Nasty graphics problems.

[craigb]

I'm having trouble getting AH to run and was wondering if anyones seen anything like this.  The software is 1.09 patch 2, just downloaded.  I have gone through the FAQ and tried the various AGP settings, and I have the latest Detonator drivers, and the latest VIA 4in1 drivers, as well as DirectX8.1.  I have also tried every possible video configuration for the game.  This problem occurs on two seperate systems with similar specs.  The first is as follows:

Athlon XP 1800+
Gigabyte KT266/A Mobo
768Mb RAM
GeForce3 64Mb
Win2KSP2

The second system is:

Athlon XP 1700+
MTech KT266/A Mobo
256Mb RAM
GeForce2 32Mb
Win2KSP2
Slightly older Detonator drivers (from about a month ago)

I have attached a screenshot but whats not apparent from it is that the strange geometry and colors rapidly flash and tear around the screen, and seem to follow the mouse cursor.  I'm at a loss as both these systems have run every other game I've thrown at them flawlessly.  Thanks in advance for any ideas you might have.

[SlapShot]

Is this what you get when you first enter the game or is this what you get when you ALT-TAB back to the desktop and then get back into the game?

I have seen this due to the latter.

[SKurj]

done a virus check lately?


SKurj

[maddog1]

Try checking "disable swap pallettes" in AH video setup......

[agosling]

I had exactly the same problem on a dual SMP AMD 1800+. (also Win2k) Researching on the Internet, I found out that there was a problem between the latest nvidia drivers and the SMP on my Tyan motherboard. I don't know if the problem was SMP, Tyan, or AMD1800+ and Nvidia, but backing off one version on the drivers worked.

I now get constant 60 FPS (sometimes 55 in heavy smoke). The 60 FPS is limited by my flat screen monitor.

I would suggest trying an earlier version of the Detanator drivers.

I'm using Linux right now, but when I reboot later for AH - only reason to boot Windows - I'll try to remember to give you the exact version of Detanator drivers that I'm using.

[agosling]

OK, just booted windows, here is my configuration:

Tyan Motherboard
Dual AMD1800+
1 GB RAM
GeForce3 Ti200 64 MB (ELSA Gladiac)
Matrox G450PCI dual-head video card (has to be disabled to run AH)
3x 18" LG flatscreen monitors running at 60Hz
Soundblaster Audigy
Windows 2000 Professional

Video adapter driver shows up as 2.2.8.0 in Display/Properties/Advanced/Driver, installed from the file w2k-2280.zip downloaded from http://www.nvidia.com.

DirectX 8.1

This setup works perfectly. Hope this helps you.

[craigb]

Thanks everyone for all the replies.  In answer to all the questions:

Yes I get this when I first enter the game.

Yes I have done a virus check.

I have tried "disable palletized textures", but I see no "disable swap pallettes" option.

I am using Detonator 28.32 (version 2.8.3.2) so I will try the earlier version.

Maybe while I'm at it I'll try running it in Wine.

[craigb]

Ok, I just downloaded and tried Detonator 21.83 as it was the latest pre-23 version of the drivers available.  No effect on the problem.

Is there another version of the game available for download?  From the other problems posted on this forum it seems possible that this is a problem with the new version.

Thanks again for the help.

[agosling]

Originally posted by craigb
Ok, I just downloaded and tried Detonator 21.83 as it was the latest pre-23 version of the drivers available.  No effect on the problem.

Is there another version of the game available for download?  From the other problems posted on this forum it seems possible that this is a problem with the new version.

Thanks again for the help.

I could send you the drivers I have installed if you like. Send an email to SnoGoose@web.de, and I'll send it as an attachment (3MB)

[bloom25]

Something similar happened in the DX 8 beta versions of AH right before 1.08 came out.  That was caused by nVidia's drivers.  If it's happening on both your systems I'd suspect either a video driver conflict with AH, or the AH patch you got may have been corrupted.  Since I'm guessing this didn't happen before the patch, you may just want to bite the bullet and uninstall AH and download and install the full version.  The uninstaller won't remove the settings directory, so for a complete uninstall, I'd remove this as well.  (Copy any custom sound folders or special gunsights before you do this though.)

Before reinstalling AH, first try going into it's settings folder and removing the video7.cfg file.  Reboot the computer and start AH.  It will reprompt you for video settings.  On the GF 2, try the 12.41 drivers, I know those work well.  On the GF 3, the 21.83s are the newest I've tested that work ok.  (The 23.11s were buggy when I tested them, I haven't tried the new 27 or 28 series drivers yet.)  Make sure you are removing the old drivers before installing new ones.

[craigb]

Thanks, agosling, but I got it working by sticking another hard drive in with 98 on it.  Not ideal, since this game is the only reason I would ever boot 98, but what the hell.

BTW, I did install from the full version download; I'm still at a loss to explain this.

Anyway, thanks for the help everyone, and I'll see ya online.

[Kirin]

Craig - that happens to me if Desktop and AH resolution are different - try to set em at same value - should fix it...

[FOGOLD]

I get a similar problem if I alt- tab in and out of game or if i let AH dial up the internet connection (I dial up via wingate on a server machine). If I establish a connection before launching AH it's not a problem, or if I don't alt-tab.  I have the same desktop/AH reolution/color depth.

21.83 drivers Geforce 3 ti500
1800XP
Audigy player
K7t266 Mobo
DX 8.1

It doesn't bother me much and doesn't interfere with gameplay as long as I establish a connection before launching AH

[HABICHT]

hi guys...was just up to give AH another try..and have same problem:
athlon1800XP
win2000proffesional
512mb ddr ram
gf3t500
tried with 28.32 and 28.80 drivers
epox 8kha+ MB
via 4in1 drivers

..and still the same problem.
really frustrating..never had problems with AH since 1.0

habicht

[Masherbrum]

That's weird craig, i have XP Professional and have no probs.   Let me do some research with a buddy of mine who troubleshoots for Pfizer (yes, the Viagra Pfizer).  

Jay