Fallout 3 Patch Problem

Foremost, I have a legitimate copy of Windows Vista and Fallout 3 (DVD version). Additionally, my drivers are all up to date.

Anyways, for some reason, when I try to upgrade my version of Fallout 3 to the latest version (1.0.0.15), the patch's .exe, which I have now downloaded and tested from three different web sites (including Bethesda's own), launches the game instead of installing the patch. What's going on?

Notes:

-I've tried installing the patch with the both DVD in and with the DVD out. The game interestingly launches either way.
-I've hovered over the Fallout 3 icon in my Window's Games screen. Despite many attempted updates, verison still remains 1.0.0.0.

Similar problem:

http://www.bethsoft.com/bgsforums/ [...] ry13255575

Check to see if your .exe file has actually been updated, already. The latest patch updates the game, for me, and then tries to launch the game after it has finished patching. Since the patching is already done, I can then safely kill the process and be done with it.

Once your .exe file has been updated, you should be able to run the game using either fallout3.exe or falloutlauncher.exe. A desktop shortcut to fallout3.exe should now skip the disk-check which is driving so many people crazy.

-Khalaq

Actually, I did offer the solution to the exact same problem you are complaining about. I had to deal with this mess and found a workaround. It seems I wasn't understood in my previous post, however, so I will try to explain things more clearly.

1) After starting the patching process, you should see two progress bars. The object is to get them to completion. This will be a pain in the neck because of what happens next.

2) Once the patching executable is almost complete, a dialogue window will pop up, and then the game/patcher will try to launch the OLD Fallout 3 executable. DO NOT LET IT. You want to cancel the launching process, thereby closing the Fallout 3 application. If the application is running, the patcher will not be able to save the changes made and the executable will revert to 1.0.0.

3) Once you have closed the Fallout 3 executable, you will be able to go back to the popup window (part of the patching) and finish out the process. As it completes, it will update the executable. It will not be able to do this if you haven't killed the Fallout 3 process, so make sure the Fallout 3 executable is NOT running.


Successful patching of this game requires knowledge of how to kill specific processes while leaving others alone. Why is it such a hassle to patch this game? Because the distributors were foolish enough to include SecuROM as part of the software package, and the developers can't be bothered to fix what appears to be a software conflict.


-Khalaq

You go into Task Manager, click on the tab at the top that says "Processes," and then you look for the Fallout launcher process. Once you find it, select it and "kill" it. You will get a dialogue popup that asks you if you truly want to kill the process. Click on "OK" or "Yes" or "End Process," whatever your version of Windows requires.

Once the launcher/Fallout executeable is closed, you can go back to the patcher dialogue box and finish/save the changes.


-Khalaq

I have to agree with Judder. I have done everything I can to make this game work. I bought Fallout3 on PC and it had a 2-4 second delay when I entered V.A.T.S I had no idea what to do. In the end I updated my Nvidia graphics card driver, problem solved. However I bought the add-ons(the pitt and operation anchorage) Now when I go into V.A.T.S it's back to the 2-4 second delay. I try to update it to v1.7 but it just auto starts 75% of the way through and then encounters an error, This is so frustrating. Please can someone help me. I am running:

Windows Vista Home Premium x64 bit.

2.9ghz processor

580gb Hard Drive

521mb Nvidia Geforce 9800GT

All the latests drivers and windows update.

and the latest FO3 v1.7 update (even though I can't update it, it's downloaded ready to go)

I know that there is a simple solution and that I have to either turn something on or off or I need to update something. I un-installed and re-installed the game and the add-ons, But still the same error crap. I tried to "KILL" the fallout.exe so I could install the v1.7 update but it just closed the whole lot down.

You can contact me via e-mail.

christopherjbray@hotmail.com

I hope someone can help me and understand what I'm saying.

Thanks

Chris

I downloaded both v1.7 FallOut3 patches (US and UK) neither of them worked. I get 75% into updating it and then the game starts to run on it's own. I press CTRL ALT DEL and is says the patch is not responding so I close FO3 and the patch updater closes too. I have updated my Nvidia graphics card driver and and Windows Live v3.0 and still no luck. V.A.T.S still has a 2-4 second delay and now when I exit the game stops responding.

Please Help

I'm the Anonymous poster above (apparently it didn't go under my newly signed up name, so whatever).

Since I didn't mention before, I'm running XP SP3.

Anyways, after updating Windows Live, I also had that problem with the game launching during the patching process. But I didn't kill the patch. I killed the game and the patch seemed to recover and finished normally. At least that's what I remember from when I installed it on my son's computer the other week. I've been running the game under 1.7 patch (and no expansions) since then with nary a problem. Well, that's not exactly true because I get a blue screen when I set the graphics settings too high, but I can live with that.

Just be wary of killing only the game process. You also probably have to do it somewhat quickly. Both my computers either lock up or crash when I exit the game directly or ALT+Tab while in the game. So I am guessing that if the game process gets too far, it will make Windows unstable when it dies. I don't know for sure and I'm not willing to test it