Troubleshooting guide: Unable to start PR

[[R-COM]Deadfast]

Outdated for PR version .85!



Hello all.

In the last few weeks I've seen many people having problems with starting up Project Reality.
That why I've decided to write this troubleshooting guide.

Please note that this guide will focus *only* on problems with starting the mod itself. Solutions to other problems, such as crashes to desktop, are not to be found here.

1. bf2.exe does not exist. Please check your working directory! The system cannot find the file specified!
   
   
   • I have Windows XP/Vista:
     Open properties of your Project Reality desktop shortcut - Right click on the shortcut, select Properties.
     Focus on the line called "Start in" (the 2nd writable line from the top).
     
     - the highlighted line is the one we need to check
     
     Basically, the line should look like:
     *SOMETHING*\Battlefield 2\
     
     *SOMETHING* stands for whatever folders you have before the actual BF2 folder. Therefore, if you didn't change the default installation path during the BF2 installation, the line will look like:
     C:\Program Files\EA GAMES\Battlefield 2\
     
     Once you change the line to what I've said above, simply hit OK and start up the game. Everything should work fine now.
     
     
   • I have Windows Vista and the previous didn't help:
     Again, open properties of your Project Reality shortcut.
     In one of the tabs tick Run as an administrator.
     If the box above is gray for whatever reason, simply launch the game by right-click on the shortcut and selecting Run as admin.
     
     
2. WARNING! You must run Project Reality by running PR.exe, not BF2.exe.
   Press ALT+F4 and update your shortcuts!
   
   
   • I have Windows XP/Vista:
     First off, you have to make sure you're shortcut is set up correctly (that you are really starting pr.exe and not bf2.exe
     
     Open properties of your Project Reality shortcut - Right click on the shortcut, select Properties.
     
     Now focus on the first writable line from the top, which is called "Target" in the English version of Windows (both XP and Vista).
     
     The line should look like:
     *SOMETHING*\Battlefield 2\mods\pr\pr.exe + parameters
     
     *SOMETHING* stands for whatever folders you have before the actual BF2 folder. Therefore, if you didn't change the default installation path during the BF2 installation, the line will look like:
     C:\Program Files\EA GAMES\Battlefield 2\mods\pr\pr.exe +modPath mods/pr +menu 1 +fullscreen 1
     
     In case you found out that your shortcut is pointing to *SOMETHING*\Battlefield 2\bf2.exe, simply edit the line to correspond to what I wrote above (keep everything else (parameters) the same).
     
     
     Now it's time to take care of the another writable line underneath the "Target" one. It's called "Start in".
     
     Make sure it looks like:
     *SOMETHING*\Battlefield 2\
     
     
     
   • I have Windows Vista and the previous didn't help:
     Open up the PR shortcut's properties again and switch over to "Compatibility" tab.
     
     Focus on the bottom of the window, specifically on the "Privilege Level" part.
     Tick the box left of the "Run this program as an administrator" option.
     
     
     
   • I have Windows Vista and the box mentioned above is gray (non-selectable):
     I have no idea why it happens, but simply try to launch the game by right clicking on the PR shortcut and selecting "Run as administrator".
     
     
     
   • I have Windows XP/Vista and none of the above worked:
     Try the unofficial BAT Scripts launcher I have made a while ago.

Guide over, hope it was helpful

[Hitperson]

this is really helpful it got me up and going.

[CmdUnknown]

besides XP pro 32bit I've got Vista Ultimate 64bit as well...
In Vista Ultimate 64 I've set everything as mentioned above. No problems gettin into the PR/BF2 Menu but after I've chosen a server the game stops loading at about 13-16% and after that my RAM keeps unloading itself till only 300mb are in usage (on Desktop I'm using approx. 1.15GB RAM). Can't tab into windows - mouse still moving but no chance to get to play the game (yeah, I've left the loading screen on for 20min and then had to shut down my computer - and I've tried it several times)

Any ideas?

CmdUnknown

[[R-COM]Deadfast]

Hitperson: I'm glad to hear that


CmdUnknown: I guess you tried Windows XP compatibility, right?

What about Service Pack?

[Hitperson]

wow lots of ram usage for nothing.

i used to use that much but i unloaded a bunh of stuff i don't actually need and i tend to average about 800-900meg

[[R-COM]Deadfast]

It's the Vista prefetch thingy.

It keeps the RAM filled all the time to allow quick access. It unloads it if necessary.

[[R-CON]Rudd]

This really should be stickied

[Roddi]

Tried this still came up with error below.

"---------------------------
Failed.
---------------------------
bf2.exe does not exist. Please check your working directory!: The system cannot find the file specified.
---------------------------

Regards Rodger

[[R-COM]Deadfast]

That's weird.

What system do you have?

[Roddi]

Originally Posted by Roddi

Tried this still came up with error below.

"---------------------------
Failed.
---------------------------
bf2.exe does not exist. Please check your working directory!: The system cannot find the file specified.
---------------------------

Regards Rodger

Running Windows XP sp1.
Which I have been able to have the game start thanks to The Palerider. Yet now when I go to join a map the game shuts down and goes to the desktop.