ARMA 2: CO (how to combine ARMA 2 into ARMA 2:OA and use together)

[jequirity 10]

Hi guys, i've got a bit of a problem with trying to launch Combined Operations:

I'm running Windows 7 64bit and I purchased via Steam Arma2: Combined Operations.

I installed Arma 2, downloaded the most recent patch for it (1.07 I think) then verified the integrity of the game cache (running steam as administrator) and launched Arma 2.

Having done so I downloaded Arma2:OA, verified the integrity of the game cache (running steam as administrator) and launched Arma 2:OA (Not combined ops)

I then downloaded and replaced _runA2CO.cmd manually as per Dwarden's Instructions in the first post and tried to run combined operations through C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\ARMA 2 Operation Arrowhead\_runA2CO.cmd, remembering to launch as administrator.

At this point a black box comes up, then disappears and the game doesn't launch.

I also tried launching combined operations through the steam interface (running steam as administrator) but no luck.

I've then deinstalled and then reinstalled and repeated the above which didn't work.

I then did the same again but went to edit the _runA2CO.cmd and under ":runs" I deleted what was there and put "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\ARMA 2 Operation Arrowhead\_runA2CO.cmd"

Like so:

SETLOCAL ENABLEEXTENSIONS

:v64_path_a2

For /F "Tokens=2* skip=2" %%A In ('REG QUERY "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Bohemia Interactive Studio\ArmA 2" /v "MAIN"') Do (set _ARMA2PATH=%%B)

IF NOT DEFINED _ARMA2PATH (GOTO v32_path_a2) ELSE (GOTO v64_path_a2oa)

:v32_path_a2

For /F "Tokens=2* skip=2" %%C In ('REG QUERY "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Bohemia Interactive Studio\ArmA 2" /v "MAIN"') Do (set _ARMA2PATH=%%D)

IF NOT DEFINED _ARMA2PATH (GOTO uac_PATH_A2) ELSE (GOTO v64_path_a2oa)

:uac_PATH_A2

FOR /F "tokens=2* delims= " %%I IN ('REG QUERY "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Bohemia Interactive Studio\ArmA 2" /v "MAIN"') DO (SET _ARMA2PATH=%%J)

IF NOT DEFINED _ARMA2PATH (GOTO std_PATH_A2) ELSE (GOTO v64_path_a2oa)

:std_PATH_A2

FOR /F "tokens=2* delims= " %%K IN ('REG QUERY "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Bohemia Interactive Studio\ArmA 2" /v "MAIN"') DO (SET _ARMA2PATH=%%L)

IF NOT DEFINED _ARMA2PATH (GOTO ENDfailA2) ELSE (GOTO v64_path_a2oa)

:v64_path_a2oa

For /F "Tokens=2* skip=2" %%E In ('REG QUERY "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Bohemia Interactive Studio\ArmA 2 OA" /v "MAIN"') Do (set _ARMA2OAPATH=%%F)

IF NOT DEFINED _ARMA2OAPATH (GOTO v32_path_a2oa) ELSE (GOTO RUN)

:v32_path_a2oa

For /F "Tokens=2* skip=2" %%G In ('REG QUERY "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Bohemia Interactive Studio\ArmA 2 OA" /v "MAIN"') Do set (_ARMA2OAPATH=%%H)

IF NOT DEFINED _ARMA2OAPATH (GOTO uac_PATH_A2OA) ELSE (GOTO RUN)

:uac_PATH_A2OA

FOR /F "tokens=2* delims= " %%M IN ('REG QUERY "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Bohemia Interactive Studio\ArmA 2 OA" /v "MAIN"') DO (SET _ARMA2OAPATH=%%N)

IF NOT DEFINED _ARMA2OAPATH (GOTO std_PATH_A2OA) ELSE (GOTO RUN)

:std_PATH_A2OA

FOR /F "tokens=2* delims= " %%O IN ('REG QUERY "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Bohemia Interactive Studio\ArmA 2 OA" /v "MAIN"') DO (SET _ARMA2OAPATH=%%P)

IF NOT DEFINED _ARMA2OAPATH (GOTO ENDfailA2OA) ELSE (GOTO RUN)

:run

:v64_path_steam

For /F "Tokens=2* skip=2" %%Q In ('REG QUERY "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Valve\Steam" /v "InstallPath"') Do (set _STEAMPATH=%%R)

IF NOT DEFINED _STEAMPATH (GOTO v32_path_steam) ELSE (GOTO runs)

:v32_path_steam

For /F "Tokens=2* skip=2" %%S In ('REG QUERY "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Valve\Steam" /v "InstallPath"') Do (set _STEAMPATH=%%T)

IF NOT DEFINED _STEAMPATH (GOTO uac_path_steam) ELSE (GOTO runs)

:uac_path_steam

FOR /F "tokens=2* delims= " %%U IN ('REG QUERY "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Valve\Steam" /v "InstallPath"') DO (SET _STEAMPATH=%%V)

IF NOT DEFINED _STEAMPATH (GOTO std_path_steam) ELSE (GOTO runs)

:std_path_steam

FOR /F "tokens=2* delims= " %%W IN ('REG QUERY "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Valve\Steam" /v "InstallPath"') DO (SET _STEAMPATH=%%X)

IF NOT DEFINED _STEAMPATH (GOTO ENDfailSteam) ELSE (GOTO runs)

:runs

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\ARMA 2 Operation Arrowhead\_runA2CO.cmd

ENDLOCAL

:end

exit /B 0

:ENDfailA2

Unfortunately this did not work either.:confused:

I've had a look through the entirety of this thread and found that most people, having replaced the _runA2CO.cmd manually do not have problems launching Combined ops.

I'm not very au fait at programming at all but could anyone give me a hand in starting combined operations please?

Edited September 12, 2010 by jequirity

[Dwarden 1125]

to get this working you need run STEAM as administrator

and once start ARMA 2 and then ARMA 2: OA as this write to registry paths to the each game

also do not replace the .cmd distribued with STEAM version as should work by default

(if not it most likely indicate missing path in registry)

the manual cmd is for these who have combined different releases or want edit stuff beyond normal -mod= scale

anyway the crucial step there is validate if you have these registry entries and the stock _runA2CO.cmd works or not

[jequirity 10]

Dwarden: thank you very much for your patience and help, your suggestion worked completely and I feel like an absolute idiot. I was pretty sure i'd done what you said before but I tried it again today and it works like a charm. I think I must have been running in stupid mode.

Thank you once again, now i'm going to play some arma2 and leave you in peace! :bounce3:

[spamurai 3]

scripts are within attached ARMA2.CO.manually.zip

they detects automatically your A2 and A2:OA and do these changes for You

also i included the one where you can easily add junction for mods from ARMA 2 to OA folder to be seen in ingameUI modification manager

Great.

Awesome.

How do you do this exactly?

[lukepenney 0]

Skip all the nonsense with cmd files and %PATHS% and Steam and all that nonsense and instead use Spirited Machine's ArmA II Launcher.

This launcher fixed all my problems without any trouble what so ever.

[savedbygrace 2]

Hope my post is acceptable in this thread.

I have the boxed Arma2 installed.

I then installed the boxed OA into the same directory.

I run the executable for OA and some of the Arma2 content is loaded as well.

Others who have only OA can not open my files.

Does that mean I have to uninstall OA and reinstall into another directory?

If so, would it be something like program files>>Bohemia Interactive>> OA(which would reside next to the Arma2 file.)

How would I run both if I separated them?

One last question...I noticed the requirements for BAF list windows 7 as the OS. Is that exclusively or is BAF Vista compatible?

Thanks for your attention folks.

[CoolFire 10]

I noticed the requirements for BAF list windows 7 as the OS. Is that exclusively or is BAF Vista compatible?

System Requirements for BAF:

Minimum:

OS: Windows XP or Windows Vista

Recommended:

OS: Windows 7

[Gera_CCT 12]

This launcher fixed all my problems without any trouble what so ever.

I agree. This launcher is the best (even for combined operations) for now.

[savedbygrace 2]

Thanks CoolFire, I guess I just overlooked it.

Can anyone help me with the other issue? What did you folks do? Install OA into its own folder next to Arma2?

[5133p39 16]

What is the correct -mod= parameter for ArmA2+OAbeta combined?

Is it really -mod=Expansion\beta;Expansion\beta\Expansion ?

I am asking, because i think it may be the cause why my game complains about missing texture (which in fact isn't missing, it really is in the appropriate PBO).

Noone else has this problem?

You can read more here: http://forums.bistudio.com/showpost.php?p=1754804&postcount=6

and especially here: http://forums.bistudio.com/showpost.php?p=1757368&postcount=8

[kylania 568]

"-mod=E:\PathToArmA2;Expansion;ca;Expansion\beta;Expansion\beta\Expansion" -nosplash

[5133p39 16]

"-mod=E:\PathToArmA2;Expansion;ca;Expansion\beta;Expansion\beta\Expansion" -nosplash

still the same problem :(

Here is how i start the game:

start /MAX /B D:\games\arma2\Expansion\beta\arma2.exe -mod=Expansion\beta;Expansion\beta\Expansion -nosplash -cpucount=4 -exthreads=7 -profiles=d:\games\arma2\ -name=Sleeper -cfg=d:\games\arma2\Users\Sleeper\ArmA2.cfg

(i copied arma2oa.exe to arma2.exe to get the crossfire working)

Edited October 2, 2010 by 5133p39

[kylania 568]

Download and try Spirited Machine's Launcher (rehosted since Armaholic apparently died today).

Point it at your ArmA2 and ArmA2 OA executables, click 'Beta' under Launch Options and enjoy.

[5133p39 16]

Download and try Spirited Machine's Launcher (rehosted since Armaholic apparently died today).

Point it at your ArmA2 and ArmA2 OA executables, click 'Beta' under Launch Options and enjoy.

Thanks, but it doesn't solve the problem - it tries to run the game with "-mod=beta" only, which is not working either.

[kylania 568]

You're doing something wrong then, because the line I posted above is exactly what that launcher is telling me. :) Make sure you pick ArmA 2 - CO from the bottom right corner and that you have beta checked.

[5133p39 16]

Well, lets forget the launcher, only the -mod parameter is important,

and it wont work even if i set it to what you told me.

So then the problem must lie in something being different on my installation.

The "missing" texture is inside a PBO located in the "Common" directory (a subdirectory of the game root dir).

Do you also have this "Common" directory??

Does the game reads the "Common" PBOs automatically? or does it need the -mod parameter to contain this? (tried that, doesn't help)

Anyway, i guess my problem goes beyond this topic, so i'll stop posting here

- if anyone would have any ideas regarding this problem, please, do so in the appropriate topic

[Dwarden 1125]

still the same problem :(

Here is how i start the game:

start /MAX /B D:\games\arma2\Expansion\beta\arma2.exe -mod=Expansion\beta;Expansion\beta\Expansion -nosplash -cpucount=4 -exthreads=7 -profiles=d:\games\arma2\ -name=Sleeper -cfg=d:\games\arma2\Users\Sleeper\ArmA2.cfg

(i copied arma2oa.exe to arma2.exe to get the crossfire working)

first this would be to enclose each section by ""

start /MAX /B "D:\games\arma2\Expansion\beta\arma2oa.exe" "-mod=Expansion\beta;Expansion\beta\Expansion" -nosplash -cpucount=4 -exthreads=7 "-profiles=d:\games\arma2\" -name=Sleeper "-cfg=d:\games\arma2\Users\Sleeper\ArmA2OA.cfg"

the second and more strange thing is,

why you trying run ARMA2.exe to load Operation Arrowhead expansion :)

it should be ARMA2OA.exe :)

same to use ARMA2OA.cfg instead ARMA2.cfg then :)

remember the ARMA 2: Combined Operations mode use ARMA 2 OA binary to load ARMA 2 content, there is no old ARMA 2 binary used at all

[5133p39 16]

@Dwarden

Thank you for your help.

The arma2.exe i am starting is actually renamed arma2oa.exe (to make the crossfire work).

I also tried to run the arma2oa.exe, to be sure the game is not confused by different filename, but the result is exactly the same (still missing that roof texture).

btw. the quotes doesn't matter, still the same (if i am not mistaken, they are needed only if the file/dir-names contain spaces, which is not my case).

[Dwarden 1125]

ah my fault not noticed the crossfire lament ... btw. what build of drivers ... i was under impression 10.9 got the ARMA2OA.exe profile ...

anyway if you place the -mod= as last what happens ?

anyway your problems sounds like something is missing ... (install went wrong or data corrupt)

Edited October 2, 2010 by Dwarden

[5133p39 16]

still using the 10.6 (i am a lazy creature, and i don't like poking into something which seems to work fine), but i will update soon.

anyway if you place the -mod= as last what happens ?

I don't think it will change anything, but i'll try (right now i am reinstalling ArmA2/OA again).

sounds like something is missing ... (install went wrong or data corrupt)

I thought so, but i already reinstalled thrice, and i got no errors during the install, and the data itself seems fine (i can unpack all the PBO, and the so called "missing texture" is there - that is the strangest thing)

[Dwarden 1125]

anyway the file in question in your other post

i have it

structures.pbo\Data\Roof\roof_ethernit_smdi.paa

and you claim you dont have it there, so it seems the file structures.pbo itself is culprint (not updated?)

[5133p39 16]

Well, that depends... i do have the texture file in d:\games\arma2\Common\structures.pbo,

but not in d:\games\arma2\Addons\structures.pbo.

Is that not normal? Where exactly do you have the texture file? Common dir or Addons dir?

[Dwarden 1125]

i was speaking about the common one ...

[5133p39 16]

Ok, the installation is complete, and problem is solved.

Sorry for bothering everyone with this "problem".

After the installation finished, i checked the \arma2\addons\structures.pbo and now the previously missing texture is there.

To my defense i can say only that the last 2 reinstalls were performed with different patches than those which i used now.

Before i was doing it like this:

1. Install ArmA2 (Sprocket version)

2. Run ArmA2 patch 100-105

3. Run ArmA2 patch 105-107

4. Install OA (Sprocket version)

5. Run A2OA_Patch_154

(resulted in the missing texture problem)

But during the last (and now working) reinstall i did this:

1. Install ArmA2 (Sprocket version)

2. Run ArmA2 patch 100-107

3. Install OA (Sprocket version)

4. Run A2OA_Patch_154

(works ok)

So maybe i was using wrong patches before?

But i really had no errors at all!

Anyway, my apologies again, as there is high probability that the error was mine.

[Dwarden 1125]

yeah there was problem in some cases with certain updates ...

i understood your pain , sorry for it