monitor goes into powersave on demo

[lschofield]

After the "loading" screen finishes, the lights on monitor immediately start blinking as if they are in powersave mode, and the screen goes black. I can hear the music fine however. To get out of this 'powersave', I have to hit ctrl-alt-del, as I don't even get a toolbar or start button at that point. I do have a newer system, but a very old monitor. My diagnosis is below. Can someone please help? Many thanks.

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 11/25/2004, 12:26:53
Machine name: NUTHOUSE
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: n/a
System Model: Product Name
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) XP 3000+, MMX, 3DNow, ~2.2GHz
Memory: 480MB RAM
Page File: 313MB used, 811MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: None
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.2180 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 2: No problems found.
Sound Tab 3: No problems found.
Music Tab: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.
Network Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D: 0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce4 MX Integrated GPU
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce4 MX Integrated GPU
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_01F0&SUBSYS_904D1509&REV_A3
Display Memory: 32.0 MB
Current Mode: 800 x 600 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.4403 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 5/2/2003 01:19:00, 3180171 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
VDD: n/a
Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
Mini VDD Date: 5/2/2003 01:19:00, 1312555 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-42B0-11CF-8A67-47B002C2CB35}
Vendor ID: 0x10DE
Device ID: 0x01F0
SubSys ID: 0x904D1509
Revision ID: 0x00A3
Revision ID: 0x00A3
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_B ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D
Deinterlace Caps: {212DC723-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_MedianFiltering
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{212DC723-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_MedianFiltering
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{212DC723-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_MedianFiltering
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
Registry: OK
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: Not run
D3D7 Test Result: Not run
D3D8 Test Result: Not run
D3D9 Test Result: Not run

[NeilV]

first thing you have old vidieo drivers

Driver Date/Size: 5/2/2003 01:19:00, 3180171 bytes

update then to the latest bar one (from what i have herd latest drivers dont work that well use previous version) and see if that solves the problem

[Keith]

Yep, update that video driver.

[Hans Schroeder]

The drivers NeilV is referring to can be found here (http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_2k_61.77.html).

[lschofield]

Thanks so much! Thought thats what it probably was, but I wanted to be sure before I started messing with things. Thanks again!!!

[lschofield]

NOTE - I JUST TRIED THIS, AND IT HASN'T FIXED THE PROBLEM EITHER, SAME THING HAPPENS....
--------------------------------------------------------------

I'm using the NVIDIA driver you linked to above - no change. The monitor still goes into powersave after initially loading the demo.

I probably should've mentioned that I'm using a very old monitor with a newer computer. When first connecting this box to this monitor, the same thing would happen after Windows would load. The monitor would go into powersave mode, indicated by the flashing lights on the bottom of the CRT. This was overcome by manually adjusting the screen's refresh rate.

I had a look on the internet, and this is sometimes a problem for games. If you have the same problem, download this bit of freeware to more easily manage refresh rate settings

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download1268.html

And follow the instructions on http://homepage.ntlworld.com/gamezone/help/scr-prob.htm
- But, it didn't work for me.....

[Hans Schroeder]

So, are you still having problems?

[lschofield]

Yep - still problems. After the loading screen finishes, and the music starts, the screen goes black, and the monitors lights start blinking, indicating that powersave is on.

I can only exit from the black screen by hitting ctrl-alt-del or alt-tab. When I do this, I still have the game playing fine in the background (music is going, button in toolbar shows its minimized. If I switch back to it though, monitor goes to powersave again....

The available refresh rates for my monitor are: 56, 60, 70, 72, 75, and 85 hz. I have this setting to the highest - 85 hz. I'm going to try all the available refresh rates to see if that changes things, but please let me know if you get a better idea!!! Many thanks again!

[lschofield]

Tried all the available refresh rates with no luck.

I read the 'readme' file, and saw this should be played in 32-bit at 1024x768. I run my settings at 32 bit, but on 800x600. The screen goes black and the monitor goes into powersave when I try to do this. Trying to move to Children of the Nile by alt-tabbing at these settings still does nothing.

Any more suggestions, or just that I need a new monitor? Many thanks.

[lschofield]

OK - here's where I stand. I've promised my son he can play this if he gets a good grade on a test at school (and I can't afford a new monitor) so I'm really crossing my fingers that someone can help figure this out!!!

I think I've got those NVIDIA drivers in place - but am not sure. When I check on the monitor settings, it just lists "Plug and Play Monitor", but you'll be able to see if I need to do more work with the drivers by seeing my dxdiag, correct?

Also, I note that CotN needs to be played with 1024x768, but that lowering the resolution to 800x600 can improve performance on some low-end systems. I've got the refresh rate set to 85 Hz, which is as high as my monitor will tolerate. When it is set to 1024x768 at this frequency though, it once again goes black (for all windows, and not just the CotN game).

I've attached my full dxdiag per your instructions to this message. Does anyone have any other suggestions? It would be MUCH appreciated!!!!

[Hans Schroeder]

Looking at your DxDiag you've got that all set up.

Since you can't get into the game to change the resolution to default to 800x600, I'm going to tell you how to go in and manually do it. In general, it's a bad idea to mess around with the .ini file, as it can adversely affect your ability to play the game, but in this case it's easy enough to do.

Go to the directory where you installed the demo to and find the cotn.ini file (by default this is at C:\Program Files\Tilted Mill\Children of the Nile Demo\CotN.ini) Open this with a text editor and find the lines:

Game Window Height 768
Game Window Width 1024

Change them to read

Game Window Height 600
Game Window Width 800

Save the file and try playing the demo again. Let me know if this works.

[Damiun]

Hello all....i tired the ini idea and it still doesn't work for me. pretty much the same system specs....Only difference is i got the retail version and it loads, i see a movie...all the games logos...but the second it gets to where i *THINK* the Main menu is i get a black screen and a refresh rate error =) any ideas? and i run the computer in the RES and color depth that the game wants so i'm pretty confused at this point


Update: Yeah i used Nvidia's refresh rate overide option and i got to the main menu and even started playing the game....HOWEVER....NOW when i move the camera around i see tracers of everything.....trees and buildings, everything. To get it to work i overode it to 60mhz it was the only one that worked *shrugs* any ideas?


UPDATEx2: I rolled back my nvidia driver to 61.77 and it works now...hope that helps other ppl a little bit =)

[mouse]

Please give the DX dia file cause it sounds like a video driver issue. Either the drivers are too old or too new.

Isohofield did your turn off the power save options in display. Someone else had this problem and found their bios had a power save option that was turning off the monitor.