HOWTO: Install patch 1.2 and use the unpacker.

This short guide will hopefully help you with installing patch 1.2 for Medieval II Total War and use the unpacker without incident.

Firstly, you will obviously need to download it. You can download it from many sites, a few of which are linked here.

Boomtown

Strategy Informer

Gamershell: English-French-Italian-German-Spanish

Gamershell: Polish

Gamershell: Russian

Gamershell: Czech

Exp.de: German

This Patch is a hefty 650 mb, so if you have dial up, don't even bother unless you want to leave it running overnight. You may find it easier to use a friend's computer which has broadband, but even then it takes 45 mins minimum. And that's on a super fast connection.

Remember, install it to your main M2TW folder, not your data folder. I know it’s obvious, but some do make that mistake.

NOTE: Many people have had problems installing this patch and M2TW not working. I recommend that you uninstall M2TW, go to where you installed it, delete the SEGA folder (or the Medieval 2 Total War folder if you have another game in the SEGA folder) then reinstall. Then install Patch 1.2 straight on top. It has all patch 1.1 has and more. So there is no need to install patch 1.1 again.

Using the unpacker.

NOTE: BACKUP YOUR DATA FOLDER BEFORE YOU USE THE UNPACKER, AS CA ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE DONE TO YOUR GAME FROM USING THIS UNPACKER.

Using the file unpacker that comes with the patch can be a little confusing. First it’s a load of files you don’t often see. Batch files for one. Don't worry, you don't have to use these, the unpacker uses them when running. The only batch file you have to use is unpack_all.bat. Just click on it to run. you will have to type Y to all the questions to use it.

It should take quite a while to run, as there is 7gb to unpack. If it happens in a second then something is wrong.

Also, make sure the unpacker is in tools\unpacker. Otherwise it WILL NOT work. Some regions have the patch installing the unpacker in a different part of your M2TW folder. Admiral_Nelson can testify to that one.

Now, pay close attention to this bit, or your game will crash every time you go into a battle.

Quoted from Unpacker Readme:

- NOTE: Due to a timestamp check, the following unpacked files will
cause the game to crash and must be deleted before the game is
launched:

data\descr_geography_new.txt
data\descr_geography_new.db

They're not kidding, delete them. If you don't, you will get an unspecified error every time you go into a battle and CTD.

The readme gives you all the info you need to get the game to read the files, but there is an easier way:

In your main Medieval 2 Total War folder, open preferences.cfg with notepad and scroll down to the bottom and type this:

[io]
file_first = true

then save and close the file. right click on the icon of preferences.cfg and go to properties. From there check the box next to read only and click apply. This will stop the game changing the file to the original content after one run. This way will not allow you to use show_err to find bugs, you have to run from a batch file for that, but it does allow mods to work.

I hope this guide has been of use to you and will help you in using the unpacker the patch. Any suggestions, criticisms, or improvements please don't hesitate to post.

You may also post bugs you have found with the new patch here as well.

[This message has been edited by Marcus Orentius (edited 06-12-2007 @ 07:17 PM).]