To play Bioshock on Windows 2000 you need two files, dbghelp.dll and xinput1_3.dll

You can get dbghelp.dll from a Windows XP or 2003 install, the version I used which worked was 5.2.3790.3959 from a 2003 SP2 server install

You can find the xinput1_3.dll on the install DVD or in the root of the demo zipfile in a folder called "dx redist"
In there open the file APR2007_xinput_x86.cab and extract the dll file

Now you need to open it in a HEX Editor, I use Hex Workshop.
Search for the textstring: "TraceMessage" and replace that with "GetUserNameA"

Place both dll files in the games install dir under \Builds\Release
(Don't overwrite the files in your winnt/system32 dir!)

Please post any problems or issues in this thread, my Win2K install is not very "clean" so more fixes might be needed... Oh, make sure to install the latest nVidia beta display driver for Bioshock too:
http://www.nzone.com/object/nzone_bi...downloads.html
Direct Link: http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_2k_163.44.html

There was a fix by ATI also, ask Google ;-)
Oh, and be sure to run the installer for DirectX too, i.e. in the above referenced "dx redist" directory

With these fixes I was able to play through the demo just fine, I think it will work for the full version also...

I've made available the two files I mentioned in my previous post

http://www.techspot.com/files/Bioshock_Win2K_Fix.rar

What the fix does is replace the call TraceMessage with something we will have access to, the side effect to this fix is that it should not be possible to use an X-Box Controller for the game (well I suppose there never was since xinput does not get installed at all for Win2K anyway so...)

And now some keywords for the google bot

The procedure entry point MiniDumpWriteDump could not be located in the dynamic link library dbghelp.dll

Unable to locate DLL
The Dynamic link library XINPUT_1_3.dll could not be found in the specified path.

The procedure entry point TraceMessage could not be located in the dynamic link library ADVAPI32.dll

I bought BioShock over Steam without checking the OS requirements. Thank you so much for this fix, you've made at least one person very happy with it.

Welcome to Techspot and thank you very much for your feedback!

I was not 100% sure the Bioshock Windows 2000 fix would work for others as I have played around allot with compability fixes for other games so my Windows 2000 install is not very stock anymore

I don't see any reason why this wouldn't, but just to ask before I think about buying Bioshock, this should work with the retail CD version, correct? I know this sounds kind of like a stupid question, but I just wan't to get your opinion.

Hello and Welcome to Techspot Techinator,
I think it would work, but I give absolutely no guarantees

It is only my educated guess that it will work. However as far as I know the STEAM and Retail versions are the same, i.e. they have the same copy protection and all (SecuROM with online activation)

That is to say I think there is nothing which is different in the two versions, and since we are not modifying any of the games own files it should not set off any copy protection measures either...

I'm in with Per, as long as the fix is outside the game own files and do not concern any part of the copy protection scheme, there wouldn't be any reason of (bad) interaction.
I haven't got my hands on the retail version yet, though.

On the bright side, I've used these exact same steps to be able to launch the PC demo of MOH Airborne, which refused to launch with the exact same errors.
It would be nice if any game developpers not officially supporting win2k could give the hint about this fix on its website or, better, provide this 'unsupported fix' shipped with the retail version.

By the way, thanks for this post !
I've read about the trick on the 2K forums and had actually already done half the job (getting different versions of the three dll), but it was nice to see the fix confirmed on other boards

Celluloid; Welcome to Techspot forums

I wasn't aware someone else had fixed it already, could have saved me some effort lol
Be sure to send a few pointers this way also

Just signed up to say a big "Thank you". I hadn't checked the requirements so didn't realise that Bioshock didn't run on 2K till I had bought it.

The patch you produced worked flawlessly and I am now enjoying wandering around the world of Rapture.

Cheers!

Ian

Welcome to Techspot Rimmer100!

I'm glad to hear about your success!
Was this the Retail or Steam version?

Hello,

This was the Steam version. So far I've not had any crashes and the game seems to be working as I would expect.

The fact that it has hi-lighted that I need to buy / build a new PC however is somewhat upsetting

The fix also works fine with the retail version (european version).
So far ( end of medical pavilion ), absolutely no problem.

I'm glad to hear that, and also that you're enjoying the game

To anyone reading this, note that Bioshock will not run on Shader Model 2 Hardware. This mainly affects ATI users (like me) because even if you have an X800 it will not work (i think ATI ony started supporting SM 3 in the X1000 series).

This is a pain in the proverbial boot-oks because thousands can't play it.
Apparently it can be hacked to run, so why are Irrational discriminating thousands of gamers for just an afternoons work for a patch (took hackers only an hour to fix)

I agree that it is kinda odd, Unreal Engine 3 does support Shader Model 2.0 cards and onwards so I really don't understand how 2K games could find it a sensible idea to make their game incompatible with such a big user market...

http://wiki.beyondunreal.com/wiki/Un...ine_Versions/3

As a matter of fact in my brothers computer sits a ATI X850XT, so I might try this unofficial fix some day, however last I read the patch only worked for the plane crash part of the game, as soon as you got into the buildings there where textures missing etc

EDIT; Seems work is progressing quickly on the patch: http://bioshocksm2.blogspot.com/

Hi !

First, a big "thank you" for you Per, Bioshock works now perfectly on my Win2K system.
That's really a pain developpers forget that nice OS.


But I now have a little problem with the MoHA demo. I thought I could fix it with the same files, as it was the same error displayed, but it seems it was too easy
I can start the game but I get stuck with the EA logo video

Any idea ?

And, again, merci !

Hi Lomendil, welcome to Techspot and I'm glad to hear you too got Bioshock to run on Windows 2000

Your problem with Medal of Honor: Airborne might be that it needs another version of the dll files (though that is kind of unlikely)

Unless you can get an error it's very difficult to help...

Finally I helped myself

For those who encounter the same problem, it's quite simple : just rename or delete the video file corresponding to your langage.

It's located in the /MOHAGame/CookedMovies/ folder.

When done, the game just skip the video and show you the menu.

---------------------

I also had another problem : I couldn't hear any sound ! Quite frustrating for just a game, isn't it ? I just switched "5.1" to "Stereo" and everything worked fine.


Hope it can help another Win2K user !

Thanks a great deal, Per Hansson, for that valuable information! I went as far as to install it before I realized the OS requirements

Works with the US retail version, everyone.

I still have errors on mine Though
But thanks your way made it work but i still have this 1 error
I get the BioShock Splash then it fades out
Then i get this White Screen like a..a... What do i call it.. The page where you choose options and start game type of thing
Then after that i get this

BioShock.exe Application Error
"The Instructions at 0x10972xxx in the memory 0x0000000 could not be ''read'' "
Press okay to terminate or Press CANCEL To debug
I put 3 "x" 's after the 2 because i cant remember the other numbers
What do i do please help. If you need my computer specs tell me ill be here.