HOWTO: Install Medieval II: Total War patch 1.2 and use the unpacker

Topic Subject: HOWTO: Install Medieval II: Total War patch 1.2 and use the unpacker

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Primo
Legionary
(id: Marcus Orentius)

posted 23 March 2007 19:19 EDT (US)

HOWTO: Install patch 1.2 and use the unpacker.

This short guide will hopefully help you with installing patch 1.2 for Medieval II Total War and use the unpacker without incident.

Firstly, you will obviously need to download it.

You can download it from many sites, a few of which are linked here.

Boomtown

Strategy Informer

Gamershell: English-French-Italian-German-Spanish

Gamershell: Polish

Gamershell: Russian

Gamershell: Czech

Exp.de: German

This Patch is a hefty 650 mb, so if you have dial up, don't even bother unless you want to leave it running overnight. You may find it easier to use a friend's computer which has broadband, but even then it takes 45 mins minimum. And that's on a super fast connection.

Remember, install it to your main M2TW folder, not your data folder. I know it�s obvious, but some do make that mistake.

NOTE: Many people have had problems installing this patch and M2TW not working. I recommend that you uninstall M2TW, go to where you installed it, delete the SEGA folder (or the Medieval 2 Total War folder if you have another game in the SEGA folder) then reinstall. Then install Patch 1.2 straight on top. It has all patch 1.1 has and more.

So there is no need to install patch 1.1 again.

Using the unpacker.

NOTE: BACKUP YOUR DATA FOLDER BEFORE YOU USE THE UNPACKER, AS CA ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE DONE TO YOUR GAME FROM USING THIS UNPACKER.

Using the file unpacker that comes with the patch can be a little confusing. First it�s a load of files you don�t often see. Batch files for one. Don't worry, you don't have to use these, the unpacker uses them when running. The only batch file you have to use is unpack_all.bat. Just click on it to run. you will have to type Y to all the questions to use it.

It should take quite a while to run, as there is 7gb to unpack. If it happens in a second then something is wrong.

Also, make sure the unpacker is in tools\unpacker. Otherwise it WILL NOT work. Some regions have the patch installing the unpacker in a different part of your M2TW folder. Admiral_Nelson can testify to that one.

Now, pay close attention to this bit, or your game will crash every time you go into a battle.

Quoted from Unpacker Readme:
- NOTE: Due to a timestamp check, the following unpacked files will
cause the game to crash and must be deleted before the game is
launched:

data\descr_geography_new.txt
data\descr_geography_new.db

They're not kidding, delete them. If you don't, you will get an unspecified error every time you go into a battle and CTD.

The readme gives you all the info you need to get the game to read the files, but there is an easier way:

In your main Medieval 2 Total War folder, open preferences.cfg with notepad and scroll down to the bottom and type this:

[io]
file_first = true

then save and close the file. right click on the icon of preferences.cfg and go to properties. From there check the box next to read only and click apply. This will stop the game changing the file to the original content after one run. This way will not allow you to use show_err to find bugs, you have to run from a batch file for that, but it does allow mods to work.

I hope this guide has been of use to you and will help you in using the unpacker the patch. Any suggestions, criticisms, or improvements please don't hesitate to post.

You may also post bugs you have found with the new patch here as well.

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[This message has been edited by Marcus Orentius (edited 06-12-2007 @ 07:17 PM).]

Author

Replies:

La_Dinde
Legionary

posted 14 August 2008 22:40 EDT (US) 76 / 89

I have been playing medieval 2 for a while now and i was looking at a site that said to download patch 1.2 to fix some bugs (ex. cavalry charges). I don't completely understand the guide, and i don't want my game to crash so i just wanted to clarify.
1. You un-install medieval 2
2. You delete the sega file ( I don't have any other sega games)
3. You re-install medieval 2
4. You install patch 1.2 into the medieval 2 folder
Is this the way you are supposed to do it?
By the way I have never, and don't plan on ever installing any mods, so do i still have to use the unpacker and delet those two files?

Thanks

Morran
Legionary

posted 14 August 2008 23:01 EDT (US) 77 / 89

Hello. I'm having problems with the patch too.
It says "To use this batch file the Unpacker and the batch file must be in the 'tools\unpacker' folder for Medieval II: Total War". What they mean by "the Unpacker"? Is it the unpacker.exe file? And do I have to move it and unpack_all.bat from D:\Games\Medieval II\tools\unpacker\main to D:\Games\Medieval II\tools\unpacker? Or I have to move all the patch files?
And did I right by creating the \tools\unpacker folder? Because I couldn't find it anywhere.

What I did so far, is to put unpacker.exe and unpack_all.bat to D:\Games\Medieval II\tools\unpacker (just with the setup.exe data1.cab, etc.) and run unpack_all.bat. It took quiet a long time, and when it finished, my Medieval II folder started to "weight" more than 14 GB instead of 7-8 GB, but the version was still 1.0...
What did I do wrong?

Thanks for your time, and sorry if my english is too bad.

[This message has been edited by Morran (edited 08-14-2008 @ 11:02 PM).]

SubRosa
Legionary

posted 15 August 2008 17:10 EDT (US) 78 / 89

The unpacker will not change the game's version level. It simply takes the game files from the compressed packs they are normally in and puts them on your drive so you can edit them.

Morran
Legionary

posted 16 August 2008 11:58 EDT (US) 79 / 89

Oh, I see...
My problem is that I cannot use the setup.exe of the patch, because it always says "Cannot launch the patch process", and I thought this is another way to patch the game.
Does anybody have any suggestions?

And once more, thanks for your time.

Hibby
Legionary

posted 16 August 2008 12:52 EDT (US) 80 / 89

Well, i did all of this, and stil nothing, it jus decides to close saying unknown error... the only thing i didnt do was reinstall it;

How important is the reinstall? cause i installed 1.2 patch a while back, without all the unpacking included (dont blame me, i didnt understand the importance of ReadMe!!) and i tried to uninstall, but says you need to have the original version of Medieval, WITHOUT any patches, how do i uninstall the patches at a later date?

and btw, for Kingdoms, you need to have this process completed

[This message has been edited by Hibby (edited 08-16-2008 @ 01:21 PM).]

La_Dinde
Legionary

posted 17 August 2008 17:42 EDT (US) 81 / 89

What do u mean install the path right on top. Do u re-install M2TW before you install the patch. Sorry, i am just very confused

Gaius Colinius
Seraph Emeritus

posted 19 August 2008 16:10 EDT (US) 82 / 89

One at a time guys.

1.With what am I suppose to open this file? With winrar or just run it like it is.If i run it it goes directly to setup screen and then it shows "Problem with patching procces or something."

Winrar will do it fine. Do note that if you have Kingdoms or the gold edition of M2TW, you don't need to do any of this as Kingdoms installs 1.3 automatically for vanilla M2TW and 1.4 (or 1.5) for Kingdoms.

2.I cant locate the tools folder.In main installed folder there are only "Data","Miles","packs".
And there are no sub-folders with tools.Does that mean i have to do them myself?Just create them?

Got MS Vista by any chance? If you do, Vista has hidden them in a folder called the VirtualStore.

3.For the first time i did run unpack_all.bat and it worked its magic for quite some time,but now it goes just for a second.

You should only need to unpack once. What is possible is that you have Vista and the files are "hidden" in the VirtualStore and that the game knows it's unpacked already and so doesn't repeat.

4.If i ever make it this far to actually do all of this things you posted does that mean that the game is patched or i have to run the setup file for patch?

Patch first. Then (and only) if you want to mod, use the unpacker. Don't mix up the two.
Patching is update your game and remove some gameplay bugs. ALL gamers should do this.
The unpacker is only if you want to mod files because the game files are huge and CA keep them compressed to save on HD space unless you really want to go modding.

I have been playing medieval 2 for a while now and i was looking at a site that said to download patch 1.2 to fix some bugs (ex. cavalry charges). I don't completely understand the guide, and i don't want my game to crash so i just wanted to clarify.
1. You un-install medieval 2
2. You delete the sega file ( I don't have any other sega games)
3. You re-install medieval 2
4. You install patch 1.2 into the medieval 2 folder
Is this the way you are supposed to do it?

Correct. That's basically it.

By the way I have never, and don't plan on ever installing any mods, so do i still have to use the unpacker and delet those two files?

No. If you never plan to do your own modding then don't touch the unpacker. You can install other mods like Retrofit without ever running the unpacker. The unpacker is only if you want to mod or tinker with the game files yourself.

Hello. I'm having problems with the patch too.
It says "To use this batch file the Unpacker and the batch file must be in the 'tools\unpacker' folder for Medieval II: Total War". What they mean by "the Unpacker"? Is it the unpacker.exe file? And do I have to move it and unpack_all.bat from D:\Games\Medieval II\tools\unpacker\main to D:\Games\Medieval II\tools\unpacker? Or I have to move all the patch files?
And did I right by creating the \tools\unpacker folder? Because I couldn't find it anywhere.

I think you're mixing up the unpacker & patch. See above for an explanation of the difference between the two.

What I did so far, is to put unpacker.exe and unpack_all.bat to D:\Games\Medieval II\tools\unpacker (just with the setup.exe data1.cab, etc.) and run unpack_all.bat. It took quiet a long time, and when it finished, my Medieval II folder started to "weight" more than 14 GB instead of 7-8 GB, but the version was still 1.0...
What did I do wrong?

See above for an explantion. The patch fixes gameplay bugs. The unpacker decompresses the game files so that you can edit them. It does not patch your game to the correct version.

Thanks for your time, and sorry if my english is too bad.

I understood you fine.

Oh, I see...
My problem is that I cannot use the setup.exe of the patch, because it always says "Cannot launch the patch process", and I thought this is another way to patch the game.
Does anybody have any suggestions?

Strange. Did you take the setup.exe file out of the zip file?

How important is the reinstall? cause i installed 1.2 patch a while back, without all the unpacking included (dont blame me, i didnt understand the importance of ReadMe!!) and i tried to uninstall, but says you need to have the original version of Medieval, WITHOUT any patches, how do i uninstall the patches at a later date?

It's quite important actually.
I think it sounds like you have MS Vista. Do you?
Besides placing any upgraded & unpacked files into the VirtualStore, Vista also does something else which is very very nasty. If you uninstall a game (or any program)with Vista, it doesn't really uninstall it. It merely places it in the VirtualStore where it will remain and screw up any future installations of M2TW. I re-installed M2TW 3 times until I discovered what was happening!

and btw, for Kingdoms, you need to have this process completed

The good news is that you don't have to do any of this if you have kingdoms. Installing kingdoms automatically patches your "vanilla" game to 1.3 as well as installing Kingdoms, which can be version 1.4 or 1.5. If you have 1.4, then you should install the 1.5 patch but only if you have kingdoms.

Does that help ye all? If it gets too confused between ye three

, just make threads in this forum and we'll try our best to help you.

-Love Gaius
TWH Seraph, TWH Grand Zinquisitor & Crazy Gaius the Banstick Kid
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steauafan
Legionary

posted 22 August 2008 01:48 EDT (US) 83 / 89

hello i'm having some trouble with patch 1.2,whenever i try to update my m2tw which is a 1.0 version it gives me this error "data\sounds\sfx.dat invalid or missing target" i checked the files and this sfx.dat is there and the game runs good can someone help me?

Crue Knight
Divine Favor
(id: Crusader Knight)

posted 02 September 2008 08:56 EDT (US) 84 / 89

So since I am not modding, I DO NOT have to do anything besides installing the patch? I DO NOT have to worry about anything under "Unpacker"? Which means I do NOT have to delete these two files:

data\descr_geography_new.txt
data\descr_geography_new.db

��
��EPIC MOD ��
�� IS EPIC!``��?
��
Ex mod on: Spore - HG - RoN - RoL - N:TW
Check out my: DeviantArt - Steam

Primo
Legionary
(id: Marcus Orentius)

posted 02 September 2008 13:13 EDT (US) 85 / 89

Correct. You only need to use the unpacker if you're planning to mod.

Chaba
Legionary

posted 09 September 2008 16:21 EDT (US) 86 / 89

hey people i got a strange problem..it sez - cannot delete some file, there is 7 files all in medieval folder.. it also sez- make sure the disk is not full or write-protected and that the file is not currently in use.

i waz deleting all medieval file so i can install 1.2 patch..please help

Primo
Legionary
(id: Marcus Orentius)

posted 10 September 2008 03:12 EDT (US) 87 / 89

Are you using XP or Vista? If the latter, it seems to insist on every file being read only, so you have to right click on each one, go into properties and uncheck read only.

Chaba
Legionary

posted 13 September 2008 15:14 EDT (US) 88 / 89

thnx

i have another question..what about cracking the game? do i do it when i install the game or when i install the patch?

SubRosa
Legionary

posted 13 September 2008 15:22 EDT (US) 89 / 89

Chaba, I refer you to the HeavenGames Code of Conduct which clearly states:

Pirated Materials, Cracks, Multiplayer Hacks, Keys, and Key-Generators

�Piracy� is the illegal copying and/or distribution of copyrighted content including, but not limited to, games, software, music, movies, pictures, ROMs, abandon-ware, and leaked software. �Cracks� are programs that disable copy-protection technology; �Multiplayer Hacks� are any programs, patches, files, modifications or information exposure cheats that allow a player to gain an unfair advantage over other human opponents in a multiplayer game; a �Key� is a combination of numbers and letters that is required for software installation and sometimes used to validate users for online play; and �Key-Generators� are programs that generate valid Keys.

You may not encourage, post in support of, link to, or discuss activities, methods, and/or techniques involving piracy, cracks, multiplayer hacks, keys and key-generators. In addition, the following are grounds for moderator action on your post and/or account:

* Seeking help to create cracks, multiplayer hacks and key-generators
* Seeking missing files that are supplied with installation CD(s)
* Admitting to possess pirated materials, cracks, multiplayer hacks and key-generators
* Admitting to distribute pirated materials, cracks, multiplayer hacks, keys and key-generators
* Admitting to the use of cracks, multiplayer hacks and key-generators
* Uploading any such files to HeavenGames sites

Generally breaking this rule will result in an instant permanent ban. However you may be given a warning for a first offence if, in our opinion, you are a new forumer who doesn�t understand why this is such a strict rule � this will be explained to you; any subsequent offences will result in a permanent ban.

HeavenGames has no tolerance for admitting to piracy on our forums. We have good relationships with the game designers. Sometimes they come here to post in our forums, and in the past our members have been able to enjoy things like being able to play M2TW before it was released thanks to that. One thing that developers really hate is people pirating their work, hence our policy.

You are a new person so I am letting you off with a quiet word this time. If you ever talk about pirating software on HeavenGames again you get a permanent ban.

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