Registered: Apr 2002
Location:
Posts: 19

At random points when playing FS2, my screen will just..go black. I can still see my HUD fine, and I can see suns..oh, and I can still see the thingy surrounding my selected target. But that's it.

Makes it kind of hard to fly in asteroid belts. Or..uh..anywhere. Does anyone have any idea how I could fix this?

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Registered: Apr 2002
Location:
Posts: 19

At random points when playing FS2, my screen will just..go black. I can still see my HUD fine, and I can see suns..oh, and I can still see the thingy surrounding my selected target. But that's it.

Makes it kind of hard to fly in asteroid belts. Or..uh..anywhere. Does anyone have any idea how I could fix this?

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 2894

Any more info you can give us, such as FS2 version, OS, video card, PC specs in general, et cetera?

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Registered: Apr 2002
Location:
Posts: 19

quote:

---

Originally posted by Alphakiller
Any more info you can give us, such as FS2 version, OS, video card, PC specs in general, et cetera?

---

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Registered: Apr 2002
Location:
Posts: 19

quote:

---

Originally posted by Alphakiller
Any more info you can give us, such as FS2 version, OS, video card, PC specs in general, et cetera?

---

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Registered: Jul 2001
Location: The 5th layer of Hell
Posts: 127

I HATE computers

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Registered: Apr 2002
Location: Germany
Posts: 33

so you have to
- check your VGA card and install new drivers
- check and install the WIN95 patch for K6 2 CPU
- check DirectX
- check and install chipset drivers (VIA MVP3 (Shuttle, DFI, FIC, A-OPEN MBs)? ALI (ASUS MB)? SIS (Gigabyte MB))...

or install at least Win 98 SE, your PC has the recommend requirements - hmm WIN 95 WHaa, we are in 2002, aren't we?

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http://www.dark-enforcers.de
webmaster@dark-enforcers.de

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Registered: Apr 2002
Location: Germany
Posts: 33

so you have to
- check your VGA card and install new drivers
- check and install the WIN95 patch for K6 2 CPU
- check DirectX
- check and install chipset drivers (VIA MVP3 (Shuttle, DFI, FIC, A-OPEN MBs)? ALI (ASUS MB)? SIS (Gigabyte MB))...

or install at least Win 98 SE, your PC has the recommend requirements - hmm WIN 95 WHaa, we are in 2002, aren't we?

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Who wants to live for ever? We can't live for ever

DE-Brummelkiller
Squadleader and PXO Rear Admiral

http://www.dark-enforcers.de
webmaster@dark-enforcers.de

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Registered: Apr 2002
Location: Germany
Posts: 33

I just noticed that Newbie add "I'm new bla bla.."
Do you admins/moderators really think that this is a good one? Just take care that there's noone who will determine who is the "newer" one, hmm

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DE-Brummelkiller
Squadleader and PXO Rear Admiral

http://www.dark-enforcers.de
webmaster@dark-enforcers.de

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Registered: Apr 2002
Location: Germany
Posts: 33

I just noticed that Newbie add "I'm new bla bla.."
Do you admins/moderators really think that this is a good one? Just take care that there's noone who will determine who is the "newer" one, hmm

__________________
Who wants to live for ever? We can't live for ever

DE-Brummelkiller
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http://www.dark-enforcers.de
webmaster@dark-enforcers.de

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Registered: Sep 2001
Location: Northam, W.A. Australia
Posts: 235

quote:

---

Originally posted by Blues
I actually have NO idea what video card this piece of crap has - if it even has one.

---

Then what does the monitor plug into?

Seriously that's probably where the problem lies, you need to figure out what sort of video card that thing has and obtain the latest drivers for it. Also, make sure your DirectX is up to date as well. DirectX 8.1 won't install on Win95 because as far as M$ is concerned that OS has past it's use by date and M$ want nothing more to do with it so you're going to have to dig up a copy of DirectX 8.0.

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"Don't stop, babe, believin'"
Wasurenaide...
"Don't stop, baby, dreamin'"
"Don't stop, baby, lovin'"
"Don't stop, babe, believin'"
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Registered: Sep 2001
Location: Northam, W.A. Australia
Posts: 235

quote:

---

Originally posted by Blues
I actually have NO idea what video card this piece of crap has - if it even has one.

---

Then what does the monitor plug into?

Seriously that's probably where the problem lies, you need to figure out what sort of video card that thing has and obtain the latest drivers for it. Also, make sure your DirectX is up to date as well. DirectX 8.1 won't install on Win95 because as far as M$ is concerned that OS has past it's use by date and M$ want nothing more to do with it so you're going to have to dig up a copy of DirectX 8.0.

__________________
"Don't stop, baby, dreamin'"
"Don't stop, baby, lovin'"
"Don't stop, babe, believin'"
Wasurenaide...
"Don't stop, baby, dreamin'"
"Don't stop, baby, lovin'"
"Don't stop, babe, believin'"
...Watashi ga iru koto o.
Itsudatte soba ni iru yo.

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Registered: Apr 2001
Location:
Posts: 1901

quote:

---

Do you admins/moderators really think that this is a good one?

---

__________________
- The Babylon Project Team

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: The Cold Northland!
Posts: 8392

quote:

---

Do you admins/moderators really think that this is a good one?

---

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- IceFire
Volition Watch Project Manager
[url=http://www.volitionwatch.com]Volition Watch[/url], [url=http://freespace.volitionwatch.com/blackwater]BlackWater Operations[/url], [url=http://freespace.volitionwatch.com/babylon]The Babylon Project[/url], [url=http://terra.sourceforge.net]Machina Terra[/url], [url=http://www.3dap.com/hlp/hosted/ott/]Over The Top[/url]

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Registered: Apr 2002
Location:
Posts: 19

I meant I don't think the video card has 3D Hardware acceleration or summat. Blah. Anyways, it says..

'COMPAQ MV720 SERIES on SiS 530.'

And I think the reliance on Direct3D to run it is what's screwing it up - I changed the setup on Freespace 1 so it used 3D Acceleration, and I got the same problem.

Blah..

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Registered: Apr 2002
Location:
Posts: 19

I meant I don't think the video card has 3D Hardware acceleration or summat. Blah. Anyways, it says..

'COMPAQ MV720 SERIES on SiS 530.'

And I think the reliance on Direct3D to run it is what's screwing it up - I changed the setup on Freespace 1 so it used 3D Acceleration, and I got the same problem.

Blah..

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Registered: Apr 2001
Location:
Posts: 1901

Its an onboard video card. I really hate those things (except for the nForce which I hear is quite good).

The problem is most likely that the card is not compliant with the features that FreeSpace 2 needs for Direct3D. Since FreeSpace 2 is a hardware accelerated game that needs either Direct3D or Glide (on old 3DFX Voodoo cards) you don't have any options. I'm surprised it even works.

Since you already have a better machine, I'd say just wait till that one is working again. You *might* be able to buy a newer card for cheap (the GeForce 2 MX or even the 4 MX) but I say 'might' because I've heard of problems trying to disable the onboard features. And even when they are disabled sometimes they cause problems.

Furthermore, the motherboard probably doesn't have a proper AGP socket to stick the card in so its a lost cause anyways.

All reasons why I hate onboard video/sound/modem and so on.

Wait for that better machine to get working again or stick it out with the black screens.

EDIT: You could try updating the video drivers to see if that helps...but I doubt it.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: The Cold Northland!
Posts: 8392

Its an onboard video card. I really hate those things (except for the nForce which I hear is quite good).

The problem is most likely that the card is not compliant with the features that FreeSpace 2 needs for Direct3D. Since FreeSpace 2 is a hardware accelerated game that needs either Direct3D or Glide (on old 3DFX Voodoo cards) you don't have any options. I'm surprised it even works.

Since you already have a better machine, I'd say just wait till that one is working again. You *might* be able to buy a newer card for cheap (the GeForce 2 MX or even the 4 MX) but I say 'might' because I've heard of problems trying to disable the onboard features. And even when they are disabled sometimes they cause problems.

Furthermore, the motherboard probably doesn't have a proper AGP socket to stick the card in so its a lost cause anyways.

All reasons why I hate onboard video/sound/modem and so on.

Wait for that better machine to get working again or stick it out with the black screens.

EDIT: You could try updating the video drivers to see if that helps...but I doubt it.

__________________
- IceFire
Volition Watch Project Manager
[url=http://www.volitionwatch.com]Volition Watch[/url], [url=http://freespace.volitionwatch.com/blackwater]BlackWater Operations[/url], [url=http://freespace.volitionwatch.com/babylon]The Babylon Project[/url], [url=http://terra.sourceforge.net]Machina Terra[/url], [url=http://www.3dap.com/hlp/hosted/ott/]Over The Top[/url]

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Registered: Sep 2001
Location: Northam, W.A. Australia
Posts: 235

If the card has no 3D acceleration facilities at all FS2 should bug out and say so. The fact that he can actually get into a game and play indicates to me that it has enough to pass the initial tests. Trouble is, with SiS cards they tend to skimp on a lot of 3D features meaning that it may well be lacking some stuff FS2 needs (but not necessarily looks for). I have a SiS 6335 (or something like that...) with that problem, it'll work with some games such as Forsaken (but only at something like 320x240...), FS1 (although software mode is faster!) and Homeworld (in Direct3D) but with things like Quake 2 (no OpenGL support) or Descent 3 you can forget it. Try a driver upgrade first but theres no guarantee that will solve the problem...

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"Don't stop, baby, dreamin'"
"Don't stop, baby, lovin'"
"Don't stop, babe, believin'"
Wasurenaide...
"Don't stop, baby, dreamin'"
"Don't stop, baby, lovin'"
"Don't stop, babe, believin'"
...Watashi ga iru koto o.
Itsudatte soba ni iru yo.

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Registered: Sep 2001
Location: Northam, W.A. Australia
Posts: 235

If the card has no 3D acceleration facilities at all FS2 should bug out and say so. The fact that he can actually get into a game and play indicates to me that it has enough to pass the initial tests. Trouble is, with SiS cards they tend to skimp on a lot of 3D features meaning that it may well be lacking some stuff FS2 needs (but not necessarily looks for). I have a SiS 6335 (or something like that...) with that problem, it'll work with some games such as Forsaken (but only at something like 320x240...), FS1 (although software mode is faster!) and Homeworld (in Direct3D) but with things like Quake 2 (no OpenGL support) or Descent 3 you can forget it. Try a driver upgrade first but theres no guarantee that will solve the problem...

__________________
"Don't stop, baby, dreamin'"
"Don't stop, baby, lovin'"
"Don't stop, babe, believin'"
Wasurenaide...
"Don't stop, baby, dreamin'"
"Don't stop, baby, lovin'"
"Don't stop, babe, believin'"
...Watashi ga iru koto o.
Itsudatte soba ni iru yo.

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