Birth of the Federation

Hi Everyone,

Here is the release of the BOTF installers 2.0.4

BOTF Most Active mods 2.0.4
here are the mods that is part of the BOTF Most Active mods 2.0.4 installer
Birth of the Federation (By Microprose)
Error Correction Mod (by Spocks-cuddly-tribble)
Ultimate Dominion Mod (by siggi and thunderchero)
Balance of Power (by Gowron)
Mirror Universe Mod (by thunderchero)
Federation at War (by thunderchero)
BOTF Plus (by Final Run)
All the Ages Mod (by stardust)
Ultimate Mod 5 (by Dafedz)
UnCivil Wars Mod (by thunderchero)
Galaxies Mod (by Tethys)
Fluid's multi player Mod (by Sir Fluid Hat)
Tools (DxWnd, UE, QD's Patcher and more)

BOTF older mods 2.0.4
here are the mods that is part of the BOTF older mods 2.0.4 installer
Flagship Mod (by thunderchero)
No Building Upgrade Mod (by thunderchero)
Thunderchero's multi player Mod (by thunderchero)
AFC Mod (by AFC)
Babylon 5 Mod (by jigalypuff)
Building Mod (by joker)
Borg Incursion Mod (by jigalypuff/dcer)
Colonies Mod (by jigalypuff)
Ferengi-Dominion Alliance Mod (by Darth_Windu)
Imperial Mod (by Bulsar)
Delta Quadrant Mod (by DigitalMaleficus)
Mirror Mirror Mod (by Dafedz)
Prime Directive Mod (by teukros)
Planet Mod (by joker)
Resistance Is Futile Mod (by dcer)
Stargate Mod (by jigalypuff)

(Released 7-5-2026)

What to expect when running new installer.

When you first execute installer you will be prompted to select the language to install.

You have 2 options English or German
Note; since most mods were released in English only, When German is selected, the installer will install as much German as possible. Some mods this is very limited. example; with Ultimate Dominion mod, when Dominion or Federation is played it would be still mostly English, while Cardassins, Klingons and Romulans would be only 30% English.
Vanilla, Error correction mod, Balance of power and Planet mod have full German versions.

next is the new license agreement

you must accept before continuing.

Next, you will need to select the "Base folder location used by installer"

Default location is the same as the original game used (C:\BOTF)
If you want to change this location you will need to change location each time installer is executed.
Note; each component folder is added automatically by installer. This is only base folder location

Next, you need to select what you want to install on this execution of the installer from the list.


When a mod is already installed it should be uninstalled before re-installing or you will get this message.
If you "continue anyway" all old files will be overwritten with new files.


Next, you can select options for the selected mod being installed.

you can select the resolution to install (800 x 600, 1024 x 768, 1366 x 768 or 1920 x 1080)
Display options (Fullscreen, windowed or without DxWnd support)
option to add desktop icon.
some mods will also have other options.

Start menu
each installation has a folder added to the start menu for "Documentations" this will have various file such as original readme files and links to support pages.


Uninstalling
You will be able to uninstall though start menu, add/remove programs and by directly executing the unins000.exe in each normal map install path. (large install path will not have uninstaller, but uninstall when normal unins000.exe is executed)

Details on installer file locations
installed game files
(User defined) default location C:\botf

start menu shortcuts
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Microprose

desktop shortcuts
C:\Users\Public\Desktop

regisrty entries
64 bit systems
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microprose (Written by installer)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\DirectPlay\Applications (Written by installer)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall (written by windows but uses app id from installer)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers (Written by installer)

32 bit systems
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microprose (Written by installer)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\DirectPlay\Applications (Written by installer)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall (written by windows, but uses app id from installer)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers (Written by installer)

Current Compatibility flags set by installer; ~ HIGHDPIAWARE DWM8And16BitMitigation

Info on DxWnd proxy

The proxy use 3 files to allow proper running of game


dxwnd.dll (main proxy file, same file for fullscreen and windowed modes)
dxwnd.dxw (configuration file with settings, different file settings for fullscreen and windowed modes)
ddraw.dll (this is the proxy file, same file for fullscreen and windowed modes)

If you are wanting to switch between fullscreen and windowed mod
all 3 file need to be removed from install path Before adding other proxy files (files are in tools folder "dx proxy files" folder)
Note; to use DxWnd GUI or to add MPR++, the proxy files should not be present in install path
Or you can uninstall and reinstall and select different option.

I hope everyone enjoys,
thunderchero

changes 2.0.3 -> 2.0.4

2.0.3 -> 2.0.4RC2
proxy and desktop icons tasks are selected once for all mods being installed on that run of installer
updated proxies files added
DxWnd version updated
new compatibility setting to allow different windows scale
vanilla ship models are no longer added by default to all mods, only models used by mod is added as needed
New version of UE
botf patcher; patch folders have been updated

2.0.4 RC2 -> 2.0.4

installer update (applied to all mods)
updated mpr565.dll increasing palette limit
viewtopic.php?p=63958#p63958
dplayx.dll will be re-added back into install path of all mods.
Minor text edits to installer descriptions

all mods will get following patches and files (Galaxy mod unchanged)
Add light source / shading data for screensaver and stations in combat
viewtopic.php?p=64030#p64030
Improved Vanilla Evade/Retreat Crash fix
viewtopic.php?p=64030#p64030
Max Test patch for MP packet sending
viewtopic.php?p=63979#p63979
any mod using 18 fleet taskforce will get;
Task force patch allows AI to have 18 ship taskforce
viewtopic.php?p=63915#p63915
UM5 will get scanner upgrade id patch
viewtopic.php?p=63497#p63497
ship texture palette/image improvements.

I am sure some changes/updates are not listed as I have forgotten them over the past 3 years.

I run BOTF (ECM) in a Windows 7 VirtualBox VM. With version 2.0.4, I can no longer launch the game. It just crashes on startup with the lovely Windows "searching for solutions" dialog. Tried all of the install options for dxwnd mods, and removing the three proxy files. Nothing changes the outcome.

I reinstalled 2.0.0 all-in-one and it works fine again.

I have also tested this in a Windows 10 VM, and cannot get it working.

Suspect one of the dxwnd updates along the way, but how would I go about narrowing this down?

suwalski wrote: ↑Tue Jul 07, 2026 9:49 am but how would I go about narrowing this down?

what OS does your system use?

first thing you can try remove the 3 proxy files,
open Dxwnd GUI "C:\botf\tools\DxWnd"
then test various settings.

thunderchero wrote: ↑Tue Jul 07, 2026 10:21 am

suwalski wrote: ↑Tue Jul 07, 2026 9:49 am but how would I go about narrowing this down?

what OS does your system use?

first thing you can try remove the 3 proxy files,
open Dxwnd GUI "C:\botf\tools\DxWnd"
then test various settings.

Thought it was clear that it's Windows 7. I did remove the proxy files, and experimented with dxwnd. There are hundreds of settings in there. My hope was some knowledge of what might have changed that I could actually try out.

suwalski wrote: ↑Tue Jul 07, 2026 10:33 am Thought it was clear that it's Windows 7. I did remove the proxy files, and experimented with dxwnd. There are hundreds of settings in there. My hope was some knowledge of what might have changed that I could actually try out.

So, in the end it works with DxWnd. It's a bit annoying that the installer doesn't put the correct path in the dxwnd configuration anymore, and it does not add the start menu links for it.

It does not work with the proxy files, windowed or fullscreen. It just crashes out. I have tested this by copying them in.

suwalski wrote: ↑Tue Jul 07, 2026 10:56 am So, in the end it works with DxWnd.

if it works with DXWnd GUI you can create your own proxy files.
DDraw works best, but other might work better for you.

suwalski wrote: ↑Tue Jul 07, 2026 10:33 am Thought it was clear that it's Windows 7.

you stated "Windows 7 VirtualBox VM"

why are you using VM?

thunderchero wrote: ↑Tue Jul 07, 2026 11:23 am if it works with DXWnd GUI you can create your own proxy files.
DDraw works best, but other might work better for you.

Sweet. I'll try that out later.

thunderchero wrote: ↑Tue Jul 07, 2026 11:23 am you stated "Windows 7 VirtualBox VM"

why are you using VM?

Because current Windows is absolute garbage that I don't want polluting my system, and the last acceptably-decent release was 7 (and I have a license for that one).

suwalski wrote: ↑Tue Jul 07, 2026 11:52 am Sweet. I'll try that out later.

Tried all of the Proxies. Can confirm that all of them result in crash at launch. Only launching from dxwnd is successful.

Good to hear you are able to play now.

suwalski wrote: ↑Tue Jul 07, 2026 12:44 pm

suwalski wrote: ↑Tue Jul 07, 2026 11:52 am Sweet. I'll try that out later.

Tried all of the Proxies. Can confirm that all of them result in crash at launch. Only launching from dxwnd is successful.

how were you starting trek.exe? from trek in install path or desktop shortcut or start menu?
if you are using desktop shortcuts or start menu from 2.0.0 they might still have command line commands for dxwnd to run silent. this would conflict with proxy files and cause game not to start.

thunderchero wrote: ↑Tue Jul 07, 2026 7:45 pm how were you starting trek.exe? from trek in install path or desktop shortcut or start menu?
if you are using desktop shortcuts or start menu from 2.0.0 they might still have command line commands for dxwnd to run silent. this would conflict with proxy files and cause game not to start.

Clean uninstall first. I was just starting trek.exe from explorer in the ECM directory. I thought there might need to be extra parameters for it to not crash, so I checked the Start menu lnk's, but they didn't do anything more. So it makes sense they failed the same way.

suwalski wrote: ↑Tue Jul 07, 2026 9:51 pm Clean uninstall first.

strange proxy is not working on 7 VM, I know a couple user reported it working on standard/full windows 7 install.

one other option would be to add command line to your shortcut/startmenu trek.exe

here is example of command line code to add

example for ECM (default install path will need to be changed)
fullscreen target
C:\botf\tools\dxwnd_Fullscreen\dxwnd.exe /R:2
windowed target
C:\botf\tools\dxwnd_windowed\dxwnd.exe /R:2

the "/R:2" may need to be edited if dxwnd.ini list is changed or "/R:3" for shield version.

Hi thunderchero,

First of all, thank you for all the work you continue to put into BOTF and the Most Active Installer. I recently installed Ultimate Mod 5 using the latest BOTF Most Active Installer 2.0.4 RC2 and have been enjoying playing BOTF again.

Unfortunately, I am experiencing random crashes that have been present since the very first installation.

System configuration
Windows 11 Home 25H2 (Build 26200.8737)
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D
NVIDIA RTX 3070
32 GB RAM
Three-monitor setup
Installed using BOTF Most Active Installer 2.0.4 RC2
Ultimate Mod 5.5.5 Redux
Installed in Windowed Mode
Problem description

The game starts normally and is fully playable.

However, the game randomly crashes while interacting with the colony management screen.

The crashes most often happen while moving the mouse over interface elements such as:

Build
Energy
Population

It is not tied to a specific colony or savegame.

The crash is triggered while hovering the mouse over colony management UI elements, rather than after clicking them.

Sometimes I can play for 30 minutes without any problems, while other times the game crashes after only a few minutes.

Because of this I save very frequently.

Diagnostics already performed

Before posting here, I spent several hours investigating the problem and collecting diagnostic information

The following diagnostics have already been performed:

• Clean installation using RC2
  Crash has existed since the first installation
  The issue has been reproducible across multiple new games and save files.
  BOTF Crash.log always remains empty
  DxWnd configuration was examined
  ddraw.dll in the UM5 folder was checked
  Windows Event Viewer was checked

Windows Event Viewer consistently reports:

Faulting application:
trek.exe

Faulting module:
C:\Windows\System32\ddraw.dll

Exception code:
0xc0000005

Question

Is this a known compatibility issue with the current DirectDraw proxy on Windows 11 25H2?

Could this be related to the DxWnd proxy or would you recommend testing another wrapper or a custom proxy for this configuration?

I would be happy to test anything that may help identify the cause.

If there is any debug build, alternate DirectDraw wrapper, or additional logging you would like me to test, I would be happy to provide feedback.

Thank you very much for your time.

Regards,

Sacratus

Sacratus wrote: ↑Fri Jul 10, 2026 2:40 pm Faulting module:
C:\Windows\System32\ddraw.dll

It's not the proxy files that crashed, but the actual ddraw render library located in system folder.
Most likely it is a driver issue with the old ddraw render blitting. Modern card drivers aren't made for this old render interface and tend to have bugs in their driver implementation because noone is testing for it any longer.

Best try if some newer drivers fix the issue or whether you can switch to onboard graphics or some dusted card you still have laying around.

It might also help to disable some modern render features that might be enabled by default in your graphics card settings.

p.s. Oh and welcome btw!

Sacratus wrote: ↑Fri Jul 10, 2026 2:40 pm However, the game randomly crashes while interacting with the colony management screen.

The crashes most often happen while moving the mouse over interface elements such as:

Build
Energy
Population

It is not tied to a specific colony or savegame.

The crash is triggered while hovering the mouse over colony management UI elements, rather than after clicking them.

I have heard of this type of crash on Fluid mod mainly playing as Cards, but first time I have heard of issue on UM5.

when it was reported they also reported population allocation was acting funny before crash. some thought there were too many bars allocated (extra population)

example; they would set food to 6 pop go to a different system then come back to the system and food would only have 4 allocated. then when hovering over to fix game would crash.

no true fix was ever found, but some had better luck on different resolution.

Also you should update to new release of installer
BOTF Most Active mods 2.0.4

BOTF older mods 2.0.4