Redux & W7...

[Lord of the Pies]

Hi Axalon, its me! I was poking around in the MTW folder and saw some interesting doohickies in some text files. What caught my attention was Texram, Textures, Vidram, ZTexmax etc etc., and I was wondering if I edited the values inside and set to the right amounts would it be possible to play MTW in all its glory in a resolution higher than 800x600?

here's how the Texram file looks:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Total -33259520 = 8192Mb, Free -35369472
Loaded Textures\Men\CUSTOM9\CUSTOM9.BIF, New Free -173781504 (62884.305 Pages), Just Used 138412032

By the looks of it the value 8192 is obviously my systems ram amount, has anyone ever tried anything like this? I would do the msconfig thing, but restarting every-time i switch and the extreme slowdown of the game itself when its played with the lesser amount of ram is such a hassle.

Your's truly,

LotP

[Axalon]

Hi Pies, good to see you here, and welcome to this Redux-Area - ORG-style basically. As you can see the facilities (at least) are somewhat bigger here for Redux…

As for the specific files you mention - I am afraid I have little to offer you on that note…. Essentially, you are probably better off leaving them files alone – they are constantly changed/updated every time you have a battle and manually changing them might very well cause the game to screw up. Obviously I have W7 as well, and I have zero problems with resolutions on RXB1003 (and usually play at 1280x1024 due to limitations of my monitor. On the VI/v.2.01- engine I have 2034MB set by default in game-options - it works just fine) - so I am inclined to say that your problems are due to GFX-cards and drivers – not W7. Other then the MSconfig-stuff and changing drivers for your GFX-card - I am fresh out of suggestions here. The alternatives are either to try that again, buy a new GFX-card, or somehow conjure up some other solution to all this that I don’t know about. Redux was not intended to be played at 800x600. If the hassle (read MSconfig etc.) works at all for you, I suggest you do it anyways, because then it is worth it I think. Sorry, but there it is...


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Anyhow, here is copy of Just Learnin’s post for future reference - for all you players that might still have use for it…

I had the same problem in both Vista and Win 7 of only having 800 x 600 in the Strategy map and 640 x 480 in the Battle map.

A fix I found that worked with a GTX 280, GTX 295 and an HD 4870 X2 is:

Got to All Programs open the Accessories folder click on Run type MSCONFIG in the pop up window and click OK. If Windows asks for permission click Continue. In the new pop up window select the Boot tab and click on the Advanced options... button and in the new little pop up window click the tiny box by Maximum memory: Whatever the number in the box here change it to 2560 then click OK. Click Apply on the remaining window then a small pop up asking you to restart PC should remain, click Yes. You should now be able to play both Shogun Total War and Medieval Total War with all resolutions available.

To revert your system to normal you have to uncheck the box in the Advanced options... , Maximum Memory: click OK then select the General tab and click the little round button beside Normal startup Load all device drivers and services then click Apply and then click Yes when asked to restart the system.

What you are doing here is only allowing the system to let the games software see an amount of RAM it is programmed to understand, or so I believe, thus preventing it from defaulting to minimum specs. If the number 2560 does not work for you in the Maximum memory box try 2048. I just found on my rigs 2560 was the highest amount I could go and still get all the resolutions.

I also found that with the HD 4870 X2 I had to disable AI in the ATI Catalyst Control center or I was getting a split screen effect.

Good Luck!

- A

[Dellathane]

Hi there,
Never played Redux myself but I've been looking at it with curiosity for a while.
Anyway with reference to the resolution problem there is a fix that's just been posted in the main hall that worked very nicely for me (I have win 7 x64 and HD4850).
I don't know exactly how much Redux changes but it will hopefully work for you.

Here's the link

Axalon I'm curious, I thought medieval had a problem with any system that has more than 2GB, yet you seem to be playing with 8GB on 1280x1024, is that due to some config file modding or has that always been a menu option for you? I've only ever had the minimum option unless I do the MSConfig jazz

[Axalon]

Hello yourself and thanks for the tip....

Anyway, nah as of RBX1002 and beyond I have never had any problems with Ram and VI. I can max it as much as I want in Redux and W7. Max being something slightly less then 4GB and there seems to be no issues with it at all on my W7 rig. By default the Ram is set on 2034 MB in VI (that works just fine). Redux has a heavy use of alternative files and that probably makes it more agreeable to newer hardware. However I have a hard time pinpoint exactly what it is that makes things turn out like that.

Anyhow, if you have not tried Redux I certainly think you should. For one thing it does offer very different game-experience and a lot sexier GFX, and significantly more challenging and intricate game as well then you ever get on a raw MTW game (regardless of factions or settings). The unique Redux AI is well able to bite back at you and you may even get wiped off the map if you are careless and stupid while playing Redux. Rebels are a serious threat (which is hardly the case elsewhere). Basically, no need for any "homerules" for the benefit of the AI and harder game - as I know so many of the "MTW-purists" are so fond of doing (I never truly understood that, just play a seriously modded and improved game instead - problem solved. Either Redux or something else). I would actually be surprised if you would not find Redux interesting somehow as I am sure the are at least some stuff in there that you would like.

Well, just saying...

- A

[Ciaran]

Just a note, the linked sresolution fix seems -for me at least- not to work with the campaign map for Redux.
Custom battles are fine, however, using the posted ddraw.dll results in an error message when trying it with the redux campaign map.
So, those as unfortunate as me will still have to reboot with reduced ram to play redux on any higher screen resolution.
I had hoped that using 1003 would solve that problem (so far I played at v1002), as it did apparently for you, Axalon; alas, no such luck, and I´m afraid I can´t comprehend what you mean by:

On the VI/v.2.01- engine I have 2034MB set by default in game-options

I´m certain I´m missing something obvious...

[Axalon]

Hello Ciaran,

Um... Can you somehow succesfully use the ddraw.dll file and get the desired resolutions while using the original MTW-map or any other map (from some mod)? If not then it is a matter of hardware and drivers - and not Redux. If you are indeed able somehow to run other stuff (successfully) then specify which map it is (and relevant mod etc.).

I have not had any problems at all with Ram and resolution in Redux (v.1002 or 1003), not on my rig, regardless the settings I use. Now, if I install VI from scratch (and then apply Redux on top), and do not cange the Ram settings somehow in options, I will then get 2034 MB in Ram in VI (and 50 on pyrotechnics. All this will more then suffice to play the game on excellent terms). That was also what I meant....

- A

[Nagnar]

Hello Axalon!
I thought i'd post this because Ciaran hasn't replied and i have his same problem.

The Vanilla MTW Campaign map doesn't crash and i can't say for any other mods because I don't own a copy of VI.
But it would therefore appear that the problem lies with the Redux campaign map.

If you could work out a fix for Redux so that people with this problem could use Redux and higher resolutions without the full of hassle alternate fix then I would much appreciate it.

-Nagnar