Please help with the hook error!

[Rolf]

I've been quite busy with work, so I haven't had a chance to reply until now--but I have both Ad-aware and Spybot already on my computer, have gone into ctrl+alt+del and shut down every possible thing, but I still get the hook message. My question is, do I need to do a fresh install after all this? I did two installs, but it's been some time and I don't recall whether or not I had shut down all possible interferring programs with the reinstallment of KoH. I really enjoyed the demo of this game, so it would be nice to play rather just gathering dust, which is what the CD has been doing for the last couple of months.

[Rolf]

:angry: Well, I did a fresh install with every anti-spyware program, firewall, anti-virus program shut down and anything else I could shut off with ctrl+alt+del...still the infernal hook process message. I lent the game to a friend who had the same problem attempting to install it. This is ridiculous--to have to readjust everything on one's computer for one paranoid game and still a no-go. Please tell me you are working on a patch to fix this. Telling everyone that the problem is their machine is no way to sell a product.

[{FKR} Irish Blue]

Hey everyone,

I got the game (US version) when it first came out. It seemed to install fine, but whenever I try to run the game, or the "configure" option, the game does not start. According to my "system processes" under task manager, the koh.exe is processing, but the screen just stays on my desktop no matter how long I wait. I also had the "hook" error, but made sure everything (and I mean everything) else was turned off. I have read the other posts, so you do not need to tell me to try turning off SpySweeper and BitDefender, etc. I have read numerous other similar complaints about the US version on various forums. It seems to be a conflict with the CD's copy protection program. I just want to know if any responsible parties are working on fixing this problem so that I did not waste $40 on an unplayable game. This should be concern #1 for any software company: releasing software that will actually run. Any help/thoughts would be appreciated.

P.S. I got the game to run a few months ago, don't know how, but had to reinstall it and now it refuses to work. HELP PLEASE! Love the game and want to play.

[Angryminer]

Welcome to the forum, {FKR} Irish Blue! :halloha:
No, the software-protection works like this since autumn 2004 and it's not planned to change it's behaviour, as far as I know (I'm not an official).
But you may want to contact the sunflowers-support at their website. They have a lot of knowledge about the possible errors in KoH and will propably be able to solve the problem. :go:

Angryminer

[{FKR} Irish Blue]

Hey Angryminer,

Thanks for the quick response. After spending all day updating and fixing Windows, I got the game to work. I realized I was still running service pack 1 on XP. I upgraded to service pack 2 and now the game works great (after turning everything else off, of course!). Back to conquering Europe!!

[JoeDoaks]

I had no problems with the US install (sorry guys) :)

If you still have problems (Win XP serv. pk. 2)- uninstall, re-boot

Turn off virus and spyware programs. Also, firewalls.

Disk 1, then when prompted disk 2.

IF the game doesn't come up then open and close the drive door. The CD (2) will finally start the game. (might want to reboot if this doesn't work)

Worked for me.

Haven't had the hook error with this game but (as others said) I know it exists.

I play with Avast (antivirus) and Zone Alarm running. But not during install.

[Webmaster]

here is a tool to discover kernel hooks, so you can track down the source of the hooks:
http://www.resplendence.com/hookanalyzer

[King Karl]

Yes, Norton Antivirus will cause KoH to not start. You should disable Norton before running KoH.

Angryminer
I had Norton and my game worked fine. ( Now i have some better antiviirus software :biggrin: )

[typhoeus]

This is the same problem thats been happening to me. Ive turned of all my anti-virus programs and followed every direction given on this forum. This is really pissing me off, how can you guys have such a big problem with so many people and not be doing anything about it? I need answers, god damn it!....please.

[typhoeus]

I DID IT!
I know what to do!
Here:
1.Put disk 2 into disk drive
2.Exit auto_play
3.Click on start menu
4.Go to My Computer
5.Right click on KOH_CD2 (D:)
6.scroll to properties and click
7.click on DLA
8.Disable DLA
9.click apply
10.start the game over agian

That worked for me. I hope it works for you.

[typhoeus]

sorry, my bad that doesnt work.

[Doux]

Bloody, that's sad. But what is DLA anyway?

[typhoeus]

no idea. But for some reason ive been able to plat twice. I thought that it was me turning that DLA thing off but i guess not.

[Rolf]

I gave up several months ago on trying to get the game to work, but I've come back to this forum a few times to see if there was anything new to help. The rookit analyzer helped me take off three hook processes that I otherwise wouldn't have found since they were quite hidden. I still have one left according to the rook analyzer but after checking all over the Internet, I still haven't found anything in English as to what it is or how to get rid of it or turn it off. It shows up in the rookit analyzer as not installed as a Windows product but as: NtDeviceloControlFile / ZWDeviceloCo... (address at) 0xF9CB84E0 (module) ntctl.sys Anyone any ideas as to what this is or how to at least turn it off so I quit getting the nasty "Hook process" message?

[Webmaster]

the ntctl.sys is part of the boot process, if i remember correctly. do you use anykind of customisation in windows? bootlogo, styles, ... ?

[Rolf]

I don't know what you mean by customization. I've never heard of bootlogo. After looking carefully at the modules in the rookit hook analyzer I saw that I still had starforce drivers left over from "Pax Romana," and I recalled that some folks complained those drivers created problems after they removed that game. Since those drivers were part of a copy protection system from a game I removed, I thought they might be creating a problem, so I downloaded the driver removal utility from Starforce's website, but the ntctl.sys is still there. Really, I'm kind of a dummy when it comes to looking under the hood.

[Webmaster]

win 2k or win xp?
maybe booting in safemode and renaming the file to ntctl.sys.old and rebooting might solve this.

customisation means something like using style XP for changing the default microsoft bootlogo, the loginscreen and other core system visuals. the make changes on the kernel files of windows.

[Rolf]

win xp. If I can find ntctl.sys on my computer. I've only found it in the rookit hook analyzer. I tried to find it in the registry but I couldn't find it.

[Rolf]

The other hook processes I removed previously were all associated with netpia. When I removed netpia from my computer, it removed the other hook processes, but I noticed in the registry still indicates netpia has some systems file. Before I took netpia off, I read up on it online and saw that it was associated with malware. I never used the program (my girlfriend downloaded it), so I don't know what it was for.

[Doux]

Ah - did you extensively scan you computer for spyware and adware? I recommend Ad-Aware SE (http://www.lavasoft.de) and Spybot (http://www.safer-networking.org) for this and for the heavier spyware CWS Shredder (http://www.intermute.com/spysubtract/cwshredder_download.html).