Since upgrading to a new CPU (Dell Dimension E520) I can't play any AGS games. I've tried various settings using winsetup but there's no difference.
I can get the first screen but it's all black, I do get sound though. If I press on the icon in the task bar I might be able to click forward to a couple of screens, I then see images even though they're still - no animation. Also, the mouse pointer does not follow into the game window - it disappears when moved across the game window.
I would be grateful for some tips that'll help me get back to those enjoyable AGS games I've been playing for months.
I've tried the above with "Frank the farmhand" and "PMX the magic hat".
/Eva
If this is still happening when you try to run games windowed instead of full-screen, you probably need to install directx:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/directx/
i would have just put it down to it being a dell hehehe
You don't by any chance now have a dual-core CPU in there do you? AMD dual-cores used to give me this problem, and you can install a driver from the AMD website to help. Perhaps Intel dual cores may have a similar problem
actually, i've been having problems running some AGS games that use 16bit colour, it usually only happens when i try run them in a window but has recently happened fullscreen too, and i know it's because i'm using a Radeon graphics card (Sapphire brand 9600XT), as it never happened when i was using an nVidia card. i also had the same thing happen a a year ago when i was using a different model Radeon. 8 and 32bit colour games work fine however.
so if you have a radeon card then it could be causing the problem.
I've tried downloading DirectX (and winrar for unpacking) but it's not helping. I still get sound but no picture. If a choose to play in a window instead of full screen I get a strange behaviour when I click outside the game window - the music starts to hack, I guess it stops in it's tracks and plays the note that was there when I clicked outside the window. I have again tried different resolutions and various settings in winsetup.
I can get a picture or two if I click outside on the icon in the task bar numerous times, and again no mouse pointer inside the game window.
The game I tried this time was Cosmos Quest I: To Find a Sun.
I'm not very good at computer part but I'll list what I have according to Dell papers, based on previous comments:
Pentium D 915 Dual Core Processor (2,80GHz, 800MHz fsb, 2X2 MB cache
256NB NVIDIA GeForce 7300 Turbocache (1xDVI, 1xVGA, 1xS-Video)
1024 MB Dual Channel DDR2 533MHz (2x512) Memory
I hope this tells you what you commented about.
I find it strange that no one else has raides this issue, regardless if it's a Dell computer or not.
Is there something else I can try?
Sorry, are you saying that other than the music stuttering when clicking off the window (which has always been something that happens with AGS AFAIK) it runs OK in a window?
No, unfortunately games don't run full screen or window. The difference between full screen anc window is that I can click outside the game window and if I click wildly I might get a graphic image inside but it's not moving (no animation, just a still picture). If I choose full screen I can't do anything but use the shortcut (windowsbutton+M) to remove the full screen. This removed full screen can then only be removed by using CTRL+ALT+DEL (and then removing the application).
Have you tried updating your graphics card drivers (http://www.nvidia.com/content/drivers/drivers.asp)?
No, I haven't updated my graphic card drivers. I didn't think it was neccessary since the computer is brand spanking new, I've only had it for a month.
I'll check if there are any updates to be done.
I'm more inclined to think that it might have something to do with what previous people have said about the Dual core being the reason for my problems.
I am working for a company who has a bunch of hotfixes for their latest software release... before it is even released. Don't be surprised if your video drivers are out of date even with a PC fresh out the box
Oh dear, I seem to have been misled. The graphic card stated on my specification from Dell seem to have an incorrect graphic card listed. I 'phoned support and they tell me I have an ATI graphic card and that the sales office have got it wrong and probably have misled many customers.
This should please Da_Elf :)
If I can get Dell support to provide me with drivers for my "new" graphic card I stand a good chance of having my initial problem solved....I hope. Can't wait to get back to AGS games.
hehehe.
Happy to be able to amuse you Da_Elf :)
It seems I'm back in business...I got the correct ATI drivers and have tested one game that seem to be working. I still get hacking sound when I click outside the game window and have problems shutting down the window after saving - the icon is still in the task bar and can only be removed by CRT-ALT-DEL.
But I think I can live with those hicups, at least I can now play games again.
Wish you all a nice weekend!