Frequently Asked Questions

[Adam Ryland]

This forum is where you should post any problems or errors you encounter with the game.

If you are using a modern version of Windows (such as Vista or Windows 7), please make sure that you are running the game in administrator mode. If you aren't you will get crashes as the game will not have permission to access files which will therefore prevent it from working correctly. It will also cause files and folders to disappear and generally misbehave. Please note that just because you are the owner of the computer, the sole owner, or your account is set to admin does NOT mean you are automatically running the game in admin mode - you MUST right click on the game's icon and specifically choose to run under admin mode. If you are playing via a Shortcut, you do this via Properties -> Advanced -> Admin mode (tick).

Frequently Asked Questions

"I posted a thread and now it has gone..."


Threads are deleted once the issue has been resolved and patched.

"My post has been closed..."


Threads are closed once they have been fixed (the fix itself may not appear until the following patch.)

"I am having problems with my e-license AKA I have lost my license \ I had a hard disk crash \ I did a system restore \ I am being told my license is not valid \ I am being told my license is in use..."


Please see the License F.A.Q at the bottom of this post.

"The game won't load, I get a message saying it has encountered a problem..."


The latest version of Zone Alarm's anti-spyware toolbar (as of July 16th 2010) blocks ELicense from working, you need to uninstall the Toolbar. Also, the Comodo firewall must be removed (not just disabled) as it does not allow any ELicense products to work (as of December 2010). NB: Updated Information: Apparently you do not need to remove the Comodo firewall, but can do the following:

 

 

 

 

Quote:

 

Instead, users should just open COMODO Firewall, click on the Defense+ tab, Click Defense Settings, and then the Execution Control Settings tab. Clicking the Exclusions button to the right of the Detect shellcode injections (i.e Buffer overflow protection) and then adding WMMA4.exe in there allows it to work.

 

 

 

 

"DeepGuard on Charter Security Suite", which may also be known as F-Secure also causes games not to load; enabling compatibility mode solves this issue.

"I am getting 'Connection Error (3050) .... (Could not lock file.)' regularly....'


You need to set WMMA4.exe to be 'safe' in whatever antivirus software you are using, as it's currently blocking the game from creating files. You will also need to go into the Databases folder and remove all ".ldb" files that may be there, to recover from the damage already done (while WMMA4 is closed!). Another thing you can do to help is access the Properties menu for WMMA4.exe; in the General tab of some operating systems there will be "Security: This file came from another computer...." and a button saying Unblock. Click that button.

"Can I convert a save game from WMMA3 to work with WMMA4?"


No. Only databases can be converted, using the in-built tool.

"I cannot find my database \ files on my computer..."


The default path is Program Files \ GDS \ WMMA4. If the folder is not appearing, you have either installed it somewhere else (in which case, search for "WMMA4.exe") or you are not in administrator mode (see top of this post).

I was running the game outside of admin mode and now can't find my save games...


You will need to 'rescue' your save games from non-admin mode in order for them to work. The following method can be used (quoted from a user post):

You should be in admin mode all the time, but you should be able to move the save files from their current location in order to keep using them. Assuming you are using Windows 7, the files should be stored in a hidden folder called appdata. If you don't have hidden folders displayed, then appdata can be found by typing "C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData" into the Windows Explorer taskbar (or in your start menu), substituting USERNAME for, well, your username! Once in appdata, you should be able to find your save files by going into "Local\VirtualStore\Program Files (x86)\GDS\WMMA4\Databases\DATABASE NAME".


Copy the save folders from that location to your default GDS directory (within Program Files) and they should work perfectly. If you are struggling to locate the files within AppData, then another option would be to search the AppData folder for "WMMA4.mdb" (minus quotations). Once the results appear right-click on one of them and click Open File Location from the drop-down menu.

When I try to load the game I get: "The application failed to initialize properly (0xc0000005). Click on OK to terminate application." OR I'm trying to run the game but I'm just getting an hourglass


Disable your DEP (Data Execution Prevention):


1. Right-click on "My Computer"

2. Select "Properties"

3. Click on the "Advanced" Tab.

4. Click on the Performance "Settings" Button

5. Click on the "Data Execution Prevention" Tab

6. Verify that "Turn on DEP for essential Windows programs and services only" is selected. If it is not, select that option and click "APPLY" and then try and run the game. (Note: Even if you see that option checked already, go ahead and uncheck and then recheck it to ensure that its activated!)

7. If the problem persists, go back and select the other option "turn on DEP for all windows programs and services EXCEPT those I select" and ADD the following files:

"runservice.exe" Will be found in C:\Windows

"WMMA4.exe" Normally found in C:\Program Files\GDS\WMMA4

8. Click APPLY then Reboot and then relaunch the game.

"When I try to load the game I get the hour glass, but it only lasts a few seconds and nothing happens..."


See this thread

"I can only see part of the screen \ the screen looks weird \ the icons in the taskbar are not lining up properly..."


Right click on your Desktop -> Properties -> Settings, and alter your screen resolution to a bigger one if you can't see all the game. Alternatively, if that doesn't work, go to the same Settings menu, but click Advanced. You will see a place to set your DPI, make sure it is 96. (If you are under Windows 7, please see this article for details on how to change your DPI settings.)

"The game will not load because it says I am not meeting the minimum screen size of 1024x768, but my screen is bigger than that...."


The game must have 1024x768 pixels available. If you have screen magnification turned on then you may have less than this, even if your screen is actually bigger. You must turn off the magnification or alter your resolution.

"Clicking OK on the pop-up message box doesn't do anything..."


This is because your DPI settings are incorrect, meaning the graphic is 'stretched' and therefore the picture of the OK button is not in the same place as the clickable area. See the answer directly above this for information on how to alter your DPI settings.

"I am getting 'Runtime Error 3159, Not A Valid Bookmark' or 'Runtime Error 3343, Unrecognized Database Format'..."


This means that the database has been corrupted. You should apply the backup file (using the Game Recovery button on the Load Game menu); in the rare case that that has also been corrupted then you will need to start a new thead for further help.


We see about 1 case of this every couple of months. Currently we do not know why it's happening, we've only managed to narrow it down as not being a code-based problem, but that it is triggered by something external. Our current best guess is that it's either a virus checker issue, or possibly the user not shutting down the game correctly. Unfortunately it's almost impossible to dig any deeper into the issue because it's so rare and, by its nature, by the time the user realises it has happened the damage is already done and any helpful data is wiped.

"I am having connection issues, such as Error 3045..."


Some virus checkers can cause connection issues. In particular, Avast is notorious for causing problems. You may have to temporarily disable your antivirus or alter its settings to stop connection issues.

"I am getting 'RTE 3021 No current record' when trying to view someone's profile..."


If the wrestler in question has an accented character in their name (i.e. a Spanish character), please try other characters who do and do not also have accented characters. If you find that the error only happens for those that do have them, you need to install the Windows Spanish language pack as you currently do not have the capacity to handle accented characters. If that does not work, installing Russian can also sometimes work.


If neither of them solve the issue, users have reported that you can set Windows' language for programs that do not support unicode to "English" in the "optional" language settings tab.

"I am getting Connection Error 3447..."


Please see the following article: here

"I am getting Error 3358 or 'Warning! Connection to C:\Program Files (x86)\GDS\WMMA4\system\WMMA4Settings.mdb has failed (Cannot open the Microsoft jet engine workgroup information file.) The program must now close.'..."


Please see this thread: here

"When trying to play the game, I get Runtime Error 429, Runtime Error 383, Runtime Error 339, or Runtime Error -2147024770 (8007007e)..."


First uninstall then reinstall the game, in case it didn't finish installing the DLL files correctly the first time. If that doesn't work, click Run from your Windows Start menu, and type:


Regsvr32 scrrun.dll (and press enter)

Regsvr32 dx8vb.dll (and press enter)

Regsvr32 ovsbooleancontrols.ocx (and press enter)


You should now be able to play the game. If the message specifies a file other than the three above then you will likely need to download a copy and place it in Windows \ System32 first; if you cannot find a copy of the file please mail Adam for assistance.

I got install error "File size expected=24706418, size returned=256598"


This means you did not download the full file, you only got part of it. This is normally because your connection cut out before your computer could finish.

"I am being told "Application has failed to start because ???.dll was not found..."


Using this link, search for and download the file in question and place it in your Windows \ System folder or Windows \ System32 folder. If this does not work, try putting the file in the WMMA4 folder.

Does the game run on 64-bit operating systems?


Yes, it does.

"My pictures aren't showing..."


If you are not using the default database then you have probably forgotten to switch to the new picture package you want to use. You do this via the editor, under Database Information. Select the appropriate picture package and save.

"I can't assign any pictures to my workers despite being able to see the correct files in the list..."


If you have more than 32,000 pictures in a single folder, the game cannot handle them as this is bigger than the maximum folder size allowed. You must reduce the number.

"I am getting an error message saying that WMMA4 has encountered a problem and needs to close..."


Check that you have a file called MSVBVM60.DLL on your machine. If not, you are missing a critical file and need to install it.

"I am getting a crash when trying to assign a picture..."


The following is from the user Cainrok regarding how he fixed the issue: When I first installed the game it looks like my unicode settings in the language and region settings being Korean changed the names of some accented files to korean characters. When I uninstalled and reinstalled the game with the proper English settings applied it left behind the corrupted files in the pictures folder, which in turn caused the game to crash when it tried to read the folder and came across the files with Korean characters. I assume a similar problem could potentially occur in the case of others who have non-English alphabet unicode settings turned on when they instal the game.

"I get runtime error 3070 or a freeze when the first AI show gets processed..."


This is usually because you are using a foreign language, which is causing some elements of the game to be handled incorrectly. The easiest way to solve this is to change the language for non-unicode programs to English within Windows. The way to do this differs slightly depending on what version of Windows you are running, but it is usually found in Control Panel -> Region and Languages and then either under Administrative or Advanced. If this does not work, you can also try changing your language to English.

"My game has been corrupted..."


If using Game Recovery has failed because the corruption happened prior to the last save, if you are using Windows 7 there is another method for getting an older copy. From poster JHD1: "If you are using Windows 7 you might be able to retrieve an older version of the file by right-clicking on the save game's folder and going to the Properties and then Previous Versions tab. I'd suggest copying the folder to your desktop and then renaming rather than overwriting the file for now." Please note that you should not attempt recovering a corrupted game (either method) until you've posted about your error and gotten a response - otherwise you may remove valuable evidence that can be used to locate the source of the issue.

"When I access the Options screen it goes blank..."


This means you do not have all the button graphics. This can happen if you went directly from a very old version of the game to the latest without ever applying the post-release installer. To fix this, simply re-run the installer to a different location, take the Skins folder this gives you, and use it to replace your existing copy. You can then remove the secondary copy of the game.

 

 

[Adam Ryland]

Licensing FAQ

IMPORTANT Please be aware that there are two types of license used by WMMA4 and you should only read the part of the FAQ relating to your type. If you purchased the game prior to 13th December 2022 then you will be using the Elicense system. If you purchased the game from that point onwards then you will be almost certainly be using the QLM system. If you are unsure which you are using, there are several ways of checking: you can look at the company name on your receipt; look at your license code (Elicense codes will start with the letters 'VT' while QLM codes will be a 25 character code that looks like 'XXXX0-X0X0X-XX0XX-X0XXX-0X0XXX'); or look in your game's folder (if you're using Elicense you will see a file called elicen40.dll, whereas if you're using QLM there will be a file called QlmLicenseWizard.exe).

QLM License FAQ

"How many computers can I have my license on?"

Your license can be active on only one computer at a time. You can freely move it to another computer as often as you want as long as you deactivate it first. To deactivate, you can either click the License Management button on the game's title screen or use the support form outlined in the following answer...

"I need to deactivate my license OR I have forgotten / lost my license code OR I need to recover some information about my license..."

If you visit THIS PAGE you will find a support form that allows you to manually activate, deactivate, recover or gain information about your license.

In the unlikely event that you need further assistance, please contact Scott Vibert (scott@greydogsoftware.com) directly for help.

Elicense License FAQ

The Basics
ELicense is the software that protects the game from piracy. Prior to 13th December 2022 this was the method used for WMMA4, but since then we now use QLM; this does not affect customers using the old method, it is still supported, you just can't purchase new licenses under that system. When you purchase the game you are given a license code (this is also known as the "order ID" and will usually start with the letters "VT-"); this unlocks the game and allows you to play it. You should keep these details safe and never give them out to anybody (other than Grey Dog's Scott Vibert if it is necessary for technical support).

Please note that:

1 - You get one license per purchase

2 - Each license can be used on multiple machines but can only be active on one PC at a time

3 - The license is a separate item to the game; uninstalling the game does NOT remove the license, that can only be done through unlicensing.

Frequently Asked Questions

"How do I move my license from one computer to another?"

You must first unlicense the game from the original computer (see next question), then you simply run WMMA4 on the new computer and give your license code when prompted.

"How do I unlicense the game?"

- Right-click on the shortcut you use to launch the game. - Go to properties - Go to the target box and at the end of the current entry add: -unlicense - Press apply and OK to exit - Double click to launch the game. You will see the order ID and below there will be a box you can use to unlicense.

Alternatively, you can do the same thing as above in a slightly different way by using the command prompt method to unlicense it. Create a folder called Test on your hard drive and copy and paste WMMA4.exe and elicen40.dll from your normal TEW folder into it. Go to your Windows Start menu and select Run. Then type "cmd" (without the quotation marks) and press enter. You will see a command prompt. Type

"C:\Test\WMMA4.exe" -unlicense

This will unlicense the game. Notice that there is a space after the final quotation mark, and that there is no space between the dash and the word "unlicense".

"I am being told that my license cannot be activated as it is already in use?"

This means that your license is still active on another computer. The most common cause of this is that the license was automatically installed on the computer where you purchased the game. You need to unlicense it before continuing.

"I can't seem to license or unlicense and am using a multi-monitor set-up..."

If you move the game between your monitors you should be able to resolve this issue [we're not clear on what the root cause is or why this solution works].

"I had a hard disk crash \ my computer got wiped \ I no longer have access to my old computer, what happens to my license?"

Your license has been "locked" onto that machine. You will need to contact Scott (scott@greydogsoftware.com) to have it unlocked. Ideally, you should include your license code ("order ID") or, if you don't have this, your name and the last four digits (last four only!) of the card you used to purchase the game.

"How do I license the game on a computer with no Internet access?"

You can license it on a computer without internet access using a text based license. Install the game on the computer without internet access, when you go to license the game it will give you an option for offline licensing. Follow the on screen instructions, of course you will need a computer with internet access to go through the procedure, however you won't need internet access on your laptop.

"I have read through the FAQ and have not been able to solve my issue."

All licensing issues are handled by Grey Dog Software's Scott Vibert ("Scott at greydogsoftware dot com"). Please contact him by e-mail (preferably) or private message, giving him details of your problem. Ideally, you should include your license code ("order ID") or, if you don't have this, your name and the last four digits (last four only!) of the card you used to purchase the game.