I experienced a similar horror show after starting my XP SP3 Classic install with UOassist, as always. No DOS window appeared, but I am on a ridiculously slow DialUp connection {yes, I really mean it!}. Whatever the technical reasons are for the errors encountered, I don't care because obviously the implementation of this modification to a decade old patching system was done with little consideration for actual Players. I mean for example, they have an HTML window in the original (and new) patcher that still contains a "Valentine's day" message... _that message_ is not updated, even though the entire patching system is about to be remade.
So, on to possible work-arounds:
First, I moved the contents of my UO Classic installation directory to another location.
Second, downloaded the _new_ installation starter UOClassicSetup_7_0_24_0.exe from:
http://web.cdn.eamythic.com/us/uo/installers/20120309/UOClassicSetup_7_0_24_0.exe
{This is linked/accessed from the main UO website("UO Herald"), as before.}
The _new_ install is a "starter", not a full install. It is 17.9 MB in size. So, no big problem even on a slow dialup.
I ran the new install starter and pointed it to my (now empty) original UO classic install location. After it completed, I clicked on the new (startup) icon "Ultima Online Classic Client". -Hourglass- displays for a short time, then disappears and nothing seems to be happening. If you check Task Manager, an instance of uo.exe will be running. I left it alone for quite awhile... like at least 5 minutes. Then, the new patcher window displayed. The patcher showed progress and I let it run until it came to a very large file, at which point I cancelled. {Not, absolutely certain, because this is from memory, so another step may have taken place.}
The point is, this process will initiate a full install of over 1 gig. Therefore, I ended the process. Then, copied back my original install files from the saved location to the original. I allowed the over-writing of "uo.cfg" to preserve my original settings, but skipped over-writing the small number of files the new install program (& patcher) had created or modified.
After restarting UO from the new icon, it proceeded to do a rather rapid file check (less than a minute), therefore I suspect the slow process some are experiencing is due to extensive fragmentation on their hard drive. It is not server load or connection speed, because I am on DialUp, running XP Pro, 4+ year old IBM desktop; my one advantage is a very clean install and defragmented hard drive(s).
The file check completed and the update of 443 megs began. After running overnight, the process is 20% completed. Yes, it will take TWO DAYS/48 HOURS at my location!
NOTE: this patching process updates or adds one file at a time. It will not save its progress. If the 87 meg file download is interrupted (for example), that file will restart downloading from byte #1.
I am reasonably confident that if this "Update" is started from the new install starter (as described), the result will be a fully functioning UO Classic. Of course in my case, I'll have to wait another 36 hours to find out.
Just a side note... my physical location is on the Potomac River, just "downstream" from Mythic's Northern Virginia headquarters, but a world away in terms of broadband options. Such irony...
LoneSwan
So, on to possible work-arounds:
First, I moved the contents of my UO Classic installation directory to another location.
Second, downloaded the _new_ installation starter UOClassicSetup_7_0_24_0.exe from:
http://web.cdn.eamythic.com/us/uo/installers/20120309/UOClassicSetup_7_0_24_0.exe
{This is linked/accessed from the main UO website("UO Herald"), as before.}
The _new_ install is a "starter", not a full install. It is 17.9 MB in size. So, no big problem even on a slow dialup.
I ran the new install starter and pointed it to my (now empty) original UO classic install location. After it completed, I clicked on the new (startup) icon "Ultima Online Classic Client". -Hourglass- displays for a short time, then disappears and nothing seems to be happening. If you check Task Manager, an instance of uo.exe will be running. I left it alone for quite awhile... like at least 5 minutes. Then, the new patcher window displayed. The patcher showed progress and I let it run until it came to a very large file, at which point I cancelled. {Not, absolutely certain, because this is from memory, so another step may have taken place.}
The point is, this process will initiate a full install of over 1 gig. Therefore, I ended the process. Then, copied back my original install files from the saved location to the original. I allowed the over-writing of "uo.cfg" to preserve my original settings, but skipped over-writing the small number of files the new install program (& patcher) had created or modified.
After restarting UO from the new icon, it proceeded to do a rather rapid file check (less than a minute), therefore I suspect the slow process some are experiencing is due to extensive fragmentation on their hard drive. It is not server load or connection speed, because I am on DialUp, running XP Pro, 4+ year old IBM desktop; my one advantage is a very clean install and defragmented hard drive(s).
The file check completed and the update of 443 megs began. After running overnight, the process is 20% completed. Yes, it will take TWO DAYS/48 HOURS at my location!
NOTE: this patching process updates or adds one file at a time. It will not save its progress. If the 87 meg file download is interrupted (for example), that file will restart downloading from byte #1.
I am reasonably confident that if this "Update" is started from the new install starter (as described), the result will be a fully functioning UO Classic. Of course in my case, I'll have to wait another 36 hours to find out.
Just a side note... my physical location is on the Potomac River, just "downstream" from Mythic's Northern Virginia headquarters, but a world away in terms of broadband options. Such irony...
LoneSwan
