Microsoft does it again? Vista compatability issues?

[Evol daN]

Is anyone out there a supreme computer master? I have some skills but no Skillz.

Anyway I just bought a laptop, since it is a laptop I chose to buy a factory brand, rather than a home built.

The bad part is the damn thing has MS Windows Vista installed. We all know that Microsoft has not released a product that works before 10 updates... I have decided to give it a chance. Ok so I am being really dumb to even continue this trial...

VISTA CRASHED 5 TIMES DURING V for VANDETTA!!!!!! I watched 1 movie and IT CRASHED 5 TIMES!!!!!

Anyway, here is my question: I am trying to install Magic Workstation, I can get workstation itself to install and start. However, no matter what I try, I cannot get the gamepack to install.

I even tried the Compatability Wizard setting it to XP Pro SE and it still will not give me cards in Workstation.

basically, I install MWS and everything goes fine, then i install the gamepack and the installation goes fine, but the cards never appear in the masterbase. all i get is that sample card crap.

Please Help Me!

If you dont know how to help, maybe you at least have a terrible story about a microsoft product to share and make us all feel good about a money hungry corporate giant.

[Methuselahn]

Are you sure that this is a Vista problem?

Don't forget that you need to go into MWS' 'library mode' and then load the actual magic base.

[Evol daN]

Jeff, I hoped you were right... but alas it is set to library mode... all I get is

Name   Edition   Rarity   Color   Cost   P/T   Type   Text   Flavor
Amethyst   AM      U   2         +3 Tower   
Apprentice   AM      U   5         +4 Tower, you lose 3 recruits, 2 damage to enemy Tower   
Bag of Baubles   AM      U   0         If Tower<enemy Tower, +2 Tower, else +1 Tower   
Barracks   AM      R   10         +6 recruits, +6 Wall, if dungeon<enemy dungeon, +1 dungeon   
Basic Wall   AM      R   2         +3 Wall   
Battlements   AM      R   14         +7 Wall, 6 damage to enemy   
Berserker   AM      G   4         8 Damage, 3 Damage to your Tower   
Big Wall   AM      R   5         +6 Wall   
Brick Shortage   AM      R   0         All players lose 8 bricks   
Copping the Tech   AM      R   5         If quarry<enemy quarry, quarry=enemy quarry


crap crap crap.... although I wish there was a card cropping the tech, I wish I had the rest of them...

Help please!

[Moxlotus]

You need to download the Magic library.  Did you read the walk through MWS download guide?

[Evol daN]

Moxlotus... are you refering to the 1.4 MB file entitled... "mtg_gamepack"?

If so that is the gamepack I refer to in my original post...

yes I read the manual, although I have installed Workstation six or seven times on other machines without a problem.

i have tried so many different angles/tricks during the install including searching my computer to see if the masterbase installed into the wrong directory... no dice...

please help!!

[Lunk]

I don't use Vista myself, so I have no idea if this works, but one of the MWS developers posted directions on installing in Vista here: http://www.magi-soft.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5906

[Evol daN]

Thank you Lunk... Thank you so much... that is the exact problem...

I knew it had something to do with Vistas new interuser firewall system .... Vista is so like OSX, but bad... it will not let you do anything to it... it is so dumbed down

The solution appears to have worked for others i will let you all know if it works for me...

[Evol daN]

ok the link given here describes a way to get the gamepack to install into MWS on a Vista system... just skip step 2... it has to do with Vistas new firewall that protects Windows from the user.

even after this tweek the program is not working correctly.

at this point I have the card base and can build decks, but the game will not play, when you try to play it asks you to load a deck, and the decks you have built are not of the correct file type.

anyway, i will do some digging, and if anyone here knows how to fix this problem, let me know, also....

some funny Microsoft stories are welcome.

[Evol daN]

OK VISTA USERS... the problem is Vista has something like a firewall which prevents you from accidently or intentionally changing program files once they have been installed. This security feature is what prevents you from getting the full masterbase.mw.

until such a time as detonator releases a new version of Workstation follow these instructions exactly.

1. download: mws094f
2. install: mws094f
3. find the folder named "Magic Workstation" in your program files folder on your main hard disk.
     the address for this folder may look like this "computer^Local Disk C^Program Files"

4. Right click on the "magic workstation" folder... you should get a list of options... choose properties.

5. once you select properties you will get a window with 4 tabs select "security"
-here you will see a list "Group or user names"
-select the one that says "Users (*yourcomputersnamehere*\Users)
-after you select this hit edit.

6. you will now see the lower list "Permissions for Users" become boxes that may be checked either allow or deny.
-check all options to allow.
-hit Apply... then ok

7. now select the tab "general"
-in the attributes section click "Read-only" off or till it turns blue (depending on your Vista version) if you have the option for no mark or a blue square set it to blue square.
-hit apply and get the fuck out of there

8. NOW DOWNLOAD mtg_gamepack and install it. Open workstation and test...

BTW anyone who has an account to magisoft, please put a link from there to this thread as the solution posted there only solves half the problem.

Keep it Evol

[Methuselahn]

Cool Dan, thanks for posting this.  It will likely come in handy when it's time to upgrade.   

[ReAnimator]

Q: What is the only sort of device Micro$oft could possibly make that doesn't suck?


A: A vacuum cleaner.

[ashiXIII]

With each new windows, it's more and more friendly to the idiots who have no idea how to use it, but it's more and more useless to someone who wants to be able to control their own damned machine.

[Hi-Val]

I just wanted to say that I did this and it worked. Thanks!