Subspace General Tech Support FAQ

A) "Download Version 1.34:" again

Cause: Win.CIH virus
1. Goto www.kaspersky.com.
2. Download the AVP virus scanner and run it (this AV appears to be the only virus scanner that properly handles this virus)
3. Clean out the viruses that are found.
4. Uninstall subspace
  1. Run C:\WINDOWS\IsUninst.exe -fc:\subspace\Uninst.isu (replace directories as appropriate) from an MS-Dos prompt
  2. Delete remaining items in the Subspace folder
  3. Clean your windows registry using RegClean or another such utility (download link 1/3 of the way down the page)
5. Reinstall subspace
  1. If you don't have a SubSpace CD: Download SubSpace here
  2. If you have the retail CD: Download version 1.34 for the file
6. Play...if you still get this error, then come back to the tech support forums and post to the effect that you have the 1.34 error and tried getting rid of any viruses

B) "Not Connected to the Internet" (yeah...i know...you really are)

Cause: "Dead" servers list
1. Hit the "find servers" button on the bottom right of the "play game" screen (the one that shows the zone names)
2. Change sscentral.vie.com to sscentral.vie.co.uk (click on "download servers" ONCE do NOT hit enter); sscentral.ds98.com and sscentral.subspacehq.com also should work.
3. "Download list"
4. Highlight and "Remove" all servers from the right side.
5. "Add" the SSCx (SSCU, SSCE, etc) servers from the left side (and any other zones that might interest you...but the SSCx ones are the "safest" and best supported)
6. "Finished"
7. Attempt to enter the game as you tried before.
8. If you have the CD version you will likely have to
  1. Download version 1.34.
  2. Repeat steps 1-7
9. Click on SSCE Chaos Expert (Exodus) and hit enter (after picking a ship with the arrow keys, etc)

C) Subspace closes suddenly when entering a zone

Cause: Multiple Possible Causes
- Change/remove your windows wallpaper (background)
- Make sure you have the 32 bit dialer from your ISP and not a 16 bit version (AOL Keyword: GET95)
- If you have Mindspring or Earthlink software installed on your computer
  1. Dial in with just the built-in windows dialer
  2. Uninstall your Mindspring/Earthlink stuff
  3. Hit control-alt-delete and "End Task" on armon32.dll and irmon32.dll
  4. Uninstall Fastlane and Accessramp.
    - Try to remove them via "add/remove programs" in the control panel or any shortcuts you may have
    - If the above doesn't work, disable them via Msconfig
      1. Type "Msconfig" in Start->Run
      2. Click the "Startup" tab
      3. Uncheck the boxes to the left of armon, irmon, accessramp, and fastlane
      4. Click "OK"
- Run "C:\subspace\subspace.exe" /emulate from the Start->Run prompt.

D) Windows 98 Issues

Cause: Microsoft Sucks
1. Set taskbar on autohide
  1. Right click on the taskbar
  2. Select "Properties"
  3. Check "Auto hide"
  4. Click "OK"
2. Turn off active desktop
  1. Right click on the desktop
  2. Select "Properties"
  3. Go to the "Web" tab
  4. Uncheck "View my Active Desktop as a web page"
  5. Click "OK"
3. Msoffice: Turn off fastfind (Remove it from your startup group via Msconfig see above)

E) Choppy performance and Low FPS (frames per second)

Cause: Low frames per second (FPS): hit esc-F to view in-game
1. Make sure you have at least directX version 5.0. DirectX 2.0 will function, but it won't work well;)
2. Go into your dxtool or dxinfo (directX subdirectory in program files) and turn off direct 3d hardware acceleration.
3. Go into the subspace advanced options and "disable page flipping"

F) "Missing resource.dll"

Cause: Attempt to patch non-default checked settings during initial install from CD
1. Manually fetch it from your data directory of your CD or download
2. Do this for any other DLLs that you are missing as well (roll.dll, etc)

G) High Packetloss with 56K modems.

Cause: 56Ks suck
1. Make sure you have v.90 drivers
2. If you do or that doesn't solve it, try just connecting at 33.6 and not 56K. The packetloss may be due to differential sending/receiving speeds (sending at 33.6, receiving at 56K). If connection speed is 33.6 there is no snifty compression, but it is a more steady speed for gaming.

H) Other Packetloss/Ping problems

Cause: Your ISP sucks
1. Only have subspace loaded. No other programs on the taskbar.
2. Make sure msoffice is closed out
3. Take AIM and ICQ offline if you have them on. Also, disable anything that has a moving gif image or anything that flashes on your desktop.

I) "Invalid Password for Specified User"

Cause: Claimed Name
1. The name has already been claimed. Choose a new name to play under.

J) Blank or "Wavey Lined" Screen

Cause: Incompatible Resolution
1. Select a different display resolution
2. Download updated drivers for your graphics card
3. Check the specs for the allowed refresh rates for each resolution on your monitor
4. Pick a resolution where the default/optimal refresh rate for a given resolution on your graphics card is equal to the default refresh rate for your monitor

K) Continuum Help, Bugs, and Issues

Continuum is still in closed beta testing
1. Displays in black and white, with no effects
  - Install continuum to the same directory as subspace
2. Every time I enter the zone, I'm in spec mode
  1. Click on the "Profile" button
  2. Click on the dropdown list to the right of "Ship"
  3. Select your favorite ship-type (default will place you into spectator mode)
  4. Click "OK"
3. Every time I enter the zone, my display resolution resets to 640*480 (or something else low)
  1. Click on the "Profile" button
  2. Click on the dropdown list to the right of "Resolution"
  3. Select your resolution
  4. Click on the dropdown list to the right of "Window"
  5. Select "default" or "Full Screen"
  6. Click "OK"
4. I can't get a higher resolution in windowed mode than my desktop resolution
  - That's right. Either deal with it, increase your display resolution, or play in full-screen mode.
  - Note that if you have a higher resolution specified than will fit, continuum will use the highest resolution possible
5. I can't fire any weapons or steer my ship
  1. Click on the blue "Profile" on top-left
  2. Click on "key defs"
  3. If there is no "default" keymap present, click the "new" button (lower left)
  4. Click the "defaults" button
  5. Click "OK"
  6. In the key defs dropdown list, select the key mappings you just created
  7. Click "OK" again
6. When I try to enter a zone with twister loaded with continuum, my computer freezes up
  - Whohoo! Can I have your IP address so I can ban you anyway?
7. Energy of your ship appears below the entire turret
  - Known issue
8. Can't send/receive wav messages
  - Issue should be fixed at this point in time. Please post a bug report if not functioning.
9. Quitting from a zone with bounty save on does not save bounty
  - Issue should be fixed at this point in time. Please post a bug report if not functioning. Note that the behavior is slightly altered from the subspace-default behavior. If a method for bounty-save that you think should work is not, post a bug report.
10. ?chat lines typed while in game or any settings changes aren't saved on exit
  - Known issue
11. Printscreen key doesn't exit (intended) but sometimes doesn't take proper screenshots
  - Issue should be fixed at this point in time. Please post a bug report if not functioning.
12. Can map one key to multiple things
  1. Will display some in red, indicating a conflict
  2. Only one weapon/device will work if you keep the key mapping as is
  3. More checks may be added in the future to disallow invalid mappings

SSHQ tech support

Credits: Thanks to Armed Armadillo, Mine Go Boom, Blackie, Anna-Puma and countless other tech supportors. I don't have all the solutions myself;)
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This Tech Support Page has been viewed

since February 05, 1999.
Last updated Mar 07, 2001