Problem - black screen

[Kitten]

I downloaded the game again - (bad download last time)
Now it is downloaded, i installed it then i clicked to open the game.
Just under 1/4 of my screen was black and i could see the rest of my desktop.

Is this down to installation - i didn't install directx

[Keith]

Hmmm, video driver problem maybe. How old are your video card drivers?

Post your DXDIAG.TXT file.

Is this the demo or the patch for the release version of the game you are talking about?

[Kitten]

Sorry, but im quite new at this:

How do i find out how old my video card drivers are?
Where is the DXDIAG.TXT file?

It is the demo and im running windows 98

[Keith]

All the info about your system will be displayed in the DXDIAG.TXT file.

To create one, click on START, then click on RUN and type:

DXDIAG

Click OK.

Once the program is done checking your system click on the SAVE button and save the file someplace you can find it easily on your computer.

Come back here, post a new message, then using the MANAGE ATTACHMENT button below the area where you type your message. Clicking on that button will open a new browser window. Use the BROWSE button to find the DXDIAG.TXT file that the DXDIAG saved to your computer. Select that file and then click on the UPLOAD button. When it is done uploading, close the attachment window and then SUBMIT your message.

Your DXDIAG file will be attached to your new message when you click on the SUBMIT button. Then we can download it and look at it ourselves from your message.

[Kitten]

Thanx Keith

[Kitten]

I just remembered...

When i installed it, i didn't install directx because it said it was already on my system.
So am i getting the black screen because my directx is not up to date?

[Keith]

Unfortunately, the video card in your system doesn't support the graphic features used by this game. Your card is outdated. ATI supported are the RADEON types from 7500 up and the newer X series cards.

You can find a list of cards that do and don't work here:

http://www.tiltedmill.com/forums/showpost.php?p=34204&postcount=6

Your sound card drivers are antiques dated 1999. Chances are your sound card may not be compliant either.

Minimum:

Pentium® III or Athlon® 800 MHz processor or higher
Windows® 98/2000/ME/XP operating system
128 MB of RAM (256 MB required for Windows® XP)
1.1 GB uncompressed free hard drive space

A 100% Windows® 98/2000/ME/XP-compatible computer system including:
DirectX® 9.0b
100% DirectX® 9-compliant true 16 bit sound card and drivers
100% DirectX® 9-compliant 32 MB video card and drivers
100% Windows® 98/2000/ME/XP -compatible mouse and drivers
100% Windows® 98/2000/ME/XP -compatible keyboard
100% Windows® 98/2000/ME/XP -compatible quad speed (600 K/sec sustained transfer rate) CD-ROM drive and drivers

[GillB]

DirectX looks to be OK as it says you have 9.0c.

Your video card drivers, however, seem to be dated 1999 ... so that could be the problem ... though I would wait for someone with more tech knowledge than I have to answer definitely.

[Kitten]

thanx - i will uninstall it then.

[Keith]

You can get a new video card rather cheaply nowadays that should work. Make sure it supports "Transform" and "Lighting" (T&L) and is DirectX 9 compliant.