Ok I had a permissions issue trying to start the client
Firstly it couldn't create the steal.cfg file and bombed .. so i created it manually. then it could not read uo.cfg !!! (as the error below shows)
(running win7 64bit. )
In case anyone else has this issue .. the fix is to right click properties of the "ultima online classic" folder , then security tab. add the permission "write" to the Group - Users (also make sure read is checked)
An exception raised at 15:23:06:604
Cannot open file "C:\Program Files (x86)\Electronic Arts\Ultima Online Classic\uo.cfg". Access is denied
(000A0986){Stealth.exe } [004A1986] System.Classes.TFileStream.Create (Line 8593, "System.Classes.pas")
Call stack:
(000A0981){Stealth.exe } [004A1981] System.Classes.TFileStream.Create (Line 8591, "System.Classes.pas")
(000A0838){Stealth.exe } [004A1838] System.Classes.TFileStream.Create (Line 8561, "System.Classes.pas")
(005110BE){Stealth.exe } [009120BE] main.TStealthForm.BitBtnStartClientClick (Line 2727, "main.pas")
(0014016F){Stealth.exe } [0054116F] Vcl.Controls.TControl.Click (Line 7340, "Vcl.Controls.pas")
(00144579){Stealth.exe } [00545579] Vcl.Controls.TWinControl.WndProc (Line 10039, "Vcl.Controls.pas")
(00162E20){Stealth.exe } [00563E20] Vcl.StdCtrls.TButtonControl.WndProc (Line 5147, "Vcl.StdCtrls.pas")
(001446DF){Stealth.exe } [005456DF] Vcl.Controls.DoControlMsg (Line 10108, "Vcl.Controls.pas")
(00144579){Stealth.exe } [00545579] Vcl.Controls.TWinControl.WndProc (Line 10039, "Vcl.Controls.pas")
(00143BBC){Stealth.exe } [00544BBC] Vcl.Controls.TWinControl.MainWndProc (Line 9751, "Vcl.Controls.pas")
(000B0650){Stealth.exe } [004B1650] System.Classes.StdWndProc (Line 16891, "System.Classes.pas")
(0014468A){Stealth.exe } [0054568A] Vcl.Controls.TWinControl.DefaultHandler (Line 10080, "Vcl.Controls.pas")
(00144579){Stealth.exe } [00545579] Vcl.Controls.TWinControl.WndProc (Line 10039, "Vcl.Controls.pas")
(00162E20){Stealth.exe } [00563E20] Vcl.StdCtrls.TButtonControl.WndProc (Line 5147, "Vcl.StdCtrls.pas")
(000B0650){Stealth.exe } [004B1650] System.Classes.StdWndProc (Line 16891, "System.Classes.pas")