I decided to give supcom 1 a go since it became available on steam. However, it refuses to start and gives me this error report:

Failed to setup initial search path.

Program : c:\program files\steam\steamapps\common\supreme commander\bin\SupremeCommander.exe
Cmd line arguments :

Callstack:
Unknown symbol (address 0x00402d89)

Last 100 lines of log...

CDiskWatch::EnablePrivileges: Unable to enable privilege: (null) -- GetLastError(): 54592320Notifications may not work as intended due to insufficient access rights/process privileges.
Running "c:\program files\steam\steamapps\common\supreme commander\bin\SupComDataPath.lua" failed: ...apps\common\supreme commander\bin\SupComDataPath.lua(20): attempt to call global `SHGetFolderPath' (a nil value)
stack traceback:
...apps\common\supreme commander\bin\SupComDataPath.lua(20): in main chunk

I am currently running the latest Windows Vista sevice pack. I easily meet the system requirements. Can anyone offer some help please?

run the game as admin and did u install the game as an admin?

Yes and yes

Edit: To clarify I am using the admin account. I can't actually find the .exe atm to run as admin or in compatibility mode.

the link to the exe is there,

c:\program files\steam\steamapps\common\supreme commander\bin\ and its called supremecommader.exe

Running as admin doesn't help. Trying the compatibility modes now. No success with XP SP2 compatibility mode.

Running under 98/ME compatibility mode seems to have stopped the error messages. It is apparently running in the background but it won't let me actually play the game.

Edit: It just delays the error message for about 5 minutes.

ok open task manager. and kill the process called supremecommander.exe

Done. What now?

try runnong it again

I did several times with the same result. I am now verifying the integrity of the game cache. It's currently at 67%.

All files were successfully validated so that's no help.

soounds more like a permission setting been messed up

Can you suggest any one in particular?

edit: FA just finished downloading. I am checking to see if it has the same problem.

c:\program files\steam\steamapps\common\supreme commander\bin\SupComDataPath.lua" failed: ...apps\common\supreme commander\bin\SupComDataPath.lua
see if that file is in read only mode if so take it off

FA seems to run fine. Trying vanilla once more. Trying your advice.

edit: No it isn't in read only mode.

try installing direct x runtime i had this before just trying to rember how i got it working before

Looking at the actual error message in that text - I think it's a problem accessing the map/mod folders that are in your Windows account.

Do you have anything unusual set up there? Does your user profile have funny characters in it? Is it mapped from a network drive, or in a funny place?

The account name is just called family so I don't think that's an issue. Looking back over some previous threads I do have some logitech webcam software installed which I can't really get rid of as I use it to talk to family overseas.

As for direct X runtime, apparently steam installed it during my first attempt to launch the game.

It won't be a webcam related issue - completely different symptoms.

But the error message given does say that it's died because it can't properly get access to the folders in your profile. The reason why it can't currently is because the function SHGetFolderPath isn't being loaded. Why that's the case, I do not yet know.

create a NEW USERNAME AS an admin and see if the program will load on that new username

I checked the box in properties to run as admin instead of using the command in the right click, drop down box. It seems to work now. Thanks for your help. If I have more problems I may post again.