Problems with Vista?

[pink]

Oh it's quite true. I really had to bully Vista around to get PSU running, but once I did manage to get it functioning is worked better than on XP... only because the game no longer took 3 minutes to boot... XD

The problem is simply a combination of two things:
1. DirectX 10 is completely new coding and thus, many many many old games do not work properly with it. Solution: Install the version of DirectX 9 that's on the PSU DVD instead.

2. Vista does something REALLY stupid. The ENTIRE Program Files directory is given limited access by default. Vista copies Linux in a way by using an "ownership" system. Unfortunately, Microsoft was too stupid to realize that most people like to modify the contents of the Program Files directory, and that most games REQUIRE this. Only a "Trusted Installer" is allowed to create new folders within the Program Files directory...

Now as for why this is a problem... it's because of GameGuard. In order for GameGuard to update fully a folder called "GameGuard" has to exist in the PSU program folder, but with Vista's new ownership system, GameGuard is not allowed to create this folder... thus it can't update, and so PSU will crash with one of its Japanese errors.

Solution: You have to steal ownership of the Phantasy Star Universe folder. This is done by right-clicking it, going to Properties, and I believe it's under the Security tab. Mess around in there a bit and you should find a way to take ownership of the folder. Once that's done, change the rights on the folder so you can create and modify files within it (giving yourself full control). This should fix the pesky errors... and if not... just manually make the GameGuard folder yourself.

I eventually got it running on Vista this way, but by the looks of things, Vista is going to make a ton of old games not work properly. I imagine any troubles with PSOBB are likely very similar and could be solved in the same way (what with Sega's blatant copying of source code and all).

So if you're willing to try experimenting with this hassle, go ahead, otherwise, stay on XP... it's likely the better choice. There's not enough new with Vista to bother, it's just more eye-candy.