Star Wars: X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter v1.1.4

(Multiplayer Disc)

A game by LucasArts and Totally Games

*Unofficial* MSI Setup v1.0.0.0 by Markus Egger

Installation instructions

Note: The CD 1 setup is distributed as a separate package.

• Prerequisites - download and install from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/
  (refer to Add/Remove Programs whether they are already installed on your machine):
  • Windows Installer 3.1 Redistributable
  • Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 SP1 Redistributable Package (x86)
    (grab the one with the latest Service Pack level - SP1 at the time of this writing)
  • Microsoft .NET Framework Version 2.0 Redistributable Package
    (for NiftyZip; should work with x64 Runtime on x64 systems)
• Create a temporary folder on your hard disk (eg. C:\XWVSTIE2) - about 200 MiB free space is needed.
• Copy the contents of your Star Wars: X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter CD 2 (Multiplayer Disc) to that folder.
• Let this self-extracting archive extract to that folder (eg. C:\XWVSTIE2).
• When asked to replace Setup.exe, confirm.
• There should be 7 new files in your temporary XvT MP folder:
  • Instructions.html (this file; may be deleted at discretion)
  • Setup.exe (new file)
  • XWingTIE.ico
  • X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter Multiplayer.msi
  • Support\NiftyZip.exe (for extracting the Web Patch)
  • Support\at.markusegger.Library.Utility.dll (for NiftyZip)
  • Support\at.markusegger.Library.Zip.dll (for NiftyZip)
• !!! A folder Support for the official X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter patch as well as the Windows Installer and C++ redistributable files will be created automatically for you.
• !!! Obligatory: Download the official X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter v1.1.4 (or later) patch. You may get it at http://www.lucasarts.com/support/update/xvt.html.
• !!! Obligatory: Put the patch (xvt_3dfx.exe) in your Support folder.
• !!! Obligatory: Go to the command prompt (cmd.exe) and cd to your Support folder like:
  cd C:\XWVSTIE2\Support [ENTER]
• !!! Obligatory: Execute NiftyZip on the Patch file:
  niftyzip xvt_3dfx.exe Patch [ENTER]
• !!! Obligatory You should now have a folder Support\Patch with several "weird" subfolders containing the original patch files. Don't change anything in that folder!
• As stated above, you may place the VC/MSI redistributables and source setup package in the Support folder.
• Burn the contents of your temporary XvT MP folder (! - not the folder itself) to a blank CD-R and label it accordingly in the CD burning program of your choice (eg. Nero). The original CD label usually is: XWVSTIE2
• Use your new "Installation CD" to install Star Wars: X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter Multiplayer on your computer by either double-clicking on
  • Setup.exe or
  • X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter Multiplayer.msi directly.
• !!! Obligatory: To be on the safe side, use your original CD 2 (Multiplayer Game Disc) for playing from now on. There might be copy protection, missing CD-Audio or stuff like that. Store your new "Installation CD" in a safe place ;-)
• A little goodie for Creative Labs ALchemy users:
  [Star Wars X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter]
RegPath=HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\LucasArts Entertainment Company\X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter\1.0\Install Path
Buffers=5
Duration=10
• Launch/enjoy the game!

About NiftyZip and the Patch Problem

Regrettably, the XvT patch (xvt_3dfx.exe) is in - guess what - 16-bit format. It is the same 16-bit InstallShield 3 SFX technology the Balance of Power installer uses.
NiftyZip is a result of reverse engineering the file format using a good hex editor with structure view ("Tiny Hexer") and the ZIP specs ("APPNOTE.TXT").
NiftyZip is written in C# 2.0. What would have been impossible for me in C++ or so, I could do with relative ease in C# - including some effort, brain-work, sweat and extensive testing, of course ;-). The OO approach will also pave the way for a graphical client ("GUI") in the future.
NiftyZip is freeware but still intellectual property. Call it without parameters from the command prompt to get license info.

NiftyZip is a precursor to what is yet to come - a Balance of Power installer! (I hope there are no pitfalls ...)

  Soon we will have revenge!
     - Darth Sidious

;-)

Disclaimer

This setup is Freeware and a gift for the community. It shall ease the pain of all fellows in misery failing to install this game on Vista x64 (and other modern Windows operating systems like XP64). It is neither supported nor endorsed by LucasArts. Use at your own risk! Original CD required (developed/tested using X-Wing Alliance English version - may or may not work with localized editions).
MSI tested under Vista Ultimate x64 and Windows XP Pro SP2 (x86).

You may only redistribute the original archive when done free of charge and all files are left intact (no additions, removals or alterations).

The MSI is fully Standards-compliant: It passes all ICE validation tests except ICE66 - which is an irrelevant warning since the MSI is not meant to be Vista-only (tested with WiX Light v3.0.3022.0 and Orca v4.0.5299.0).

Created by Markus Egger <markus@NOSPAMmarkusegger.at> using Visual Studio 2005 Standard and the Microsoft WiX 3 Toolkit/Votive. Downloaded from http://www.markusegger.at/

Star Wars, X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter, LucasArts, Totally Games, Microsoft, Windows, Vista, XP, Visual Studio, Visual C++, Windows Installer, WiX, Orca, Nero, Creative Labs, ALchemy, ZIP are (C) and/or (TM) of their respective holders.