Matrix Games Forums

Dear All,

I've just gone through the cycle of upgrading from SPWAW5.0 by downloading the various upgrades as far as Version 7.0. Now, when I click on the "mech.exe" shortcut that the process has put in my Start menu, I get the message "A required DLL file, SMACKW32.DLL, was not found". When I click on the mech.exe file in the SPWAW directory, I get the same message. If I click on the old SPWW2 icon in the directory that I used to run the game from, I still get Version 5 on my game screen, tho it does say that it was updated November 2001. Which version am I actually running? Is there some process I missed to get up to Version 6? Should I find the SMACKW32.DLL file somewhere? Please advise.

I just sent you a copy of that file, it sounds like yours was corrupted. If problem persists uninstall SPWAW to include removing the directory MatrixGames/Steel Panthers World at War yourself than reinstall, make sure you allow it to reboot after each upgrade this removes temporary files created and gives the computer a chance to properly register the files to the Operating System.
BTW here is the correct order of upgrades.
Install full 5.01 version
Install 5.01->5.2 patch
Install 5.2->6.1 patch
Install 6.1->7.0 patch
If you have any of the MegaCampaigns then you need to install in the following order:
MCNA Desert Fox
MC Operation Watchtower
MC Lost Victories.
It also sounds like you may nested directories(duplicates within each other) if so then you need to make sure that all of the contents from the second directory are copied up in to first directory of that name. Prior to each upgrade you can delete the mech.exe file to ensure the upgrade installs the new one. After upgrading you start screen should show the proper version of your latest upgrades.
Also sent you a picture of what a propely installed SPWAW directory tree should look like to help weed out the possible nested directory problem.

[ January 21, 2002: Message edited by: gmenfan ]</p>

Unfortunately, even after the file was installed, I still get "mech caused an error in mech.exe and will now close". I guess the only solution is to do it all over again.

Thanks anyway.