Black screen

hidde · Post by **hidde** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 9:48 am

I have an older PC I use when not home. Last time was about two months ago and then BA worked but did crash quite easily. Now, after I downloaded the latest patch I get a black screen after pressing ok on the launcher-screen. No error message and I have to shut the game down via the task manager.
The same happens to FOG. It ran with no problems two months ago. I have not downloaded any patch for FOG now since it showed the same behavior as BA the first time I tried to open it.
Can the BA patch somehow have affected both games and is there anything I can do?

Post by **pipfromslitherine** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 7:58 pm

There's no way the BA patch could have affected FoG - they don't interact at all. I would guess that it's some system update, given that it is affecting both games.

Cheers

Pip

hidde · Post by **hidde** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 9:47 pm

pipfromslitherine wrote:There's no way the BA patch could have affected FoG - they don't interact at all. I would guess that it's some system update, given that it is affecting both games.

Cheers

Pip

Yes, should have thought of that. Still a bit strange, I think. The comp have not been used these past two months and the only thing that happened before I installed the patch and tried to play was an update of the Avast anti-virus.
Nothing I can do but reinstall, right? Well, that can't happen since I'm 400km away from my back-up CDs'.
Guess I'll have to wait till I'm back home and can use my normal PC

junk2drive · Post by **junk2drive** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 9:52 pm

You can redownload the game I believe and reinstall.

Check avast. It may be blocking the game exe or the server connection.

I use avast with zonealarm and XP and haven't had a problem.

hidde · Post by **hidde** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 11:01 pm

junk2drive wrote:You can redownload the game I believe and reinstall.

Check avast. It may be blocking the game exe or the server connection.

I use avast with zonealarm and XP and haven't had a problem.

Redownload is only possible for 30 days IIRC.
I don't know how to check Avast like that I'm afraid, but I don't think it's that.
The game starts and the music plays but the screen is black. I can move the mouse though and click.
When I happened to click on help the help section appeared and was ok.
No, I think I'll have to overcome the withdravel symtoms and wait till 12/30...

junk2drive · Post by **junk2drive** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 11:09 pm

It may state 30 days but I'd sure as heck try if I was jonesing.

hidde · Post by **hidde** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 11:42 pm

I did try

But to no avail...

Post by **pipfromslitherine** » Mon Dec 20, 2010 1:00 am

When Iain gets in on Monday we have the ability to sort out another download.

So it seems that the game is running? Or did you mean windows help? It sounds like a video card issue? I would try reinstalling the latest DirectX download too, as sometimes there are subtle changes. Maybe try a video card driver update too, just to see if it helps.

Cheers

Pip

hidde · Post by **hidde** » Mon Dec 20, 2010 6:10 am

The in-game help. Forgot to mention that it was FOG. It's seems to be the same problem with both but I haven't got any respons like that from BA.
Tried other games as well; some seems unaffected but some have problems with graphics too.
I have installed the latest video card driver and now I've reinstalled DirectX but no change.
Another download would be great, of course!

Post by **IainMcNeil** » Mon Dec 20, 2010 10:53 am

If you need a new download register your serial to your account and mail us from the e-mail address regsitered to the acount and tell us what games you need to download and we'll issue a link. We're offereing unlimited free downloads forever now.

hidde · Post by **hidde** » Mon Dec 20, 2010 2:06 pm

Wow, that's very good! Thank you!
I have to ask though what exactly it mean to "register your serial to your account"?
I can only think of edit my profile and I can't see where I can do anything like that.
Probably something obvious I missed...
All I need is very precise instructions

Post by **IainMcNeil** » Mon Dec 20, 2010 2:34 pm

Most of the games have a launcher and you can register the game from there.

Anternatively go to http://www.slitherine.com/register_serial.php

hidde · Post by **hidde** » Mon Dec 20, 2010 3:24 pm

iainmcneil wrote:Most of the games have a launcher and you can register the game from there.

Anternatively go to http://www.slitherine.com/register_serial.php

Thanks again.
I did that and got this as a result with every game: Serial is already registered!
I haven't done anything earlier to register like this...must have been done automatically?
E-mail on the way

junk2drive · Post by **junk2drive** » Mon Dec 20, 2010 3:35 pm

Sounds like your video card (integrated chip?) is on the low side or failing. Open the case and see if it is full of dust bunnies.
If you get the check for updates screen, try different options and screen sizes. Full screen on or off, 16 bit, no shadows, etc.

hidde · Post by **hidde** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 12:32 am

First, thanks to Iain and Slitherine for the help and the chance to redownload all my games.
Alas, my mobile broadband connection wasn't up to the task. Three attempts failed.
I'm starting to think however, that junk2drive is correct and that it might be the video card after all. I've tested some more games now and some is working fine but several show not just a black screen but graphical artifacts. Stuff I recognize from earlier when cards have broken down. I will buy a new card tomorrow if I can find one in the small town where I currently am. I will not give up yet

junk2drive · Post by **junk2drive** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 12:39 am

newegg ships anywhere! Quick too if you want to pay the price.

hidde · Post by **hidde** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 8:40 am

junk2drive wrote:newegg ships anywhere! Quick too if you want to pay the price.

Not to Sweden, I'm afraid

hidde · Post by **hidde** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 4:13 pm

Confirmed...it was the video card. It turns out the PC is so old it only take AGP cards.
Managed to find one and can now access menus but the card is only 64Mb so it's not possible to actually play!

Post by **pipfromslitherine** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 4:16 pm

You should be able to play really - or does it still not run?

Cheers

Pip

hidde · Post by **hidde** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 4:39 pm

pipfromslitherine wrote:You should be able to play really - or does it still not run?

Cheers

Pip

I can start my turn now but it only took maybe 10 seconds before I got an error message and the game shut down. I haven't tried to play any single play only multi.