Large Address Aware (LAA) mod fails for Steam X3TC 2.5 (fix included inside)

ChandlerL · Post by **ChandlerL** » Sun, 20. Dec 09, 06:36

*Fix below is a workaround, not a fix, but I ran out of space on the subject line.*

Hello folks.

Running Steam version of X3:TC 2.5 vanilla

I, too, have had issues with the game running buttery smooth for about an hour or so then suddenly turning into a slide show (HUD goes missing). Slide show meaning it looks to be about 1 frame per 2-3 seconds. Keypresses are still acknowledged, albeit slowly, so I'm essentially forced to end the X3:TC process and restart the game losing my progress.

I heard that modifying the x3tc.exe to be >2GB address aware was the solution and I've done it successfully with other unrelated titles.

However when I modify this exe it will no longer load.

Loading it through Steam I get: "X3: Terran Conflict failed to start (error code 51)"

Loading it directly from the exe I get: "Application load error 3:0000065432"

I modified the exe using CTF Explorer as well as trying EditBin which is Microsoft's COFF binary file editor. Both work for other stuff but for this one, no joy.

I have a nagging feeling it's Steam that is running home to momma when it sees a modification to the exe upon start-- uncertain though -- I'm going to look into it and see if I can find a workaround. It's a shame patch 2.5 removed the LAA from the exe.

Anyone that can point me in the right direction. Perhaps I'm just getting old?

My Specs:
Alienware X58 Core i7-975
6GB Memory
SB X-Fi Titanium running driver 2.17.0007
Geforce GTX 295 running driver 195.62
Windows 7 64-bit

Regards,

Chan

UPDATE: Mmmmhm, yeah steam is the issue. Doesn't like it when one modifies the exe. I got around it by extracting the exe from the 2.5 patch download and using it directly (copying the 2.5 exe into the appropriate steamapps folder). It's a shame because this method feels seedy to me but, unfortunately, bless their hearts, the devs having removed the LAA flag from 2.5 have left users like me with few options if I wish to have a satisfactory experience-- the other options would have been to 1. shelve the game, 2. wait for a patch, 3. buy a boxed copy, 4. lose progress frequently and let the hourly slideshow commence. Poo on all four.

I hope this nugget helps other steam users.

ChandlerL · Post by **ChandlerL** » Sun, 20. Dec 09, 09:00

Read my post above-- more detailed instructions may be more of a help.

1. Download the X3:TC 2.1->2.5 retail patch
2. You need an extractor utility that enables you to pull out files from an installer such as that patch above. We only need one file out of that patch which is "x3tc.exe"
2b. There'a a free utility called UniExtract that'll do the trick. http://legroom.net/software/uniextract
Others will work as well.
3. Go into your \Steam\steamapps\common\x3 terran conflict folder and rename x3tc.exe to x3tc-original.exe. We want to make sure we have a copy just in case things don't go well.
3. Using UniExtract open the retail patch you downloaded in step 1. UniExtract will churn for a bit and extract out all the files into a folder called "\X3TCUpdate2.1_to_2.5"
4. Find the x3tc.exe file and drag it into your \Steam\steamapps\common\x3 terran conflict folder
5. Then use your utility of choice to re-enable the Large Address Aware (LAA) Mod such as:
Ouch wrote a nice automated utility specifically for X3:TC here: http://forum.egosoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=262169
or you can do it manually using CFF Explorer (http://www.ntcore.com/exsuite.php)
6. Play game, see if all this work has helped.

Cheers

Jolter · Post by **Jolter** » Sat, 26. Dec 09, 06:07

Thanks for this. Worked like a charm.

God knows why giv ewn the file size is signifciantly different but I'm an Accountant not an IT dude.

Post by **BlackRain** » Wed, 3. Feb 10, 13:29

I keep trying to do this, I am using x3tc steam and windows 7. I followed instructions and the game loads but it will crash because of this at random times. I don't understand why others can do this but I cant??

frymaster · Post by **frymaster** » Fri, 5. Feb 10, 20:12

blackrain: for the avoidance of doubt, you're saying your game is fine if you don't enable LAA, but when you do, the game starts crashing?

Bobucles · Post by **Bobucles** » Fri, 5. Feb 10, 23:33

frymaster wrote:blackrain: for the avoidance of doubt, you're saying your game is fine if you don't enable LAA, but when you do, the game starts crashing?

I'm also curious, because my problem is exactly the opposite. LAA gave me severe issues in big sectors like Aldrin. It was so bad that I had to turn LAA off.

The Boz · Post by **The Boz** » Sat, 17. Apr 10, 15:41

ChandlerL wrote:Read my post above-- more detailed instructions may be more of a help.

1. Download the X3:TC 2.1->2.5 retail patch
2. You need an extractor utility that enables you to pull out files from an installer such as that patch above. We only need one file out of that patch which is "x3tc.exe"
2b. There'a a free utility called UniExtract that'll do the trick. http://legroom.net/software/uniextract
Others will work as well.
3. Go into your \Steam\steamapps\common\x3 terran conflict folder and rename x3tc.exe to x3tc-original.exe. We want to make sure we have a copy just in case things don't go well.
3. Using UniExtract open the retail patch you downloaded in step 1. UniExtract will churn for a bit and extract out all the files into a folder called "\X3TCUpdate2.1_to_2.5"
4. Find the x3tc.exe file and drag it into your \Steam\steamapps\common\x3 terran conflict folder
5. Then use your utility of choice to re-enable the Large Address Aware (LAA) Mod such as:
Ouch wrote a nice automated utility specifically for X3:TC here: http://forum.egosoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=262169
or you can do it manually using CFF Explorer (http://www.ntcore.com/exsuite.php)
6. Play game, see if all this work has helped.

Cheers

This worked out splendidly, feel free to have a cookie.

facetious1 · Post by **facetious1** » Tue, 20. Apr 10, 04:37

Worked awesome for me! Running Win 7, 64 bit with 6 gigs ram.

Thanks again

N4N · Post by **N4N** » Wed, 28. Apr 10, 23:19

Hey buddies.
This previous solution doesnt work with 2.6

I used it with 2.5 and no porb, but now with 2.6 I cant patch the .exe becxause the patcher cant find it

Carlo the Curious · Post by **Carlo the Curious** » Wed, 28. Apr 10, 23:21

Do it manually with CFF explorer.

N4N · Post by **N4N** » Wed, 28. Apr 10, 23:34

Carlo the Curious wrote:Do it manually with CFF explorer.

Any more infor about what I should look for?

Post by **Xenon_Slayer** » Wed, 28. Apr 10, 23:44

There was a different than normal EXE with 2.6 for the first day on STEAM. This caused the issue with Achievements. Now, STEAM has the correct EXE.
I don't see how it can be any different to previous versions now.

Carlo the Curious · Post by **Carlo the Curious** » Wed, 28. Apr 10, 23:50

'App can handle >2Gb address space' in Nt Headers/File Header/Characteristics.

N4N · Post by **N4N** » Wed, 28. Apr 10, 23:51

Xenon_Slayer wrote:There was a different than normal EXE with 2.6 for the first day on STEAM. This caused the issue with Achievements. Now, STEAM has the correct EXE.
I don't see how it can be any different to previous versions now.

I try to apply patch for LAA, which on 2.5(even steam) was not problem, and with 2.6 the patcher doesnt reconigze the tc.exe

Carlo the Curious · Post by **Carlo the Curious** » Wed, 28. Apr 10, 23:52

That patcher is nothing to do with Egosoft - you should ask any questions regarding it in the thread you got it from (as you have).

N4N · Post by **N4N** » Wed, 28. Apr 10, 23:57

Carlo the Curious wrote:'App can handle >2Gb address space' in Nt Headers/File Header/Characteristics.

Hi Carlo, Ok I did but I get a messague trying to execute, application error message

EDIT: weird, I copied .exe file from my boxed version(also 2.6) which was 1.7 MB to Steam folder, which was 2.1 MB, replace it, and now works fine

Whay that different in sizes?

Can I continue like this?

DaFaDa · Post by **DaFaDa** » Thu, 29. Apr 10, 04:26

OK...

I've been reading all kinds of posts about this LAA Patch and version 2.6 and I think this is something I may need to do but so far, there are too many holes in my information:

-Where do I get this patch?

-Do I need to run it, and then edit the .exe for the program or just one or the other?

Thanks

NyxStele · Post by **NyxStele** » Thu, 29. Apr 10, 06:19

ChandlerL wrote:Read my post above-- more detailed instructions may be more of a help.

1. Download the X3:TC 2.1->2.5 retail patch
2. You need an extractor utility that enables you to pull out files from an installer such as that patch above. We only need one file out of that patch which is "x3tc.exe"
2b. There'a a free utility called UniExtract that'll do the trick. http://legroom.net/software/uniextract
Others will work as well.
3. Go into your \Steam\steamapps\common\x3 terran conflict folder and rename x3tc.exe to x3tc-original.exe. We want to make sure we have a copy just in case things don't go well.
3. Using UniExtract open the retail patch you downloaded in step 1. UniExtract will churn for a bit and extract out all the files into a folder called "\X3TCUpdate2.1_to_2.5"
4. Find the x3tc.exe file and drag it into your \Steam\steamapps\common\x3 terran conflict folder
5. Then use your utility of choice to re-enable the Large Address Aware (LAA) Mod such as:
Ouch wrote a nice automated utility specifically for X3:TC here: http://forum.egosoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=262169
or you can do it manually using CFF Explorer (http://www.ntcore.com/exsuite.php)
6. Play game, see if all this work has helped.

Cheers

Tried this with the new 2.0 to 2.6 patch. Sadly the UniExtract doesn't work. It says that it's a newer Inno Setup version or something?

I searched for another Inno extractor and came across this:

http://innounp.sourceforge.net/

Worked with the 2.x to 2.6 install file.

All other steps worked as above. Used CFF. Cheers!

Ebyl Vampyre · Post by **Ebyl Vampyre** » Fri, 30. Apr 10, 06:49

This worked for me also, thanks!

I tried to modify Steam's executable, just to see if it might luckily work with 2.6, but it doesn't. But snagging the executable from the 2.0-2.6 patch worked brilliantly. I used innounp as suggested and CCF to do the edit.

N4N · Post by **N4N** » Fri, 30. Apr 10, 14:49

N4N wrote:
Carlo the Curious wrote:'App can handle >2Gb address space' in Nt Headers/File Header/Characteristics.
Hi Carlo, Ok I did but I get a messague trying to execute, application error message

EDIT: weird, I copied .exe file from my boxed version(also 2.6) which was 1.7 MB to Steam folder, which was 2.1 MB, replace it, and now works fine

Whay that different in sizes?

Can I continue like this?

I still dont know why steam exe before was 2.21 MB and now 1.70 MB after I copied it from boxed retaile instalation also 2.6 but still wotrs.
Anybody can tell me how heavy is your .exe of steam version?

THX