LBA1 Windows patch

Hello!

It seems that Mr. Raynal won't release Windows patch for Little Big Adventure 1 in the near future, so I tried to make one myself. It has been tested and works not so bad in Windows 9x with demo version of LBA1, floppy version and a CD-rip of American version (Relentless).
Could someone be so kind as to test this patch with the full CD version and in Windows ME/NT 4/2000?
To install this patch, download the attached .ZIP file, extract it to your LBA directory and run PATCH.EXE. It will create a new patched executable, LBAWIN.EXE, that should run in Windows.

P.S. Sorry about posting unregistered. I tried to register two days ago as FunnyFrog, but that confirmation letter hasn't arrived yet. (Yes, I entered my e-mail address correctly.)

Update: there's a new version of the patch available in this thread.

[edit by wacko - deleted the "bug proof" and added the update]

[Atresica]

You have absolutely no idea how many people are going to thank you if it works (there are also people who are going to thank you for trying)
I'm willing to test it but I can only test in Win 98 with the full version.

[wacko]

Hallelujah, I'll test it right away.

Edit:

I've just tested it, I first had it in my one cd-drive, then it popped out right after the Adeline logo. Then I put the cd in my burner and it went further, but the game gets stuck at the voice file transfer right before you start in the prison.

Also, I couldn't see any movies, but I did hear the sound normally.

I'm now going to install VirtualCD, I think my problems are because LBA doesn't really likes my cd-rom...

Edit 2:

I'm using Windows 98 and the European cd-rom version.

[killerhamPster]

I just tried it with Win Me, the game worked but crashed when I got my identity-card in the prison. I'll try again later...

How did you make this patch, who does it work?

[killerhamPster]

I just tried it again, it crashed again (after having taken the identity card and Twinsen should take the Holomap).

[wacko]

Grrr... it still doesn't work... does anyone knows how to run LBA properly with multiple cd-rom drives? It only checks the first cd-rom drive while the cd is in an other one. Btw, it doesn't work because it's Windows but because of LBA's cd-rom check.

[Keds]

First of all... well done. You're a genius .

The game has worked perfectly all the way upto the end of Citadel island... but it crashes after the animation of Twinsen being sick on the ferry. Can someone tell me how to disable cinematics? Then I think I should be able to play to the end.

Wacko: I had trouble with LBA/CDROM a while ago. Someone mentioned that the drive your CD is in must be called 'D:'. Are either of your CD drives 'D:' (or was it you who suggested that to me? .)

[wacko]

C,D,E,F are harddisks, G,H,I are cd-roms. It only works in G: while I'd like to play it in I:. Installing from different drives doesn't work.

[ChaosFish]

You're genius indeed, are you sure you're not Fred?

I'm gonna test it in a second...

[Keds]

Originally posted by wacko
C,D,E,F are harddisks, G,H,I are cd-roms. It only works in G: while I'd like to play it in I:. Installing from different drives doesn't work.

That's what I mean Wacko. Someone (I can't remember who) suggested I rename my drives so D is a CD drive. I never found out if it worked, because I got a new computer on which D is alread a CD drive.

[wacko]

It works already... but it crashes after some movies (it also crashes after getting in jail again).

[Keds]

Oh I see. Do you know if there is any way to disable the movies then? That's the only problem with mine... I can't leave Citadel Island becasue of the cinematic (or go back to jail.)

We have to solve it... my hopes have been raised now. Just one section is not enough.

[Edit]

After perplexing myself for sometime and fooling around with drivers, the most obvious solution occured to me: Savegame editor .

[/Edit]

[FunnyFrog]

(I'm the same guy who started this thread.)

Thank you for your interest in the patch. I'll try to make it better. However, I'm nothing like Fred, so don't expect too much from me.

It will help a lot if you provide me with some technical details about your testing (preferrably in a private message):
1) Your system configuration, including Windows version, LBA version (size and date of LBA.EXE file), memory size, graphics card, sound card (what shows up in Device Manager and what did you select in LBA setup).
2) If LBA crashes, how does it crash? Is the problem reproducible? If you get a Windows message, copy it with all details. If LBA closes silently, try to start it in a DOS box like this:
C:
CD \LBA (assuming that it is in C:\LBA directory)
LBAWIN >DUMP.TXT
After a crash look for the DUMP.TXT file. If it contains any text, let me know.
3) Did you try to run without sound and/or music? Did it change anything?
4) Did you try to change properties for LBAWIN.EXE?
5) Do you have similar problems with other DOS games? If you play LBA in pure DOS on the same computer, does it work well?

To Atresica: Any testing can be helpful. Please try it and tell me what happens! Especially if the game crashes.

To Keds: Perhaps there is no "normal" way to disable movies. I have attached a small program that should disable them - I don't have the CD version to test it. Unzip it to your LBA directory and run VIDEOS.EXE after applying the patch.

[Keds]

I can't thank you enough .

Your program to disable movies works fine. So far in playing, I've encountered one place where the game always crashes out. The shop on Principal island.

I'll get back to you with info. on my system etc...

[Keds]

Okay, here are answers to some of your questions. (Edit: I couldn't PM you with this, since there is a limitation on characters)

1) Your system configuration, including Windows version, LBA version (size and date of LBA.EXE file), memory size, graphics card, sound card (what shows up in Device Manager and what did you select in LBA setup).

- Windows: ME
- Graphics: RIVA TNT2, 32mb (I manually changed LBA to use OPENGL.DLL)
- Sound: Soundblaster 128bit PCI. I selected 'Sound Blaster pro 2' in LBA setup, accourding to the info in the README file created by you.
- Size of LBA.EXE: 256k
- Date of LBA.EXE: 24/07/2001
- LBA Version: UK

2) If LBA crashes, how does it crash? Is the problem reproducible? If you get a Windows message, copy it with all details. If LBA closes silently, try to start it in a DOS box like this:
C: CD \LBA (assuming that it is in C:\LBA directory) LBAWIN >DUMP.TXT. After a crash look for the DUMP.TXT file. If it contains any text, let me know.

This is the full message contained in the DUMP.TXT file:

DOS/4GW Protected Mode Run-time Version 1.8
Copyright (c) Rational Systems, Inc. 1990-1992
Unexpected interrupt 06 (code 00000000) at 0227:0002A536
TSF32: prev_tsf32 6E90
SS 043B DS 022F ES 022F FS 0000 GS 0087
EAX 0000004F EBX 836E9618 ECX 00000E4F EDX 00000003
ESI 83987297 EDI 000AC3E5 EBP 836F823F ESP 00000DBF
CS:IP 0227:0002A536 ID 0006 CODE 00000000 FLAGS 00010012
CS=0227, USE32, page granular, limit FFFFFFFF, base 00000000, acc CFFB
SS=043B, USE32, byte granular, limit 00000FFF, base 00000000, acc 40F3
DS=022F, USE32, page granular, limit FFFFFFFF, base 00000000, acc CFF3
ES=022F, USE32, page granular, limit FFFFFFFF, base 00000000, acc CFF3
FS=0000, USE16, byte granular, limit 00000000, base 00000000, acc 0000
GS=0087, USE16, byte granular, limit 0000FFFF, base 00014150, acc 00F3
CR0: PG:0 ET:0 TS:1 EM:0 MP:1 PE:0 CR2: 00000620 CR3: 00000620

Memory allocation error
Cannot start COMMAND, exiting


3) Did you try to run without sound and/or music? Did it change anything?

Yes, it works with no music.

4) Did you try to change properties for LBAWIN.EXE?

No

5) Do you have similar problems with other DOS games? If you play LBA in pure DOS on the same computer, does it work well?

I don't have a copy of any version of DOS, I've not tryed any other DOS games on this computer so far. My old computer (win 95) had no trouble with any DOS game, except of course LBA.

Hope this helps.

[Darkstealth]

FunnyFrog, well done on the hack/patch of the LBA bin files. Would you mind on making your source open or shared? I am sure ColdBlood, El Muerte and I will be able to help you out in certain areas. ColdBlood especially is very good in memory address cracking and hacking etc.

As for the video I can give you source code on a decoder we wrote. Even if it is in Pascal, it has inline assembly sections that you could use.

Ps. take credit for your work in the txt's

[NO NAME]

Hey its nice that you try (it doesnt work in my computer)
any way i think that dider and his team (adline) should make this patch
because they have the rights to make lba and they have the rights to make an lba1 patch
so that why we need to ask from dider to make the patch and not from fred

can u send email and tell him that?

[Keds]

That's a good idea. If I had the E-Mail address I definately would. Has anyone got confirmation on the address taken from adelinesoft.com?

With some tampering you can get the patch to function though.

[Lightwing]

Here's the thing. I donwloaded the patch into the Relent dir, and when running lbawin.exe the screen turns black for 3 seconds and then returns back to windows...

okey, nevermind...I had that problem but i went to the lba windows setup, and seted up the settings...now its up and running...although i do have several problems....

-When a movie is playing the screen goes black...it seems that its unable to show it. I can press ECS to skip them, but its just getting really annoying. In addition to that, I have also discovered that when zooming in the game goes through the same prossess. In any case, you always hear sound, but there is never any visual.

-This is the major problem that i have with the game...In the menu everythings goes 5 times faster than its supposed to. Meaning, when i highlight a catagory the moving waves move extremely quickly. And when I go to control the volume of the game, the bar also jumps all the way to the end even if i quickly press the arrow key...

I would like to thank you very much for creating this patch...A lot of ppl have been wating for it for years.

[Black Spider]

just got 1 thing to say:

You are tha man

can u also make a patch for lba3
coz mine isn't working wel (the map C:\games\little big adventure 3 is empty )

[Lightwing]

Originally posted by Black Spider
just got 1 thing to say:

You are tha man

can u also make a patch for lba3
coz mine isn't working wel (the map C:\games\little big adventure 3 is empty )

Spider, is this some sort of a joke?

It worked well for me (without sound) i got Windows ME

[Black Spider]

it was just a joke.

BTW the patch worked with me 100% perfect up to twinsen's house (i stopped there coz it was 1.30 AM) But I had no movie errors or errors in the pharmacy.
I just want my soundcard to emulate SBpro coz OPL3 sound rullez.

[Lightwing]

FunnyFrog, I've sended you some test results. Check your e-mail.

[Medur]

well, here´s my "relatory":
i tested it 4 four times. In the 1st time, nothing happened, in the 2nd, it runnedwell, but when i tried to load a game it crashed. On the 3rd, the same. In the 4th it crashed.
/me uses windows 98 SE, crashed version of Relentless