newbie needs help

[takashi]

Hi all. I am new to the TW series (and strategy games in general) and am trying to get my Shogun: TW Warlord Ed. to play on an old computer. It kicks me to the desktop after a black screen (display problems with the intro movie I suspect). The comp I have it on is a 300 PII (MMX) with 144 MB RAM and a (get this) stock vid card (2MB). I am reasonably sure it will handle the game (with stutters I am sure), but I think the movie is throwing it. I have the latest drivers for the thing and have tried to find a file on the disc that might skip the intro to no avail http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-wall.gif . Any help would be appreciated (since the game sounds and looks pretty daggum cool and I can't even play it). I have played demo of Age of Empires II on this machine with no problems (if that helps any). http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-help.gif

[Suppiluliumas]

Are you able to post in the Apothecary? You might get more help there.

[Basileus]

Welcome to the org takashi http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

Im preety sure its your pc, first off im not sure your proccessor can handle it and even if it can your graphics card wont.

[Lord Rom]

Hi Takashi

Total War uses a lot of cpu, hard drive space,video ram and memory. Your video card ram is not enough. It shows you need at least 8mb.

System Requirements
MINIMUM CONFIGURATION
Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 2000, or Windows ME (Windows NT is not
supported)
233 MHz Intel Pentium MMX or AMD K6 processor, or 200 MHz MMX processor with
supported Direct3D video card
64 MB RAM
4x CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive
650 MB free hard disk space plus space for saved games (additional space
required for Windows swap-file and DirectX 8 installation)
8 MB video card with DirectX 8 compatible driver; 3D Accelerated Mode requires a
16 MB Direct3D capable video card using the nVidia GeForce 2, nVidia GeForce
256, nVidia Riva TNT2, nVidia Riva TNT, ATI Radeon, 3dfx Voodoo5, 3dfx Voodoo3,
3dfx Voodoo Banshee, Matrox MGA-G450, or Matrox MGA-G400 chipset
DirectX 8 compatible sound card
Windows Media Player 6.0 or higher (not on CD; available at www.microsoft.com)
Keyboard
Mouse

RECOMMENDED
300 MHz or faster Intel Pentium II processor
128 MB or more RAM
8x or faster CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive
1.65 GB free hard disk space plus space for saved games
32 MB or greater Direct3D capable video card with DirectX 8 compatible driver

[Gregoshi]

Welcome to the Org and the wonderful world of Total War takashi.

Your CPU should be fine for STW/WE. I agree with the others that your graphics card is the problem. With an older PC, the other suspects are the DirectX version and the version of Window Media Player. Another consideration is do you have the 1.02 patch installed?

The fact that you can play the AoE II demo doesn't really apply here. The Total War games have a knack for making systems cry Mommy where with other games they say I'm king of the world, i.e., the TW games really give your system a workout.

[makkyo]

Quote[/b] ]Are you able to post in the Apothecary? You might get more help there.
look at his rank cheif

[Sasaki Kojiro]

I have 550 MHZ, 64 MB ram, 1 MB video card and shogun runs fine...I had problems with the black screen at startup and fixed it by installing the directX that came with the CD and then restarting computer. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

[takashi]

Shinano
I hadn't thought of installing the Directx 8 from the disc since I currently had 9 installed already. I thought that 9 would work, though. Could it be just that?? I notice you have a lot more RAM than I do. That might contribute some also. If you think it would work, please tell me.
Gregoshi
As for WMP, I have 7.8 (IIRC) installed (the latest for a win98 system) so I can't see that being a problem. Is there a work around the intro movie for now? I can't find one, that's for sure. What does the 1.02 patch have? When I looked at the link I couldn't find any info and there was a 40 min. queue.

Thanks for the input folks. I will probably have to wait for the new system I'm going to get. Me want good vid card. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[takashi]

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-blush.gif Sorry Shonobi. I meant to say more Mhz not RAM. I only run at 300. It's old: the sticker on the front says Extra-large 6 GB hard drive http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-2thumbsup.gif I recently had to strip out a bunch of crap just to install my kids new games (and STW of course http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/bigthumb.gif ). Pitiful, ain't it.

[pdoan8]

For 1.02 patch, you can try the Official site here (http://www.totalwar.com/community/download.htm). About the middle of the page.

You will need to DL the correct file for your game version.

Both of my PC (Win98 and Win XP Home) run STW with DX9 without any problem. However, my video cards are more up-to-date than yours.


Have to go. Super Bowl 38 just started. NE about to score... they just missed the field goal http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/angry.gif

[Gregoshi]

takashi, your CPU mHz should be fine for STW. In fact, I used to have a 350mHz PC that I'd play MTW on and that PC was way below minimum specs.

As for my question about Windows Media Player, I asked because I recall many people having problems with STW because their WMP wasn't current (as of the release of STW). I thought it may be a problem since your PC was rather old. Sounds like you are up to date with it though.

[takashi]

So...if my WMP is fine (figured as much) and my CPU is okedokey (wasn't too sure), it must be my card??
pdoan8
Will the patch help with the prob? I plan on downloading it, but I thought I'd ask while I'm here.

Sinano
You say the only prob with yours was an old DirectX version? Think 8 would work better than 9?

Thanx again for the feedback, guys.

[takashi]

Well, I have installed the patch to no avail. Still get a blank screen and then kicked to desktop. Maybe I'll try installing DirectX 8 from the disk even though I don't think that will help. Like I said might have to wait for the tax money to come in. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[pdoan8]

Sorry for the rushed post and forgot to say http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif welcome.

The patch might help a little since it brings a little more support for hardware (but may not apply for you). It improves some game play issues (providing that you can run the game http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wacko.gif ).

Your WMP version (7.1) is OK. However, you should make sure it is your default media player if you also have other media player such as Real Player, Real One, Music Match,... Some programs give you the option to make it default, but usually the one installed last will be the default.

Removing DX 9 may be difficult, IIRC, it doesn't have the remove option. For DX remover utility: check here (http://www.softpedia.com/public/cat/14/4/14-4-40.shtml). DX version may be the main problem since your video card may not have any support for DX 9. Moreover, I don't think that the video card maker would release new driver to support DX 9 for that old card. Speaking of driver, if you can find new driver for your video card, try it.

[takashi]

Any post is a good one to me, pd. WMP is my default player and has no probs playing the movie files on the cd individualy, so that's cool. I will have to check on the DirectX. That might be the deal and I really don't think I have anything that needs 9.0 anyhow.

[takashi]

Finally got my DirectX 9 to leave my comp (it took DXextracter 2 times) and installed 8 from the STW disc. I also found a new driver for my pathetic graphics card and installed it and .... nothin' http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-no.gif . I'm guessing it's my card even though Shinano ran it with only 1 MB. I really dunno. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif
Thanx for the ideas though. Any more would be greatly appreciated.