Tech problem

I just reinstalled Arcanum, but when I go to start the game, the screen turns black, then dumps me back out to windows. Got any advice?

 

What OS are you using, etc?

 

I'm using Win 98

 

Ok. Try this:

• Uninstall Arcanum
• Go to microsoft.com and update "Windows Installer"
• Re-install Arcanum

 

Thanks, I'll try that. Afterwards I'll come tell ya how it went. I really hate my computer :/

 

Ok. If that doesnt' fix the problem, try updating the firmware for your CD or DVD drive, whichever one you're using to play the game. The copy protection that the publishers used for Arcanum doesn't work with some older firmwares.

I had the same problem as you, Phoenix. I ended up solving it somehow, but it was so long ago, I don't remember how I did it exactly. I did do those two things above, though, so if one doesn't work, try the other and you should be up and running.

 

This:
http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail41.html
Is how you should deal with your computer

 

Well the first thing didn't work. At the risk of sounding like an idiot, what is firmware and how do I update it?

 

You can update your firmware by going to your CD/DVD drive manufacturer's website and downloading it. Then follow the directions they give you for updating it.

As for what it is, I'm not really sure how to explain it. It's kind of like the instruction set the CD uses to read shit. I think. Anyway, you should find some updates on your manufacturer's website.

 

Firmware is basically just drivers for CD drives and such. You upgrade it using the following methods:

1. If you bought your computer from a big computer-making company (HP, Dell, Gateway, Compaq, etc.) You go to their website and tell it which computer you have... it should give you any available driver/firmware upgrades

2. If your computer was built for you, but not by one of those huge conglomerates, follow Milo's instructions

3. If you did the intelligent thing and built your own computer, you should not need to ask silly questions like this

 

Firmware is programs on rewriteable chips. It is not realy soft, as in mutable, nor is it read only. Remember when bios chips needed to be replaced? & how now we "flash" the bios? Even if you don't remember that, those falshable bioses (are either of those words real?) are firmware.

 

Try uninstalling and reinstall the game, then when you start it don't touch anything under the loading screen, there is a lot of files that needs to be moved around to begin with so just try giving it some time. Worked for me.

 

Wow, I finally see why you deserve your title.

 

You mean don't run the game? Well I did run the game after I installed it, but it has been a little while NOW since I installed it, and it still doesn't work.

I couldn't find any firmware for my cd-drive, not really any surpise considering how old it is. I'll just keep tryin stuff. Thanks for everyone's help.

 

What resolution are you running your monitor in? I had trouble with some game (can't remember now if it was Arcanum or somethign else) where I had to switch my display to 800 x 600 and THEN launch the game. Because the game couldn't figure out how to switch my display for me. Very strange that. What speed computer are you using? If it's old, do you have enough RAM, HD space, etc.? I know it sounds like a stupid question and I'm not trying to insult you, just making sure you've checked the obvious too. sometimes we forget things like that

 

Lol, no I don't feel insulted. My comp IS a piece of junk, but I have had it installed on my comp before and it worked. I was just reinstalling it because I wanted to play it again, but for some reason now it wont work. Well, changing the resolution didn't seem to help. Oh well, thanks anyway.

 

Reading Persephone's post just reminded me of a problem I had running Arcanum under Win98. I had a problem with the colour depth, not the resolution.

If you're running your desktop at 32 bit colour depth then try changing it to 16 bit colour depth. You won't really notice much difference but for some reason, when running some games in certain resolutions, some graphics cards can't get the game to run if they have to switch colour depths as well as resolutions.

I've had this problem with Win98 on several games, similar to Arcanum. Simply changing the colour depth allowed me to run them in whatever resolution I wanted.

 

Well, mine is set to High Color (16 bit), so I don't guess that is it. Do any of you know how to DOWNgrade the DirectX on your computer? I was just lookin around and realized I have DirectX 8.1 on my system. Wouldn't be a problem except that I don't think my video card even supports 8.1. So, I want to change it to somethin lower, maybe that would get it to work.

 

Just do a google search for 'Direct X Uninstaller'.

It's a handy utility that uninstalls the supposedly uninstallable software that is Direct X. :lol: You can then install an older version. However, it's unlikely to be your direct X version since 8.1 is stable and it doesn't really matter what card you have as long as it supports DirectX. It's also highly unlikely that the card will not support Direct X since it will be suicide to create such a card.

Try altering you colour depth to 32-bit then. I didn't make it clear in my last post but I meant that if you're running a colour depth that is different to the game settings then it might not run. If you've got Arcanum set to run in A x B x 32 resolution then it would help to run your desktop in 32 bit.

 

I get the same problem whenever I load the game. ( Have the hated Windows ME.)

It always flicks back to the desktop on the first load when the game reaches the the main menu, but it's always fine on the second load.

Regards,
Morden