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Help and Support Forums => Technical Support => Topic started by: Zambelli on February 18, 2014, 09:47:06 PM

Title: Icon colors flicker in and out
Post by: Zambelli on February 18, 2014, 09:47:06 PM
Hello.  Got a new PC.  Since loading AH.... icon colors flicker in and out.  One sec a friendly is green, then white.  Some icons in my fow are white, some red, some green.  There seems to be no rhyme or reason to it.  Become very annoying when they blend in with sky color.  How do I fix this please?

Thanks
Title: Re: Icon colors flicker in and out
Post by: Skuzzy on February 19, 2014, 06:18:54 AM
Intel video chip?
Title: Re: Icon colors flicker in and out
Post by: Zambelli on February 19, 2014, 06:57:04 AM
Dont know.   Its a dell computer.  How do I find out.   Thanks.
Title: Re: Icon colors flicker in and out
Post by: Bizman on February 19, 2014, 07:04:15 AM
Dont know.   Its a dell computer.  How do I find out.   Thanks.
Three ways, at least: 1) The Dell website with the model number, 2) DxDiag. You can send the first third of it here for further advice since it includes further information about your computer. 3) Device Manager in the Control Panel, look for Display Adapter. 4) Display Options...
Title: Re: Icon colors flicker in and out
Post by: Skuzzy on February 19, 2014, 08:39:14 AM
If it is an Intel video chip, there is not much that can be done.
Title: Re: Icon colors flicker in and out
Post by: Bizman on February 19, 2014, 10:02:53 AM
If it is an Intel video chip, there is not much that can be done.
Unless... There's some variables that would be nice to know. A laptop with an Intel video chip is definitely beyond salvation. A laptop with two different video chips will only need correcting a setting. A desktop without a pci-e slot is good for your granny. A desktop with a pci-e slot can be turned into a serious gaming rig with some extra parts. Dell makes all of these variations. Since you don't seem to know much about computers (not you, Skuzzy, I'm addressing this to Zambelli) you still have a 50-50 chance between Yippee and Oh Crap!
Title: Re: Icon colors flicker in and out
Post by: Skuzzy on February 19, 2014, 10:34:29 AM
I should have elaborated.  If the computer only has an Intel video chip, the only option to cure the problem is to add in another graphics board, if the computer can handle it.

Many OEM computers (Dell, HP,....) make use of a power supply designed to handle the load of the computer they built, requiring it to be replaced if a higher performance video card is to be added in.  Some of the OEM's remove the ability for a video card to be added, which makes those computers, "what you see is what you get".

Dell will have all the options available to your computer.

First thing is to determine what video card/chip is in the computer.  The symptoms sound very much like it has an Intel video chip.
Title: Re: Icon colors flicker in and out
Post by: Drano on February 19, 2014, 11:31:02 AM
At the end of the day a computer isn't a computer isn't a computer. You can put one together that'll do a perfect job of surfing or email for not a lot of bucks, but it just won't do the sort of gaming that AH is at all. If you put together a purpose built gaming rig it WILL do that and all the other stuff you'd use it for. You can start out with a decent motherboard, CPU and PSU that'll allow for expansion in order to "future proof" yourself if you change gears from more surfing to more gaming. If you do it the other way around (as it sounds like is what happened) you just can't do it that way. You'll build in limitations that will preclude that gear change if you want to.

The first question when putting together a rig, whether you're gonna get a Dell, etc., or you're building it yourself, should always be--what am I gonna want to use this for? Do I NEED the best of the best CPU? Do I NEED a ton of RAM? Do I NEED that kickazz video card? Whatever that all adds up to the next question should be--what size PSU do I need to run all that stuff? Then have a plan around the answers to those questions and start there.

After building my current rig myself I'm a huge fan of DIY. If this handsomehunk wrench turner can do it anybody can.
Title: Re: Icon colors flicker in and out
Post by: BluBerry on February 19, 2014, 11:34:14 AM
If this handsomehunk wrench turner can do it anybody can.

 :lol
Title: Re: Icon colors flicker in and out
Post by: Drano on February 19, 2014, 03:08:47 PM
Dang Correctifying thingy! <shakes fist>
 :lol
Title: Re: Icon colors flicker in and out
Post by: Zambelli on February 19, 2014, 07:19:45 PM
Intel hd graphics 2500.   So now what..  I need some sort of new video card?   :bhead
Title: Re: Icon colors flicker in and out
Post by: Skuzzy on February 20, 2014, 06:23:52 AM
Intel hd graphics 2500.   So now what..  I need some sort of new video card?   :bhead

We have made the game where it will work with that Intel video chip, but there are limitations.  That chip is not designed for real time 3D graphics.  It runs Microsoft Office and a WEB browser just fine though.
Title: Re: Icon colors flicker in and out
Post by: Zambelli on February 20, 2014, 06:56:28 AM
Is there some kind of card or chip I can replace to fix this?  What should I get?
Title: Re: Icon colors flicker in and out
Post by: Drano on February 20, 2014, 07:30:17 AM
If all you have available to you is the built-in Intel HD graphics, as Skuzzy points out--it's really not for this. This being intensive 3D games like AH. That built-in graphics is for "HD games" like you'd have on a cell phone only the PC version. Not anything like a game like this. Oh it'll run the program but........it'll..............be........... .just........a little bit..........choppy! You'll need to buy an actual video card but the question is--do you even have a PCIe slot for it on your motherboard? If not you're kinda screwed.

Do your homework before you buy. Them interwebs gots all da answers for ya!
Title: Re: Icon colors flicker in and out
Post by: Bizman on February 20, 2014, 07:55:41 AM
Is there some kind of card or chip I can replace to fix this?  What should I get?
Now would be the time for you to give us some more information about your Dell: Is it a desktop or a laptop? Which model is it?

Each of the four variables I've mentioned earlier in this post is still viable until you've given that information.
Title: Re: Icon colors flicker in and out
Post by: Drano on February 20, 2014, 09:05:43 AM
Oh and by the way insofar as a "chip" to replace, that chip is actually part of the CPU. Even if you went to a high end CPU it still wouldn't be up to the task for this kind of gaming.
Title: Re: Icon colors flicker in and out
Post by: Zambelli on February 20, 2014, 01:46:20 PM
I specifically ordered this pc for gaming.   Pissed!.   Looks like Im calling dell!
Title: Re: Icon colors flicker in and out
Post by: Bizman on February 20, 2014, 02:08:19 PM
I specifically ordered this pc for gaming.!
In that case are you sure there isn't double graphic cards in it? Some laptops have such but the games won't necessarily trigger the more powerful video card on. Again, without knowing the model it's impossible to tell you whether you're a victim of exaggerated marketing jargon or just missing a tick in a check box.
Title: Re: Icon colors flicker in and out
Post by: Zambelli on February 20, 2014, 06:05:35 PM
Home now.   I have a desk top dell..  inspiron 660
Title: Re: Icon colors flicker in and out
Post by: gpwurzel on February 20, 2014, 07:45:37 PM
Take a look on the back of your computer, where do you plug the video cable in? If its part of the motherboard, its part of the chipset - if there are 2, you have a seperate video card - this should have either a vga (small blue connection) or a white rectangular one, or, possibly, a small almost usb looking one (thinner and wider though). If you have any of these, try plugging your monitor into them, then retry the game.

If you do a dxdiag, and post the first 3rd of it here, people will be able to help further. Please be aware, if you need to buy a video card, there is a good chance your power supply may need changing out too.

To do a dxdiag, click start, in the search box, type dxdiag hit enter. There will be a button to save the info - save that to your desktop (or anywhere where you can find it), then post the first 3rd in separate posts here for us to see.

Wurz
Title: Re: Icon colors flicker in and out
Post by: Bizman on February 21, 2014, 02:03:45 AM
Home now.   I have a desk top dell..  inspiron 660
After a very quick search I found that there may be an optional GeForce 620 or then not. As gpwurzel said, look for the external video card connectors in the back. If there isn't any, open the case and look for a pci-e slot on the motherboard. I think I saw one in the Google Picture search, but didn't double check the model. Anyway, if there's one you can get a decent low power video card which will highly improve your gameplay. A higher end graphics card would mean that you'd have to get another PSU, too.

Actually, since the computer is new, calling Dell isn't a bad idea. If you've been sold a "gaming computer", that is highly exaggerated. "Gaming" doesn't mean only CandyCrush...
Title: Re: Icon colors flicker in and out
Post by: Bizman on February 21, 2014, 11:40:44 AM
If your computer has the pci-e slot, adding just a graphics card shouldn't even void the warranty. This might interest you: http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Graphics-Cards/Upgrade-Story-Can-GTX-750-Ti-Convert-OEMs-PCs-Gaming-PCs (http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Graphics-Cards/Upgrade-Story-Can-GTX-750-Ti-Convert-OEMs-PCs-Gaming-PCs)

Thanks to MrRipley for finding this!
Title: Re: Icon colors flicker in and out
Post by: Zambelli on February 23, 2014, 07:12:14 PM
dxdiag

-----------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 2/3/2001, 11:35:14
       Machine name: Pavilion
   Operating System: Microsoft Windows 98 (4.10, Build 2222)  A
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
          Processor: Intel Celeron,  MMX, 400MHz
             Memory: 62MB RAM
          Page File: 71MB used, 1914MB available
    DirectX Version: DirectX 7.0 (4.07.00.0716)
DX Setup Parameters: None
     DxDiag Version: 4.07.00.0700

------------------
DirectX Components
------------------
   ddraw.dll: 4.07.00.0700 English Final Retail 9/8/1999 23:00:00 352528 bytes
 ddraw16.dll: 4.07.00.0700 English Final Retail 9/8/1999 23:00:00 28496 bytes
 ddrawex.dll: 4.87.00.0700 English Final Retail 9/8/1999 23:00:00 24336 bytes
   ddraw.vxd: 4.07.00.0700 English Final Retail 9/8/1999 23:00:00 30469 bytes
  ddhelp.exe: 4.07.00.0700 English Final Retail 9/8/1999 23:00:00 39184 bytes
   dxapi.sys: 4.87.00.0700 English Final Retail 9/8/1999 23:00:00 2416 bytes
   d3dim.dll: 4.07.00.0700 English Final Retail 9/8/1999 23:00:00 625936 bytes
d3dim700.dll: 4.07.00.0700 English Final Retail 9/8/1999 23:00:00 673552 bytes
  d3dref.dll: 4.07.00.0700 English Final Retail 9/8/1999 23:00:00 141584 bytes
 d3dramp.dll: 4.07.00.0700 English Final Retail 9/8/1999 23:00:00 590096 bytes
   d3drm.dll: 4.06.02.0436 English Final Retail 1/8/1999 10:10:00 437008 bytes
  d3dxof.dll: 4.06.02.0436 English Final Retail 1/8/1999 10:10:00 107792 bytes
d3dpmesh.dll: 4.06.02.0436 English Final Retail 1/8/1999 10:10:00 87312 bytes
  dplayx.dll: 4.07.00.0700 English Final Retail 9/8/1999 23:00:00 218384 bytes
dpmodemx.dll: 4.07.00.0700 English Final Retail 9/8/1999 23:00:00 76560 bytes
dpwsockx.dll: 4.07.00.0700 English Final Retail 9/8/1999 23:00:00 65808 bytes
dplaysvr.exe: 4.07.00.0700 English Final Retail 9/8/1999 23:00:00 29968 bytes
  dsound.dll: 4.07.00.0700 English Final Retail 9/8/1999 23:00:00 399120 bytes
dsound3d.dll: 4.07.00.0700 English Final Retail 9/8/1999 23:00:00 1320208 bytes
  dsound.vxd: 4.07.00.0700 English Final Retail 9/8/1999 23:00:00 56259 bytes
  dinput.dll: 4.07.00.0716 English Final Retail 9/8/1999 23:00:00 633616 bytes
  dinput.vxd: 4.07.00.0700 English Final Retail 9/8/1999 23:00:00 10874 bytes
  joyhid.vxd: 4.87.00.0700 English Final Retail 9/8/1999 23:00:00 12107 bytes
     joy.cpl: 4.07.00.0700 English Final Retail 9/8/1999 23:00:00 374032 bytes
   gcdef.dll: 4.07.00.0700 English Final Retail 9/8/1999 23:00:00 525072 bytes
     pid.dll: 4.07.00.0700 English Final Retail 9/8/1999 23:00:00 26384 bytes
gameenum.sys: 4.07.00.0700 English Final Retail 9/8/1999 23:00:00 10512 bytes
 hidgame.sys: 4.07.00.0700 English Final Retail 11/26/1999 23:00:02 8880 bytes
  dmusic.dll: 4.07.00.0700 English Final Retail 9/8/1999 23:00:00 69392 bytes
dmusic16.dll: 4.07.00.0700 English Final Retail 9/8/1999 23:00:00 11456 bytes
dmusic32.dll: 4.07.00.0700 English Final Retail 9/8/1999 23:00:00 13584 bytes
  dmband.dll: 4.07.00.0700 English Final Retail 9/8/1999 23:00:00 26896 bytes
dmcompos.dll: 4.07.00.0700 English Final Retail 9/8/1999 23:00:00 49936 bytes
   dmime.dll: 4.07.00.0700 English Final Retail 9/8/1999 23:00:00 82192 bytes
dmloader.dll: 4.07.00.0700 English Final Retail 9/8/1999 23:00:00 21264 bytes
 dmstyle.dll: 4.07.00.0700 English Final Retail 9/8/1999 23:00:00 78096 bytes
 dmsynth.dll: 4.07.00.0700 English Final Retail 9/8/1999 23:00:00 52496 bytes
   dx7vb.dll: 4.07.00.0700 English Final Retail 9/8/1999 23:00:00 605456 bytes

-------------------
DirectX Media Files
-------------------
actmovie.exe: 6.01.05.0130 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 36864 bytes
amstream.dll: 6.01.05.0217 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 81920 bytes
   danim.dll: 6.01.05.0124 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 1228800 bytes
 devenum.dll: 6.01.05.0217 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 65536 bytes
  dxmasf.dll: 6.01.05.0130 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 438272 bytes
 dxtmsft.dll: 6.01.05.0124 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 466944 bytes
dxtmsft3.dll: 6.01.05.0124 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 552960 bytes
 dxtrans.dll: 6.01.05.0124 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 192512 bytes
    lmrt.dll: 6.01.05.0124 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 319488 bytes
lmrtrend.dll: 6.01.05.0124 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 49152 bytes
  mciqtz.drv: 4.00.96.0729 English Final Retail 8/17/1998 02:21:54 11776 bytes
mciqtz32.dll: 6.01.05.0217 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 49152 bytes
 mpg2splt.ax: 6.01.05.0217 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 63760 bytes
mplayer2.exe: 6.01.05.0130 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 12288 bytes
   msdxm.ocx: 6.01.05.0217 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 807184 bytes
    qcap.dll: 6.01.05.0304 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 176128 bytes
    qcut.dll: 6.01.05.0217 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 200704 bytes
     qdv.dll: 6.01.05.0319 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 212992 bytes
    qdvd.dll: 6.01.05.0217 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 278528 bytes
  quartz.dll: 6.01.05.0319 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 770048 bytes
  quartz.vxd: 4.00.00.0501 English Final Retail 8/17/1998 02:21:56 5672 bytes
 strmdll.dll: 3.02.00.3564 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 212288 bytes
 unam4ie.exe: 6.01.05.0130 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 77824 bytes
  vidx16.dll: 0.00.00.0000 English Final Retail 8/17/1998 02:21:56 10240 bytes
 iac25_32.ax: 2.00.05.0050 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 198656 bytes
  ir41_32.ax: 4.31.16.0002 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 857600 bytes
 ir41_qc.dll: 0.00.00.0000 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 135168 bytes
ir41_qcx.dll: 0.00.00.0000 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 352256 bytes
 ir50_32.dll: 5.2562.15.0054 English Final Retail 3/4/1999 12:54:18 755200 bytes
 ir50_qc.dll: 5.00.63.0038 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 212992 bytes
ir50_qcx.dll: 5.00.64.0038 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 196608 bytes
   ivfsrc.ax: 5.03.02.0038 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 139264 bytes
  tm20dec.ax: 2.00.06.0003 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 135168 bytes
     atl.dll: 2.00.7024.0000 English Final Retail 8/26/1998 07:52:48 20992 bytes
  comcat.dll: 5.00.1601.0001 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 16384 bytes
  msvcrt.dll: 6.00.8397.0000 English Final Retail 7/29/1998 10:00:06 266293 bytes
oleaut32.dll: 2.40.4275.0001 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 598288 bytes
olepro32.dll: 5.00.4275.0001 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 164112 bytes
  urlmon.dll: 5.00.2614.3500 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 446736 bytes
 wininet.dll: 5.00.2614.3500 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 459024 bytes

---------------
DirectX Drivers
---------------
framebuf.dll: 4.10.00.1998 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 28672 bytes Certified
framebuf.drv: 4.10.00.1998 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 22192 bytes Certified
msanalog.vxd: 4.05.01.1998 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 12101 bytes Certified
msjstick.drv: 4.05.01.1998 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 2336 bytes Certified
   msopl.drv: 4.00.00.0950 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 17952 bytes Certified
supervga.drv: 4.00.00.0950 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 52320 bytes Certified
   tsd32.dll: 1.03.03.0007  Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 32768 bytes Certified
     vga.drv: 4.10.00.1998 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 52080 bytes Certified
   vjoyd.vxd: 4.07.00.0716 English Final Retail 11/26/1999 23:00:02 33764 bytes
vwstream.vxd: 4.05.00.2112 English Beta Retail 8/26/1998 16:13:02 314979 bytes
 wstream.dll: 4.05.00.2112 English Beta Retail 8/26/1998 16:11:52 143760 bytes

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
        Card name: Intel(R) 810 Chipset Graphics Driver PV1.0
     Manufacturer: Intel Corporation
        Chip type:
         DAC type:
        Device ID: Enum\PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_7121&SUBSYS_71238086&REV_02\BUS_00&DEV_01&FUNC_00
   Display Memory: 5.0 MB
     Current Mode: 800 x 600 (16 bit) (optimal refresh rate)
          Monitor: HP D5258A Pavilion M50 Monitor
  Monitor Max Res: 1024,768
      Driver Name: i81xdw9x.drv
   Driver Version: 4.11.01.1146 (English)
      DDI Version: 6
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
 Driver Date/Size: 4/28/1999 01:10:42, 127688 bytes
 Driver Certified: Yes
              VDD: *vdd,*vflatd
         Mini VDD: i81x.vxd
         Registry: OK
DDraw Test Result:
  D3D Test Result:


-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
      Description: Riptide Direct Sound Driver
        Device ID: PCI\VEN_127A&DEV_4320&SUBSYS_43201235&REV_00\40F000
  Manufacturer ID: 111
       Product ID: 301
             Type: VXD
      Driver Name: RIPTIDE.VXD
   Driver Version: 4.05.00.2126 (English)
Driver Attributes: Beta Retail
 Driver Certified: Yes
    Date and Size: 3/3/1999 14:29:18, 324183 bytes
      Other Files: riptide.vxd vwstream.vxd
  Driver Provider: Rockwell
   HW Accel Level: Standard
         Registry: OK
Sound Test Result:
Title: Re: Icon colors flicker in and out
Post by: The Fugitive on February 23, 2014, 10:36:35 PM
Unfortunately that is well below the minimum requirements for this game.  :(
 
Title: Re: Icon colors flicker in and out
Post by: Drano on February 23, 2014, 11:08:38 PM
My god I didn't even get past the first couple of entries. Hell I think the transistor radio I used to carry around as a kid had more juice than that!  :rofl

It's a joke right? This can't be serious. DX7, Win98, and ........62 mb of ram? lol'!
Title: Re: Icon colors flicker in and out
Post by: Drano on February 23, 2014, 11:09:38 PM
But yaknow...It WAS a gaming computer....in 2001. So they weren't lying to you entirely!
Title: Re: Icon colors flicker in and out
Post by: BluBerry on February 23, 2014, 11:17:31 PM
Hello.  Got a new PC. 



Time of this report: 2/3/2001, 11:35:14
       Machine name: Pavilion
   Operating System: Microsoft Windows 98 (4.10, Build 2222)  A
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
          Processor: Intel Celeron,  MMX, 400MHz
             Memory: 62MB RAM
          Page File: 71MB used, 1914MB available
    DirectX Version: DirectX 7.0 (4.07.00.0716)
DX Setup Parameters: None
     DxDiag Version: 4.07.00.0700

I hope this isn't the "new" one.  :uhoh
Title: Re: Icon colors flicker in and out
Post by: Vudu15 on February 24, 2014, 12:20:21 AM
My dad also has this issue he has a dell desktop and I know it has an intel chip Ill need to get the Diag for you guys to look at.
Title: Re: Icon colors flicker in and out
Post by: Skuzzy on February 24, 2014, 06:10:41 AM
That DXDIAG cannot be from any computer that ran Aces High.  It does not have DirectX 9 installed.  Aces High would not attempt to start without DirectX 9.

Even then, it is Windows 98.  No longer supported.  The CPU cannot run the game.  The lack of system RAM and an Intel video chip which had zero support for 3D graphics all end with the result of a computer which will never be able to run Aces High.
Title: Re: Icon colors flicker in and out
Post by: McShark on February 24, 2014, 07:11:54 AM
I also encounter that icons on / off thingy once in a while. Mine is slightly different. Icons come on at 6.0 k for example and suddenly disappear alltogether for like 500 yds and then pop up again.

Can post a DxDiag if you like. 

Win7 Pro 64
8 GB Ram
Quadro FX 3800 graphics

Let me know!