Installing and Patching Falcon 4.0 - Super Pack 4.2
Since the release of Falcon 4.0 by Microprose in late 1999 there have been extensive modifications made to the game by the community. The Wildcats have adopted an installation that provides a stable setup and that maximizes the multi-player stability of the game for on-line and LAN flying. When you buy Falcon and and try to run it "out of the box", you will notice that it does not work correctly. Several patches have been published, the last official one was 1.08us by Microprose. Then, a new "upgraded" version of Falcon was published, called Super Pack 3. Then, a new era was commenced with the release of the next version in the Super Pack series .... Super Pack 4! This was followed by an update which raised the install version to SP4.1. Since then a number of mods and alternate versions have been released with a variety of added features to enhance the Falcon experience. However, in an effort to maintain the multiplayer stability, the Wildcats have settled on the latest SP release ....SP4.2. Below is a detailed set of instructions for installing the simulation to meet the squadron standard.
PLEASE NOTE: This installation guide is by no means the definitive guide to installing Falcon 4.0 with SP4.2. However, as stated above it is the method that is utilised by the 69th Wildcats.
ALSO .... It should also be noted that steps 1 and 2 of this guide assume that you already have Falcon installed and have decided to upgrade your current version to the SP4.2 standard. If you are installing Falcon for the first time, or you are creating a seperate install, you can disregard the first 2 steps. There is a wealth of knowledge, opinions and guides available from the community in the various forums. Feel free to visit them for addtional information on this and any other topic. Above all, if you have any problems or questions with installing and patching Falcon, please contact a squadron member. We are more than happy to help.
Before you start your installation and patching of Falcon 4.0 with SP4.2, you will need the following:
Falcon 4.0 retail CD-rom
Microprose 108us patch
Super Pack 4 (Be prepared for a large download)
SP4.2 Hi-Res zip (Again be prepared for a large download)
*NOTE* The following files are
located in the "Squadron-Area" folder which requires special access.
MP5.1 Patch
SP3 Missile Patch
69th Wildcats SP4 MP Std F4Patch Filter
Weather File
BazT-SRTM Terrain Elevator
You can get the files here:
Now that you have all you need lets get started:
Backup old files
Backup your logbook file (it's located in the \config directory). The logbook will be called [callsign].lbk. Backup this file only .... do not backup any other files as they will cause problems.
Uninstall Falcon 4.0
Uninstall Falcon and delete any remaining Falcon folders manually. If you feel confident about editing your registry, you can also manually delete all entries that refer to Falcon from there as well. You can do this by selecting START > RUN > Type in regedit > OK and then doing a search for all entries relating to "Falcon".
IMPORTANT: Again .... Editing the Windows registry should only be carried out if you are confident in your abilities.
Defrag your Harddrive
This will keep the Falcon installation on a huge continues "chunk" of your partition.
Install Falcon 4.0
Install Falcon with the CD from the box. Name the directory something like "Falcon4SP42" so that it makes it easy to identify the version you are running. Once you have completed this step, go into the Zips folder in your Falcon directory, and rename the tacrdata.zip file to tacrdata_old.zip. This is due to a bug in the 1.08 patch which deletes the tacrdata.zip file.
Upgrade to Falcon 1.08
Run the F4108us.exe. This will patch Falcon to the US version 1.08. Next, rename the tacrdata_old .zip file back to its original name .... tacrdata.zip and (if you carried out steps 1 and 2) place your backed up logbook file back into it's original area of the Falcon directory. After installation of the 1.08 Patch, delete the msvcrt.dll file in the main directory of Falcon. This will force the the usage of the newest revision provided with your OS. This last step is optional as SP4 will normally delete this file as part of its installation process. Also delete the movies directory (it's not needed and just takes up space and extends the simulation load time).
Extract and run the SP4 installer
Extract the "SP4_Installer.exe" file in the "SP4_Installer.zip" too your SP4.2 root directory. This will make sure that you are applying the patches in the correct path for future upgrades. Now run the installer and confirm that it is pointing to the "FalconSP.exe" in your SP4.2 install directory. When prompted, select "APPLY PATCH" to apply the standard SP4 patches to Falcon. Once this process is complete, exit the program. Now go to your Falcon directory and run the "FalconSP Config Editor.exe" that was placed there when you carried out the previous step. All that is required here is to click on the "Apply" button to confirm that F4Patch has correctly applied all the SP4 patches. Once this is done you can exit F4Patch.
Apply the SP4.2 Hi-Res Update
Extract the "SP4.2 Hi-Res.exe" and the "Installation.txt" files in the "SP4.2 Hi-Res.zip" too your SP4.2 root directory. Now navigate to your SP4.2 directory and run the SP4.2 Hi-Res exe file. Follow the instructions carefully to install the update. Once the install is completed, open the config editor. You will now need to expand the newly installed package. To do this, from the file menu choose "Expand Package". Choose the following answers to the questions displayed:
If you select "YES" to the second option (the one that asks whether you want to install it to a new F4Patch directory), you will delete your already existing patches. If you wish you can answer "YES" or "NO" when prompted to create an "F4Patch" Shortcut on your Desktop, it's your choice. Now exit the program.
Apply the MP5.1 patch
Open "F4PatchMP5-1.zip" and extract the executable file into your Falcon root directory. Now run the file and follow the instructions. Then in F4Patch, apply, expand and choose the "Yes" and "No" options as you have done previously and then exit F4Patch. Now reopen F4Patch to confirm that the MP5-1 patch is listed and select and apply this patch. Close F4Patch.
Apply the SP3 Missile patch
Open "Ratty's_missile_replacementv1.0.zip" and extract the two files into your Falcon root directory. Open and read the instructions and then run the executable. Then in F4Patch, apply, expand and choose the "Yes" and "No" options as you have done previously and then exit F4Patch. Now reopen F4Patch to confirm that the Sp3 Missile patch is listed and select and apply this patch. Close F4Patch.
Install and Load the "69th Wildcats SP4.2 MP Std F4Patch Filter" file
Open the "Wildcats_SP42MP_Std.zip" file and extract the file inside to your Falcon\F4Patch folder.
Open F4Patch, and make sure it is pointing to you SP4.2 Install directory as described earlier. It should default to "All Patches".
Now, using the drop down menu in the "Filter" window, select the
"Wildcats_SP42MP_Std" filter. Then click on the arrow button beside the "Apply
Changes" button and from the available options, select "Apply Filter". F4Patch
will now remove and apply all the required filters for the Wildcats install.
When F4Patch has finished a window will pop up with the list of filters it has
removed and applied. Simply scroll down the list to confirm that there are no
errors, click "OK" to close the window and then exit F4Patch. This should ensure that you will be pre-configured with all the patches that the squadron uses.
Add the Weather File
Open the "Weather.zip" file and extract the file inside to the following location: ....\Falcon directory\terrdata\korea\weather. This file is required in order for the latest version of BazT Terrain Elevator to run correctly.
Apply the BazT-SRTM Terrain Elevator
Open the "BaZT_-_SRTM_Korea_v1.0.rar" file and extract the contents into your SP4.2\utilities directory. Now
navigate to the utilities directory of you Wildcats install and then go into the
BazT folder and run the executable, confirm that the program is pointing to the
correct install of Falcon and then choose "Apply". Once the program completes the elevation process, close and exit the program.
Installing patches with F4Patch
Installing any other patches that you may wish to run, once you have completed the above steps, is simply a matter of selecting the patches you wish to install or remove, following any instructions that the program issues and then selecting "Apply".
Optional packages
There are a multitude of additional (optional) packages available. They all work the same: copy them into the Falcon folder and run the packages, as you did with the SP4 installer. Always add the new patches. Never replace them.
NOTE: Download and installation of extra "Skins", "Sounds", and "Cockpits" are optional. Please refer to the instructions contained within the packages that you download for installation. Most of these additions should be considered Client-Side changes but if you have any doubt please contact someone from the squadron.
As a pilot you are responsible for what you fly. That means that if you have tested and can guarantee any patches, cockpit art, etc will cause no effect on other pilots, you can use whatever you like to make your flying experience more enjoyable. Only you can see what you run. However the Wildcats, and for that matter most if not all other squadrons, will not tolerate any pilot causing problems for others due to non-standard installations.
Also be aware that just because the simulation successfully connects to another computer does not mean that there are no conflicts. There are many data corruption issues that show up in the game due to conflicting or non-standard Falcon installations and configurations that are not immediately obvious.
