Bug Squashing Help Requested

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Machine involved P4 Dell Dimension, Nvidia 3d, Direct 9X

RTW 1.0 functioned without problem for c. 150 days. Program was not used for roughly 60 days.

1. When started, initial screens following load (campaign/battle selection, or setup screens for custom battles) had mouse ghosts which never faded, creating a confusing jumble of pulsing arrows all over. When started, custom battles went fine, with no mouse silliness. Problem does not occur with other programs loaded before or subsequent (Dungeon Siege and Alanna for e.g.)

2. In imperial campaign with any roman (no others unlocked yet -- in any fashion), hitting the senate tab caused immediate CTD.

Uninstall/Reinstall done, no luck.

Activision contacted, suggested updating drivers (done), getting 10X (not yet done).

Patches 1.1 and 1.2 were loaded as well.

Both problems still persist. Suggestions?

[BobTheTerrible]

Well, it's unlikely, but you might have some unwanted spyware on your computer messing this up. Take the time to download webroot spysweeper trial/ spyware blaster, they're the two best free spywayre programs I've seen (and if spyware's not the problem, then at least you'll have some decent protection).

Try defragmenting the disk, running scandisk, and making sure you have all possible programs closed before booting up R:TW. Those are the only things I can think of. Another thing (though unlikely) is make sure that your machine isn't overheating (even though you says other games run fine, you could just be running RTW at a time when heat is high or something). Hope that helps.

[PyrrhusofEpirus]

Have you installed a mod such as "Completed faction MOD"? Have you modified the game by yourself? May something was mess up. Try to uninstall the game again, and delete manually the game folder. The game folder default position is:

C:\Program files\Activision\Rome - Total War\

Hope it works!

Welcome to the .Org Seamus Fermanagh!

[sapi]

Dodgy patch zip installs can also do this if you forget to check the "use folder names" button when unzipping the patch.

[Productivity]

The senate crash is due to dodgy WMP codecs. A reinstall of WMP should fix it.

[gardibolt]

I was able to solve similar (but slightly different) video problems by setting the program to run as if I had Windows 2000 instead of XP. Cleared it right up.