Using OR Without Installing MSTS

[Nitin]

As the MSTS CDs are no longer available/ don't work for many new OSes, why don't we put up a zip file of default MSTS content? Has anyone already done so?

I tried running OR with these folders and was successful-
- GLOBAL / Shapes, /Textures; tsection.dat
- SOUND
- TRAINS with Consists and Trainsets (defaults, content updates and those needed for my route)
- ROUTES with only my route
- Train.exe (just to allow RR to process any missing files, check acts/ sms files, etc)

I could upload a similar file with only default content (without what is required for my route) but have 2 problems, will it be legal? & the file is huge, might take forever to upload with my slow internet, still can be done by breaking it in parts.

[baldwin]

Although the game is old, the rights are still held by someone, so it would not be legal to make these files available. As for not working for many OSes, not true. It is only the graphics ( Intel or AMD ) that cause a problem. MSTS will load and run happily on all current OSes that use Nvidia graphics.

Looking at your list of folders I would add the Utils to allow use of tsunpack where this is needed. Train.exe is not required for any third party utility to work, they only need the registry to know where to look.

[OTTODAD]

The file is huge, might take forever to upload with my slow internet, still can be done by breaking it in parts.

Breaking it into smaller parts still takes the same time to upload all its parts and requires the uploader to monitor them to start the next one !

All ISP Broadband connections can handle the uploads and downloads of all of their sizes, unless your ISP has clamped the size of what it allows you to download, forcing you to pay more to get unlimited use of your connection !

My unlimited UK rural BT telecoms broadband is one of the slowest in the world, worse at its peak times and usually use it for transferring HUGE packages at night when in bed !


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[conductorchris]

To be legal, somebody would have to make new shape files, new sounds, etc. It has been discussed, but I don't think it got far. It would be a great contribution.

Some routes that are distributed in the file library as mini-routes do have the default content, so there is actually a way to get it without buying MSTS. They were created in a time when they couldn't be run without MSTS, so it was assumed to be fine. In fact a lot of routes have default content in them. Many have batch files that copy it from the user's existing installation and so the default content is not distributed. Others have default content in them.



Christopher

[BNSF4723]

Although the game is old, the rights are still held by someone, so it would not be legal to make these files available. As for not working for many OSes, not true. It is only the graphics ( Intel or AMD ) that cause a problem. MSTS will load and run happily on all current OSes that use Nvidia graphics.

Both parts of that are untrue. I've been able to install and run MSTS on every modern release of Windows (Vista, 7 and 8.1 x64) with both an AMD CPU and GPU just fine. The only limitations I've run into have been due to the age of the program itself (ugly low 4:3 resolutions).

Distributing the game files would indeed be illegal since they are still copywritten. You'll have to track the game down yourself through whatever means you can, or use routes that don't depend on a game installation. That's basically what it boils down to.

[ATSFFAN]

As the MSTS CDs are no longer available

I believe it is still available.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00139FUE8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00139FUE8&linkCode=as2&tag=flightsimcom&linkId=ARA75HFHOEZWAUHW

You might want to hurry. I do not know if they are re-issuing them again.

=ATSFFAN=

[OTTODAD]

As the MSTS CDs are no longer available/ don't work for many new OSes, why don't we put up a zip file of default MSTS content? Has anyone already done so?

MSTS CDs are still available and work in all WIN O/S if installed as per http://msts.steam4me.net/tutorials/installing_msts_w7.html depending on graphics cards used !

Releasing a ZIP containing Microsoft / KUJU Intellectual Property is illegal without their consent !

[baldwin]

Both parts of that are untrue. I've been able to install and run MSTS on every modern release of Windows (Vista, 7 and 8.1 x64) with both an AMD CPU and GPU just fine. The only limitations I've run into have been due to the age of the program itself (ugly low 4:3 resolutions).

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You are the first person that I am aware of that can run MSTS on Win8/8.1 with an AMD video and not have any graphics problems. As for the rest of what I stated, it is all true.

[OTTODAD]

You are the first person that I am aware of that can run MSTS on Win8/8.1 with an AMD video and not have any graphics problems.

Is it because he is using a computer that has an AMD processor ?

Has anybody else got problems running MSTS in WIN-8.1 on an AMD CPU and GPU computer ?

[slipperman]

Hi Otto,

Is it because he is using a computer that has an AMD processor ?

I doubt it very much!! My Win 8 / 8.1 test PC has an AMD CPU and AMD/ATI graphics card, on which MSTS crashes with the "Stopped working" message. It has been like this since Win 8 was released.
I sent BNSF4723 a PM yesterday on this very subject, but up to date, have received no reply - I could be very interested in his reply!

Cheers,
Ged

[OTTODAD]

Hi Otto, I doubt it very much!! My Win 8 / 8.1 test PC has an AMD CPU and AMD/ATI graphics card, on which MSTS crashes with the "Stopped working" message. It has been like this since Win 8 was released.

Would be interesting to see the ATI catalyst ID / Date and what BNSF4723 has set it too for playing MSTS !

I have used AMD graphics card for years, being OpenGL friendly, before finding that TS-2014/15 prefers nVidia GTX 560Ti and better cards cards up to WIN-7, my MSTS on its no-Internet computer can also use !

[Nitin]

OK the default MSTS track shapes are not possible to use, although we probably can use Mtracks, Xtracks & Newroads. What about DBtracks? Rest of the things can be managed like sounds, etc.
What I am trying to say is this would free OR from MSTS. Shouldn't we try this?

[OTTODAD]

OK the default MSTS track shapes are not possible to use.

ORTS can use all tracks used by MSTS / MSTSBin, including DB-Tracks, many of my posts in this forum have shown !


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[slipperman]

Hi Baldwin & Otto,

You are the first person that I am aware of that can run MSTS on Win8/8.1 with an AMD video and not have any graphics problems.

I have now received a reply from BNSF4723.

It appears that which CPU and/or which Chipset is being used might be the answer to the AMD / Win 8 problem. My Win 8 test PC uses an AMD Phenom II x2 550BE on an ASUS 790X (790 chipset) motherboard on which MSTS won't start. BNSF4723 is using an AMD FX-8320 8 core CPU on an ASUS M5A97 (970 chipset) motherboard with which he has no problem. We have both used the AMD HD 7850 2GB card.

I should also add that on my Intel 2500K PC, MSTS won't start under Win 8 / 8.1 when using an AMD graphics card.

It would be interesting, and potentially helpful, if others who are using the more modern AMD processors with AMD graphics cards could report whether MSTS works for them when using Win 8.1 (I understand that Win 8 is dead!?).

Cheers,
Ged

[OTTODAD]

Thanks Ged for reporting your experiences with using AMD/ATI graphics on WIN-8 computers.

But WIN-10 being on the horizon as well as TS-2016 and Trainz TANE I think that I shall stick with using nVidia GTX graphics cards, which so far have not caused any of all my train and flight simulators problems, running on my Intel CPU i5 and ASUS mobos WIN-XP SP3 and WIN-7 64-bit computers !

"If it works then don't change it and if it ain't broke then don't fix it !"