European Air War - The Gen

Hello everyone
I have just joined the forum and want to say hello.
I am a bit older than the average, a retired man who at long last has the time to play EAW, an old favourite of mine since 1998. In the past, because of my workload I had few occasions to play as much as I wanted, but now I have plenty of time. Or have I? What has always attracted me about EAW was its robustness no matter the PC spec or OS, but I recently found to my dismay that my PC Dell Pentium III, 1Gb, 512 Mb Ram, Win XP SP2, is no longer adequate; after upgrading my graphic card to a 128Mb GeForce 6200, and latest nVIDIA drivers, I met for the first time the infamous ‘7217 error’ and the end of my dreams… I tried a variety of things, an older nVIDIA driver and patches (1.1, 1.2 and 1,26) without success. I even installed the two versions I have (The original Microprose and a re-release from Hasbro) in a Dell Win 89 I have but in neither of the installations the Joystick or the keyboard worked, I am shocked. Any suggestions?

Hello Harry!

There may be an answer to this - suggest you pop over to the EAW board at FRUGALS and make the same query. Some of the regulars have faced problems like this and may have the answer.

Hi Moggy
Thank you for your suggestion.
I visited Frugal’s site yesterday. Found a lot of very helpful stuff, my problem seems to be related to the most recent graphic card drivers, but there are also a lot of other things to consider. It appears to me anyway, that after 11 years of reasonably trouble free gaming we are back into a situation similar to the technical chaos of gaming with DOS.

Regards

I suppose that's the problem with an older game - the technology is going to pass it by. I still have my old W98 machine here that I use mostly for my EAWstuff, the old Matrox card does me nicely for that.

However, it may be that the EAW code group may be able to pull some rabbits out of hats - certainly making progress in that direction.

Harry--- Very sorry to hear of your disappointment.
Your machine, Pentium III, is certainly capable of running EAW.
Only the most complex add-ons of high-resolution might give a problem. You're a long way from that.

No doubt it is your video card. Can you use your old one?
Dumb question.
If not, keep trying different versions of the NVIDIA drivers, including the ones RAF_Dumoulin suggested at Frugal's (66.1 I think) I realize you have tried many. Odd that not one works.

Remember to remove the old drivers, and a driver cleaner is recommended. Tedious to go through the Safe mode procedure, I know.

Also use a "clean" EAW version. RAF_Dumo will supply you if you ask him at Frugal's , though it seems you have both CD types.
He says DO NOT 'install" EAW from the CD, but use the program as-is.
The only way I know to do this is to copy the entire EAW directory you have created during install into another directory. Or re-name the directory. Then use the "Remove Programs" function of Windows to wipe out the install's other components, which is usually under "Program Files".


As to the keyboard and joystick failures:
1. Check joystick in Windows Control Panel to see it is calibrated. Only one joystick allowed.
2. Check the EAW.ini file in the main EAW directory (click on it) to see it reads,
"Joystick=1"
Failure of the joystick/keyboard says EAW cannot find some needed file program when it starts up. If you can't find the EAW.ini file in your main EAW directory, this is it.
Remember you have to play ONE game briefly after installing any of the EAW patches, like 1.2 or 1.26. This creates the EAW.ini file for joystick, keyboard and other configuration changes.
It WILL ruin your EAW.ini by substituting its own attempt if it can't find what it wants. Usually you lose the joystick and have to use the keyboard arrow keys to fly.
Hit "Properties" and mark EAW.ini "read only". And make copies.

I also suggest you download EAW Control 2000 from Sandbagger's when you get the game running. This little utility by Alan White will let you set most things from the desktop, and start the game, including screen resolution, extra flight squads, Heads Up display colors, and more.

I have similar problems with NVIDIA--horrible menu screens--under WIN XP, and have gone back to WIN 98 to play EAW, (which is not as often as I used to). You did say you are using WIN 98, right?

Hi Harry,

welcome to the community mate ... I see from SimHQ that you are getting plenty of help with your problem so you probably don't need my input on that. Siffice to say that the 7217 error is a driver issue due to the lack of 8 bit support in all the nvidia drivers post the 60 series, I currently use the 61.76 version of the drivers with win98 and they work fine. Don't give up mate, a little bit of tinkering to find the best set and then you are in for a few years more of great fun ...


cheers,


Pobs

Dear Gen Members and EAW fans
I am really moved and most grateful to you all for your kindness, support and excellent advice given. This ‘7217 Error’, has been a blessing in disguise, my initial disappointment as turned into amazement when I found that I was not alone. People like you at The Gen, and also at Frugal’s, have given me a lot of good information and encouragement to solve this problem and put me in good spirits for the tasks ahead: sorting the technical stuff like in the old days when I had to learn from zilch about ‘extended memory’, ‘expanded memory’ and ‘boot disks’ to make ‘Falcon III’ and ‘Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe’ run.

Wudpecker. - As I mentioned earlier I have also tried several installs of EAW in my wife’s Win98 Dell Pentium III, 512MB RAM, Diamond 32 MB card, but the eaw.ini does not show any parameters for the controls (joystick or keyboard) the joystick in Windows Control Panel is calibrated and works well with Mig Alley installed there, so it should be OK. Dumb question is it possible to do a ‘copy and paste’ from an installed eaw.ini elsewhere, say my PC, to the Win98 eaw.ini? Would it work?

I am intrigued by what you said about not using the CD, do you mean copying and pasting the install into another directory? I love the idea! Please forgive my ignorance, which other install component do I have to remove?

By the way I found on the web a little tool called ‘Nasty File Remover’, a gem that even a neophyte like me felt at ease using. After running it I was pleased to know that I have only one driver in my system.
The site is: www.majorgeeks.com/download3233.html

Best regards to you all Harry

Many thanks for that Harry - you're welcome.

It does seem that your Win98 install went awry, Harry.
Usually, Win '98 is ideal for EAW. Any virus checker or firewalls in operation? I think CTRL-ALT-DELETE brings up a list of running programs.

Also, which version of DirectX are you using for Direct Draw? EAW's install disks do not know of the new versions, but they should work alright with the old ones. Worth Checking under "Start/Run/dxdiag" for a test of Direct X.

Yes, Harry, the EAW.ini file is absolutely critical in use of the joystick.
It MUST have a line that says "Windows joystick=1"
Apparently your install did not pick up your joystick. Don't know why.
Usually, a line is found that reads "joystick=0" which means Zero joystick.


Below you will find my EAW.ini file that you can copy and name it just that.
I include it all just in case you need it. I know it's long and confusing.

The critical ones are the joystick, and the "no CD" patch (which doesn't always work). Separated out here:
[CONTROLS]
Windows Joystick=1

[MISCELLANEOUS]
Debug Flags=0
Debug Path=.\

Also, you may want to change my
ScreenCapture=INSERT
to something easy for you to take screenshots. It's near the bottom.

The junk at the very bottom is an "extra" set that EAW adds for, for some reason.

Of course, most settings can be changed in "CONFIGURE GAME" or with the help of EAW CONTROL 2000 from Sandbagger's.

Sandbagger's Starting Gate has helpful hints from Max188 and others:
http://www.sandbaggereaw.com/SGbasic.html
Check the EAW WIKI, too, about 7217 errors
http://eaw.wikispaces.com/guides

As for NOT installing EAW, that's the recommendation of RAF_Dumoulin, mostly for Windows XP users. I've not had problems in Win 98---except for my NVIDIA card. Your should work, too, on install.
I suggest you work on the video card issue first.

Then try Dumo's "no install". To do this, re-name your EAW directory something else or copy it elsewhere.
Then use "Control Panel/ Add or Remove Programs" to get rid of the install.

MY EAW.ini file: It may not match your joystick, but it's a start.


[GRAPHICS]
TestDrawPrimitive=0
DisplayDevice=2
PlaneDetail=1
TerrainDetail=1
CloudDetail=1
EffectsDetail=2
HorizonDistance=2
Shadow=1
ExternalStores=1
LensFlare=0
LightSourcing=1
VirtualCockpitGauge=1
CockpitShake=1
VirtualCockpitProp=1
3dCityTargets=2
Gamma Value=128
Width=1024
Height=768

[EAW]
PlayIntro=1
PlayerPlane=11
PlayerNation=1
LastCampaign=2
PlayerPilotName=PLAYER
PlayerRank=0
GameName=PLAYER'S GAME
WingmanChar=87
LeaderChar=76
ExtraSquads=2

[DIFFICULTY]
SkillLevel=1
FlightModel=1
Landing=1
Stalls=1
Torque=1
Overheat=1
Blackout=1
StructrualLimit=1
Wind=1
RealisticGunnery=1
LimitedAmmo=1
MidAirCollision=1
PlayerDamage=1
DisplayUnit=1
DisplayHUD=1
IndicatedAirSpeed=1
PressureAltitude=1

[DISPLAY]
HudColor_Red_R=250
HudColor_Red_G=0
HudColor_Red_B=0
HudColor_Blue_R=0
HudColor_Blue_G=0
HudColor_Blue_B=250
HudColor_Green_R=237
HudColor_Green_G=168
HudColor_Green_B=18
HudColor_Yellow_R=255
HudColor_Yellow_G=255
HudColor_Yellow_B=0
HudColor_LtBlue_R=0
HudColor_LtBlue_G=250
HudColor_LtBlue_B=250
HudColor_Violet_R=128
HudColor_Violet_G=0
HudColor_Violet_B=250
HudColor_Orange_R=250
HudColor_Orange_G=128
HudColor_Orange_B=0
HudColor_Pink_R=250
HudColor_Pink_G=0
HudColor_Pink_B=250
HudColor_White_R=250
HudColor_White_G=250
HudColor_White_B=250
HudColor_DkGray_R=55
HudColor_DkGray_G=55
HudColor_DkGray_B=55
DisplayInfoSetting=251
R=240

[SOUND]
SoundQuality=1
SoundChannel=16
SoundDist=2
SoundVolume=65535
EngineVolume=65535
ExternalVolume=57344
MusicVolume=40960
SpeechVolume=57344
ReverseStereo=0
Subtitles=1

[CONTROLS]
Force Feedback=0
Force Feedback Gain=0
Flight Sensitivity=1.000000
Camera Sensitivity=5.000000
Swap Mouse X=0
Swap Mouse Y=0
Windows Joystick=1
JoystickDeadZone=4

[CAMPAIGN]
CampaignDifficulty=1
CampaignLength=0
CampaignLimitAicraft=0
CampaignLimitSupply=0

[Media]
Video Playback=0

[NETOPTION]
Year=1
SkillLevel=2
MissionType=5
BattleSize=0
TimeOfDay=1
AI_PlaneUpdateRate=350
PlayerPlaneUpdateRate=35
ClockSyncRate=140

[Miscellaneous]
Debug Flags=0
Debug Path=.\

[Remappable Keys]
FLIGHT CONTROL=Joystick
CAMERA CONTROL=Mouse
RUDDER CONTROL=Rudder
THROTTLE CONTROL=Throttle
FRONT VIEW=F1
RIGHT FRONT VIEW=F2
RIGHT VIEW=F3
RIGHT REAR VIEW=F4
LEFT FRONT VIEW=F7
LEFT VIEW=F6
LEFT REAR VIEW=F5
UP FRONT VIEW=SHIFT F1
UP RIGHT FRONT VIEW=SHIFT F2
UP RIGHT VIEW=SHIFT F3
UP RIGHT REAR VIEW=SHIFT F4
UP LEFT FRONT VIEW=SHIFT F7
UP LEFT VIEW=SHIFT F6
UP LEFT REAR VIEW=SHIFT F5
INSTRUMENT VIEW=CTRL F1
INSTRUMENT LABEL=ALT F1
SNAPVIEW FRONT=NUMPAD8
SNAPVIEW RIGHT FRONT=NUMPAD9
SNAPVIEW RIGHT=NUMPAD6
SNAPVIEW RIGHT REAR=NUMPAD3
SNAPVIEW LEFT FRONT=NUMPAD7
SNAPVIEW LEFT=NUMPAD4
SNAPVIEW LEFT REAR=NUMPAD1
SNAPVIEW UP=NUMPAD5
SNAPVIEW REAR=NUMPAD2
SNAPVIEW INSTRUMENT=NUMPAD0
VIRTUAL COCKPIT VIEW=F8
PADLOCK CURRENT TARGET=MULTIPLY
PADLOCK CLOSEST TO CENTER=DIVIDE
COCKPIT ON/OFF=DECIMAL
CHASE VIEW=SHIFT F8
FLY-BY VIEW=CTRL F8
TRACK VIEW - NEXT PLANE=F9
TRACK VIEW - PREVIOUS PLANE=SHIFT F9
TARGET VIEW=F10
PLAYER-TO-TARGET VIEW=SHIFT F10
TARGET-TO-PLAYER VIEW=CTRL F10
BOMB VIEW=F11
PLAYER-TO-BOMB VIEW=SHIFT F11
BOMB-TO-PLAYER VIEW=CTRL F11
ACTION VIEW=F12
DOGFIGHT VIEW=SHIFT F12
FREE CAMERA VIEW=CTRL F12
ZOOM BUTTON=Mouse_Btn_1
ZOOM IN=ADD
ZOOM OUT=SUBTRACT
PAN CAMERA UP=U
PAN CAMERA DOWN=N
PAN CAMERA RIGHT=J
PAN CAMERA LEFT=H
CAMERA RESET=Mouse_Btn_2
STICK BACK=DOWN
STICK FORWARD=UP
STICK RIGHT=RIGHT
STICK LEFT=LEFT
RUDDER RIGHT=COMMA
RUDDER LEFT=SLASH
RUDDER CENTER=PERIOD
RUDDER FULL RIGHT=SHIFT COMMA
RUDDER FULL LEFT=SHIFT SLASH
START ENGINE 1=CTRL LEFT
START ENGINE 2=CTRL RIGHT
THROTTLE UP=EQUALS
THROTTLE DOWN=MINUS
THROTTLE 0=SHIFT MINUS
THROTTLE 10%=1
THROTTLE 20%=2
THROTTLE 30%=3
THROTTLE 40%=4
THROTTLE 50%=5
THROTTLE 60%=6
THROTTLE 70%=7
THROTTLE 80%=8
THROTTLE 90%=9
THROTTLE 100%=SHIFT EQUALS
THROTTLE ENGINE 1 UP=LBRACKET
THROTTLE ENGINE 2 UP=RBRACKET
THROTTLE ENGINE 1 DOWN=SEMICOLON
THROTTLE ENGINE 2 DOWN=APOSTROPHE
FLAPS UP=V
FLAPS DOWN=F
WHEEL BRAKES ON/OFF=B
LANDING GEARS UP/DOWN=G
COCKPIT LAMP ON/OFF=L
FIRE SELECTED GUNS=Joystick_Btn_1
SELECT NEXT GUNS=S
SELECT PREVIOUS GUNS=SHIFT S
SELECT ALL GUNS=Z
SELECT MACHINEGUNS=X
SELECT CANNONS=C
DISPLAY SELECTED GUNS=CTRL S
FIRE SELECTED WEAPONS=Joystick_Btn_2
SELECT BOMBS=W
SELECT ROCKETS=R
RELEASE DROP TANKS=SHIFT D
TARGET NEXT ENEMY=T
TARGET PREVIOUS ENEMY=SHIFT T
TARGET CLOSEST ENEMY=CTRL T
TARGET NEXT FRIENDLY=Y
TARGET PREVIOUS FRIENDLY=SHIFT Y
TARGET CLOSEST FRIENDLY=CTRL Y
TARGET NEXT GROUND=E
TARGET PREVIOUS GROUND=SHIFT E
TARGET BEST GROUND=CTRL E
TARGET CLOSEST RUNWAY=SHIFT R
DESELECT TARGET=BACK
FLIGHT INFO DISPLAY ON/OFF=ALT F
TARGET INFO DISPLAY ON/OFF=ALT T
TARGET DIRECTOR DISPLAY ON/OFF=ALT D
TARGET BOX DISPLAY ON/OFF=ALT O
TARGET ID DISPLAY ON/OFF=ALT I
TARGET RANGE DISPLAY ON/OFF=ALT R
RADIO MODE=TAB
CHAT MODE=GRAVE
PILOT MAP=ALT M
AUTOPILOT ON/OFF=A
WING LEVELER ON/OFF=SHIFT A
NEXT WAYPOINT=P
PREV WAYPOINT=SHIFT P
ACCELERATE TIME=PAGE_UP
NORMAL TIME=PAGE_DOWN
SKIP TO NEXT ENCOUNTER=ALT N
JUMP TO NEXT PLANE=ALT J
BAIL OUT=ALT B
PAUSE GAME=ALT P
SOUND ON/OFF=ALT S
QUIT GAME=ESCAPE
ScreenCapture=INSERT
TARGET NEXT ENEMY=T
TARGET PREVIOUS ENEMY=SHIFT T
TARGET CLOSEST ENEMY=CTRL T
TARGET NEXT FRIENDLY=Y
TARGET PREVIOUS FRIENDLY=SHIFT Y
TARGET NEXT GROUND=E
TARGET NEXT ENEMY=T
TARGET PREVIOUS ENEMY=SHIFT T
TARGET CLOSEST ENEMY=CTRL T
TARGET NEXT FRIENDLY=Y
TARGET PREVIOUS FRIENDLY=SHIFT Y
TARGET NEXT GROUND=E
TARGET NEXT ENEMY =T
TARGET PREVIOUS ENEMY =SHIFT T
TARGET CLOSEST ENEMY =CTRL T
TARGET NEXT FRIENDLY =Y
TARGET PREVIOUS FRIENDLY =SHIFT Y
TARGET NEXT GROUND =E

[quote="Wudpecker"]It does seem that your Win98 install went awry, Harry.
....... the EAW.ini file is absolutely critical in use of the joystick.
It MUST have a line that says "Windows joystick=1"
Apparently your install did not pick up your joystick. Don't know why.
Usually, a line is found that reads "joystick=0" which means Zero joystick.

SUCCESS!
Wudpecker, you were absolutely right! EAW, could not detect my CH joystick, even though I was using without trouble playing Mig Alley. So I installed a 'Genius F23' USB stick and from then on it was 'business as usual'. I am delighted and most grateful to you and all the other members.

Next task, but without any urgency, I’ll be installing the appropriate patches to solve the ‘7217 error’ in my own PC

I’ll be in touch, regards, harry

Hurray for you, Harry.
I admire and applaud your persistence, and agree it's worth it to have this very good ol' game back in action.

Without the updated automatic checks by the manufacturers of newer games, EAW users have to be diligent and intelligent.
I hope one day the great contributors like Sydbod and Mr. Jelly will be inspired to do a check system. They already have some good solutions for creative bodges---excuse me--"work-arounds".
Since no one is paying them for tedious slogging, we must be grateful for what's available.

Once you get the old girl performing, think about installing OAW. It will save hard drive space, keep things organized, and make using new features and campaigns a matter of choice at the click of a few buttons.
And, of course, it will make the online players salivate to get new meat to shoot at.

Many thanks Wudpecker, you are very kind, I am delighted to be playing EAW again.

You are right about having to be diligent to keep up with what is going on, not only about EAW but all my other sims and games. Until the “error” I had been complacent, having no problems with my ‘last century’ sims, but while trying to catch up with newer games, without knowing, have been creating troubles that are now surfacing. To solve any future problems I bought recently an Atlhon64 3000 PC with XP, 256 MB graphics and 1 Gb of RAM For the most demanding new sims, my second tier for 'late 20th Century-early 21st' is my present faithful Dell Pentium III, and for older WinX games, have my wife’s W98 Dell (I even have an old PC with DOS and Win 3.11 for prehistoric sims like Tornado and 1942 Pacific Air War).
Throughout my later years I had been buying and ‘saving’ a lot of sims to be played ‘when retired’ now is the time to enjoy myself
As for going Online, have to admit I wouldn’t know how to and possibly I would be afraid of not being any good and getting shot seconds after joining a shoot out.
I’ll be in touch as usual

Thanks again and regards harry

As for going Online, have to admit I wouldn’t know how to and possibly I would be afraid of not being any good and getting shot seconds after joining a shoot out.
I’ll be in touch as usual

Thanks again and regards harry

Howdy Harry
as for going online with these guys....well,
you will never find a more helpful bunch of folks,to A)help you get connected,and B)to get you "up to snuff" regards aerial combat and most importantly "how to survive aerial combat"
there isnt a better group of "virtual pilots" in the world with whom you would wish to "get your feet wet" with....
take a chance,you'll enjoy it!
S!............Shreck

Hello
A bleak case...
Having followed step by step ‘the more involved set of instructions': from Wiki’s site, to solve the ‘7217 error’, i.e. EAW full install, patching to ‘Sydbod's v.1.26E’, then running ‘Mr. Jelly's Error 7217-fixed’ and renaming the eaw.exe as instructed, I did not get this time the ‘1217 error’ but a message saying something like “EAW has detected a problem and has to shut down this application” because by then I had lost the use of my mouse, had to use the three finger salute. After that just in case, I tried different combinations of compatibilities and screen resolutions, to no avail. So here we are, a bit frustrated to put it mildly. What may have done wrong? Any comments.

By the way EAW on my wife’s PC is running very well and send its regards to all of you.


Just for reference:
Pentium III, 996MHZ & 512 Mb of RAM
XP Pro SP2,
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 6200, w\ NVIDIA drivers 7654 and Direct X 9c

Well… I did it all over again and this time with success.
In spite of the screens, which are difficult to read, EAW is as good as ever. Thanks for your support

I’ll be around as usual
Regards, harry