Installing mods (for morons)

[The FreeSpace Racer]

I need some help. I just downloaded Silent Threat: Reborn, and I want to install it so that it runs fine, and wont do anything stupid. Is there an installation guide for FreeSpace mods for morons? I don't want to fuck anything up.

EDIT: This is what came up when I tried to play the mod

Error: Could not load in main hall mask '2_MainHall_Galatea-m'!

(This error most likely means that you are missing required 1024x768 interface art.)
File: MainHallMenu.cpp
Line: 1113


Call stack:
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------

When I choose Cancel on the previous dialog box:

Error: Verify failure: Vbuf0 != NULL

File: 3ddraw.cpp
Line: 454


Call stack:
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
Then the standard 'X has encountered a problem and needs to close'

[karajorma]

Run the debug build instead and post your FS2_open.log from the data folder. I'm pretty sure that the cause of this is a corrupt or missing Spark_hi_fs2.vp file but the log will tell me for certain.

What happens if you try to run the game in 640x480 or 800x600 instead?

[The FreeSpace Racer]

(I just misspelled your handle. Sorry.)
When I ran FS2 Open debugged:

Error: Could not load in main hall mask '2_MainHall_Galatea-m'!

(This error most likely means that you are missing required 1024x768 interface art.)
File: MainHallMenu.cpp
Line: 1113


Call stack:
------------------------------------------------------------------
game_enter_state() gameseq_set_state() game_process_event() gameseq_process_events() game_main() WinMain() WinMainCRTStartup() kernel32.dll 7c817067()
------------------------------------------------------------------

The following is from the data folder, FS2_open.log

================================================== ========================
DEBUG SPEW: No debug_filter.cfg found, so only general, error, and warning
categories can be shown and no debug_filter.cfg info will be saved.
================================================== ========================
FreeSpace version: 3.6.10
Passed cmdline options:
-fov 0.39
-env
-mipmap
-missile_lighting
-glow
-spec
-normal
-cache_bitmaps
-img2dds
-ballistic_gauge
-dualscanlines
-orbradar
-rearm_timer
-targetinfo
-3dwarp
-ship_choice_3d
-warp_flash
-mod fsport,fsport_str,fsport
Building file index...
Found root pack 'C:\games\freespace2\fsport_str\fsport-str-voice.vp' with a checksum of 0x42b68129
Found root pack 'C:\games\freespace2\fsport_str\fsport-str.vp' with a checksum of 0x65825e2f
Found root pack 'C:\games\freespace2\Homesick.vp' with a checksum of 0xe7137285
Found root pack 'C:\games\freespace2\root_fs2.vp' with a checksum of 0xce10d76c
Found root pack 'C:\games\freespace2\smarty_fs2.vp' with a checksum of 0xddeb3b1e
Found root pack 'C:\games\freespace2\sparky_fs2.vp' with a checksum of 0x164fe65a
Found root pack 'C:\games\freespace2\sparky_hi_fs2.vp' with a checksum of 0xa11d56f1
Found root pack 'C:\games\freespace2\stu_fs2.vp' with a checksum of 0xd77da83a
Found root pack 'C:\games\freespace2\tango1_fs2.vp' with a checksum of 0x4c25221e
Found root pack 'C:\games\freespace2\tango2_fs2.vp' with a checksum of 0x86920b82
Found root pack 'C:\games\freespace2\tango3_fs2.vp' with a checksum of 0x705e8d71
Found root pack 'C:\games\freespace2\warble_fs2.vp' with a checksum of 0xd85c305d
Searching root 'C:\games\freespace2\fsport\' ... 0 files
Searching root 'C:\games\freespace2\fsport_str\' ... 1 files
Searching root pack 'C:\games\freespace2\fsport_str\fsport-str-voice.vp' ... 943 files
Searching root pack 'C:\games\freespace2\fsport_str\fsport-str.vp' ... 56 files
Searching root 'C:\games\freespace2\fsport\' ... 0 files
Searching root 'C:\games\freespace2\' ... 12 files
Searching root pack 'C:\games\freespace2\Homesick.vp' ... 41 files
Searching root pack 'C:\games\freespace2\root_fs2.vp' ... 157 files
Searching root pack 'C:\games\freespace2\smarty_fs2.vp' ... 10 files
Searching root pack 'C:\games\freespace2\sparky_fs2.vp' ... 3027 files
Searching root pack 'C:\games\freespace2\sparky_hi_fs2.vp' ... 1337 files
Searching root pack 'C:\games\freespace2\stu_fs2.vp' ... 2355 files
Searching root pack 'C:\games\freespace2\tango1_fs2.vp' ... 32 files
Searching root pack 'C:\games\freespace2\tango2_fs2.vp' ... 15 files
Searching root pack 'C:\games\freespace2\tango3_fs2.vp' ... 10 files
Searching root pack 'C:\games\freespace2\warble_fs2.vp' ... 52 files
Found 16 roots and 8048 files.
AutoLang: Language auto-detection successful...
Setting language to English
Initializing OpenAL...
Using 'Generic Software' as OpenAL sound device...
OpenAL Vendor : Creative Labs Inc.
OpenAL Renderer : Software
OpenAL Version : 1.1

... OpenAL successfully initialized!
Failed to init speech
GR_CPU: Family 15, MMX=Yes
Initializing OpenGL graphics device at 1024x768 with 32-bit color...
Initializing WGL...
Requested WGL Video values = R: 8, G: 8, B: 8, depth: 32, double-buffer: 1
Actual WGL Video values = R: 8, G: 8, B: 8, depth: 32, double-buffer: 1
OpenGL Vendor : NVIDIA Corporation
OpenGL Renderer : GeForce 7300 GT/PCI/SSE2/3DNOW!
OpenGL Version : 2.1.1

Using extension "GL_EXT_fog_coord".
Using extension "GL_ARB_multitexture".
Using extension "GL_ARB_texture_env_add".
Using extension "GL_ARB_texture_compression".
Using extension "GL_EXT_texture_compression_s3tc".
Using extension "GL_EXT_texture_filter_anisotropic".
Using extension "GL_ARB_texture_env_combine".
Using extension "GL_EXT_compiled_vertex_array".
Using extension "GL_EXT_draw_range_elements".
Using extension "GL_ARB_texture_mirrored_repeat".
Using extension "GL_ARB_texture_non_power_of_two".
Using extension "GL_ARB_vertex_buffer_object".
Using extension "GL_ARB_pixel_buffer_object".
Using extension "GL_SGIS_generate_mipmap".
Using extension "GL_EXT_framebuffer_object".
Using extension "GL_ARB_texture_rectangle".
Using extension "GL_EXT_bgra".
Using extension "GL_ARB_texture_cube_map".
Using extension "GL_EXT_texture_lod_bias".
Using extension "GL_ARB_point_sprite".
Using extension "GL_ARB_shading_language_100".
Using extension "GL_ARB_shader_objects".
Using extension "GL_ARB_vertex_shader".
Using extension "GL_ARB_fragment_shader".
Found special extension function "wglSwapIntervalEXT".

Compiling shader -> b-vert.sdr / b-frag.sdr ...
Compiling shader -> b-vert.sdr / bg-frag.sdr ...
Compiling shader -> b-vert.sdr / bs-frag.sdr ...
Compiling shader -> b-vert.sdr / bgs-frag.sdr ...
Compiling shader -> bn-vert.sdr / bn-frag.sdr ...
Compiling shader -> bn-vert.sdr / bgn-frag.sdr ...
Compiling shader -> bn-vert.sdr / bsn-frag.sdr ...
Compiling shader -> bn-vert.sdr / bgsn-frag.sdr ...
Compiling shader -> be-vert.sdr / bse-frag.sdr ...
Compiling shader -> be-vert.sdr / bgse-frag.sdr ...
Compiling shader -> bne-vert.sdr / bsne-frag.sdr ...
Compiling shader -> bne-vert.sdr / bgsne-frag.sdr ...

Max texture units: 4 (16)
Max elements vertices: 4096
Max elements indices: 4096
Max texture size: 4096x4096
Can use compressed textures: YES
Texture compression available: YES
Using trilinear texture filter.
Using GLSL for model rendering.
... OpenGL init is complete!
Size of bitmap info = 705 KB
Size of bitmap extra info = 40 bytes
ANI cursorweb with size 24x24 (25.0% wasted)
GRAPHICS: Initializing default colors...
SCRIPTING: Beginning initialization sequence...
SCRIPTING: Beginning Lua initialization...
LUA: Opening LUA state...
LUA: Initializing base Lua libraries...
LUA: Performing global function/(library/object) name repeat check...
LUA: Performing library/object name repeat check...
LUA: Performing object/object name repeat check...
LUA: Performing library/library name repeat check...
LUA: Initializing library functions...
LUA: Initializing object functions...
SCRIPTING: Beginning main hook parse sequence....
Wokka! Error opening file (scripting.tbl)!
TABLES: Unable to parse 'scripting.tbl'! Error code = 5.
SCRIPTING: Inititialization complete.
Using high memory settings...
Wokka! Error opening file (interface.tbl)!
WMCGUI: Unable to parse 'interface.tbl'! Error code = 5.
ANI 2_radar1 with size 170x170 (33.6% wasted)
Windoze reported 16 joysticks, we found 0
Current soundtrack set to -1 in event_music_reset_choices
Wokka! Error opening file (armor.tbl)!
TABLES: Unable to parse 'armor.tbl'! Error code = 5.
TBM => Starting parse of 'str-aip.tbm' ...
TBM => Starting parse of 'str-str.tbm' ...
loading animated cursor "cursor"
ANI cursor with size 24x24 (25.0% wasted)
Ships.tbl is : VALID
Weapons.tbl is : VALID
cfile_init() took 650
MOVIE ERROR: Unable to open movie file 'intro.mve' in any supported format.
Got event GS_EVENT_GAME_INIT (49) in state NOT A VALID STATE (0)
ANI cursor.ani with size 24x24 (25.0% wasted)
Got event GS_EVENT_MAIN_MENU (0) in state GS_STATE_INITIAL_PLAYER_SELECT (37)
Someone passed an extension to bm_load for file 'hammer.pcx'
WARNING! Couldn't load main hall background bitmap 2_MainHall_Galatea
WARNING! Couldn't load main hall background mask 2_MainHall_Galatea-m
Int3(): From J:\src\cvs\fs2_open_3_6_9.pre\code\GlobalIncs\WinD ebug.cpp at line 1189

[karajorma]

Turn off -img2dds as it won't help anything.
Remove the Homesick.vp from your main folder and put it into a sub-folder called Homesick.

Those two may solve the problem. If not, your problem is probably that the ST:R VP files are corrupt (I don't have the game installed so I can't check them myself).

[Goober5000]

Kara, I'm surprised at you. :p These two lines should have given the whole thing away:

(This error most likely means that you are missing required 1024x768 interface art.)
Searching root 'C:\games\freespace2\fsport\' ... 0 files

Racer -- Silent Threat: Reborn requires the FreeSpace Port, but you're trying to play it without the Port installed. Install it and you'll be good to go. :)

(One question: Have you tried using the FSO Installer? It makes everything much easier.)

[The FreeSpace Racer]

Now I have no idea WTF to do. I tried doing both of these things, but now I fucked something else up

Error: Invalid ship class name.

In sexpression: ( when
( true )
( tech-add-ships
"GTB Zeus"
"SB Seraphim"
)
( tech-add-weapons "Cluster Bomb" )
)
(Error appears to be: GTB Zeus)
File: MissionParse.cpp
Line: 5836


Call stack:
------------------------------------------------------------------
parse_mission() parse_main() mission_load() game_start_mission() game_enter_state() gameseq_set_state() game_process_event() gameseq_process_events() game_main() WinMain() WinMainCRTStartup() kernel32.dll 7c817067()
------------------------------------------------------------------

[The FreeSpace Racer]

I'm doing the installer now. I just hope, because I manually did most of it, that it won't fuck up anymore. I get nervous when delicate stuff like game files are involved. Hell, this even happens to me when I edit characters in MUGEN, still just as nervous.

[karajorma]

Like I said, I don't have FS:R installed on this PC so I couldn't check. But yeah, Goober is correct, you need the FS Port files installed.