ss2Tool error... Could not read ss2Tool version force info

[673ef5138f7a1hypatia]

ss2Tool is bombing out on startup with the above error on Windows 11.

I've done a search and:
- I'm running as Administrator
- My path length is less than 80 chars
... so I think its a firewall issue...

I can't disable my firewall as Norton 360 has hardcoded the settings.  It isn't preventing me from downloading files and isn't preventing GOG from downloading or updating games so I'd rather not fiddle with it.

I thought that if I went into Windows Defender Firewall I might find an example rule for GOG to access the internet but I can't find any reference to it.  Without a clear example to copy I'm afraid just making rules up out-of-the-blue is beyond my abilities.

Someone had this issue 3 years ago but there was no clear resolution.  Anybody any ideas...?

Can I just mod my GOG install (I also have the original game discs) with Rebirth and the 2.4 texture extension thingy without using ss2Tool?

[673ef5138fa98voodoo47]

try windows safemode with network. if no deal then I would just set it up on another computer and then copy the install to the target computer (people usually have something laying around, an old laptop or similar).

if that's not an option then yes, you can do this manually, if you have the GOG/steam build, just download the modmanager, place it into your SS2 folder, run it and you can load mods now, and as long as you get SCP and always keep it on (lowest priority), other mods will work ok (there will be extra hoops and loops if you don't).

also what's a 2.4 texture extension.

[673ef5138fc15hypatia]

Thanks Voodoo47. Nope - old Win7 laptop finally went to silicon heaven... Kryten's using it as a head-straightener now...

None of my friends are gamers and I can't see my local library allowing me to install SS2.

Guess I'll just have to wait for GOG's Enhanced Edition.  SS2 is great but I'm still more in love with the original SS (and far prouder of my pristine 1994 SS boxset... the manual is a work of art in itself).

Thanks for the help...


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There are only 10 kinds of people... those who understand binary and those who don't.

RoA#109: Dignity and an empty sack is worth the sack.

[673ef5138fd4evoodoo47]

you don't have to install SS2 on the library computer, you can just bring your install on an usb drive (or zip it an upload somewhere only you can access), get it onto the computer, patch it, zip it again.. so as long as the library's firewall lets the tool connect, it should work.

or I can just patch a fresh game for you, yank out the (copyrighted) resource files, and share the rest with you privately (this is not illegal btw), you pop them back in, all done.

because EE is going to take a while still.

[673ef5138feb6hypatia]

Thanks Voodoo47 that's really kind.

I might give the library a go.  To be honest I'm probably only interested in the 2.4 patch, shtup (in my original post I confused these two - hence "2.4 texture thingy") and Rebirth.

How difficult can it be to configure these three myself?  I'm generally pretty tech savvy (used to code in C,C++,C#,Java).  I'm just pretty clueless about network/firewall/stuff 'cos my work was classified.

It's probably been nearly ten years since I've played SS2. These days I'm more into indie/garage games like Dwarf Fortress and Angband/ZAngband but I still dig out faves like Thief:TDP, SS, Civ3 and Uplink regularly.  I also have a serious X2 problem

[673ef5138ffe5voodoo47]

if you mean trying to manually replicate everything the tool does, then no, that is just too much pain in the neck. that's why we can fallback to the manual modmanager install if there is no other way - as mentioned, if you get the modmanager (need to have the GOG/steam SS2 build), load SCP and keep it active at all times, then 99% of mods will work ok. not a perfect fix, but there's always that one guy that has no other option.

if you mean the 2.4 patch (NewDark), the GOG/steam build already has that.