Fixing the “Previous release of Microsoft Visual Studio 2008” failed error when installing SQL Server R2

This error normally shows up if you try to install SQL Server R2 on a Windows machine. Unfornately, if you install Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 as the error implied, it still won’t work and it’s somewhat enough to make someone crazy or something.




This error could actually be fixed without installing Microsoft Visual Studio 2008. Follow these simple steps and I promise you, you will be able to install SQL Server R2 without fail. Trust me, I’ve tried it on ten (10) computers and it worked each and every time.

1. Download the necessary files in installing SQL Server 2008 R2. I won’t be covering how to install SQL Server R2 here, because there are several sites on the net that already teaches people how to do that. Just do a Google search and find a site that teaches how to install SQL Server 2008 R2 step by step.

2. Before you install SQL Server 2008 R2, uninstall any express edition applications such as Visual Basic Express Edition, Visual C# Express Edition and Visual Web Developer from your computer. Could be done by clicking Start>Control Panel>Add / Remove Programs> Select your Express edition file>Change/Remove >Uninstall>next>Finish.



3. Clear the TEMP folder. Could be done by clicking the Start button>Run>Enter “%temp%” no quotes> then delete all the contents of the TEMP folder.



4. Clear the contents of the PREFETCH folder. Could be done by clicking Start>Run>Enter “Prefetch” no quotes>Ok.



5. After clearing the contents of the prefetch folder, restart your computer the Install SQL Server 2008 R2. That’s all!

Note: This isn’t really the official way of doing this. But it worked for me and I thought it’s worth a share. Just tryin to help :)

Animating 3d models in DarkGDK using dbAppendObject

Been watching 3d Animation tutorials lately but I’ve never really found a tutorial or detailed example for that matter that actually teaches how to animate 3d models in DarkGDK in a less unclear way. And so I’m sharing this example in hope that it will be used by some computer enthusiast out there like myself as a starting point in creating their very own 3d computer game.

I have used the Babe model in this example. Babe model is a Dark Matter Model that is accesible by default when you install DarkGDK and is located at C:\Program Files\The Game Creators\Dark GDK\Media\Dark Matter Models\People. The controls and actions of our model in this example are illustrated in the following table.

Controls	Actions
W,A,S,D	Move.x
Tab	Die.x
Q	Impact.x
No key Pressed	Idle.x

Enough said, here’s the code:

view plainprint?

1. // Dark GDK - The Game Creators - www.thegamecreators.com  
2. // the wizard has created a very simple project that uses Dark GDK  
3. // it contains the basic code for a GDK application  
4. // whenever using Dark GDK you must ensure you include the header file  
5. #include "DarkGDK.h"  
6. // the main entry point for the application is this function  
7. void DarkGDK ( void )  
8. {  
9. // turn on sync rate and set maximum rate to 30 fps  
10.  dbSyncOn();  
11.  dbSyncRate(30);  
12.   
13.  //loads our 3d model  
14.  //we'll be borrowing the Babe DirectX Darkmatter model  
15.  //it's included in the DarkGdk package located in  
16.  //C:\Program Files\The Game Creators\Dark GDK\Media\Dark Matter Models\People\Babe  
17.  //Just copy the contents of the Babe folder to your game project folder  
18.  dbLoadObject("H-Babe-Idle.x",2);  
19.  //Idle.x has 25 frames  
20.  //to find how how many frames there is in a .x animation  
21.  //Click Start>All Programs>The Game Creators>DarkGDK>Documentation>Information>Type "Frame"   
22.  //in the Textbox and the command used to determine the number of frames will reveal itself to you.  
23.  //appends the number of frames of the Move.x animation to the loaded model  
24.  //Move.x has 25 frames  
25.  dbAppendObject("H-Babe-Move.x",2,26);  
26.  //Attack.x has 24 frames  
27.  //adds the number of frames of Attack.x to the loaded model  
28.  dbAppendObject("H-Babe-Attack1.x",2,51);  
29.  //Die.x has 50 frames  
30.  //adds the number of frames of Die.x to the loaded model  
31.  dbAppendObject("H-Babe-Die.x",2,76);  
32.  //Impact.x has 10 frames  
33.  //adds the number of frames of Impact.x to the loaded model  
34.  dbAppendObject("H-Babe-Impact.x",2,126);  
35.  //positions the object in the -y axis cause its a little bit top aligned by default when loaded  
36.  dbPositionObject(2,0,-1,0);  
37.   
38.   
39.  while (LoopGDK())  
40.  {  
41.  //display descriptive text  
42.  dbSetTextSize(14);  
43.  dbText(10,0,"WASD-Movement");  
44.  dbText(10,10,"Spacebar-Attack.x");  
45.  dbText(10,20,"Tab-Die.x");  
46.  dbText(10,30,"Q-Impact.x");  
47.  dbText(10,40,"No key pressed-Idle.x");  
48.     
49.   
50.    
51.    //if the W or A or S or D or Spacebar or Tab or Q is pressed  
52.    if ( dbKeyState(17) || dbKeyState(31) ||dbKeyState(32) || dbKeyState(30)||dbKeyState(57) || dbKeyState(15)|| dbKeyState(16))  
53.    {  
54.    //stop the presently looping animation  
55.   dbStopObject(2);  
56.    //retrieves the object present angle  
57.    int ObjAngleY=dbObjectAngleY(2);  
58.    //determines if the object is presently looping  
59.    int looping=dbObjectLooping(2);  
60.       //if the key pressed is W  
61.    if(dbKeyState(17))   
62.    {   
63.    //move the object on the -Z axis  
64.      dbMoveObject(2,-0.05f);  
65.    //is the object presently not playing?  
66.    if (looping==0 )  
67.    {  
68.    //if yes then execute move.x  
69.       //move Move.x has 25 frames  
70.    //the number of frames from the starting frame to the ending frame must be at least 25 frames  
71.   
72.     dbLoopObject ( 2,26, 51 );  
73.    };  
74.    }  
75.    //if the key pressed is S  
76.    if (dbKeyState(31))  
77.    {  
78.    //move the object on the Z axis  
79.     dbMoveObject(2,0.05f);  
80.    //is the object currently not playing?  
81.    if (looping==0 )  
82.    {  
83.       //if yes then execute move.x  
84.       //move directx animation has 25 frames  
85.    //starting frame up to the end frame must be at least 25 frames  
86.   
87.     dbLoopObject ( 2,26, 51 );  
88.   
89.    };  
90.    }  
91.    //if the A key is pressed  
92.   
93.    if (dbKeyState(30))  
94.    {  
95.   //rotate the object along the Y axis  
96.   //for instance, if the objects current angle is 275-5  
97.   //The object will then be rotated 270 degrees which is exactly south  
98.   //from the user's POV  
99.   //the dbWrapValue is to ensure that the object rotation will not exceed 360 degrees  
100.   
101.     dbYRotateObject(2,dbWrapValue(ObjAngleY-5.0f));  
102.    }  
103.   
104.   //if the D key is pressed  
105.    if (dbKeyState(32))  
106.    {  
107.    
108.      //rotate the object along the Y axis  
109.   //for instance, if the objects current angle is 85+5  
110.   //The object will then be rotated 90 degrees which is exactly north  
111.   //from the user's POV  
112.   //the dbWrapValue is to ensure that the object rotation will not exceed 360 degrees  
113.     dbYRotateObject(2,dbWrapValue(ObjAngleY+5.0f));  
114.    }  
115.      //if the space key is pressed  
116.    if(dbKeyState(57))  
117.    {  
118.   //is the object currently not playing?  
119.    if (looping==0 )  
120.    {  
121.    //if yes then execute Attack.x  
122.    //Attack.x has 24 frames so from the starting to ending frames  
123.    //must be at least 24 frames  
124.     dbLoopObject ( 2,51,77 );  
125.   
126.   
127.    };  
128.    }  
129.    //if the Tab key is pressed  
130.    if(dbKeyState(15))  
131.    {  
132.    //is the object currently not playing?  
133.    if (looping==0 )  
134.    {  
135.    //if yes then execute Die.x  
136.    //Die.x has 50 frames so from the starting to ending frames  
137.    //must be at least 50 frames  
138.     dbLoopObject ( 2,78,127 );  
139.   
140.   
141.    };  
142.    }  
143.        //if the Q key is pressed  
144.     
145.    if(dbKeyState(16))  
146.    {  
147.   //is the object currently not playing?  
148.    if (looping==0 )  
149.    {  
150.   //if yes then execute Impact.x  
151.      //Impact.x has 10 frames so from the starting to ending frames  
152.      //must be at least 10 frames  
153.     dbLoopObject ( 2,127,137 );  
154.   
155.   
156.    };  
157.    }  
158.   
159.   
160.    }  
161.   else  
162.   //if no key is pressed  
163.   //execute Idle.x  
164.   //Idle.x has 25 frames so from the starting to the ending frames miust be at least 25 frames  
165.   {  
166.    dbLoopObject(2,1,25);  
167.   }  
168. // update the screen  
169.   dbSync();  
170.  }   
171. //return to windows  
172. return;  
173. }  

// Dark GDK - The Game Creators - www.thegamecreators.com
// the wizard has created a very simple project that uses Dark GDK
// it contains the basic code for a GDK application
// whenever using Dark GDK you must ensure you include the header file
#include "DarkGDK.h"
// the main entry point for the application is this function
void DarkGDK ( void )
{
// turn on sync rate and set maximum rate to 30 fps
 dbSyncOn();
 dbSyncRate(30);

 //loads our 3d model
 //we'll be borrowing the Babe DirectX Darkmatter model
 //it's included in the DarkGdk package located in
 //C:\Program Files\The Game Creators\Dark GDK\Media\Dark Matter Models\People\Babe
 //Just copy the contents of the Babe folder to your game project folder
 dbLoadObject("H-Babe-Idle.x",2);
 //Idle.x has 25 frames
 //to find how how many frames there is in a .x animation
 //Click Start>All Programs>The Game Creators>DarkGDK>Documentation>Information>Type "Frame" 
 //in the Textbox and the command used to determine the number of frames will reveal itself to you.
 //appends the number of frames of the Move.x animation to the loaded model
 //Move.x has 25 frames
 dbAppendObject("H-Babe-Move.x",2,26);
 //Attack.x has 24 frames
 //adds the number of frames of Attack.x to the loaded model
 dbAppendObject("H-Babe-Attack1.x",2,51);
 //Die.x has 50 frames
 //adds the number of frames of Die.x to the loaded model
 dbAppendObject("H-Babe-Die.x",2,76);
 //Impact.x has 10 frames
 //adds the number of frames of Impact.x to the loaded model
 dbAppendObject("H-Babe-Impact.x",2,126);
 //positions the object in the -y axis cause its a little bit top aligned by default when loaded
 dbPositionObject(2,0,-1,0);


 while (LoopGDK())
 {
 //display descriptive text
 dbSetTextSize(14);
 dbText(10,0,"WASD-Movement");
 dbText(10,10,"Spacebar-Attack.x");
 dbText(10,20,"Tab-Die.x");
 dbText(10,30,"Q-Impact.x");
 dbText(10,40,"No key pressed-Idle.x");
  

 
   //if the W or A or S or D or Spacebar or Tab or Q is pressed
   if ( dbKeyState(17) || dbKeyState(31) ||dbKeyState(32) || dbKeyState(30)||dbKeyState(57) || dbKeyState(15)|| dbKeyState(16))
   {
   //stop the presently looping animation
  dbStopObject(2);
   //retrieves the object present angle
   int ObjAngleY=dbObjectAngleY(2);
   //determines if the object is presently looping
   int looping=dbObjectLooping(2);
      //if the key pressed is W
   if(dbKeyState(17)) 
   { 
   //move the object on the -Z axis
     dbMoveObject(2,-0.05f);
   //is the object presently not playing?
   if (looping==0 )
   {
   //if yes then execute move.x
      //move Move.x has 25 frames
   //the number of frames from the starting frame to the ending frame must be at least 25 frames

    dbLoopObject ( 2,26, 51 );
   };
   }
   //if the key pressed is S
   if (dbKeyState(31))
   {
   //move the object on the Z axis
    dbMoveObject(2,0.05f);
   //is the object currently not playing?
   if (looping==0 )
   {
      //if yes then execute move.x
      //move directx animation has 25 frames
   //starting frame up to the end frame must be at least 25 frames

    dbLoopObject ( 2,26, 51 );

   };
   }
   //if the A key is pressed

   if (dbKeyState(30))
   {
  //rotate the object along the Y axis
  //for instance, if the objects current angle is 275-5
  //The object will then be rotated 270 degrees which is exactly south
  //from the user's POV
  //the dbWrapValue is to ensure that the object rotation will not exceed 360 degrees

    dbYRotateObject(2,dbWrapValue(ObjAngleY-5.0f));
   }

  //if the D key is pressed
   if (dbKeyState(32))
   {
 
     //rotate the object along the Y axis
  //for instance, if the objects current angle is 85+5
  //The object will then be rotated 90 degrees which is exactly north
  //from the user's POV
  //the dbWrapValue is to ensure that the object rotation will not exceed 360 degrees
    dbYRotateObject(2,dbWrapValue(ObjAngleY+5.0f));
   }
     //if the space key is pressed
   if(dbKeyState(57))
   {
  //is the object currently not playing?
   if (looping==0 )
   {
   //if yes then execute Attack.x
   //Attack.x has 24 frames so from the starting to ending frames
   //must be at least 24 frames
    dbLoopObject ( 2,51,77 );


   };
   }
   //if the Tab key is pressed
   if(dbKeyState(15))
   {
   //is the object currently not playing?
   if (looping==0 )
   {
   //if yes then execute Die.x
   //Die.x has 50 frames so from the starting to ending frames
   //must be at least 50 frames
    dbLoopObject ( 2,78,127 );


   };
   }
       //if the Q key is pressed
  
   if(dbKeyState(16))
   {
  //is the object currently not playing?
   if (looping==0 )
   {
  //if yes then execute Impact.x
     //Impact.x has 10 frames so from the starting to ending frames
     //must be at least 10 frames
    dbLoopObject ( 2,127,137 );


   };
   }


   }
  else
  //if no key is pressed
  //execute Idle.x
  //Idle.x has 25 frames so from the starting to the ending frames miust be at least 25 frames
  {
   dbLoopObject(2,1,25);
  }
// update the screen
  dbSync();
 } 
//return to windows
return;
}

Another way of animating models is by using the dbShowObject and dbHideObject commands. I'll post an example of that here when I have time. If you want more information on animating darkGDK models or creating games per se, you can visit DarkGDK's official site www.thegamecreators.com