AGS games don't work on W2000?

Radiant · Sat 28/04/2007 09:17:13

I found this out at the recent MAGS contest. For some reason, games built with (what I assume is) the latest version of AGS don't work on my computer. I have no problem running older games, nor making games.

Setup mode works fine. When I start the game normally, I get a window border with no content in it (not even black, it just doesn't get drawn). If I drag the window (or move something else over it and put it away) it does get drawn, including a mouse cursor at some spot, but it doesn't seem to get a screen update ever. The game does react normally to ALT-X.

This is pretty weird. Any suggestions would be welcome. This is Windows 2000 with DirectX 8, a 1 GHz CPU and 128 Mb RAM.

Games that don't work include Cabbage Quest, Me Go Store, and Cedric and the Revolution. Games that do work include Reactor 09.

Rui 'Trovatore' Pires · Sat 28/04/2007 09:55:29

I hear that W2k also has a compatibility mode tab, same as XP, only a bit more hidden. If you can find it, does changing that help?

Radiant · Sat 28/04/2007 10:06:32

It does not appear to exist on my computer (according to google, it's a file called slayerui.dll, which I don't have)

Privateer Puddin' · Sat 28/04/2007 10:09:05

Is 8 the last version of DirectX you can use on 2000?

Radiant · Sat 28/04/2007 16:06:19

DirectX 9 causes problems on my system. I have the feeling that the solution to all this will turn into reinstalling windows...

zabnat · Sun 29/04/2007 00:07:09

Now that you mention it. I remember having similiar problems when my I had Windows 2000 on my laptop. But I can't remember what games did not work and I tried to run them at work, so didn't bother to investigate it any further as the games ran fine at home with XP.
My system had Windows 2000 SP4 with DirectX 9, a 3,06Ghz CPU and 1,5GB RAM.
So the problem seems to be the Windows 2000.
What service pack do you have? I heard that some people have had some problems with SP4.

Rui 'Trovatore' Pires · Sun 29/04/2007 01:02:59

Changing res and/or windowed mode doesn't help either, I assume?

...don't look at me like that, just making sure all angles are covered...

Radiant · Sun 29/04/2007 12:38:01

Oh. Yes. It's all windowed mode, full screen doesn't work period.

I don't have SP4 either (SP0 to be exact). Perhaps I should locate a WXP somewhere.

scotch · Sun 29/04/2007 14:40:21

AGS has always been fine for me in 2k, I do use the latest DirectX and SP4, though it worked on all the other combinations I've had.
I've heard people complaining about similar problems in XP, I don't think it's specifically a 2k issue.

Da_Elf · Mon 30/04/2007 15:12:02

just curious. why the use of win2k instead of xp? i used to be a 2k lover untill i got accustomed to the settings in xp and got it running like a dream. i did need to make the change since my software was putting out versions not compatible with 2k

scotch · Mon 30/04/2007 18:13:18

Why use XP over 2k? There's no particular reason for me to upgrade, so I haven't gone to the trouble of reinstalling windows. I probably will install XP if I ever get a new windows PC, or do a full reinstall.

I upgraded to 2k from 9x when the 3d programs I use stopped working, and that hasn't happened to me on 2k yet.

Pumaman · Mon 30/04/2007 20:01:51

Yeah, I use Windows 2000 and I've never had any problems. Most likely it's graphics drivers or your DirectX version; if both of those are up to date I'm not really sure what to suggest unfortunately.

Radiant · Tue 01/05/2007 15:37:56

Quote from: Da_Elf on Mon 30/04/2007 15:12:02
just curious. why the use of win2k instead of xp?

Because I own 2K and don't feel like paying for XP. Also, the latter is a performance hit.

Quote from: Pumaman on Mon 30/04/2007 20:01:51
Yeah, I use Windows 2000 and I've never had any problems. Most likely it's graphics drivers or your DirectX version

It's quite possible that it's a DirectX problem. I'll look into that. Strangely enough some versions of AGS consistently do work and others consistently don't.

Edit:

I found that the problems I was experiencing can be fixed by using setup to "reduce 32-bit graphics to 16-bit". Perhaps a 32-bit game doesn't run properly in windowed mode on a 16-bit desktop?

Gilbert · Sat 02/06/2007 16:08:47

I think that's more of a graphics driver problem, but isn't it quite obvious that 32bit game probably won't work in windowed mode under 16-bit desktop?

Radiant · Sat 02/06/2007 18:18:43

Yes, however I would expect it to give some warning, rather than run normally albeit with a black screen. If we had a FAQ page somewhere we could put this on it.