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Taldrenites => General Starfleet Command Forum => Topic started by: Urbital on July 21, 2003, 12:14:21 pm

Title: SFC 3 crashes
Post by: Urbital on July 21, 2003, 12:14:21 pm

I just reinstalled SFC 3 after formatting my pc. I also installed the direcx9 fix because I'm using winxp. The game starts normal. I can select wich ship I want to fly but everytime the game wants to load a mission it drops back to windows. (I actually tried to reinstall the game up to 3 times now, even used the beta patch.) Is there someone who could tell me how to remedy this problem.

Title: Re: SFC 3 crashes
Post by: Rage1 on July 21, 2003, 03:46:09 pm

I don't know if your WinXP came with DirectX 9.0, but mine came with 8.1 (i think. I KNOW it wasn't 9). Anyway, have you tried playing it without the 9.0 fix? If you haven't already, you best bet would be to go to the microsoft website and download the directx version 9. I run XP Home with directX 9 and play SFCIII with the 9.0 fix and the Scimitar add-on and no problems.

Title: Re: SFC 3 crashes
Post by: Urbital on July 22, 2003, 04:52:09 am

I did try it without the patch. It said I needed directx 8.1. I have played the game before without problems before I formatted my pc. I did by a new graphic card (Ati 9700pro), my previous one was a geforce 4 4200. I got the lastest driver installed for my new card, maybe I could try an older one. Thanks for the reply.

Title: Re: SFC 3 crashes
Post by: Pestalence on July 22, 2003, 05:29:24 am

A problem with ATI cards has always been drivers that don't work exactly right... the best drivers for radeon and SFC 3 is the 2.6 catalist drivers and for some reason.. while NVidia cards can run just fine for SFC 3 using the latest WHQL certified drivers in 32 bit color, the Radeon has to run in 16 bit color mode...

try reducing your color mode to 16 bit, and if that doesn't help.. then get the old 2.6 catalist drivers and run in 16 bit color mode...

Hope that this helps...

Title: Re: SFC 3 crashes
Post by: Urbital on July 22, 2003, 04:30:56 pm

Tried the 16 bit color mode but that did not work. A college at work suggested to change my compatibility setting to windows 2000. Now it works. You do have my thanks for your suggestions.

Title: Re: SFC 3 crashes
Post by: Dash Jones on July 23, 2003, 08:47:10 pm

Quote:

A problem with ATI cards has always been drivers that don't work exactly right... the best drivers for radeon and SFC 3 is the 2.6 catalist drivers and for some reason.. while NVidia cards can run just fine for SFC 3 using the latest WHQL certified drivers in 32 bit color, the Radeon has to run in 16 bit color mode...

try reducing your color mode to 16 bit, and if that doesn't help.. then get the old 2.6 catalist drivers and run in 16 bit color mode...

Hope that this helps...

Just like to add...I play SFC3 on a machine with an ATI AIW 7500. I have the latest drivers. I run the game in 32 bit.

Glad to clear that up.

I do prefer Nvidia though. I do experience less problems with their drivers.

Title: Re: SFC 3 crashes
Post by: ActiveX on July 24, 2003, 01:54:03 am

nVidia chipsets are what games are designed to run on...ATI almost always has to release 'catch-up' drivers to run at full on many games...

Title: Re: SFC 3 crashes
Post by: Reverend on July 24, 2003, 02:05:11 am

I had a lot of difficulty with the NVidia MX 220; beware of that one.

Title: Re: SFC 3 crashes
Post by: ActiveX on July 24, 2003, 02:12:05 am

Well N, the MX period is something to be wary of...I have an MX440 and its no shining star...hehe...