Quest for Glory IV: Shadows of Darkness Help
Quest for Glory IV: Shadows of Darkness CD's original requirements:
Audio Problems
Audio problems are common in the later Sierra DOS SCI games. There's no single fix for all these games. If
there a Windows version you can try it, first.
Problem - Poor Quality / No Sound (Win9x and XP):
The game has no sound or the music is of poor quality.
Solution 1 (preferred):
Play the game in DOSBox. It also will work
with the MT-32 sound module, if you are fortunate to have one.
Solution 2:
Use VDMSound. The game work well with
VDMSound. The sound will be as good as your audio hardware, and as with DOSBox, it works with the MT-32 sound
module.
Solution 3:
Play the game with FreeSCI, a third party Interpreter
for Sierra's early SCI games.
Solution 4 (DOS/Win9x):
Install DOS drivers for your soundcard. Without DOS drivers installed you won't have sound in a DOS window
in Windows 9x. If you can't find DOS drivers for your soundcard, there is an alpha
(developmental) version of VDMS that you can try.
Problem - Unable to initialize your audio hardware:
On starting the game you get the message:
Unable to initialize your audio hardware
Solution 1 (preferred):
Play the game in DOSBox. By playing your
game in DOSBox, you can avoid this and other timer problems. Even the Windows version can be played in DOSBox
if you install Windows 3x in it, first.
Back when computers came with a "Turbo" switch (a sort of speed switch,) Sierra's workaround was
to turn off the Turbo switch to start the game, after which you could turn the Turbo back on. If you have
your cycles in DOSBox set too high, you may still encounter this problem. You can mimic the turbo switch solution
by lowering your cycles (Ctl+F11) before starting your game. You may raise the cycles back up after the game
starts (Ctl+F12).
Solution 2:
Patch the old audio driver with GOSiERRA
or SBSIERRA.
Solution 3:
Apply the SHADOWUP
patch. This 1.0.1 patch also includes several updates to the original diskette version, including
providing support for the Gravis Ultrasound Sound Card.
Solution 4:
Try installing the Windows version
Problem - SB sound crash:
MIDI is OK, no SB. Game crashes periodically. Game crashes at load time when SB sound is enabled.
Solution 1:
Play the game in DOSBox. Even the Windows
version can be played in DOSBox if you install Windows 3x in it, first.
Solution 2:
Patch the old audio driver with GOSiERRA
or SBSIERRA.
Solution 3:
Try the Windows version with "Compatibility Mode for Windows 98" and 256 colors for sound, though
this might cause other audio problems in XP.
Problem - waveOutUnprepareHeader1 error:
When playing the Windows version on XP, right before a sound is played you get this error message with a title
of "waveOutUnprepareHeader1":
An invalid parameter was passed to a system function.
followed by an error message with a title of "waveOutUnprepareHeader2":
The specified device handle is invalid.
and this error "waveOutClose":
The specified device handle is invalid.
This may repeat several times, upon which the music disappears. This occurs even though the NewRisingSun
patch has been applied.
Solution:
Play the DOS version of the game with VDMS
or in DOSBox.
Speed problems
As with many of the Sierra VGA games, Quest for Glory IV: Shadows of Darkness has some speed
bugs. These bugs can also be avoided by playing the game in DOSBox.
If you can't or don't want to use DOSBox, you can try using a Slowdown
Utility.
Here is a list of problems with solutions/workarounds.
Problem - Stamina loss:
Stamina loss while crossing chasm hand-to-hand/walking the rope
Solution #1 (preferred):
Apply this patch
by NewRisingSun. (You may still want to play the game in DOSBox.)
Solution #2:
Play using DOSBox.
Solution #3:
Use a Slowdown Utility.
Problem - Error 47 At Slime Slope:
Error 47 occurs while attempting to slide down the slippery slope near the swamp.
Solution #1 (preferred):
Apply this patch
by NewRisingSun. (You may still want to play the game in DOSBox.)
Solution #2:
Play using DOSBox.
Solution #3:
Use a Slowdown Utility.
Solution #4:
Go to the game's control panel and set the speed to maximum and detail to minimum. Afterwards, proceed to
the slope a little bit at a time. Instead of clicking the walk cursor on the slope to move the Hero to it,
click close to the Hero so that he moves a short distance. Repeat this to move the Hero in small steps until
he is down the slope.
Problem - Freezing Guild Door:
Freezing Outside Adventurer's Guild with Igor (Windows version)
Solution #1 (preferred):
Apply this patch
by NewRisingSun. (You may still want to play the game in DOSBox.)
Solution #2:
Play using DOSBox.
Solution #3:
Use a Slowdown Utility.
Problem - Wraith Drains Health:
Wraith drains health too quickly
Solution #1 (preferred):
Apply this patch
by NewRisingSun. (You may still want to play the game in DOSBox.)
Solution #2:
Play using DOSBox.
Solution #3:
Use a Slowdown Utility.
Problem - Erana's staff:
You can't use Erana's staff with the crystal at the end of the game, because you get a message saying that
you're busy at the moment.
Solution #1 (preferred):
Apply this patch
by NewRisingSun. (You may still want to play the game in DOSBox.)
Solution #2:
Play using DOSBox.
Solution #3:
Use a Slowdown Utility.
Solution #4:
Before going up the Heart altar, alter the speed and detail settings in the game's control panel. Have the
speed at maximum and detail at minimum. It is a good idea to first restore a saved game at a point before
the final game screen.
Problem - Error 52 In Swamp With "Chernovy":
Error 52 causes the game to crash at the swamp screen with the Mad Monk's Tombstone and the Chernovies guarding
it.
Solution #1 (preferred):
Apply this patch
by NewRisingSun. (You may still want to play the game in DOSBox.)
Solution #2:
Play using DOSBox.
Solution #3:
Use a Slowdown Utility.
Solution #4:
E-mail your saved game to someone who has the exact same version of QfG4 as you. First, go to the installation
program to set the sound to "No Sound" or "PC Internal Speaker." Save your game just outside the swamp in
a new directory. After quitting the game, e-mail the GLORYSG.CAT and GLORYSG.000 files from that directory
to the person who will play the game for you past the point of error. By changing the sound setting, the person
can play your saved game without any problems with the sound setting saved in the saved game file since anyone
can play with no sound or with the internal speaker sounds. If you are playing QfG4 in DOS, make sure the
other person has the DOS version as well. Also make note of whether you have the original disk version, stand-alone
CD, QfG Anthology CD, or QfG Collection CD so that you can make sure the other person has the exact same thing.
Once the person plays the game past the swamp, he or she will save the game and e-mail the saved game files
back to you. Copy the files back to the directory where you have your saved game created outside the swamp.
Go back into the game and restore.
Problem - Erana's staff turns into Ad Avis:
You strangely see Erana's staff turn into Ad Avis after killing him with the staff by using it as a spear.
Solution #1 (preferred):
Apply this patch
by NewRisingSun. (You may still want to play the game in DOSBox.)
Solution #2:
Play using DOSBox.
Solution #3:
Use a Slowdown Utility.
Problem - Missing Cursor:
Missing mouse pointer when exporting character (endgame)
Solution #1 (preferred):
Apply this patch
by NewRisingSun. (You may still want to play the game in DOSBox.)
Solution #2:
Play using DOSBox.
Solution #3:
Use a Slowdown Utility.
Game Specific Bugs
There are some bugs the game has that are not speed dependent. Most of these only apply with the floppy disk
version only.
Problem - Caught by Ad Avis Lockup:
Fatal Lockup when Hero is caught by Ad Avis
Solution:
Apply this patch
(for Diskette Version only.) This will update version 1.0, 1.0a or 1.1 to version 1.1a. This will correct
several other problems.
Problem - Restoring from the Burning Gypsy Crash:
Fatal when Restoring from the Burning Gypsy death message
Solution:
Apply this patch.
(For Diskette Version only) This will update version 1.0, 1.0a or 1.1 to version 1.1a. This will correct several
other problems.
Problem - Jumping In Swamp Crash:
Fatal in the swamp, when jumping from hummock to land
Solution:
Apply this patch.
(For Diskette Version only) This will update version 1.0, 1.0a or 1.1 to version 1.1a. This will correct several
other problems.
Problem - Thieves' Guild Safe Crash:
Fatal at the Thieves Guild main safe
Solution:
Apply this patch.
(For Diskette Version only) This will update version 1.0, 1.0a or 1.1 to version 1.1a. This will correct several
other problems.
Problem - Monk's Tomb Crash:
Fatal at the Monk's Tomb
Solution:
Apply this patch.
(For Diskette Version only) This will update version 1.0, 1.0a or 1.1 to version 1.1a. This will correct several
other problems.
Problem - Save Crash:
Fatal "Assertion Failure" during saving
Solution:
Apply this patch.
(For Diskette Version only) This will update version 1.0, 1.0a or 1.1 to version 1.1a. This will correct several
other problems.
Problem - "Purge is not a selector for glory" Error:
Polygon problems, to include "purge is not a selector for glory"
Solution:
Apply this patch.
(For Diskette Version only) This will update version 1.0, 1.0a or 1.1 to version 1.1a. This will correct several
other problems.
Problem - Note does Not Appear:
The note signed "Katrina" 1-3 nights after rescuing Tanya does not occur and the game cannot be
completed.
Solution:
Apply the Quest
for Glory 4 Note Patch. (For Diskette Version only)
Problem - Can't Import Character SAV:
The game cannot read some of the statistics in the character SAV file.
Solution:
Apply the Quest
for Glory 4 Import Patch. (For Diskette Version only) This patch fixes character import problems.
Problem - Can't Get Tanya's Doll:
You are unable to get Tanya's doll from the cabinet in the inn, and you never visited the Domovoi before.
Solution:
With this bug, you must visit the Domovoi before Day 5. You do so by waiting until midnight and going into
the dining hall of the inn downstairs. The green Domovoi will be sitting on the mantle above the fireplace.
You must make this visit so that he will give you permission to get Tanya's doll later on. The bug makes it
impossible to visit him after Day 5, so you must take the opportunity to visit him before that day passes.
If you are beyond Day 5, you will, unfortunately, have to start the game over. If you don't visit the Domovoi
early, you won't be able to get Tanya's doll later, and as a result, you won't be able to beat the game.
Problem - Squid Stone combination Doesn't Work:
You have trouble opening the Squid Stone even if you know the combination letters.
Solution:
To get around this bug, double-click each letter instead of single-click. It may also help to do this slowly
so that each letter you select is recognized.
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