A Fix for Windows 10 Blocking SH4 Executable

[Hazelwood]

Ahoy Colleagues,

It's possible I'm the only person on the planet to have run into this problem but if any of you also have done so and are still struggling, the following may prove helpful...

Inexplicably, a couple of days ago Windows started blocking SH4.exe from execution. It would show a seriously red headlined pop-up with a warning and the disappointing advice that it would not launch SH4. This may have to do with a recent Windows security update. My anti-virus and anti-spyware confirmed no intrusions. I spent a highly frustrating day trying various Internet solutions including disabling the "hidden" UAC - all to no avail. What finally worked was to create an "elevated" shortcut with full privileges for SH4.exe, using the Task Scheduler as nicely described at the link below. There are quite a few steps but it's really easy. The author is to be commended for providing complete instructions:

https://winaero.com/blog/create-elev...in-windows-10/

This may be one of the few (or only) solutions that doesn't involve shutting down or otherwise compromising Windows security. It's specific to the application which is just what you want. The new shortcut has some mysterious useless icon but really, who cares? I'll figure out how to replace it one day.

Best wishes,
JHzlwd

thank you for this, im sure it will help many

progress seems to be more trouble then its worth sometimes

[ironkross]

My windows 10 just upgraded. I had played SH4 just today. Now, using Steam, the game won't start. I don't get a warning window, or anything else. It just does not start. Other games on Steam still work. It's just SH4.

[wade88]

run it directly from the directory and see what happens.

[ironkross]

Originally Posted by wade88

run it directly from the directory and see what happens.

I tried that with same result.
SH4 1.5 with the FotRSU mod was running on steam Windows10pro 64bit OS, in the steam directory. Everything ran great, everytime. Until the last Windows update. After that SH4 1.5 would not start. However SH4 1.4 which was also on steam listed as a separate game did run.
I uninstalled 1.5 and reinstalled. Somewhere in that process I reinstalled 1.4 version. Now neither game runs. On the Steam box it says the game is running. If I click on cancel nothing happens, the cancel button remains. Task mgr shows the game exe running. I have tried since to start the exe from the directory. I have tried to run it with Windows 7 compatibility mode. No change, and it ran fine previously not in compatibility mode.

Thanks, for the response, and any further help.

[ironkross]

Originally Posted by ironkross

I tried that with same result.
SH4 1.5 with the FotRSU mod was running on steam Windows10pro 64bit OS, in the steam directory. Everything ran great, everytime. Until the last Windows update. After that SH4 1.5 would not start. However SH4 1.4 which was also on steam listed as a separate game did run.
I uninstalled 1.5 and reinstalled. Somewhere in that process I reinstalled 1.4 version. Now neither game runs. On the Steam box it says the game is running. If I click on cancel nothing happens, the cancel button remains. Task mgr shows the game exe running. I have tried since to start the exe from the directory. I have tried to run it with Windows 7 compatibility mode. No change, and it ran fine previously not in compatibility mode.

Thanks, for the response, and any further help.

OK, maybe it was a compatibility setting, I ran the windows troubleshooter and got the SH4 1.4 version going. DL Uboat missions now and (fingers X'd) maybe it will play. OMG this has been 2 days of stress.

[Hazelwood]

Originally Posted by wade88

run it directly from the directory and see what happens.

No dice. Only the "elevated" shortcut works.

Best wishes,
Hazelwood

[ironkross]

I am running SH4 right now from the Steam install, in the default Steam folder.
I have split my D drive and made a new E drive and put the new Steam library there. However, when I started reading from the link above, about moving the existing Steam folder into the new drive, that's where I get hung up. Step 3. says " Delete all of the files and folders except the SteamApps & Userdata folders and Steam.exe." This seems too extreme! There are a lot of files there. 98,498 Files, 9,123 Folders. I am very hesitant to delete everything except SteamApps and Userdata and the exe.
This is where I am, and as I said the game runs ok in the default folder.
So... how important is it to run in another drive/folder structure?

[BrassMonkey]

Thank you🥇😉