I tried to install Shadow Man Remastered to my Win 7 64 bit..
But downloading offline installers..I was in for suprise..
The Game would not launch at all..Failed loading vulkan-1.dll: part not found..
48 hours of googling,installing Crimson(beta)which crashes anyways but gives
the dll..Got another message about Vulkan surface version..
Well anyways..I have had this game before on win 7 before game updates..
I do not have ASCII(special leters or symbols in my PC username)
From game created stdout text file

Warning: C:\Users\xxxxx\Saved Games\Nightdive Studios\Shadowman EX\kexengine.cfg not found

Well..is not on offline installer..or anywhere..

kexGenericSaveThread::Run: Unable to open C:\Users\xxxx\Saved Games\Nightdive Studios\Shadowman EX\saves\user_activity.dat for reading

How could I have save file?

Failed to initialize d3d11 - Failed to create D3D11 swap chain
kexRHI::Initialize: Falling back to vulkan...

My Graphics have DirectX 11 and supports it also d3d11..

Installation has Galaxy64.dll which is not in any other win7 compatible
gog games on my PC..
SDL2.dll cannot be sure..

It would seem that after some patch someone just copied Galaxy files and replaced older working version..
Picture of game folder attached
Patch for 1.0 to 1.1 exe does not help..

Tried robot support where is just certain choices.Game crashes,etc.But when"describe briefly"After I opened file..It went to"Did you use Galaxy?"Clicked "No"
I was hoping to get some kind of notice on my email that I have left ticket..
But apparently it does not work like that..
Hoping someone on staff could see this and look into it..

Have you considered that perhaps given that Vulkan as an API never existed during the life of Windows 7, that what you're doing is barking up the wrong tree?

You'd have better luck running that game via Wine than Windows 7 at the current rate of going, since Linux natively supports Vulkan.

1. Try updating your GPU driver as it may include Vulkan Runtimes.

2. Download Vulkan Runtime libraries.

3. Failing that, edit the file: %USERPROFILE%\Saved Games\Nightdive Studios\Shadowman EX\kexengine.cfg

And change the line: seta r_rhirenderfamily from "vulkan" to "d3d11".

It's possible that a newer version of the Kex Engine is compiled to not work on W7 but I don't own the game to test. Edit: However, it is listed as being W7 compatible on both GOG & PCGW so probable Vulkan Runtime dependency issue.

Maybe you meant dx12, because vulkan is platform-agnostic and its dev sdk existed well within the life cycle of Win7. I mean you have fully released mainstream games supporting Vulkan on W7 in 2016 (e.g. Doom2016, Talos principle, etc).


AB2012 gave good tips. I suspect GPU driver being out of date, or missing vulkan libs (esp. if it is an older Nvidia gpu, I had similar problem back then on my old backup gtx670).

The problem is that as new install it´s trying to find it,
"kexGenericSaveThread::Run: Unable to open C:\Users\xxxx\Saved Games\Nightdive Studios\Shadowman EX\saves\user_activity.dat for reading"
It´s not trying to create it..or build it..I have the "show hidden files"unticked..
Very good advice though..

dx diag 64..bit
Operating System: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1
Language: Finnish (Regional Setting: Finnish)
BIOS: BIOS Date: 05/22/15 21:04:38 Ver: 04.06.05
Processor: AMD A4-5300 APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics (2 CPUs), ~3.4GHz
Memory: 8192MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 7110MB RAM
Page File: 3625MB used, 10592MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled

Card name: AMD Radeon HD 7480D
DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Display Memory: 195 MB on dxdiag screen it says 4095 MB
Dedicated Memory: 992 MB
Shared Memory: 3298 MB
Current Mode: 1280 x 720 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Yleinen PnP-näyttölaite
Monitor Model: VH226
Native Mode: 1920 x 1080(p) (60.000Hz)
Output Type: HDMI
Driver Version: 15.200.1062.1004
DDI Version: 11
Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 8/4/2015 08:28:34, 1445224 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
D3D9 Overlay: Not Supported
DXVA-HD: Not Supported
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Enabled

Catalyst Software Suite 15.7.1 WHQL 7/29/2015
Radeon Software Crimson Edition Beta 16.2.1 (non whql) 3/1/2016
These are the last legacy drivers from win7 to win 10
and Crimson has 0.9xx Vulkan dll..I have tried khronos(?)page and installed runtime(oldest)which gives vulkan 1 dll.
But error with surface version not supported
Besides Crimson beta crashes everytime..

About 4 days with no sleep I managed to mess up settings that I could have just left alone..
messed with read only setting,allow active cd content executio etc..
S o I could not even uninstall Shadow Man(I got acces violation error 5)
Mirror Edge which for some odd reason worked with Nvidia PhysX which it installs automatically..
Stopped working-close pogram..Twice!!One per core I quess..lol.
So did every other gog game..
I had uninstall every game..grapcic drivers after trying to remembe what I unticked..
Drivers installed,full runtimes..
I have to load few games back and see if messed up this pc for good..
I can simply laugh at my stupidity..

This explains it though. Older APUs (up to AMD Richland) used TeraScale (VLIW) architecture and afaik, it doesn't support Vulkan. You happen to have TeraScale3 on your iGPU. I do have one old APU here, A10-7850k, that is Kaveri with GCN2 iGPU, which does support Vulkan.

There are like some super complex workarounds to get Vulkan to work on your arch under linux, to some extent at least. I doubt that it is all worth it in this case. Some ~40 bucks second hand gpu would get you much much further, esp. if you have some friend/family or local seller with such gpu.

There is also a third option, if you want to try... as there are 3rd party community drivers for amd cards, many of which would be otherwise dead. You can check amernimezone dot com, and scroll down to download links > Teraascale dx11 july update (for terascale 2-3 based gpus). Or one below it... I don't have terascale myself, so no idea if they will work. Maybe that one could help, followed by tweaking/testing and maybe vulkan runtim reinstall afterwards.

If you did mess up your os though, maybe it would be good to backup your user-files and either os check/repair + dx & dotnet & chipset+gpu driver reinstall/repair. Alternative would be the whole fresh os install after backup (maybe even linux, if you dislike the idea of windows 10/11, I wouldn't blame you). Last alternative is to ditch this whole kex-powered enhanced edition and play the classic/original, which should run fine.

Probly was read only setting fiddling..What comes to fixin installation my regional install DVD does not have..Re-Installing..Not again..I don´t have Wi-Fi in the machine..I have Wi-Fi but it´s installed via usb..
So it would 24h work with downloadin server packages(if those still are available to find on microsoft page)and kb updates,for those errors that occure via win update..
This PC was given to me and has bee in freezing temperatures so Usb ports are bit loose for some usb sticks..
So I don´t really trust this machine,even the Hardware side listin has no problems..
I had Win10 HP Gaming Laptop with i7HQ processor etc which costed 1500€..Part payment from shop via friend.
After about four years came huge update..Unfortunately they did not mention that my i7 modell which was for some reason placed on the skandinavian models,was not supported..But they forced it through anyways..
So..can´t afford..
I have nothing against linux..But it has many version and never tried before..
I have looked into their community pages..Requires some learning..

Forsaken worked wit beta and on vulkan.dll,but because of that version crashes..it leaves it with only windows graphics
Looking through Steam and other pages the requirements are way higher with 1.5 version..
And I don´t think it´s to reroll the version with with galaxy from another one´s computer to this computer..

I just have to play the original which I have my library..Just have to map swim button closer to gun/hand button..
It´s good enough..
Thank you all for trying to help...

Moi Mr.Koippa, no worries. I understand that it's a lot of effort and the outcome is uncertain at best with the hardware you have at your hand now. Still I would try the 3rd party amd gpu driver from amernimezone com, they are legit and saved many now unsupported gpus. If I had a terascale1-3, I would definitely try that option (following the instructions, first uninstalling the old drivers etc).

Anyway, since you mention older versions of this remaster, maybe you can try to rollback via galaxy to something like v1.11 or v1.2 first? Try to go to galaxy, right click Shadowman Remastered > manage installation > configure > there should be a list of previous versions down below, if the rollback is enabled. Turn off automatic updates, just in case and try to switch to an older version. Maybe it will help, although I doubt that anything significant changed with v1.5 compared to its older versions. But I don't have the Remaster, just the classic, so I can't try myself.

If nothing works, then the original Shadowman (classic version) is a sure bet, with some tuning and tweaking. Have fun dude.

Actually there´s numerous versions of this game..
well,with old ideapas manufactured in 2007 and win 6 put in bys ISP.
Whicc likes to sell harware,especially old people..
Ok.With Lenovos`s oled LapTop with 1.4 Ghz processor..
And lot of slow because of Lenovo s own.and Microsoft free ware clogging..things..
(Wouldn´t it be great if a buer would be explained ,how much procerros spped,ram,etc some program would take..Even it´s free)
Installed Gog-Galaxy(which is probaby great with win10 against Steam client which pushes all,regarless what your Pc can
do)
I founs out that gog.galaxy does not support betas..Last version updated 2 months ago..
Which is 1.5..No previous versions..
I bought this version before 1.0 hotfix about 5 years ago,but somewhere around 1.34 Vulkan API was forced as requirement..There is just no legit way to go back to 1.0..
SSe 4.2 and OpenGL 3.2..I readed every Steam page..If I understod..Those two are impossible at win 10 and 11?
Am I barking at wrong tree..I think"barking " ooffesive choice of words..There should have been"ib developent years ago"When I bought his game..Well only thing I really cared was the cinematics of levels..So poetic"No love of mine,Not mine to love"
Which were on the version that still worked on min requirement´s..
Gogs employees must be drowning on glitches´bugs..But this oversight of min requirements is 5 years old and I don´t remembers all versions..
Hey,I have bought at least two games that cannot work on win7/8 because I want to support this place even if it is 10-20 euros/bucks..
What comes to graphic drivers..I don´t know exact specs of processor..All in one pack has cpu etc..But I wnd too risky to change intergrated grapcics when I had problems with uninstalling,,I think it was guru3d uninstaller..Via the black screen wiht mouse..cursor

I know that there are more versions of SMR (btw the remaster was launched April 2021, so you cannot have it for 5 years). Anyway, you need to get v1.31-1 (from 21.9.2021), or older. From v 1.4 onwards since they updated kex engine and it is no longer compatible with the hardware listed on the store page as minimal requirements. That leads to further disappointment for potential buyers, esp. since the classic version of SM is no longer on sale for those with older hardware.

I don't have the remaster so I cannot test it, but if the rollback is really not available for SMR in galaxy, then your only option is to go through gog support, skip through the terrible chatbot until it asks for your email address, so you can be contacted and explain the problem.
Ask them to provide rollback to SMR in galaxy, or at least a beta branch with that last working version, or provide you with the download link for v 1.31-1 or older, so you can play the game you paid for. Otherwise I would ask for a refund, regardless of date of purchase. Every game should have rollback to previous version enabled, for such cases when an update breaks compatibility with older hardware for no good reason other than lack of foresight. Plus you may inform gog that the hw requirements on the store page are outdated since v1.4 onwards.

Still, it might a be a problem with kex engine simply disliking your windows locale, or some characters in your username is causing problem for kex. I know you said it has only ascii characters, but if there is no kexengine.cfg, it might be exactly that problem as AB2012 said. That's pretty much one of the most common launch errors for all games that nightdive gets their hands on, that run on kex engine. Hope you get it working man.

Sorry looked for old Shadowman receipt.
The correct one
Shadow Man Remastered july 29 2021..
Forsaken Remastered Aug 6 2021
In that time it worked,with this same PC.There was not Seraph queen boss then..Game camera panned up at point where it was going to be added..The time I remembered this place because my Win10 was done for..
I installed once before some Vulkan which had configuration panel..That seemed to be game developers or something.Because it was out of my knowledge..Uninstalled..Some other Vulkan which gave me dll`s
Forsaken Remastered worked with that vulkan-1.dll..
It was on Nightdive folder etc and could create kexengine.cfg for that game..
Shadow Man Remaster goes same location but it´s own folder..Of course..
But failes to create to create kexebgine.cfg..
And the same error which someone one the game forum has asked almost year ago(with no answers)..
I had the same:kexPlatformApp::Failedto initialize window for Vulkan(Installed Vulkan doesn´t implement the VK_KHR_ surface extension)
So the kexengine has been altered so that it does not run on win7 64 bit professional.?
Forsaken Remastered does not work if there is ascii symbols..How many you find at my username?
I highly doubt the Nightdive Studios would provide older unfinished versions..
I remember their fan page on fb before I closed my fb account..
It was uphold the music composer(if I remember correctly)and he informed some time of problems to Nightdive..
Because everybody got automated answer from Nightdive Studios support email..
But he got tired and set a rule for asking,,
Steam has still pinned topic for game devs for Forsaken which still has some minor bugs,but Shadowman has had it final release so dev does not answer it anymore..
Well I have original and texture pack,,It will have to do..2nd playthrough..
This time I wont be saving at Legion 2nd form..Lost my Teddy bear,nice bug..

I understand there might be a bit of language barrier, but you are making it harder for yourself dude. Not going to repeat everything again.

I don't know minimal system requirements of kex4.0 (used in SMR since v1.4), as it doesn't concern me. I don't have the game to try if it works on win7 x64, as I've said already. System requirements on the store page are for SMR v1 - 1.31-1, thus outdated.

I don't know your windows username (and it doesn't concern me either), unless it really is C:\Users\xxxx\ and/or C:\Users\xxxxx\... then ofc non-ascii chars wouldn't be a problem in these two cases.

You have to contact support at place where you bought the game. I've assumed you bought it here on gog and advised you how to deal with gog's chatbot. Nightdive support wouldn't care much for you then, likely they don't care anyway... after all, they already have your money. If you bought it from steam, ask steam support. If you bought the game from nightdive directly, you have to ask them for support. Simple as that, I would hope.

You have Finnish locale on your Windows. It might cause a problem, you never know with kex. But I've already mentioned that.

Ask the gog support for version 1.31-1 or older, or ask for a refund since the update broke the game for you.
As a lesson from all this, potentially think twice before buying nightdive games. I know I will do just that.

It was an interesting experience, thanks, but I'm done here. Moi Mr.Koippa.