Black Screen

[kilz]

ok so heres what all i have done. i replaced my video card old one was a Nvidia 8800 ultra with the MSI Nvidia GTX 260, with MSI AfterBurner.

reason for changing this card was my monitor kept going black everytime i logged onto the game. thought ok the card is getting old will replace it. installed the new card and installed the new driver. (yes removed the old driver first) this did not fix the problem. tried my 32" Sony Bravia to see if maybe my desktop monitor was bad. nope same problem with my tv as well. now im at a loss. dont know if its my Power supply MB cooling problems.

i did read in one post from way back that if my monitor reads a plug and play that it could cause problems. should download a .inf file of some sorts dont know crap about that. dont know if i installed new video card wrong or what but here is my dxdiag

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 7/29/2010, 00:20:27
       Machine name: XPS720
   Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.100216-1514)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.               
       System Model: Dell XPS720                 
               BIOS: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A06
          Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU    Q6600  @ 2.40GHz (4 CPUs)
             Memory: 3070MB RAM
          Page File: 326MB used, 4628MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
    DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
     DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.5512 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
  DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
      Display Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 1: The file ctaud2k.sys is not digitally signed, which means that it has not been tested by Microsoft's Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL).  You may be able to get a WHQL logo'd driver from the hardware manufacturer.
          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 GeForce GTX 260
     Manufacturer: NVIDIA
        Chip type: GeForce GTX 260
         DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
       Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_05E2&SUBSYS_17711462&REV_A1
   Display Memory: 896.0 MB
     Current Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (60Hz)
          Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
  Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
      Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
   Driver Version: 6.14.0012.5896 (English)
      DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
 Driver Date/Size: 7/9/2010 14:38:00, 6343040 bytes
      WHQL Logo'd: Yes
  WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
              VDD: n/a
         Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
    Mini VDD Date: 7/9/2010 14:38:00, 10604128 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-46A2-11CF-DA60-7D3700C2CB35}
        Vendor ID: 0x10DE
        Device ID: 0x05E2
        SubSys ID: 0x17711462
      Revision ID: 0x00A1
      Revision ID: 0x00A1
      Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D
 Deinterlace Caps: {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {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_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {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_BOBVerticalSt retch
         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

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
            Description: SB Audigy 2 Audio [CCC0]
 Default Sound Playback: Yes
 Default Voice Playback: Yes
            Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0004&SUBSYS_10021102&REV_04
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 100
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys
         Driver Version: 6.00.0001.1370 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: No
          Date and Size: 3/4/2009 14:44:38, 528408 bytes
            Other Files:
        Driver Provider: Creative
         HW Accel Level: Full
              Cap Flags: 0xF5F
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 4000, 192000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 64, 62
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 64, 62
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: Yes
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
               Registry: OK
      Sound Test Result: Not run

---------------------
Sound Capture Devices
---------------------
            Description: SB Audigy 2 Audio [CCC0]
  Default Sound Capture: Yes
  Default Voice Capture: Yes
            Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys
         Driver Version: 6.00.0001.1370 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
          Date and Size: 3/4/2009 14:44:38, 528408 bytes
              Cap Flags: 0x41
           Format Flags: 0xFFF

[Skuzzy]

Running with the "Plug N Play" monitor INF could be the cause of this issue.  Get the proper INF for your monitor from the monitor manufacturer.

It could also be power supply related.

[kilz]

i will try the PS. as i have used that file for 4 years thanks Skuzzy

[Skuzzy]

That INF you are using comes with Windows and is a generic file.  The correct one from the manufacturer will be much better, as the 'plug-n-play' INF is very simple and does not provide all the timings for an LCD monitor.

[kilz]

installing all those parts did not fix the problem.

i did notice that the latest driver is 7-19-2010 and the one that is installed is dated 7-9-2010 when i delete the 7-19-2010 and install the new one it shows the driver for 7-19-2010 whole diffrent driver.

i am not sure what could be wrong now and look for any help possible. yes Skuzzy i changed my plug n play file

[Skuzzy]

Not hearing good things about the latest NVidia drivers. What power supply does your computer have in it?

[kilz]

700 or 750 watt not sure but know its one of those. Skuzzy think it could be a setting problem? i have been on the phone with Nvidia and Dell which i can understand dell they have replaced everything that could effect me from playing this game. Would it be better if i installed a older GTX260 driver?

[Skuzzy]

It may be a bad video card or power supply.  For a monitor to go black when the video card goes into 3D mode, it usually means the video card has reset itself, providing the resolution the game is attempting to run is a valid resolution for the monitor.

An older driver might be worth a try.

[kilz]

well considering i just replaced the Power Supply and the Video card i am going to have to say Resolution. dont even know if my resolution is correct. i plan on uninstalling the game and redownloading and start from scratch Salute will let you know how it turns out.

[Skuzzy]

The games default resolution is whatever your desktop resolution is set to.

[kilz]

then how do i find out what my desktop resolution should be

[Skuzzy]

It should be whatever is the native resolution of the monitor is.  That information should be at the manufacturers WEB site.

[kilz]

so far i have gotten it down to resolution. my 8800 video card is playing the game right now with no problems. i am going to put my GTX260 in tonight when i get home and use the same resolutions and see if it will play.