Black Screen

[crh0708]

I have installed Civ 3 successfully, however when I go to play the game the screen goes black and then the game stops responding.

I have to Ctrl+Alt+Del to get out of it and the resolution is really low.

When I End task the resolutions goes back to normal. 1024 x 768.

This is really frustrating can anybody help

 

[Ginger_Ale]

Hi and welcome to CFC, crh0708!

These instructions might be a possible fix, so check them out.

 

[CoachAub]

I fixed my problem....I had to set the video for 1024x768 at 60 Hz. My cheapo Emachines monitor could not handle the resolution at any higher hz setting. So after the intro. movie, it went black at 72 hz. Now it works!

 

[crh0708]

CoachAub - How do you set the video for 1024x768 at 60 Hz ?

Ginger_Ale - Thanks but I coud not follow the instructions, when I went to properties Monitor tab, it did not show a number of Hertz.

The following was displayed.

Screen Refresh rate : Use hardware default setting.

There are no other options to choose.

Thanks

Guys

 

[Turner]

1024x768 @ 60hz is the default. You don't need to set it. However, if you would like to force it, you can do so by adding Video Mode=1024 (setting the resolution to 1024x768) and Refresh=60. Here (same thread, higher up) are the different .ini tweaks you can use.

As for showing the display rate, under that setting there should be a 'hide display rates that this monitor cannot display'. Uncheck this, and you should get a list of refresh rates. I'm not sure that'll tell you what the refresh rate is tho. Some monitors will tell you by pressing a status button, or setup button, on the physical monitor itself. Your computer might also have a program installed for that monitor that will tell you.

 

[crh0708]

I'm not that good when it comes to computers, how do you change the ini files as they are protected (read only) ????

Does it have to typed at the bottom of the other info?

THX by the way

 

[Ginger_Ale]

You can right click the rile and in the properties menu, just uncheck the "Read-only" box.

 

[Padma]

And if the line you want to add isn't already in the file, just add it at the bottom.

 

[crh0708]

Hi,

Where is this ini file???

If its on the disk how can you save your changes!!!!

Thx guys !!!!

 

[crh0708]

Having done a bit more work, I seem to have a sloghtly different problem to th e explinations.

When I select Play the music only come on for a short second and then stops leaving the screen black. I dont get to a menu to slect game setup.

 

[crh0708]

Below is what's in my ini file!!!!!


[Civilization III]
MainFontSize=16
InterludeFontSize=16
KeepRes=1
NoSound=1
Video Mode=1280
Refresh=70

 

[Brainiac18]

Guys, a have similar problem. When entering the game (Civ3TW) I can see the intro, but when game menu should appear, screen goes black. Display properties are: video mode 1024*768, refresh rate 60MHz. Still no effect, where is that .ini file?

 

[Turner]

The .ini file isn't created until you actually start a game. However, you can create the ptw.ini file at any time, and when a game starts it will append to that file.

 

[Brainiac18]

But like I said, when the game menu must appear, monitor turns off, I cant even see the task manager! How the ini file can be created and how can it help me?...

 

[Turner]

Create it in your PTW directory before starting the game. Use Notepad. Look at previous posts to find your refresh rate, resolution, etc. Then type it into the notepad, and save as ptw.ini.

 

[Brainiac18]

I dont know what should I change here:
[Civilization III]
MainFontSize=16
InterludeFontSize=16
KeepRes=1
NoSound=1
Video Mode=1280
Refresh=70
And I found something in PTW deer:
[Civ3PTW]
Voice Quality=0
MainFontSize=16
InterludeFontSize=16
Prefs Format=1
Difficulty=0
Map Type=0
Top Menu=0
Faction0=19
Faction1=25
Faction2=25
Faction3=25
Faction4=25
Faction5=25
Faction6=25
Faction7=25
Faction8=0
Faction9=0
Faction10=0
Faction11=0
Faction12=0
Faction13=0
Faction14=0
Faction15=0
Faction16=0
Faction17=0
Faction18=0
Faction19=0
Faction20=0
Faction21=0
Faction22=0
Faction23=0
Faction24=-1
Faction25=-1
Faction26=-1
Faction27=-1
Faction28=-1
Faction29=-1
Faction30=-1
Preferences=00010111110111011010011111110011
Rules=00000000000000001101111111101110
Customize=0
Time Controls=1
CleanMap=00000000000000011010111010000000
Governor=00000000000000000000000000000001
Gov Prod Never=00000000000000000000000000011000
Gov Prod Often=00000000000000000000000000000000
CustomLeaderName=
CustomLeaderTitle=
CustomFormalName=
CustomNoun=
CustomAdjective=
CustomGender=0
Music Volume=125
Sound Volume=60
WorldSeed=5340669
Latest Save=
WindowsFileBox=0
Latest Scenario=Scenarios\11111111111.bix
Victory Point Limit=10000
Turn Limit=540
WorldAridity=2
BarbarianActivity=2
WorldLandmass=1
WorldOceanCoverage=2
WorldTemperature=2
WorldAge=0
WorldSize=2
ScrollSpeed=1
GridOn=1
Is it the .ini file?..

 

[Turner]

Copy:
KeepRes=1
Video Mode=1280
Refresh=70
to your ptw.ini file. And find out what your monitor refresh rate is, and replace that number where the 70 is above.

 

[Brainiac18]

Thanks men, I "see" now the greatest game of all times! Only but not 1280 video mode worked, for my monitor 1110 was good

Really, thanks!

 

[Turner]

Wait 'til you get conquests...much better than PTW.

A lot of people had problems with PTW, but I always thought it was great.

And you're welcome.

 

[Brainiac18]

I do have Conquests, but their music is bugged, there is no music at all, just a few working sounds!.. Gues cause its not original disc