Fix for resolution problems.

[Sepheus]

Hello everyone, this is my first post to 'The Org' but I have been browsing the forums for many years. I have written what should be a fix for the 800x600/640x480 resolution cap on higher end cards. This should mean an end to the rebooting shenanigans that were previously required. I do not yet have the ability to attach links to posts, but I can provide the fix on request and I will amend this post when I have the privileges required for attachments/links.

Update:

The download can be found here: Removed link as the file has become available in the forum download section.
Please feel free to message me with any questions you may have.

-----------------------edit by drone---------------------------------
Uploaded locally to the Org, link here

[Dellathane]

This is the most exciting thread title I've seen on the Org, including TW:RII. It works beautifully. Thank you Thank You THANK YOU!!!

Now I've got to change my signature......

[drone]

My MTW setup never had the problem, glad to see it worked for you. I wonder if this fix works with Shogun, I think I'll post this in the Sword Dojo as well...

I'll be uploading the fix to the Org download section soon. I would like to rename the file to something a little more descriptive if that's ok with you, Sepheus?

[Sepheus]

This is the most exciting thread title I've seen on the Org, including TW:RII. It works beautifully. Thank you Thank You THANK YOU!!!

Now I've got to change my signature......

I am glad you have found it of some use! Please let me know if there are any issues. It is my first time doing anything like this, hopefully I have not overlooked anything.

My MTW setup never had the problem, glad to see it worked for you. I wonder if this fix works with Shogun, I think I'll post this in the Sword Dojo as well...

I'll be uploading the fix to the Org download section soon. I would like to rename the file to something a little more descriptive if that's ok with you, Sepheus?

It should work with Shogun, I have not tested that, but I do believe Medieval Total War and Shogun Total War used the same engine. If not - I could certainly make it work. You may rename the zip file, the DLL needs to remain named ddraw.dll. Once the fix is in the download section is it possible to update the file, should I release any more fixes (such as a windowed mode or a fix for Intel/GeForce 8000/9000 cards)? If I have the time I would like to make fixes for more issues and hopefully add a configuration file for the DLL.

If anyone has any questions, please feel free to ask.

[drone]

It should work with Shogun, I have not tested that, but I do believe Medieval Total War and Shogun Total War used the same engine. If not - I could certainly make it work. You may rename the zip file, the DLL needs to remain named ddraw.dll. Once the fix is in the download section is it possible to update the file, should I release any more fixes (such as a windowed mode or a fix for Intel/GeForce 8000/9000 cards)? If I have the time I would like to make fixes for more issues and hopefully add a configuration file for the DLL.

I'll have to ask the admins about replacing/updating files in the downloads. If the board software doesn't allow it, I could just apply a version number to each update's filename. For this fix, I was thinking of calling it something like: "Sepheus_ddraw_fix_v1.zip".

[Sepheus]

I'll have to ask the admins about replacing/updating files in the downloads. If the board software doesn't allow it, I could just apply a version number to each update's filename. For this fix, I was thinking of calling it something like: "Sepheus_ddraw_fix_v1.zip".

Very well, that is fine with me! Hopefully people with the issue will be able to find it easily enough.

[Stazi]

Once the fix is in the download section is it possible to update the file, should I release any more fixes (such as a windowed mode or a fix for Intel/GeForce 8000/9000 cards)? If I have the time I would like to make fixes for more issues and hopefully add a configuration file for the DLL.

If you could make a fix for GF 8XXX/9XXX cards it'd help a lot of people (like me ). Those cards are a little outdated but if you mostly play old school games like MTW they are still enough.
I haven't had any problems with resolutions but anyway thanks for the fix. It may be very much needed when I'll buy a new PC.

[huth]

It should work with Shogun, I have not tested that, but I do believe Medieval Total War and Shogun Total War used the same engine. If not - I could certainly make it work. You may rename the zip file, the DLL needs to remain named ddraw.dll. Once the fix is in the download section is it possible to update the file, should I release any more fixes (such as a windowed mode or a fix for Intel/GeForce 8000/9000 cards)? If I have the time I would like to make fixes for more issues and hopefully add a configuration file for the DLL.

It is possible to fix that? Really? It'd be... like another resurrection of Jesus...

[HopAlongBunny]

No sticky or addition to useful links?

[Geezer57]

http://www.smallfiles.org/download/1340/MTWFix.zip.html

Sepheus:

That site is showing as malicious to my antivirus software. If I PM you my e-mail address, would you attach that file to a message?

[HopAlongBunny]

Sepheus:

That site is showing as malicious to my antivirus software. If I PM you my e-mail address, would you attach that file to a message?

Same; the .org link worked for me though.

Thank you Sepheus; works as advertised and has cut my crashes going to the Main menu from game :)

[Sepheus]

Hello everyone, I am glad that the fix has been of some use to you! Geezer57, I have removed the original link and recommend that you use the link that drone inserted into my post. If anyone is interested in the source code, please feel free to message me privately and I will see what I can do.

[johnswan]

I`ve just started playing the `pocket mod` for MTW/VI 2.1 and it has enabled me to go to 1024x768 without any problems so far.Before i could only use 800x600 (for vanilla game).Have a HP g series laptop using a on board radeon HD card and Windows 7.

[Stazi]

MTW checks all 4:3 resolutions provided by your card's driver. For example I have 1440x900 LCD so MTW showed me 1024x768 as max possible resolution. After I've used PowerStrip and added 1200x900 to driver's resolutions list, MTW allows me to play in this unusual resolution too. It has to be 4:3. Other things don't matter (in my case).

[drone]

So that explains it, I never put 2 and 2 together. I had MTW on an older laptop, and it always forced me to run with a funky aspect ratio. Does the "Widescreen" option change this requirement?

[Stazi]

I've tried "Widescreen" but it only adds black stripes on the top and bottom of the screen which makes the visible area even smaller. The screen is still 4:3. When I play in 1200x900 with "keep aspect ratio" checked, GPU gives me black stripes from the left and right and MTW - from the top and bottom so it looks like playing in a window . I really don't know why they added this fake widescreen "feature".

[caravel]

I`ve just started playing the `pocket mod` for MTW/VI 2.1 and it has enabled me to go to 1024x768 without any problems so far.Before i could only use 800x600 (for vanilla game).Have a HP g series laptop using a on board radeon HD card and Windows 7.

Well that's a turn up - I built nothing into the mod that would fix that - I don't think it includes the button fix either, so if you get 1024x768 with the mod, you should also get it with the vanilla game...

(BTW, the mod is unfinished, especially with regard to the tech tree, and not at all well balanced, so you may have to do your own tweaking to get it working decently - it's so long ago now that I can't remember exactly what needs to be done...).

[Trapped in Samsara]

Hi

Can't help sticking my oar in...

Why are you chaps seemingly convinced that the problem being discussed is rooted in the screen resolution, which I imagine corresponds to video memory?

Could this perhaps be an issue with the amount of RAM? Or the video card driver?

Can I just add that I experience frequent crashes to desktop in MTW vanilla and mods, usually, but not exclusively, during big battles and I have spent a lot of time, nervous energy, and some money trying to eliminate the problem - without any success.

Best regards
Victor

Sapere aude
Horace

[Stazi]

Why are you chaps seemingly convinced that the problem being discussed is rooted in the screen resolution, which I imagine corresponds to video memory?
Could this perhaps be an issue with the amount of RAM? Or the video card driver?

Sometimes it's hard to say what causes a CTD. It may be a video driver, amount of video or system memory, system incompatibility, screen resolution or any combination of them. There is no ultimate solution for all. It can be even an video/audio codec that works in the background. If I were you I'd take an old but still working hdd, make a fresh install of win XP and start form the scratch. It's usually the best method to find out what's all about.

Can I just add that I experience frequent crashes to desktop in MTW vanilla and mods, usually, but not exclusively, during big battles and I have spent a lot of time, nervous energy, and some money trying to eliminate the problem - without any success.

Could you tell what you've done so far and what's your actual configuration? Maybe we'll solve your problems. MTW is worth all the efforts!

[johnswan]

Well that's a turn up - I built nothing into the mod that would fix that - I don't think it includes the button fix either, so if you get 1024x768 with the mod, you should also get it with the vanilla game...

(BTW, the mod is unfinished, especially with regard to the tech tree, and not at all well balanced, so you may have to do your own tweaking to get it working decently - it's so long ago now that I can't remember exactly what needs to be done...).

well i`ll see how it goes,certainly not capable of any tweaking of my own,dont know why it seems to work at the higher res,anyway nice mod-:)

[Baron von Manteuffel]

@ Stazi - I set both tactical and strategic map resolutions to 800x600. Ran the game in debug mode. Right clicked on the desktop shortcut, selected properties, selected compatibility mode for Windows XP (Service Pack 2), and Run in 256 colors. Then I set the desktop Display settings to 16 bit. I still get CTD's if I have more than one battle per turn and sometimes I get an unexplained crash. I had one of those unexplained ones playing the Tyberius XL Mod. I only had an auto-save but everytime I loaded it up it would crash two turns later. Everytime two turns later CRASH! After about five tries I did not enter the code .worksundays. and I got by this game killing crash. Do all those codes like .viagra. and .deadringer. cause the game to crash? It sure did with the .worksundays. code. I hate waiting all those turns for new buildings. I guess I could always mod the CRUSADER_BUILD_PROD13.TXT so all the buildings build in one turn and then I wouldn't need the .worksundays. code. Stazi do you ever use any codes? Can you verify if they cause additional instability to the game? Thanks

[Stazi]

Yes, I've used various codes with different mods but they've never given me a CTD or other error. Your crashes are really strange. Does vanilla game crash the same way as with Tiberius mod? Which version of Tiberius mod do you use?
Could you do all things that makes the game crash, save it and send it to me? I'll install the same mod as you, load your saved game and try to duplicate your crashes. I'm afraid I won't be able to help without seeing these errors myself. If you are interested I send you my email via PM.

P.S. This may seem like a stupid question but have you tried to turn off the sound (in game's options)? The same for AGP memory (slider to the left)? I've never seen errors like yours so I'm just checking some possibilities.