loading and graphical problems

[Stowage]

i got this game for christmas and it was working fine on win 98 but i upgraded to win2000 and after fixing my graphic cards the game wouldnt work.
I reinstalled it and it still wouldnt work(it froze on load)
I rebooted keep trying and after like the 3rd try it loaded to the main screen.
I started a game and everything started glitching. whenever there was something on the screen (hut bush reeds water) and i moved the screen it stayed there and blinked on and off. I had 200+ huts appearing and disappearing then it stopped. i moved and it started again. PLEASE help

[Chris Harvey]

Hi Stowage,

Did you update your video and sound drivers to the latest (or most appropriate) versions? Could you post your dxdiag so we can see if anything else is out of order?

Thanks!
-Chris

[Stowage]

k i wasnt to that testy thing in start/run and i tested my sound and graphic drivers. after following the tests i got this in the report box thing
Direct3D 7 test results: Failure at step 32 (User verification of Direct3D rendering): HRESULT = 0x00000000 (error code)
i didnt see the box with the logo on it. is that what could be messing up my game?

[Keith]

Post the entire dxdiag.txt file by using the Manage Attachments button below.

Run Dxdiag and save the results then upload that text file.

Also, as suggested, your old video drivers are probably not compatable with Windows 2000 and you need to obtain a Win2K version of the driver from the manufacturer.

[Stowage]

k heres the upload my uncle helped me update my drives and hes an expert at computers. He might have missed something ill see what google can do about it.

[mouse]

Think one of your problems is the lack of free space on your hard drive to run CotN. Your sound card drivers are 5 years old and your video drivers failed the Direct 3d draw part of the DX test.

[TombRaiderBC]

I got the exact same problem with the blinking screwy graphics, stowage, when I upgraded my video card to what you're using, the GeForce FX 5200 128MB. The game was working fine prior to installing the new card two days ago. Since then I've been on the phone with NVIDIA tech support, CoTN tech support, and HP tech support, and nobody can solve the problem. I ended up re-installing my original chip, and the game is working again (albeit with low end graphics).

The techie at CoTN told me no one has reported problems with this video card, so maybe you should call and let them know. That way they'll have at least two cases documented. I wonder how many other people are having problems with this card. If anybody out there is using the same card and ISN'T having a problem... I'd be interested in hearing from you.

[Stowage]

I got the exact same problem with the blinking screwy graphics, stowage, when I upgraded my video card to what you're using, the GeForce FX 5200 128MB. The game was working fine prior to installing the new card two days ago. Since then I've been on the phone with NVIDIA tech support, CoTN tech support, and HP tech support, and nobody can solve the problem. I ended up re-installing my original chip, and the game is working again (albeit with low end graphics).

The techie at CoTN told me no one has reported problems with this video card, so maybe you should call and let them know. That way they'll have at least two cases documented. I wonder how many other people are having problems with this card. If anybody out there is using the same card and ISN'T having a problem... I'd be interested in hearing from you.
ya but with this asme card it was running fine on win 98 so i think i may have missed something or there is something missing in the 2000 campatible download.... you running on 2000 or 98

[GillB]

I'm using that card with XP & no problems at all.

You need the 61.77 drivers from July.

[Stowage]

I'm using that card with XP & no problems at all.

You need the 61.77 drivers from July.
can you link me to where i can get those? im pretty sure xp and 2000 share the downloads for the drivers.

[mouse]

Stowage you are very very low on free space on your hard drive even if you get the right video drivers you will have problems playing CotN.

[Keith]

can you link me to where i can get those? im pretty sure xp and 2000 share the downloads for the drivers.
Yes, the XP and 2K drivers are the same. You can get the 61.77 driver version here (http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_2k_61.77.html).

[Stowage]

Thanks everyone for helping me get it to work. the july drivers work but the newer ones dont :eek: Congrats to tiltedmill on being one of the VERY few companys to actually TRY AND HELP SOMEBODY ONE FORUMS. very few companys do that. :D

[Chris Harvey]

Glad to hear you're up and running with those drivers! Enjoy the game, and be sure to check in on the boards from time to time ;)

Cheers!
-Chris

[Baro75]

I got the exact same problem with the blinking screwy graphics, stowage, when I upgraded my video card to what you're using, the GeForce FX 5200 128MB. The game was working fine prior to installing the new card two days ago. Since then I've been on the phone with NVIDIA tech support, CoTN tech support, and HP tech support, and nobody can solve the problem. I ended up re-installing my original chip, and the game is working again (albeit with low end graphics).

The techie at CoTN told me no one has reported problems with this video card, so maybe you should call and let them know. That way they'll have at least two cases documented. I wonder how many other people are having problems with this card. If anybody out there is using the same card and ISN'T having a problem... I'd be interested in hearing from you.

Reinstall UR AGP driver if install new video driver!

[Wimp_Reaper]

Hi.
I've got that Graphic-prob, too. When i start e.g. a Tutorial game and move my mouse in the game window, the world blinks and freezes for a few seconds. It's unplayable that way.
Isn't there also another solution instead of the older graphic card driver? I'm playing also some other games and de- and reinstalling that drivers is a lot of work.
:(

EDIT: Ah, forgot my DXDiag-file ;)

[Amenirdis]

Wimp_Reaper: I am afraid in your case it's really also the graphics driver that's causing the problem. So, if you wanna play CotN I guess you'll have to downgrade to the 61.77 version. Have you already tried playing those other games with the older driver? My other games work without problems with it.

[Wimp_Reaper]

@Amenirdis: I installed the older driver now and CotN works. I just played the first tutorial, nice game! :)
Just tried Myst-Revelation and it works also with the old driver. A bit more laggy but it's nearly nothing.

But i hope for a hotfix for that problem...

Thanks for quick answer! :)

[Keith]

@Amenirdis: I installed the older driver now and CotN works. I just played the first tutorial, nice game! :)
Just tried Myst-Revelation and it works also with the old driver. A bit more laggy but it's nearly nothing.

But i hope for a hotfix for that problem...

Thanks for quick answer! :)
Would we lie to you?! ;) :D

A hot fix should be Nvidia's problem, because they obviously changed their drivers so much after 61.77, which does work, that they don't work on a much newer game.
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[Wimp_Reaper]

Would we lie to you?! ;) :D...
Never!!! :D

I remember that driver-version now. It was the only one that worked with (nearly) every game/software. Even my MGS2-Substance worked. Now, with the new drivers, it don't.

[Keith]

I rarely change driver versions. Even though during the beta CotN was working with m 2003 vintage ATI driver, just to avoid testing problems it might have caused on the yet unfinished game I updated my ATI drivers to a newer one and haven't changed them since.

Changing drivers constantly just to have "the latest and greatest" offering doesn't make sense to me. I believe in the old addage, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" ;) :D

Anyway, I'm am glad to hear that you got your game working.http://members.aol.com//dheitm8612/animated/grin.gif
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[Amenirdis]

Wimp_Reaper:

I'm glad you gave the older driver a 'chance' and that you can now enjoy both games. :) ;)

[Kroc]

I shall try posting again this time without the invisible ink and hopefully this post will be replied to before the thread is closed, Since this post ive managed to figure out to use the english patch and installed it, it now runs for longer but still freezes.

Thanks again

Hey Guys

I played the demo and loved it so i went out and bought the full game, jumped straight in and was building my city when my Comp Froze ....I couldnt do anything to get out of it including ctrl alt del so ended up rebooting. This has happened every time ive played it. I adjusted the system settings to better preformance and its still freezing. Ive done the DXDIAG and have attached it. Look forward to playing the game hassle free.

Cheers Kroc

[Keith]

You may need to update your AC97 audio drivers. The latest I could find for a Avance AC97 is dated July 2. 2003 (http://www.soundcard-drivers.com/drivers/119/119961.htm), still newer than yours.

Your video driver looks fine.


Did you cleanup and defragment your hard drive before installing the CotN?

If not you may want to uninstall and do that then reinstall the game.

Close down any background apps before playing the game, including your virus scanner to see if that helps.

[Vizier]

I got the exact same problem with the blinking screwy graphics, stowage, when I upgraded my video card to what you're using, the GeForce FX 5200 128MB. The game was working fine prior to installing the new card two days ago. Since then I've been on the phone with NVIDIA tech support, CoTN tech support, and HP tech support, and nobody can solve the problem. I ended up re-installing my original chip, and the game is working again (albeit with low end graphics).

The techie at CoTN told me no one has reported problems with this video card, so maybe you should call and let them know. That way they'll have at least two cases documented. I wonder how many other people are having problems with this card. If anybody out there is using the same card and ISN'T having a problem... I'd be interested in hearing from you.

I just installed a 5200 (Asus) in my old box about a week ago. Works fine for me. I tried the very lastest drivers, no go. So I went back to the drivers I have been using, the 53.04 version. Windows 98.

[Kroc]

You may need to update your AC97 audio drivers. The latest I could find for a Avance AC97 is dated July 2. 2003 (http://www.soundcard-drivers.com/drivers/119/119961.htm), still newer than yours.

Your video driver looks fine.


Did you cleanup and defragment your hard drive before installing the CotN?

If not you may want to uninstall and do that then reinstall the game.

Close down any background apps before playing the game, including your virus scanner to see if that helps.

Thanks for your reply Keith
Ok Ive uninstalled and reinstalled including the patch Ive defragged and cleanedup i even mopped the floor
Only thing i havent done is update the sound drivers because one of the most frustrating things is when this thing freezes im still getting the lovely music in the background which kinda tells me that the musics running ok. Im getting about 15 mins game play at most before things freeze sometimes a bit more sometimes a bit less. ive tried changing the settings to best performance and it still freezes. Ive run it with the Virus Scanner and without none of it really makes much difference. It gets frustrating when u go out and spend 80 bucks on a game and it craps itself every 15 mins.
Cheers and thanks for any assistance u can provide

[Keith]

Updating the audio driver is just an attempt to rule it out as the source of the problem considering the age of your original driver version.

You may want to try increasing the page file maximum setting from it's current maximum setting to 1536 (3x what your RAM is.) This may help your system run more smoothly. From the control panel, click on performance and maintenance, then system, then the Advanced tab, and under the performance section click on the settings button, click on the Advanced tab, then the Change button, and set the custom size maximum setting to 1536. Click SET and OK, APPLY, and OK. Reboot.

If you are running your game in a high resolution mode you may want to turn it down to 1024x768 or 800x600 and see what happens. Also, try the 16 bit modes.

Check your device driver setup and make sure your sound system is selected as the default playback device. Sometimes when a voice or WAV modem is installed it hijacks the sound card settings.

A last consideration is adding anither 512MB of RAM to your system. Make sure it is a compatible type withour current RAM and speed of your CPU, etc.