HELP-Confused about Upgrades and Win7

[Akmatov]

I have the downloaded CD version of winSPMBT from 2005. I also now have a Win7 machine. The latest patch listed at Shrapnel is

winSPMBT: Main Battle Tank Consolidation Patch (to v6.0):
The Consolidation Patch updates winSPMBT to version 6.0.

Additionally we are told:

Attention Windows 7 users, you can now enjoy the greatest tactical wargames of combined arms warfare on your PC in the smoothest experience yet seen! Camo Workshop is pleased to announce brand new installs of their smash hit classic games, winSPWW2 and winSPMBT, are now available - just in time for the holidays!

Questions:

1) Can I install my CD download winSPMBT Version: 28 Jun 2005 and then upgrade to version 6.0 via the Consolidation Patch.

2) Or, must I install my CD download winSPMBT Version: 28 Jun 2005 and then upgrade to version 6.0 by installing:
Ver 2.0
Ver 2.5
Ver 3.0
Ver 3.5
Ver 4.0
Ver 4.5

- but wait, I don't have and Shrapnel doesn't offer ver 5.0 or ver 5.5.

So it looks like the upgrade path is 1) - but this is not clearly stated anywhere I can find. Please help, this is confusing.

UPDATE:
In trying out the Consolidation Patch I find "This installer includes all of the patch files to upgrade winSPMBT v1.0 to v6.0" I think this answers my question, but it is pretty inconvenient to ONLY place this vital information in the middle of the install process. The information that the Consolidation Patch will update v1.0 to v6.0 AND tweak winSPMBT to run on Win7 is nowhere obviously stated.

As I understand it, the Consolidation Patch is GREAT! But the information about it is definitely sub-par.

[Mobhack]

Option 1 obviously, as the entire point of the consolidation patch is to remove the need for running several incremental patch installs, and manually re-pathing each one to fit the "Installing under windows vista and seven" sticky thread posted at the top of the forum.

The new initial seed programmes have the same path as the consolidated patch, post the introduction of the consolidation patch.

Your CD download initial seed programme, being the older version, will have the original windows XP and before /program files/ path baked into it - not the new one. So you will have to re-path the initial seed programme install manually to fit the consolidated patch is all.

Andy

[Akmatov]

Thank you for taking the time to explain.

[DRG]

So it looks like the upgrade path is 1) - but this is not clearly stated anywhere I can find.

REALLY ?? "not clearly stated anywhere" ???

Perhaps you could explain how we could have made it any clearer than..

"The Consolidation Patch updates winSPMBT to version 6.0."

= a single patch that upgrades the game to version 6 hence the word "consolidation" in the title. Therefore, if you have the original V1 version of the game this patch will update it to V6


??? Please explain what exactly we could have added to that text that would have made it more clear.


To head off any future confusion for anyone, the next patch for winSPMBT will be numbered V7 and you will have to install that AFTER the V1-V6 consolidation patch.


Don