EPTMy first problem was that it would crash instantly on launch. After looking around online, I found that it was the copy protection software, which is incompatible with Windows 7, and was falsely believing my install to have been a pirated copy (I legally own the game). So, after more googling, I find that some people have gotten it to work by uninstalling the copy protection software. BUT, that can't be done without some poorly made removal tool straight from the company that made the software in the first place.
So I finally get that uninstalled, and it still doesn't work. After a third bout of googling, it seems people with pirated copies can play fine. (The piracy prevention software prevents legal owners from playing, but not pirates!!!) By now, I'm pretty frustrated, so I find a copy of the game online (which isn't really pirating since I do own the game), and download and install that. This time the game boots, makes it past the intro cinematics, and crashes right as it finishes loading.
Now I'm down to one last option. I go download VMware Player, so I can make a virtual machine. I install Windows XP on the VM, and after some twiddling with the settings I get SH3 to install. But it still won't boot. The copy protection software throws an error saying the game can only be played on "Miscrosoft 95 Server Edition". That's not my typo, that's exactly what it said.
If anyone has any ideas of what I can do now, I'd appreciate it. Mostly though, I just wanted someone to hear all the horrible stuff I've gone through the past 3 days.
