Sorry, Scene Commander, I wasn't actually trying to make you go on a treasure hunt; It was time to leave for work and I had no time to elaborate further, so immediate feedback beyond that was impossible. I'm back from work now so here it goes:
My engine crashes on any level, with or without media, with or without zones of any kind. All that is needed is to place a start marker on a map at x <= 490, aim it to the east, launch, and walk straight. It will crash when the player reaches x = 490-491 (Y value makes no difference). I will get the "Error: The FPM file is corrupt." message Box. If I look in window's logs it will show me that the SimonReloaded.dll is the module that crashed. This happens on both of my currently in use computers. The first computer (my laptop) is made by msi (GT70 Dominator). Specs: i7 4800MQ@2.7Ghz (passmark 8586), 16GB RAM, Win 8.1/64, GeForce GTX870M (passmark 3598); Second computer Dell XPS something (desktop, currently in an arcade (MAME) cabinet: i7 4770@3.4Ghz (passmark 9945), 12GB RAM, Win 8.1/64, GeForce GTX645 (passmark 1898).
What I have done (just copying and pasting this) the past two days:
I started looking for similarities between the two. They are of two different makes, the laptop is an msi and the desktop is a dell. They both run win 8.1, both have Nvidia graphics with the latest 337.88 driver. They both run McAfee LiveSafe Internet Security. They both have quad core i7 processors. They both have all the same 3d dev software installed. (several programs, too many to list, but none running at the same time as Reloaded, with the exception of DAZ Studio Content Manager service, which I stopped during one of my tests). I have previously had crash issues with any program written in Blitz Basic but I don't know if SimonReloaded.dll is written with that or if you can even create .dll's with Blitz Basic. I've tried compatibility modes for every OS back to XP SP2, UAC is off for every program I install on either machine, DEP is turned off for every program (not for Reloaded, it won't let me) and every program is set to run as Admin. (I learned to just set these things from the start with win8). I've disabled the firewall, I tried disabling anti-virus but not 100% sure that actually became disabled. I ran a system restore back to a date between 1.007 and 1.0071 because in the list of activities in that time Directx was listed. It gave no more info than that, I'm assuming it was an update of some kind. I've re-downloaded Reloaded 4x, installed it at least 6x, (yes in the default, clean directory). I've washed, I've rinsed, and I've even repeated. I've prayed. I drank a beer. I drank another beer. Still no luck. I also disabled the NVidia PhysX engine as it seemed to be a physics related issue since if I place start marker BEYOND 491, it would crash upon launching but hang on the initializing physics screen right before it crashes.
Attached to this post is a blank map that will crash either of my machines. I posted it (or one just like it) on the first page of this thread in response to RickV's request for one. TattieBojangle was kind enough to try it out and said it worked fine for him, and I suspect that it will work fine for pretty much everybody (EXCEPT ME! LOL!). I'm sure there is something common yet specific to both of my computers as they are both approx. 3 and 6 mos. old (laptop/desktop respectively) and they have pretty much identical systems and software installed. Thank you for your time, you guys are doing an amazing job on this engine!
P.S. I don't expect anything immediately (hell, I don't even expect a solution to this! I think I can only hope the next beta miraculously resolves it. No trouble before) since I shoot trouble 10 hrs. a day so I understand it ain't always easy and I certainly realize it's in beta. I'm having a good ol' time with this engine so far and contest or no, I've learned a lot. Another bonus is it got me to stop fighting with Blender after 10 yrs. or so and just sit down and start learning it, thanks to the guys here and others on the 'tube.
MAME Cab PC: i7 4770@3.4Ghz (passmark 9945), 12GB RAM, Win 8.1/64, GeForce GTX645 (passmark 1898); Shiny new laptop: i7 4800MQ@2.7Ghz (passmark 8586), 16GB RAM, Win 8.1/64, GeForce GTX870M (passmark 3598); Old laptop: i5@2.3Ghz, 8GB RAM, Win 7/64, Intel 3000 graphics