Larian Studios Forums General Chat RPG Chat NWN - I need your help ...again

Oh gee I am so confused. And how do I do that? Uninstall I mean.

600

Hi, LUCRETIA.

I haven't read much through the above posts so I apologise if I go over past stuff.

From what I remember of the Neverwinter Nights Gold installer, you don't need to install the expansion. There is, however, a "critical restore" on the CD which makes NWN:Gold unplayable because it asks for the Shadows of Unretide disc.

Could you have installed more than you were meant to and caused the problem that way?

Luc, no need to uninstall the video card drivers as u're using nvidia card which doesn't need the old driver to be uninstalled to have the new one up. i hope i'm making sense.

just go to nvidia's webpage (the link's provided by winterfox) & get that driver. run it & follow the steps & u should be ok. i hope. try that one out first then we'll see how it goes.

I will not argue on this. Maybe things are different with Nvidia.

Good luck Lu <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wave.gif" alt="" />

Hi guys

First of all I thank you all for your help.

Well I have searched a bit more my system so here are some more details.

My drivers are pretty recent. I made the last download in October from NVIDIA.

I also have installed Dirextx ver. 9b.

I sut down zonealarm and unistalled nero. (in support somewhere says that the cds are protected so burning programms installed could cause problems).

My video card memory is 64 MB. I have used dxdiag as Egin suggested and run all the tests. (thnx Egine that was useful). There were all fine (acceleration, directdraw etc.) No problems occured. Only my sound card is old and the test gave me a result that I will be listening from inner buffers or something but I don´t think that this is important because I could listen to the music of the games´ main menu pretty clear and nice.

I have installed yesterday only NWN without the expansion. I have downloaded from updating option the latest patch (took me all night) and made a try again.

The damn thing won´t launch!

I really don´t know what else to do. I have tried to run the game with the play cd in my DVD drive or in my CD drive. Nothing happened. I didn´t install the expansion because I have noticed that the video card requirements are higher than the one I have. I wouldn´t mind just to play the main game. So I sticked to that but I had no luck.

I am running out of ideas. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/disagree.gif" alt="" />

But the requirement says GeForce 2. So you do meet the minimum requirement. Hmm.

What connection are you on, by the way, since you said patching took you all night?

56k connection and the latest patch is 59.1 MB.

And the back of the box of the expansion says that needs TNT or something card or superior. The back of the box of NWN says GeForce 2.

My card is CeForce2 MX. Drivers installed in October via microsoft. They checked ym system and suggested the proper drivers.

I have read the post and the only thing I can still think about is your soundcard. Maybe it is not compatible with the game.
What kind of soundcard do you have?

You may try to turn of the sound in the game and then see if it works.

I hope this works!

Beyonder welcome to the forum. Thnx for the tip. But is seems that I can not set the sound of the game. There is not such an option in the main menu I see.

The sound card is usually not the problem for most people; it's most often the video card. Or some weird combination of hardware. Have you tried Bioware's technical help forum yet?

@ Winterfox thnx for keep trying.

I have checked their forum. Two things for that :

1. It is not so helpfull as Larian forum is.

2. They write the same things with the faq. Nothing new.

Oh dear this thing is driving me crazy. I mean I am not so stupid! What did they do to this thing and what do I have to do to play?

What is your opinion about my video card? The driver I have installed in October is the driver you suggested to me previously for windows xp. Oh and one more note. I have downloaded service pack 1 for my xp.

Don´t know what else could be.

You did everything correctly Lu. Please, don't worry. Every problem has it's solution.
So, let us be pationt and carefull.
Please, write in detail what have you installed and how does this problem look.

You have installed NWN only + some official patches, right?

Now, what does it do? CD-rom drive is working at the beginning, you get all developers logos and movie and get to the main menue, right?

When and how exactly does the game exits into windows? Be very specific.
Is it right after you click new game, or right after you get into main menue. Can you change video, sound or any other settings in the main menue ?

Please describe it thoroughly.

In your first post you have written that the game crashes during loading process. If it is so then it could be either your CD-ROM drive or CD problem. What CD-ROM (or DVD-ROM even) drive do you have?

You did everything correctly Lu. Please, don't worry. Every problem has it's solution.
So, let us be pationt and carefull.
Please, write in detail what have you installed and how does this problem look.

You have installed NWN only + some official patches, right?

[color:"orange"] Right. And I didn´t install the patches manualy. I registered the product to bioware and from the option update of the game I let it to get updated (in order to avoid istalling a wrong patch) [/color]

Now, what does it do? CD-rom drive is working at the beginning, you get all developers logos and movie and get to the main menue, right?

[color:"orange"] Wrong. I installed the game (only NWN). Then I updated it. Then I double click on the shortcut of the game on my desctop. I have the cd play in the dvd rom drive. It makes the sound the drives do when they work. A menu appears which has the options : play, configure, toolset, update and some other options that I don´t remember them right now. I am sure that there is no option for sound or video in this menu [/color]

When and how exactly does the game exits into windows? Be very specific.
Is it right after you click new game, or right after you get into main menue. Can you change video, sound or any other settings in the main menue ?

[color:"orange"]When I click the play option from the above described menu, I see a black screen whith the sign of NWN. My mouse pointer shows that something is loaded and then the black screen with the eye (i think it is an eye that sign) disappears, the mouse pointer is an arrow again and I see my desktop. I have not seen any video at all. [/color]

Please describe it thoroughly.

In your first post you have written that the game crashes during loading process. If it is so then it could be either your CD-ROM drive or CD problem. What CD-ROM (or DVD-ROM even) drive do you have?

[color:"orange"] I am starting to suspect that it has something to do with that. I have one DVD rom and one CD/CDR driver. I don´t know the brand but they are recent as recent is my pc. For more details about that I could check it when I get home in a while and I can write about it. [/color]

[color:"yellow"] Egin I thank you too very much for bothering. [/color]

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/think.gif" alt="" /> Maybe you can look at this site. There is a lot of information about technical problems with NWN. I hope that this will help you further.

Also if you don't think this helps you can also mail to Bioware!

This is the link:
http://boards.powergamers.net/viewthread.php?tid=484

Then the problem is probably with your MB ram, I think it would be better to have 512 MB ram.

By the way, is it DDR ram you have or SD ram?

@ Merendrious I think it is DDR. Here are the complete info of my system

System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 2/12/2004, 18:08:10
Machine name: QUEST-ESV909BUJ
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 1 (2600.xpsp2.030422-1633)
Language: Greek (Regional Setting: Greek)
System Manufacturer: infoquest
System Model: P4X266-8233
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.53GHz
Memory: 256MB RAM
Page File: 145MB used, 474MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0b (4.09.0000.0902)
DX Setup Parameters: None
DxDiag Version: 5.03.0001.0902 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 2: No problems found.
Music Tab: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.
Network Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D: 0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce2 MX
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce2 MX/MX 400
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0110&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_B2
Display Memory: 64.0 MB
Current Mode: 800 x 600 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: SyncMaster 173V/172V/173S/173B
Monitor Max Res: 1280,1024
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.5216 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 10/6/2003 14:16:00, 4246528 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
VDD: n/a
Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
Mini VDD Date: 10/6/2003 14:16:00, 1550043 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4250-11CF-D077-0A2013C2CB35}
Vendor ID: 0x10DE
Device ID: 0x0110
SubSys ID: 0x00000000
Revision ID: 0x00B2
Revision ID: 0x00B2
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_B ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D
Deinterlace Caps: {212DC723-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_MedianFiltering
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{212DC723-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_MedianFiltering
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{212DC723-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_MedianFiltering
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{212DC723-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_MedianFiltering
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
Registry: OK
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: Not run
D3D7 Test Result: Not run
D3D8 Test Result: Not run
D3D9 Test Result: Not run

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
Description: Avance AC97 Audio
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1106&DEV_3059&SUBSYS_47104005&REV_40
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: ALCXWDM.SYS
Driver Version: 5.10.0000.3800 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
Date and Size: 1/16/2002 19:35:02, 265143 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: Avance Logic, Inc.
HW Accel Level: Full
Cap Flags: 0xB5B
Min/Max Sample Rate: 8000, 48000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 1, 0
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: No
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
Registry: OK
Sound Test Result: Not run

Description: Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID:
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 81
Type: Emulated
Driver Name:
Driver Version:
Driver Attributes:
WHQL Logo'd:
Date and Size:
Other Files:
Driver Provider:
HW Accel Level: Full
Cap Flags: 0x0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: No
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
Registry: OK
Sound Test Result: Not run

---------------------
Sound Capture Devices
---------------------
Description: Avance AC97 Audio
Default Sound Capture: Yes
Default Voice Capture: Yes
Driver Name: ALCXWDM.SYS
Driver Version: 5.10.0000.3800 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Date and Size: 1/16/2002 19:35:02, 265143 bytes
Cap Flags: 0x41
Format Flags: 0xFFF

Description: Default Sound Capture: No
Default Voice Capture: No
Driver Name:
Driver Version:
Driver Attributes:
Date and Size:
Cap Flags: 0x20
Format Flags: 0x0

-----------
DirectMusic
-----------
DLS Path: C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\drivers\GM.DLS
DLS Version: 1.00.0016.0002
Acceleration: n/a
Ports: Microsoft Synthesizer, Software (Not Kernel Mode), Output, DLS, Internal, Default Port
Avance AC97 Audio, Software (Kernel Mode), Output, DLS, Internal
Microsoft MIDI Mapper [Emulated], Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Output, No DLS, Internal
Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth [Emulated], Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Output, No DLS, Internal
Registry: OK
Test Result: Not run

-------------------
DirectInput Devices
-------------------
Device Name: Mouse
Attached: 1
Controller ID: n/a
Vendor/Product ID: n/a
FF Driver: n/a

Device Name: Keyboard
Attached: 1
Controller ID: n/a
Vendor/Product ID: n/a
FF Driver: n/a

Poll w/ Interrupt: No
Registry: OK

-----------
USB Devices
-----------
+ | Vendor/Product ID: 0x1106, 0x3038
| Matching Device ID: usb\root_hub
| Service: usbhub
| Driver: usbhub.sys, 8/29/2002 11:32:50, 51968 bytes
| Driver: usbd.sys, 11/27/2001 05:00:00, 4736 bytes

----------------
Gameport Devices
----------------
+ | Matching Device ID: *pnp0a03
| Service: pci
| Driver: pci.sys, 9/24/2002 23:17:08, 63232 bytes
|
+-+ | | Matching Device ID: *pnpb02f
| | Service: gameenum
| | Driver: gameenum.sys, 8/29/2002 11:32:44, 9856 bytes

------------
PS/2 Devices
------------
+ | Matching Device ID: *pnp0303
| Service: i8042prt
|
+ | Matching Device ID: root\rdp_kbd
| Upper Filters: kbdclass
| Service: TermDD
| Driver: termdd.sys, 9/24/2002 23:36:02, 38024 bytes
| Driver: kbdclass.sys, 9/24/2002 23:28:34, 24576 bytes
|
+ | Matching Device ID: *pnp0f13
| Service: i8042prt
| Driver: i8042prt.sys, 9/24/2002 23:26:52, 53120 bytes
| Driver: mouclass.sys, 9/24/2002 23:32:24, 23040 bytes
|
+ | Matching Device ID: root\rdp_mou
| Upper Filters: mouclass
| Service: TermDD
| Driver: termdd.sys, 9/24/2002 23:36:02, 38024 bytes
| Driver: mouclass.sys, 9/24/2002 23:32:24, 23040 bytes

----------------------------
DirectPlay Service Providers
----------------------------
DirectPlay8 Modem Service Provider - Registry: OK, File: dpnet.dll (5.03.0000.0900)
DirectPlay8 Serial Service Provider - Registry: OK, File: dpnet.dll (5.03.0000.0900)
DirectPlay8 IPX Service Provider - Registry: OK, File: dpnet.dll (5.03.0000.0900)
DirectPlay8 TCP/IP Service Provider - Registry: OK, File: dpnet.dll (5.03.0000.0900)
Internet TCP/IP Connection For DirectPlay - Registry: OK, File: dpwsockx.dll (5.03.0000.0900)
IPX Connection For DirectPlay - Registry: OK, File: dpwsockx.dll (5.03.0000.0900)
Modem Connection For DirectPlay - Registry: OK, File: dpmodemx.dll (5.03.0000.0900)
Serial Connection For DirectPlay - Registry: OK, File: dpmodemx.dll (5.03.0000.0900)

DirectPlay Voice Wizard Tests: Full Duplex: Not run, Half Duplex: Not run, Mic: Not run
DirectPlay Test Result: Not run
Registry: OK

-------------------
DirectPlay Adapters
-------------------
DirectPlay8 Modem Service Provider: Microcom InPorte Home
DirectPlay8 Serial Service Provider: COM1
DirectPlay8 Serial Service Provider: COM2
DirectPlay8 TCP/IP Service Provider: FORTHNET - IPv4 -

-----------------------
DirectPlay Voice Codecs
-----------------------
Voxware VR12 1.4kbit/s
Voxware SC06 6.4kbit/s
Voxware SC03 3.2kbit/s
MS-PCM 64 kbit/s
MS-ADPCM 32.8 kbit/s
Microsoft GSM 6.10 13 kbit/s
TrueSpeech(TM) 8.6 kbit/s

-------------------------
DirectPlay Lobbyable Apps
-------------------------
Baldur's Gate2 (DX7) - Registry: OK, ExeFile: BGMain.exe (2.05.0000.0002)
Startopia (DX7) - Registry: OK, ExeFile: Startopia.exe (<File Missing>)

------------------------
Disk & DVD/CD-ROM Drives
------------------------
Drive: C:
Free Space: 13.1 GB
Total Space: 38.2 GB
File System: FAT32
Model: WDC WD400BB-00DEA0

Drive: D:
Model: IDE DVD-ROM 16X
Driver: c:\windows\system32\drivers\cdrom.sys, 5.01.2600.1106 (Greek), 8/29/2002 11:27:56, 47488 bytes

Drive: E:
Model: ARTEC WRR-4848
Driver: c:\windows\system32\drivers\cdrom.sys, 5.01.2600.1106 (Greek), 8/29/2002 11:27:56, 47488 bytes

I read over the readme file and from your posts I gather that you have as well. You obviously meet the system requirements. I found this remark " If you are experiencing difficulties with launching the game post-install, try rebooting your computer and try running the executable again - this seems to work in the majority of cases." Have you tried that?

At this site which I found in the readme-- http://www.atarisupport.com/ I found the following info:
"Black screen (when starting the program)
Disable 3rd party applications running in the background
Background applications can be either closed temporarily or disabled. If they are temporarily closed, they will start again when the computer is restarted. If they are disabled they will need to be manually re-enabled to run them again.

To temporarily close any extra applications and services running in the background in Windows XP:
1. Hold down the Ctrl+Alt+Delete keys simultaneously on your keyboard.
2. This will bring up the Task Manager. If it brings up Windows Security, click the Task Manager button.
3. Click the Applications tab. This will list programs currently running on your system
4. Hold down the Ctrl key on the keyboard and click each program to highlight it.
5. When all the programs are highlighted, hit the End Task button. If you get any messages that state the program is not responding, hit End Task again.
6. Now click the Processes tab. Click the bar that says User Name to sort the list.
7. Click on any of the processes except EXPLORER and TASKMGR that have your login name in the User Name column. Then click End Process. Click Yes on the Task Manager Warning. Repeat this step to remove all processes that are under your login name except EXPLORER and TASKMGR.
This should temporarily close any conflicting background applications. These applications will start up again when you reboot."


"Black screen with sound (when starting the program)
Having outdated video drivers install or nor having your monitor setup correctly generally causes this.
Set up your monitor
To setup your monitor properly in Windows XP:
1. Right click on the Windows Desktop where there are no icons. Click Properties in the pop-up menu. This will bring up the Display Properties.
2. Click the Settings tab, then the Advanced button. This should bring up the properties window for your video card.
3. Click the Monitor tab.
4. Make sure that your specific monitor model is listed under Monitor Type. If it is listed as a Standard Monitor, PNP Monitor or something similar, check with the monitor manufacturer for the proper drivers. These drivers are usually available on the manufacturer's web site.
Also make sure that your monitor is capable of the Screen Refresh Rate. Your monitor documentation should list the appropriate settings."


Otherwise the only thing I can suggest is phoning their tech support or seeking help on a fan NWN site. The site I like is The Amazon Basin's. The NWN site at the basin is not high traffic, but very friendly with helpful knowledgeable folks.
Nwn forum

Good luck! Keep us posted.

It maybe a monitor, And Lu, you have mentioned there is some program which controls monitor settings. Try to disable it.
Try changing refresh rate of the monitor as Cleglaw explained. When you start the game, is monitor refreshing? Can you see some frequencies changing (it is shown on monitor after you start the game).
I have 100Hz Hitachi. I had a problem when after starting a game monitor went into 144Hz. In refresh rate there is optimal, default and custom refresh rate. Usually it is recommended to put optimal, but you can make it custom, but keep in mind you will have to do this with every resolution on 16 and 32 bit separately.

Cleglaw is making good point about terminating some processes in your machine.
One tiny program running in background may have caused so much trouble.
If ending processes through ctrl-alt-del doesn't help do the following:

start -> run -> type msconfig. Start from startup. Look into programs it loads with startup. If you can't say what is it by looking at it's name, look into command line and path. Note, here you are not deleting anything. Just letting to load or not, so if you see some problems just go there again and activate the program.

As for CD-Rom DVD-rom. Have you tried from each drive? If it doesn.t work with cd-rom maybe dvd-rom is the option?
But you say it starts to play the cd in the manner it always does, right?
What I mean is if there is problem reading CD it will kinda stuck reading it, it will attempt to read again and again with repeating sound.

BTW if you go start-> programs-> NWN folder
can you launch NWN in safe mode? Some games have this option some have not.
Do you have configure or something like that? If yes, you can configure display, audio etc settings from there.

And one more thing.
There is small utility with the name hmm is it syslog or something. It is very small, you can try to search - system monitor in internet search.
This utility is monitoring system for any errors occuring in it. So, it may help you to track down the problem you have. Damn, I do not remember it's name.

Try this out. Let us know how will it go.

Just a question. Did you have problems with the cd key? Like saying invalide code?