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View Full Version : It did it!! I got 3D Studio r4 working!! But with problems...

Kahenraz
08-18-2003, 01:56 AM
I've been pecking at this for months!! I have an old backup of Autodesk's: 3D Studio r4, but it's a poor directory rip (most likely a bad install as well). When I tried running it, it crashed every time. A few months ago, I did some intense googling and found some information on configuration and swap file assigning. I was then able to get it running, but it promptly froze.

But.. yesterday.. I finally got it working!! The problem was that it wasn't detecting the hardware lock that came with the software. I finallt realized this when I tried loading it in pure MS-DOS 6.2 and recieved the same blank screen. I stared at it for a while, thinking about what could be causing the problem. Then, the screen flashed as I saw the GUI load, then it crashed to the ms-dos promt and said that it couldn't detect the hardware lock. What luck!! Maybe it was because I didn't have a dos parellel port driver running that works with my motherboard. But now it's fixed!!

I love old skool renderings with old skool materials at old skool resolutions. :}

The one problem I'm still having is that while in pure ms-dos mode, I get some glitches with the text. And in any OS, the program lags on me when I do simple things like creating a box.

If anybody has any info or knows someone they can ask, I would be very appreciative. Thanks.

Also, the material editor causes 3ds to crash to dos prompt when I try changing the color of a material.

I ordered $75 worth of old 3ds books off amazon to try and bring this dinasaur back from the dead. I don't know, I just have this thing about old applications. I love working with them :D

I'm looking to buy someone's old 3ds (any version) as long as the original dongle is still in working order. Also 3dsmax v1.0-2.5, mirai and AMAPI. Please e-mail me if interested.
Dave Black
08-18-2003, 03:25 AM
You Sir, are insane. I'm no doctor, but really, you're nuts. Sorry I had to be the one to tell you.

Hehe...that's actually really cool somehow...

-3DZ

:D
Kahenraz
08-18-2003, 04:10 AM
:surprised :shrug:
CTRL+X
08-18-2003, 04:19 AM
ok did you get the fast cpu fix patch??

also you can run "3ds vibcfg" at the c:/3ds4 prompt to get into the video config where you can alter the default fonts,, sometimes those may cause it to crash.


or you can do what I did.. just go to ebay and you can order the same old hardware this old software runs well on.. I have an entire DOS machine running just DOS software like 3dsr4

maybe cost me 40 bucks to out fit the entire machine but damn 3dsr4 runs like butter.!


Looking for amapi????? I have the original amapi that ran from within 3dsr4... damn that was long time ago
Kahenraz
08-18-2003, 04:28 AM
Even better. I have my main machine rigged to tripple boot ms-dos 6.2, win95, and win2k pro. Dos and win95 have perfect sb16 (plus a small range of other sound cards i.e.: Roland) emulation, joystick, cd-rom, and video. Moslo and Turbo tweaks my p4 for any of those clocked games. The only problems I face are software specific. Not hardware.

Btw, typing 3ds vidbfg (vidcfg?) at c:\3ds4 said that it was not a recognized command. And I don't have any updates for 3ds4. Autodesk dosn't support it anymore and nobody mirrors this stuff.

Please keep in mind (this is for everyone) that I am talking about 3D Studio, the original dos version of Autodesk's 3d app. NOT 3d studio MAX.
CTRL+X
08-18-2003, 04:36 AM
not 3ds vidcfg but 3ds vibcfg .. B not D... it is short for Vibrant Configure


3ds vibcfg


Also Check here for what it is worth Here (http://www.morleys.org/~steve/3D-Studio/)
Kahenraz
08-18-2003, 04:50 AM
I found the patch from an old archive and installed it. It still lag spikes on me.
Kahenraz
08-18-2003, 04:52 AM
These are some adjustments I made. No effect whatsoever.

; -- Begin automatic Vibrant configuration section VG
; DISPLAY PARAMETERS VG
; VG
; Main Display VG
; VG
MAIN-DISPLAY = VIBRANT
VIBRANT-MAIN = 63
209926 VESA Compatibles 640x480 256 colors
VIBRANT-MAIN-FONT = "VGA14"
; VG
; Materials Editor VG
; VG
MATERIAL-DISPLAY = VIBRANT
VIBRANT-MATERIAL = 63
209926 VESA Compatibles 640x480 256 colors
VIBRANT-MATERIAL-FONT = "VGA14"
; VG
; Rendering Display VG
; VG
RENDER-DISPLAY = VIBRANT
VIBRANT-RENDER = 63
209926 VESA Compatibles 640x480 256 colors
VIBRANT-RENDER-SCREEN = SINGLE
; VG
; FLC/FLI Display Mode Configuration VG
;VIB-FLIC = "ON"
;VIB-FLIC = " 63 640 480 256 209926
;VESA Compatibles 640x480
;256 colors"
;VIB-FLIC = " 29 320 200 256 209924
;VESA Compatibles 320x200
;256 colors"
; VG
; -- end of automatic Vibrant Configuration section VG
Kahenraz
08-18-2003, 06:02 AM
Can anyone vouch for this?

"Both 3D Studio and Clipper Applications use software timing loops in the code. The 6x86 processor executes these loop instructions faster than previous x86 cpus which interferes with timing dependent code in both software programs."
gaggle
08-18-2003, 10:43 AM
post some screenshots! :love: :)
KiboOst
08-18-2003, 10:47 AM
Ahah yes, some screens !! I wanted to make an history max page, but couldn't even find back my old 3'1/2 r4 disks :buttrock:

God, we are old :shrug:
Joel Hooks
08-18-2003, 04:50 PM
I use 3ds r4 on a regular basis. I use a Dos boot CD running some sort of budget dos and don't have any issues.

I need it for work though, I don't enjoy old skewl resolutions or renderings, I just have it forced on me :>
Kahenraz
08-18-2003, 04:53 PM
Pic1
Kahenraz
08-18-2003, 04:58 PM
Material editor crashes again :p
I only got this error when running it in win2k. It opens correctly in dos or win95, but promptly crashes when I try to do anything.
Joel Hooks
08-18-2003, 05:02 PM
How are you running it at all in win2k? I can't get it to even run!
Kahenraz
08-18-2003, 06:09 PM
Make sure that you have all the swap file configuration correct. That's very important for getting it to run at all. I've just been poking at it for a long time, tweaking it here and there. It never wanted to run on win2k when I finally unburried it. If it dosn't want to work, make it work :p
CTRL+X
08-19-2003, 02:02 AM
I think you also need to copy the pharlap file to the system dir in the windows folder
Kahenraz
08-19-2003, 02:07 AM
If 3ds was designer for dos, it wouldn't search your system directory for any files. Just make sure that you have the file in your 3ds's main directory and that it is correctly pointed to in your cfig.bat file.
Kahenraz
08-19-2003, 02:09 AM
I'm still having problems with my 3d studio.. I tried using moslo to see if my faster cpu was having any effect. No go.
No improvements when testing on a normal and moslo'd p4 (1.4ghz), dual p3 (2x 933) or single pII (200mhz).

I think that some of my files are corrupted but I don't have backups or the original disks to reinstall and I can't find replacements anywhere on the net.
CTRL+X
08-19-2003, 03:25 AM
what do you need?


Also you may want to search comp.graphics.packages.3dstudio as this disscussion has bee talked about there in the past and others have had success on running it on newer machines
Kahenraz
08-19-2003, 04:26 AM
Really? Where? I can't find anything while searching for "3d studio" +dos on the forums and I've done hours of googling.
CTRL+X
08-19-2003, 05:40 AM
search comp.graphics.packages.3dstudio on google GROUPS
Kahenraz
08-19-2003, 07:24 PM
Big thanks to CTRL-X and Anton (Anton via e-mail) for helping me fix my 3D Studio. I've not got it working perfectly at 1024x768 w/16bit color. The modeler works without any lag spikes or problems, and the material editor dosn't crash on me anymore.

Thanks a bunch guys!! :thumbsup: :wavey: :thumbsup:

:wip:
ostov
08-19-2003, 08:53 PM
More screenshots? Please:)
zarkos
08-19-2003, 08:55 PM
Ahh, good old times.
Kahenraz
08-19-2003, 10:13 PM
More screens he says :rolleyes:
I'll grab you a bunch next time I reboot into win95. 3ds won't run in win2k with the speed fix because there is nowhere to put device=pharlap.386, and the config.nt file spits it out.
Smay
08-19-2003, 10:44 PM
Mmh, I remember of adding the path to the pharlap.386 in window´s system.ini (somewhere at the [386] category) or something like that.

Waiting for more screenshots ;)
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