configuration file?
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Since TTDPatch version 1.8, a default configuration file is created if
you run TTDPatch without any options and no
ttdpatch.cfg file exists.
Then you can simply edit this file and set the options as you like.
Other ways of making a configuration file:
- Get a configuration tool from the TTDPatch website,
choose the switches you want, and then save it as
ttdpatch.cfg.
- Have TTDPatch make one for you. In a command prompt, enter the following:
For the DOS version:
ttdpatch -a -W ttdpatch.cfg
For the Windows version:
ttdpatchw -a -W ttdpatch.cfg
This will also run TTDPatch with the new configuration, so that you can test
whether it works.
- How do I change the configuration?
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If you already have a configuration file (if not, see above), you can simply edit it in any
text editor. In Windows, run Notepad and open
ttdpatch.cfg in your TTD directory. In
DOS, run Edit and do the same. Then simply change what you like, and save the file again.
- I get the message: "Unable to access Transport Tycoon Deluxe CD!"
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If this is the Windows version of TTD, please read Windows 2000/XP compatibility.
If, however, you have the DOS version,
this means that you have not told TTDPatch where to find the TTD CD. The most likely
reason is that you have not set up a configuration yet. To correct this, please follow the
steps in the FAQ above, "How do I make a configuration file?"
If you do have a configuration file and this error persists, it means that you need to modify
the configuration file to set the CD path. To do this, either use one of the configuration
tools or simply go to your TTD directory, and open ttdpatch.cfg in a text editor like
Notepad. Go find the line that begins with cdpath, and change it to read
cdpath D:\ where D: is your CD drive.
One more way to solve this is to copy all missing files from your CD to the TTD
directory. Simply copy everything that's not already on your hard disk and it should work.
Then you can play TTD even without the CD.
- I get an error message about opening a COM port.
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This error message means that you have the DOS version of TTD, and are trying to
run it on Windows NT, 2000 or XP. Currently there is no known way of doing that,
only the Windows version of TTD runs on these operating system, and only if you
enable the
win2k switch See the question "Which version of the patch do I need?"
above. Unfortunately the Windows version is very hard to find in shops, so you may have
some trouble trying to buy it.
- I get an error message saying that
ttdload.ovl or tycoon.exe or gamegfx.exe could not be found.
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This probably means that you have the wrong version of the patch. You might have the
DOS version of TTD, but the Windows version of the patch, or vice versa. The versions
must match, or the patch won't work. Another possibility is that you don't actually
have Transport Tycoon Deluxe, but rather some other game, or that you've installed
TTDPatch in the wrong folder (it must be in TTD's folder).
- I installed TTDPatch but none of the patches work!
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There can be several reasons why this would be the case.
- You are still running the unpatched TTD. If that's the case, you have to run TTDPatch
instead. Remember, TTDPatch has to do the patching every time it is started, simply
installing it is not enough. Check that the title of the main game window
mentions the version of TTDPatch. If it doesn't, you're not actually running
the patch, but rather the unpatched TTD.
- If you run TTD from a batch file (e.g.
ttdx.bat), simply edit that file to run ttdpatch.exe
instead of ttdx.exe. If, on the other hand, you have a Windows shortcut, edit that
shortcut to run ttdpatch.exe.
- You have not set up a configuration yet. By default, all of TTDPatch's switches are
turned off. To correct this, please follow the steps in the FAQ above, "How do I
make a configuration file?"
- Why don't the new graphics work?
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There are several checks you should do to find out why the graphics don't work.
- Do you have the right name for the configuration file? It should be
newgrf.cfg if you have the DOS version of TTD, or newgrfw.cfg for the
Windows version.
- Did you enable the switches for new graphics? See New Vehicle Graphics for
a list.
- Do you get any error messages after starting TTD or loading a game? If so,
see Graphics Errors for what they mean.
- Did you start a new game? By default, new graphics are loaded only in new
games, although you can use Cht: Graphics to activate them in existing games.
- Why can't I play multiplayer games in full-screen mode?
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(This applies to the Windows version only.) When initiating or joining a multiplayer game,
TTD switches back to the Window interface to display the multiplayer game selection
dialogs. After the game has been set up or selected, the game should return to fullscreen
mode. However, this doesn't work correctly on many (most?) graphics cards, and the game
cannot be resumed at all. If this happens, your only option is to choose windowed mode in
TTD's configuration program, and not play in full-screen mode at all. It's not clear what
exactly causes this problem, or how to fix it.
- Why does something suddenly not work?
- Why does the game not behave like it used to?
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This is probably because a feature of the patch changes the way the game works.
If you want to find out why it does this, and how you're supposed to take
advantage of the changes, you'll just have to find the entry in the manual
that explains it.
The easiest way to do this is to look in the index for key words
(see Index) that might
relate to your question, or perhaps look through the table of contents for
hints.
If you can't find it at all, try turning off all switches in ttdpatch.cfg
until the problem disappears.
Finally, if you still can't figure it out, it might of course be a bug in the
patch. In that case, please contact the author (see Contact Information)
and tell him.
- Why is the service interval set to 16000 days and can't be changed?
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This is an effect of the
servint switch, see New Default Service Interval.
It is intended for people that play with breakdowns turned off in the difficulty settings.
If you don't like that, simply turn off the new service interval or set it to a smaller number,
and all new engines will get a better service interval. You can also use the Cht: ServInt sign
cheat to change the service interval.
- Why doesn't any cargo appear at my stations?
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This happens if you enable the
selectgoods switch, see Selectable station cargo.
It allows you to choose what goods you want to appear at each station. To make the cargo show up,
you just have to send a vehicle there trying to pick them up first. After that, only the cargo
of that vehicle will appear, until other carriers enable other cargo types.
- Why don't my trains make any profit? The cargo is delivered but it just stays "en-route" at the station.
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You have probably enabled the feeder services (see Feeder Service) and are using the "unload"
option at the target station. You do not need to use the unload option, unless the station does not
accept the cargo you deliver. Simply remove the unload option, and everything will work fine.
Alternatively, you can of course turn off feeder services.
- How do I place a sign for sign cheats?
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The sign that you need for using the sign cheats is in the "trees" menu icon. Simply click
and hold your mouse button on that icon, and choose the "Place sign" option. Note that
this is not the same type of sign as the "sign" you get when you purchase land for future use.
None of the other types of signs will work.
- Why does TTD stop for a few seconds when changing songs?
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This happens only in the Windows version of TTD, and only under Windows 2000 or XP. The problem is that
TTD uses an obsolete interface to the Windows MIDI functions, which don't work very well on these
operating systems. The solution is to use the
dxmci.dll DirectMusic wrapper DLL. For more
information please see Windows 2000/XP compatibility.
- Why is the game so slow suddenly? How can I speed it up?
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First, if you're using the
aiboost switch, then stop. It does not work as intended.
The worst offender in terms of slowing down TTD (apart from aiboost)
is the morevehicles switch. It multiplies
the time TTD needs to process all vehicle motions and update their states. If set to a value larger
than 5, the game can get really slow, especially on older computers. If you experience slow games,
you should first examine your morevehicles setting, and see if it is too large. Usually a
value of 2 is enough for all but the most complex games that may require a setting of 3 or 4. Anything
above 5 is almost certainly too large. However, before reducing the setting, please read
Increased Number of Vehicles, because this can affect the savegames you've already started
with too high a setting. In particular, if any consists have to be removed when loading a game, you need to
go back to a slightly higher setting.
Other features that TTDPatch introduces to the game can also slow it down, by requiring
additional calculations that were not needed in plain TTD. Examples of this are the pre-signals,
new vehicle graphics and the realistic acceleration model. However, the slowdown because of these
should still be fairly small, but you can try turning them off to see if you can get a faster game.
- Can you please fix the multiplayer problems?
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No, I can't. Seriously, I just can't. I don't even have two computers to play multiplayer games with.
Someone would have to buy me another computer, two licences of XP and two licences of Soft/ICE for XP.
Until then, I can't even begin to try fixing anything related to multiplayer games.
Besides, even if I had the computers and debuggers and everything, I'm not sure if the problems can be
fixed in the first place. It may be that TTD's networking protocol is just fundamentally broken and
can't be fixed, short of a complete rewrite of TTD. Who knows... I certainly don't.
- Are you still working on TTDPatch?
- When is the next version going to come out?
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Yes, I am still working on TTDPatch, but only sporadically due to other commitments. I
simply find it difficult to find the time to work on TTDPatch, which means that new
versions might take a relatively long time to come out. But, eventually they will, so don't
lose hope. Don't hold your breath either. If you would like to be notified of new versions
by email, please sign up to the TTDPatch Announcements mailing list.