SMAC Windows XP problem

[candle86]

I install all my sid meier games to the same folder, D:\Program Files\Sid Meier\(Game)

so my alpha centuri is located at
D:\Program Files\Sid Meier\Alpha Centuri

now when i launch the game, i get black, then it shows the fraxis video then more black, and then i hear the menu but cant use it, what excatly is going on here? Did i do something wrong on this one, i jsut went from 98se to XP when i finally got a 650 and got rid of the Celeron 300A @450 i was using, and now my game wont work at all, it was a clean install followed by a reinstall of all programs, colonization, civ, civ2, and Pirates! work, just not SMAC

 

[Petek]

First, download and install from here the SMAC v4.0 Update and then the SMAC Win 2000/XP Update (in that order) if you haven't already done so.

If that doesn't help, try running the program with various compatibility options (right-click program shortcut, select Properties, then the Compatibility tab).

If none of this helps, please post again.

 

[candle86]

just tried all of that, ill list excat configs really fast

PEntium III 650
3dfx Voodoo 5 5500 AGP w/ SFFT drivers
192mb PC100 2-2-2-5
ASUS P2-B99
Windows XP SP0 (SP2 downloaded, not installed yet)
DirectX 9.0C FEB 06 CTP

 

[Petek]

Too bad. Here some other troubleshooting tips, in no particular order:

* If you're starting the program using axstart.exe, try using terran.exe instead.

* Alpha Centauri.ini: Was this file created in your main Alpha Centauri folder? If so, try the following: ds3d= and eax=. These two lines should be present and will be equal to 0 or 1. If =0, change to =1 or vice versa for each entry. Also change the ForceOldVoxelAlgorithm= line from 0 to 1 (if necessary). Finally, try adding the line

video mode=800

to the [Preferences] section of the ini file (which will force the game to run at 800x600 resolution),

* Make sure that your video drivers are current.

* Sound.dll: Again, should be present in the main Alpha Centauri folder. Rename to sound.dl_. If this works (it will disable all sound in the game), you have a conflict with your sound card drivers. You can either live without the sound, or futz around with your drivers.

* Reinstall Directx (see here).

* Uninstall and reinstall the game.

That's about all I can think of. Hope you get it working!

 

[candle86]

could my beta voodoo drivers be casuing this problem?

 

[Petek]

could my beta voodoo drivers be casuing this problem?

I don't remember any specific, but video drivers aren't my forte.

One other thing to try: Boot into diagnostics mode* and try to run the game. If it works, then you have a conflict with a process or program. I think some have had problems with ZoneAlarm, for example.

* Start, Run, type msconfig, OK. Select Diagnostics Startup and follow the onscreen instructions.

 

[Vatras]

You have probably a graphics problem, if it isnt WinXP itself (I had no problems, but others had).
You can try playing with the video options, reducing colors to 16, and/or try lesser screen resolutions.

Another possibility is the sound. Some cards and onboard chips can cause trouble (and affect video - dont ask me why, I didnt understand the explanation )
Maybe some other driver can help there (not necessarily the newest one), but thats a matter of experimentation.

 

[robert-ns]

When you reinstall the game disable Windows Firewall program.