Sanitarium Issues [Archive] - Retrogaming Roundtable

WiseSalesman

11-22-2003, 02:16 PM

The game Sanitarium has issues with my PC.

And you thought this was going to be about me finally snapping.

In reality I was browsing through The Underdogs when I found that they had this game available for download as abandonware. I remembered hearing about it a LONG time ago, and thinking that it sounded really good, especially considering I love psychological thrillers.

However, sometime between 30 seconds and about five minutes into it, I get a fatal crash every single time. I was hoping someone here had some idea how to fix this.
I'm running:
Pentium 4 1.7ghz
Windows XP Home
DirectX 9.0b
ATI Radeon 7200
SoundBlaster Live!
384MB ram

What I've tried so far:
Windows 98/Me compatiblity mode
Windows 95 compatibility mode
640 X 480 resolution
Running in DOS Mode (it won't let me)
Combinations of what's listed above

I would greatly appreciate any ideas you guys might have, because this one has me stumped, and I can't really find any info on the net related to any sort of solution.

Darth Sensei

11-22-2003, 02:18 PM

Well, if you're really gung ho into playing abandonware PC games, why not use an old pc with DOS to actually play them?

D

WiseSalesman

11-22-2003, 02:23 PM

Because I'm not really gung-ho into playing abandonware....this is really the first title I've even tried. Also, because this is a windows 95 game, and not a DOS game. And finally, because I'm about $5800 in debt.

Otherwise, it's a good idea. If I had another computer around here I could just load Win95 up on I would most definitely try it.

Queen Of The Felines

11-22-2003, 06:25 PM

Do you have a link to where to download it?

Kristine

Ed Oscuro

11-22-2003, 08:56 PM

/me nearly goes spastic at mention of the Battle Creek Sanitarium O_O

I think I've heard of this game before, though. Is it relatively new?

Sotenga

11-22-2003, 09:12 PM

I instantly thought of the Metallica song. Sanitarium... leave me be... Sanitarium... just leave me alone... :rocker:

Oh, the game? I've never heard of it.

maxlords

11-22-2003, 09:38 PM

WiseSalesman

11-23-2003, 05:43 PM

To my knowldege, DOS games are not compatible with Windows XP. I'm fairly certain that you can't run DOS games on it at all. Honestly, I've even had trouble running DOS games on Windows 98. I keep a spare Win95 PC to run em on myself. I think you're probably out of luck for now.

It's not a DOS game, though. It's a Win 95/98 game. I simply mentioned that I TRIED running it in DOS mode out of desperation. However, if you have trouble running DOS games in Win XP, one option would be to check out the DOSBox emulator (http://dosbox.sourceforge.net/information.php?page=0). It's worked for me on a couple of games.

I think I've heard of this game before, though. Is it relatively new?

Relatively. It was released in '98. See the link below for more info.

Do you have a link to where to download it?

Sure do. (http://www.the-underdogs.org/game.php?id=939) This isn't a direct download link, though, just a link to their profile of the game. You can scroll down and find the link to download it from there. It doesn't require registration or anything, but it has one of those "type the letters shown in the box above" verification things to keep out mass downloaders.

Thanks, everyone, for responding. Still no headway yet, but I'm keeping at it.

Bratwurst

11-23-2003, 06:03 PM

Querjek

11-23-2003, 06:15 PM

This game was highly recommended by my peers but I never got around to trying it. Also remember reading about it when it was just coming out. I will be trying it on my XP Pro setup to see if I can get it running.

Most Win98 games don't work on my PC, which is running XP Pro.

And you thought this was going to be about me finally snapping.

Actually, I thought it was for some place that was really clean (Sanitary), or your own cleanliness.

Sylentwulf

11-23-2003, 06:47 PM

I'd bet a lot that it's your soundblaster live card. I know that sounds weird, but when I was playing Asherons Call 2, it would hiccup, skip, and freeze a LOT and it was the soundblaster live card. Something about the way it uses the cpu, it takes up way too much power and processes things incorrectly. I got an audigy card, and everything worked great.

A SB Audigy 1 card shouldn't cost you more than $30-$50 by now I imagine.

Bratwurst

11-23-2003, 06:49 PM

Sanitarium works, I just installed it and played it for a while. Great googly moogly, this game is one messed up sick puppy.

-Could- be a memory issue. I've got 1 gig of RAM. 384MB is a lot less when you consider how much XP eats up in the background. Other than that I can't really say what I'm doing that is so special other than the fact that I have Professional edition.

Didn't need to resort to any legacy compatibility modes. Running 800x600 res desktop, generic Soundblaster clone card.. Siluro GF4 MX 64MB Nvidia video card. Hope that helps any, WiseSalseman.

WiseSalesman

11-23-2003, 07:08 PM

Hmm....well, I'm overdue for a new sound card, so maybe when I get out of debt I'll look into an audigy. In addition, I'm seeing some theories that it may be that Radeon as well, but, considering I need a new graphics card too, maybe I'll pick one up after christmas. Thanks guys. If anyone else has any new developments, keep me posted.

maxlords

11-23-2003, 07:43 PM

Huh. I have that game here somewhere I think. It's on 2 CD-ROMs. I wasn't all that impressed by it, but it runs fine on my win 98 system.

oesiii

11-23-2003, 07:55 PM

Man, I had this on my list of games that I'll eventually play. I remember trading for it about four or five years ago, I think I got it for about $15 trade value but I've never installed it :)

Weirdest part is that I just saw the original CD case just this afternoon while looking for some old Windows CD's. I would install it and test it out for you but I'm on Win2000 Pro.

Griking

11-23-2003, 10:14 PM

WiseSalesman

11-23-2003, 11:49 PM

FYI, before you post links about where this game can be downloaded keep in mind that this game IS still for sale in retail stores. In fact, I've seen it at my local Best Buy this past weekend. Look in the discount software section. It doesn't come with a retial box, just a jewelcase.

Although I almost always advocate buying the original copy, in this particular case I'm damn glad that I tried it out first, being that it won't play on my machine.

briskbc

11-24-2003, 01:23 AM

This is a game I have wanted to play for years. I just never got around to gettig acopy. It was never for sale in my area. Or at least not for long anyway. I remeber reading the review in PC gamer and I even tried the demo. Now thanks to you and this abandonware site I get to try it out. Thanks man. I just hope it plays.

Bratwurst

11-24-2003, 09:58 AM

Hey Griking, I didn't pay for this copy of Sanitarium but I do have a retail sealed copy of Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing I could send you.

SpasticFuctard

11-24-2003, 10:09 AM

This was a damn good game, I am fond as hell of adventure games and this one was mind breaking.

I especially like the board with the little kids. Yum.

As to compatibility issues with XP, I have no issue playing most legacy DOS games on my XP box. The trick is the VDM Sound VM, google that bad boy and you'll be playing your old favorites in no time.

What /his/ problem is, I dunno.

SF

Fuel Injected

11-24-2003, 10:51 AM

I own a copy of this game, 4 CDs IIRC....Fantastic settings in the game, really unique, I love the whole idea of being in an insane asylum!

I finished it without too much difficulty, The story is half decent but could have been mroe involving. I didnt like some of the lvls near the end, but you're rewarded with how you ended up in teh asylum in the first place

WiseSalesman

11-24-2003, 03:02 PM

What /his/ problem is, I dunno.

"/his/" = me, right? Damn.